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Presenter's Bios

 

A fundamental principle of a Living Liturgy event is that faithful, prophetic and meaningful worship must be a collaborative process.  Our leadership team represents the best of clergy and lay presenters, preachers and musicians, ministers of the spoken Word and the sung Word.

Susan Briehl photo

Susan Briehl, a Lutheran pastor for twenty-five years, has served in parish, campus and retreat center settings.  She is an associate with the Valparaiso Project on Education and Formation of People in Faith.  Her writings include Come, Lord Jesus, devotions for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, Prayer Around the Cross: A Guide to the Liturgy (with Tom Witt), Turn My Heart: A Sacred Journey from Brokenness to Healing (with Marty Haugen), and several liturgical and hymn texts.

 
Marty Haugen

Marty Haugen is a liturgical composer and pastoral musician from Eagan, Minnesota.  For the past 20 years he has presented workshops on music and the renewal of worship across North America, Europe, Polynesia, Asia and Central America.  He has more than 400 published compositions, including Now the Feast and Celebration, Holden Evening Prayer, and Gather Us In.  His latest work includes "Turn My Heart: A Journey from Brokenness to Healing," Unfailing Light/An Evening Communion Service" and "That You May Have Life/Resources Based on the Gospel of John (all with Susan Briehl). His music is included in hymnals for Christians of many denominations in a number of countries.  Marty is currently composer-in-residence at Mayflower United Church of Christ in Minneapolis.

 
Mary Preus

Mary Preus is a singer, songleader and choir director, currently directing music at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.  She presents and leads workshops on enlivening Christian worship, focusing on the role of the songleader.  Mary is a co-founder of the group, Bread for the Journey.  She is the worship coordinator for the ecumenical Community of St. Martin, in Minneapolis, MN.

 

 
Ben Stewart

Ben Stewart (New team member, beginning Fall of 2007!) studies and teaches liturgical theology at Emory University in Atlanta.  Ben speaks at academic and church events, and has published articles in a number of journals, including Worship, CrossAccent, and Liturgical Ministry. He is especially interested in how Christian liturgy can foster love and care for the earth.  Ben previously served as pastor to a small congregation in the Appalachian region of Ohio and to Holden Village, a retreat center in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington. 

 
Tom Witt

Tom Witt has been keyboardist, worship leader, songleader for a wide variety of Lutheran and ecumenical church events.  He has a depth of resources in worship planning and leads workshops on music, liturgy and contemporary society.  Tom serves as a worship and music consultant for the ELCA's Division for Global Mission. He is a co-founder and currently serves as staff for Bread for the Journey, a musical and worship-leading ensemble.  He has released a recording of his own instrumental improvisations on hymns in the Lutheran Book of Worship, entitled Dusting Off the Green Book.

 
Dan Erlander

Daniel Erlander  (Emeritus, beginning in 2007. Dan will only be joining the Living Liturgy team occasionally as he begins his retirement!) is a pastor, teacher, author and cartoonist from Whidbey Island, Washington.  In addition to his interest in liturgical renewal, Dan is passionate about adult education, the arts, New Testament studies, Lutheran identity, social issues, peace and nonviolence. He has written and illustrated several booklets, including  Manna and Mercy: A Brief History of God’s Unfolding Promise to Mend the Entire Universe and Baptized We Live: Lutheranism as a Way of Life.  Dan is well-known as a teacher, speaker and Bible study leader.