About Emily R. Brink
Emily R. Brink (Emily Ruth Brink, born 1940) is a respected American scholar, hymnologist, and leader in Christian worship renewal. She has served as Senior Research Fellow at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and as Adjunct Professor of Church Music and Worship at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Her work focuses on strengthening congregational worship, especially through music. She has played a major role in planning conferences and developing global worship resources. Notably, she has been the program manager for the annual Calvin Symposium on Worship, a major international gathering that brings together over 1,600 participants and dozens of presenters each year.
Dr. Brink has traveled extensively around the world, particularly in Asia, where she has lectured and studied worship practices in countries such as Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan. These experiences have shaped her strong interest in global and multicultural expressions of congregational song.
Her key areas of expertise include:
- Congregational singing across cultures and historical periods
- Psalmody and its role in worship
- Hymnal editing and development
She has served as editor for four hymnals and continues to consult with churches on worship renewal. In addition, she has been active in professional organizations such as the American Guild of Organists and the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, where she served as president from 1990 to 1992. In 2004, she was honored as a Fellow of the Hymn Society in recognition of her distinguished contributions to hymnody and hymnology.
Emily R. Brink’s influence is especially notable for bridging traditional hymnody with global and contemporary worship practices, helping churches engage in richer, more inclusive expressions of praise.
