Contact Info

Email: James_Krabill@diu.edu

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Curriculum Vitae


OCCUPATIONAL HISTORY

Mennonite Mission Network, 2002-2016 (Elkhart, Indiana)

  • Senior Executive for Global Ministries
  • Editor of the Missio Dei series

Mennonite Board of Missions, 1976-2002 (Elkhart, Indiana)

  • Vice president of Mission Advocacy and Communication (Elkhart, Ind.), 1996-2001
  • Director for West Africa (Abidjan, Ivory Coast), 1992-96
  • Mission educator (assignment shared with wife, Jeanette, in congregations and educational institutions across North America), 1989-92
  • General missionary, 1976-88; 1992-96 (Europe and Africa)

 

EDUCATION

  • 1989 – PhD (African Studies/Ethnomusicology) at the Centre for West African Studies, Univ. of Birmingham (U.K.) Dissertation: The Hymnody of the Harrist Church Among the Dida of South-Central Ivory Coast (1919-1949)
  • 1977 – MDiv, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart IN   
  • 1974 – BA in History (Bible/Religion minor), Goshen College, Goshen, IN                   

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS

Teaching/consulting/board positions:     

  • Assistant editor for the journal, Global Forum on Arts and Christian Faith http://www.artsandchristianfaith.org/index.php/journal
  • Consultant and board trustee for the International Council of Ethnodoxologists (ICE), 2007-
  • Advisory team member for the GROW Center/Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, 2014-
  • Member of the Arts in Mission Task Force of the Mission Commission/World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), 2014-
  • Publication board for American Society of Missiology (ASM), 2001-16
  • Chair of the Scholarly Monograph Committee/American Society of Missiology, 2010-
  • Visiting Teaching Professor (Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, VA), 2008-
  • Visiting Teaching Faculty for ethnodoxology intensives—Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY), 2008-14; Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 2012; Liberty University, 2014-15; Ouachita Baptist University (Arkadelphia, AR), 2011; Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Wake Forest, NC0, 2009; Redeemer Seminary (Dallas), 2014; Indiana Wesleyan University (Marion, IN, 2018), and Dallas Int’l University, 2018-present.
  • Core Adjunct Professor of Missions (Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, IN), 2006-
  • Adjunct Associate Professor of Global Christian Worship/Anabaptist Missiology (Fuller Theological Seminary, School of Intercultural Studies, Pasadena, CA), 2006-13
  • West Africa Local Coordinator for Cross-Cultural Program, 1994; and Associate Professor for Euro-Africa Cross-Cultural Semester, 2005 (Eastern Mennonite College/University, Harrisonburg, VA
  • Adjunct Professor of Missions, 1990; West Africa Local Coordinator for Study-Service Term, 1992-1996; Adjunct Professor of Social Work, 2000-2003; Adjunct Professor of Sociology, 2018 (Goshen College, Goshen, IN.

Courses taught:

  • Eastern Mennonite Seminary (Harrisonburg, VA, 2009-)
  • Overseas Ministries Study Center (New Haven, CT, 2010-2019).
  • Eastern Mennonite Mission-sponsored Perspectives Course [“The Cultural Path”] (Lancaster, PA, 2008)
  • Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, CA, 2007-2013)
  • Etudes Francophones de Théologie Anabaptiste [EFraTA] (Bienenberg/Centre de Formation et de Rencontre, Liestal, Switzerland, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019)
  • Formation Biblique pour le Service dans l’Assemblée [F.B.S.A.] (Bienenberg/Centre de Formation et de Rencontre, Liestal, Switzerland, 2007)
  • Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary [week-end course] (2001); semester-long courses (2007-)
  • Reaching And Discipling (RAD) discipleship center (Chicago, IL, 2006-2008)
  • Eastern Mennonite University Euro-Africa Cross-Cultural Semester (France, Switzerland, Benin and Ghana, August-December, 2005)
  • Discipling-Encounter-Outreach (DEO) training orientation [mini-course] (Wichita, KS, 2004)
  • World Missions Institute [annual mini-courses] (Philadelphia/Lancaster, PA, 2002-11)
  • Benin Bible Institute (Cotonou, Benin, 1989-96, 2000)
  • Great Lakes Discipleship Center/Reaching and Discipling (New Haven, IN, 1998-2004; Chicago, 2006)
  • Goshen College (Goshen, IN, 1990, 2000, 2002)
  • Goshen Bible Institute (Goshen, IN, 1997)
  • Institut Pastoral International (Abidjan, 1992-96)
  • Local coordinator of Eastern Mennonite College Cross-Cultural semester (Côte d’Ivoire, 1994)
  • Local coordinator of Goshen College Study-Service Term (Côte d’Ivoire, 1992-96)
  • Evangelical Training Center in Communications/CEFCA (Abidjan, 1992-96, 2003)
  • Alliance Evangelical Theological Faculty/FATEAC (Abidjan, 1991)
  • Village-based Theological Education by Extension/TEE courses (Ivory Coast, 1981-88)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS (books, scholarly articles, book chapters, edited works, other writings)

Selected publications on music and worship

  • “Worship and Mission,” chapter 8, with Janie Blough, in God’s People in Mission: An Anabaptist Perspective [Stanley W. Green and Rafael Zaracho, eds.] (Bogota, Colombia: Mennonite World Conference, 2018), pp. 113-125.
  • Arts and Orality Part 1: Foundations and Applications [ed. with Katie Hoogerheide], Vol. 5, No. 1, of the Orality Journal (2016).
  • Arts and Orality Part 2: Equipping for Ministry [ed. with Katie Hoogerheide], Vol. 5, No. 2, of the Orality Journal (2016).
  • “Hymn-collecting among Dida Harrists, in Global Forum on Arts and Christian Faith (a peer refereed journal published electronically twice a year by the International Council of Ethnodoxologists [ICE]), Vol. 2 (April 2014):A20-A36.
  • “Culturally appropriate music: Lessons learned from mission history in Africa,” in Mission Frontiers [Special feature on “Ethnodoxology: Worship and mission for the global church,” 36:5 (September/October 2014): 13-15.
  • Mission and Worship for the Global Church: An Ethnodoxology Handbook [James R. Krabill, general editor, with Frank Fortunato, Robin Harris, and Brian Schrag, associate editors] Pasadena, Calif.: William Carey Library, 2013, 580 pp. 
  • Creating Local Arts Together: A Manual to Help Communities Reach Their Kingdom Goals [James R. Krabill, general editor, with author-editor Brian Schrag] Pasadena, Calif.: William Carey Library, 2013, 282 pp. 
  • “Biblical Approaches to Peace,” in (un)Common Sounds: Songs of Peace and Reconciliation Among Muslims and Christians [Roberta R. King, ed.; and Sooi-Ling Tan, assoc. ed.] Eugene, Ore.: Cascade Books, 2013, pp. 87-103. 
  • “William Wadé Harris,” in The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology, R. Watson and Emma Hornby, eds. (Norwich, U.K.: SCM/Canterbury Press, 2013).
  • “Singing our Way into God’s Future,” The Mennonite [official Mennonite Church USA monthly publication], June 2013:18-19.
  • “Begegnungen: Was mit Musik passiert, wenn Völker sich begegnen,” in Klangwandel: Über Musik in der Mission [Verena Grüter and Benedict Schubert, eds.] Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Verlag Otto Lembeck, 2010, 89-108. 
  • “‘These People Aren’t Really Christian, Are They?” A Mission Administrator’s Plea for Ministry Training in Ethno-Arts” Connections [quarterly journal of the Worldwide Evangelical Association] Special Lausanne 2010 edition on “Arts in Mission,” 9 (2-3) Fall 2010:50-51. See also: http://www.weaconnections.com/getattachment/a190f3a2-2ca4-4379-b3fa-efe2569652b8/These-people-aren-t-really-christian,-are-they-.aspx
  • Book review of Pathways in Christian Music Communication: The Case of the Senufo of Côte d’Ivoire by Roberta R. King (Eugene, Ore.: Pickwick Publications [American Society of Missiology Monograph Series, No. 3], 2009), in the International Bulletin of Missionary Research 2010:114-115. 
  • “Music the Blood of African Church Life” (Mayeken Kehr, interviewer and writer) Mennonite Mission Network news release (July 24, 2008). See story at: http://mennonitemission.net/Resources/News/Story.asp?ID=1297
  • Music in the Life of the African Church [with Roberta King (senior editor), Jean Kidula and Thomas Oduro] Baylor University Press, 2008, 187 pp. 
  • “Encounters: What Happens to Music When People Meet,” in Music in the Life of the African Church [Roberta King (senior editor), Jean Kidula, James R. Krabill, and Thomas Oduro] Waco, Texas: Baylor University Press, 2008, pp. 57-79.
  • Ntsikana: A Model for Those Who Would Put African Faith to Music,” in Music in the Life of the African Church [Roberta King (senior editor), Jean Kidula, James R. Krabill, and Thomas Oduro] Waco, Texas: Baylor University Press, 2008, pp. 60-61. 
  • “The Musical Legacy of William Wade Harris,” in Music in the Life of the African Church [Roberta King (senior editor), Jean Kidula, James R. Krabill, and Thomas Oduro] Waco, Texas: Baylor University Press, 2008, pp. 64-65. 
  • “Dida Harrist Hymnody, 1913-1990” in Primal & Folk & New Religious Movements: The READER, compiled by James R. Krabill [curriculum manual and reader of selected articles for semester course on “Primal & Folk & New Religious Movements” taught at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, spring semester 2007] Elkhart, Ind.: Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, 2007. 
  • Theology in Song: The READER [curriculum manual and reader of selected articles for intensive course on “Theology in Song” taught at Fuller Theological Seminary/School of Intercultural Studies, June 25-29, 2007] Pasadena, Calif.: Fuller Theological Seminary, 2007.
  • Book review of The Jesus Road: Kiowas, Christianity, and Indian Hymns by Luke Eric Lassiter, Clyde Ellis, and Ralph Kotay ((Lincoln, Neb.: University of Nebraska Press, 2002), in Mennonite Life [illustrated quarterly published by Bethel College, Newton, KS] (61) 4 (December) 2006. Posted at: http://www.bethelks.edu/mennonitelife/2006Dec/
  • “Himologia Autoctona” in email ministry newsletter “Info Indigena” by Frank Pauls [Mennonite worker among indigenous peoples in the Chaco, Argentina], July 6, 2006. 
  • “‘Teach Us the Songs of Heaven!’  An African Evangelist Encourages Indigenous Hymnody,” in All the World is Singing: Glorifying God through the Worship Music of the Nations [Frank Fortunato, with Paul Neeley and Carol Brinneman, eds.] Tyrone, GA: Authentic Publishing, 2006, pp. 51-57. 
  • “Theology of Song” in Global Consultation on Music and Missions: The Proceedings [CD-ROM of GCoMM consultation held at Bethel University, St. Paul, Minnesota, July 11-15, 2006.] (Paul Neeley, Linda Neeley, Paul McAndrew, and Cathy McAndrew, eds.), 2006.  Produced by and available from: Ethnodoxology/ACT, 710 Upland Lane, Duncanville, Texas, 75116.  In addition to presentation, includes photos, music scores and video clip. 
  • “Spreading the Word through Dance” (Kirsten Beachy, interviewer) Crossroads [the EMU magazine for alumni and friends] (86) 4 (Spring) 2006:18. 
  • “‘Teach Us the Songs of Heaven!’  The Remarkable Story of How One African Evangelist Encouraged the Creation of Indigenous Hymnody,” in Global Consultation on Music and Missions: The Proceedings [CD-ROM of GCoMM consultation held in Fort Worth, Texas, September 15-18, 2003] (Paul Neeley, Linda Neeley, Paul McAndrew, and Cathy McAndrew, eds.), 2004.  Produced by and available from: Ethnodoxology/ACT, 710 Upland Lane, Duncanville, Texas, 75116.  In addition to presentation, includes photos, charts and music clips of six dogblo hymns. 
  • “Sing New Songs” Global Perspectives [a Mennonite Board of Missions newsletter] 99 (2) February 1999:1. 
  • “Fainting to the Tune of ‘Amazing Grace’” Keep the Faith/Share the Peace [the newsletter of the Mennonite Church Peace and Justice Committee] (5) 3 (June) 1999:1-2. 
  • “A la découverte d’un chant sacré africain.  Les cantiques de l’Eglise Harriste chez les Dida” Perspectives Missionnaires (31) 1996:53-72. 
  • The Hymnody of the Harrist Church Among the Dida of South-Central Ivory Coast (1913-1949) Studies in the Intercultural History of Christianity, Vol. 74, edited by Walter J. Hollenweger, Jan A. B. Jongeneel, Theo Sundermeier and Richard Friedli) Frankfurt/M.: Peter Lang GmbH (1995), 603 pp. 
  • “Scripture Use in AIC Hymnody:  Fourteen Fields of Investigation” (Chapter 17) in Afro-Christian Religion at the Grassroots in Southern Africa (African Studies, Vol. 19, edited by G. C. Oosthuizen and Irving Hexham) Lewiston, New York: The Edwin Mellen Press (1991), pp. 293-331. 
  • “The Songs of God” (Elizabeth Weaver Kreider, interviewer) Festival Quarterly [Intercourse, PA] (18) 3 (Fall) 1991:10-11.
  • “Hymn-Collecting Among the Dida Harrists” in Ministry in Partnership with African Independent Churches [Papers presented at the Kinshasa Pan-African Conference of Interdenominational Mission Agencies Relating to African Independent Churches, July 1989] (David A. Shank, ed.) Elkhart, Indiana:  Mennonite Board of Missions (1991), pp. 220-238. 
  • “Dida Harrist Hymnody (1913-1990)” Journal of Religion in Africa XX, 2 (Fall) 1990:118-152. 
  • Guest-edited special “Ethnomusicology” issue of Mission Focus (18) 4 (December) 1990 [quarterly missiological journal of Mennonite Board of Missions, Elkhart, Indiana].  Articles include:  “The Missionary and Music,” by Albert W. D. Friesen, pp. 49-51; “Evolving African Hymnody,” by Mary K. Oyer, pp. 52-56; “William Wadé Harris (1860-1929): African Evangelist and ‘Ethnohymnologist,’” by James R. Krabill, pp. 56-59; “Sing to the Lord a New Song,” by Malcolm Wenger, pp. 59-62; and “Experiencing Native American Music: Living with Cheyenne and Crow Indians,” by David Graber, pp. 62-64. 
  • “William Wadé Harris (1860-1929): African Evangelist and ‘Ethno’musicologist” Mission Focus (18) 4 (December) 1990:56-59. 
  • “Hymnology:  Teaching the Songs of Heaven (The Legacy of William Wadé Harris),” in The Mennonite Encyclopedia (Vol. V) Scottdale, Pennsylvania:  Herald Press (1990), p. 411. 
  • Àlísìnya lá Àflúwá (Textes liturgiques harristes en dida) [with Alphonse Kobli Beugre] Abidjan:  Summer Institute of Linguistics (S.I.L.), 1986, 42 pp. Republished in 2015. 
  • Dogblo (Chants harristes dida, No. 1) [with Alphonse Kobli Beugre] Abidjan:  Summer Institute of Linguistics (S.I.L.), 1988, 64 pp. Republished in 2015. 
  • Yeje (Chants harristes dida, No. 2) [with Alphonse Kobli Beugre] Abidjan:  Summer Institute of Linguistics (S.I.L.), 1988, 40 pp. Republished in 2015. 
  • Nodìlu (Chants harristes dida, No. 3) [with Alphonse Kobli Beugre] Abidjan:  Summer Institute of Linguistics (S.I.L.), 1988, 86 pp. Republished in 2015. 
  • Èvlíwò Lu (Chants harristes dida, No. 4) [with Alphonse Kobli Beugre] Abidjan:  Summer Institute of Linguistics (S.I.L.), 1988, 105 pp. Republished in 2015. 

Other selected publications

  • Fully Engaged: Missional Church in an Anabaptist Voice [edited with Stanley W. Green] Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 2015, 363 pp. 
  • “Shalom—Le projet de Dieu: Pourquoi la paix et la mission sont inséparables,” Liestal, Switzerland: Etudes Francophones de Théologie Anabaptiste (EFraTA), 2015, 6 pp. 
  • Book review of Joy to the World! Mission in the Age of Global Christianity by Dana L. Robert, with Study Guide by Toby Gould (New York: Women’s Division/General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, 2010) in Mission Focus Annual Review 2011, No. 19 (Elkhart, Ind.: Mission Focus Publications [3003 Benham Ave., Elkhart, Ind., 46517-1999]), 2012:288-289. 
  • Forming Christian Habits in Post-Christendom: The Legacy of Alan and Eleanor Kreider [edited with Stuart Murray Williams] Elkhart, IN: Institute of Mennonite Studies, in collaboration with Herald Press, Scottdale, PA, 2011, 234 pp. 
  • Mission from the Margins: Selected Writings from the Life and Ministry of David A. Shank Elkhart, IN: Institute of Mennonite Studies; co-published with Herald Press, Scottdale, PA, 2010, 360 pp. 
  • Jesus Matters: Good News for the 21st Century [edited with David W. Shenk] Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 2009. See also Study Guide: http://www.heraldpress.com/Studygds/jesusmatters/
  • Book review of Missions in Contexts of Violence by Keith E. Eitel, ed. (Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2007), in Evangelical Missions Quarterly 44 (3) July 2008:388, 390. Ensemble en Mission : Le fond de croyances, de valeurs, et d’engagements de réseau de mission mennonite [Missio Dei, No. 10, trans. David A. Shank] Liestal, Switzerland: Etudes Francophones de Théologie Anabaptiste (EFraTA), 2007, 15 pp. 
  • Ton Eglise dégage-t-elle une “odeur”de mission? Devenir une “Eglise missionnale”: Quelques réflexions [Missio Dei, No. 2, trans. Claudine Diénot, Jessica Goldschmidt and Michel Sommer] Liestal, Switzerland: CeFoR Bienenberg, FBSA, 9-10 February 2007, 12 pp. 
  • What I Learned from the African Church: Twenty-Two Students Reflect on a Life-Changing Experience [Missio Dei, No. 11] Elkhart, Ind.: Mennonite Mission Network, 2006. 
  • Even the Demons Submit: Continuing Jesus’ Ministry of Deliverance [edited with Loren Johns] Elkhart, IN: Institute of Mennonite Studies/Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 2006, 214 pp. 
  • Evangelical, Ecumenical and Anabaptist Missiologies in Conversation: Essays in Honor of Wilbert R. Shenk [edited with Walter Sawatsky and Charles van Engen] Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2006, 352 pp. 
  • Anabaptists Meeting Muslims: A Calling for Presence in the Way of Christ [edited with David W. Shenk and Linford Stutzman] Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2005, 566 pp. 
  • Eine Theologie der Mission für heute [Mission Insight, No. 1, trans. Franz Rathmair] Mennonitsche Freikirche, Fachschulstr. 1B, A-4400 Steyr, Austria; email: MF-Steyr@gmx.net, 2005, 16 pp. 
  • Is It Insensitive to Share Your Faith? Hard Questions about Christian Mission in a Plural World Intercourse, Pa.: Good Books, 2005, 155 pp. 
  • Students Talk about Service [Missio Dei 7, co-edited with Stuart W. Showalter] Elkhart, Ind.: Mennonite Mission Network, 2004, 36 pp.
  • Does Your Church “Smell” Like Mission? Reflections on Becoming a Missional Church [Missio Dei 2] Elkhart, Ind.: Mennonite Mission Network, 2003, 20 pp. 
  • Where Teachers Become Learners and Learners, Teachers: MBM Marks Four Decades of Ministry with African-Initiated Churches [Mission Insight 23] Elkhart, Ind.: Mennonite Board of Missions, 2001, 19 pp. 
  • Handing on the Legacy: Mission Issues and Stories from Mennonite Board of Missions [A Mission Insight Collection, 1999-2001] Elkhart, Ind.: MBM, 2001, 24 booklet set. 
  • “Neither ‘reached’ nor ‘unreached’: The response of one mission agency to the independent churches of West Africa” Journal of African Christian Initiatives [Good News Theological College & Seminary, Accra North, Ghana], 6 (2) June 2001: 44-58. 
  • Book review of Missionary Responses to Tribal Religions at Edinburgh, 1910 by J. Stanley Friesen (New York: Peter Lang, 1996), in The Mennonite Quarterly Review (LXXIV) 3 (July) 2000:487-490. 
  • “The Short-Term Experience: Current Trends/Future Challenges” Mission Focus: Annual Review, Vol. 6 (Elkhart, Ind.: Mission Focus Publications [3003 Benham Ave., Elkhart, Ind., 46517-1999]), 1998:125-135. 
  • Book review of Religious Plurality in Africa: Essays in Honour of John S. Mbiti by Jacob K. Olupona and Sulayman S. Nyang, eds. (New York: Mouton de Gruyter, 1993), in Missiology (XXV) 1 (January) 1997:102. 
  • Nos racines racontées.  Récits historiques sur l’Eglise en Afrique de l’Ouest Abidjan: Presses Bibliques Africaines (1996), 373 pp.
  • The Urban Mission:  A Cloud of Anabaptist Witnesses.  An Overview and Bibliography [with Allan Yoder] Elkhart, Indiana:  Mennonite Board of Missions (1993), 19 pp.