John Thornburg

John is the son, grandson and great grandson of Methodist ministers. After graduation from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, John served four appointments in the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church; as an associate in a large suburban congregation; as the editor of the North Texas edition of the United Methodist Reporter; in a central city cooperative parish; and, most recently, for ten years at Northaven UMC in North Dallas. He was the song leader of the North Texas Annual Conference for ten years.

After 22 years in parish ministry, John pursued a new calling by starting an itinerant ministry of song leading and worship consultation called "A Ministry of Congregational Singing." His website describes this ministry as "building community through the power and grace of singing and putting an end to 'worship wars.'" He is also adjunct instructor in worship and preaching at Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, Texas. now

John is a published hymn poet whose hymn texts appear in six different hymnals. In addition to his work with Craig Philips on Dies Gratiae, he has written over 100 hymns, anthems and vocal solos with his friend and former parishioner, Jane Marshall. He has also written texts for extended choral anthems with Bruce Neswick and Joel Martinson. His articles about worship related subjects have appeared in Circuit Rider, Alive Now, Reformed Worship, The Hymn, and The Chorister. Two different collections of his hymn poetry will be published in 2003. !