Naomi's Notes - 05/25/08
Last week I attended the funeral of Dr. Hugh McElrath, who at 86 was a preeminent church musician, historian, composer, author and beloved professor of church music at Southern Seminary (SBTS). The service took over two hours by the time all the tributes were made, the overflowing choir sang Brahms & Christiansen anthems, and the congregation participated in a "hymn sing" of his favorite selections.
"Dr. Mac," as he was affectionately called, was enrolled in the very first church music degree program at SBTS, and received many distinguished honors during his career. Certainly it is appropriate that the current SBTS "claims" him, due to his long tenure there as church music professor. But within the past two decades, he and his vivacious wife, "Miss Ruth," have been especially active, outspoken supporters of the Kentucky Baptist Fellowship and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, where he served on the Coordinating Council. They were present when our church hosted KBF's Annual Gathering several years ago, and I just saw them last month at Polyphony, a sacred choral music conference in Asheville.
My life has been shaped by Dr. Mac. As a college music student I sang in an oratorio choir presentation for which he was guest soloist--I have a photo of that event. Many years later, on an otherwise significantly bad day in my life, I received a letter from him offering to publish in a national journal an article I'd written about women in ministry.
Still later, when I began to think about entering seminary, I auditioned with Dr. Mac at SBTS and he encouraged me. The next week he gave my resume to Dr. Phil Landgrave with whom I subsequently served as Assoc. Minister of Music at Lyndon BC, Louisville. And the only A+ I've ever received for a course--and still don't think I really deserved--was the grade Dr. Mac gave me in hymnology.
Dr. Mac and Miss Ruth have always been balcony people for me. Balcony people are those who cheer us on (as opposed to basement people who hurt, criticize, reject, or otherwise drag us down). We envision them jumping up and down in the balcony, excitedly waving their coat, yelling: "Go for it!" "I believe in you!" "You can do it!" "Hooray for you!" And after a while, with that constant affirmation and encouragement ringing in our ears, we begin to have confidence. We begin to believe in ourselves and our abilities.
There's a saying that one good balcony person is worth more than a thousand basement people. Certainly Dr. Mac and Miss Ruth have not been the only balcony people in my life. God has blessed me with numerous others--more than I deserve--and many of you are among their number. I am so grateful.
Dr. Mac will be missed. I figure the best way to honor him is to emulate his saintly life. He has inspired me to try and be a balcony person for others who also desperately need encouragement.
See you in worship this Sunday -
Naomi