Sunday, June 14, 1998

Unlikely leader brings church to accept contemporary music

By LORETTA FULTON / Abilene Reporter-News

Someone just retiring as minister of music, and already retired from school teaching, doesn't sound like the person most likely to lead the church into the realm of contemporary music.

But that's what happened at First Christian Church, and the pastor can't think of anyone more able and appropriate.

About a year ago First Christian got a new hymnal that contained praise and contemporary music as well as the traditional, said the Rev. Jim Zug, pastor. It was his minister of music, Bob Siltman, who first taught the choir the new music and then led the congregation down the sometimes rocky road of new church music.

"He helped bridge us into the new hymnal, and that's not something everybody does with ease," Zug said.

Now the church is experimenting with a contemporary service and most likely will make that the mainstay of the evening worship in the future, Zug said.

For Siltman, whose last service as music minister was on May 17 after 31 years at First Christian, change is something he long ago got used to.

His service to Abilene churches goes back to 1957, four years before he joined the local school system. Over the years, he was supervisor of the public schools' music programs and also was director of the Lincoln Junior High School choruses.

Before joining First Christian in 1967, Siltman, who holds bachelor's and master's degrees in music education from Hardin-Simmons University, was music minister at several Baptist churches.

But it was at First Christian where Siltman will be best remembered. A choir member under Siltman for several years, Steve Brower, said three things stand out when thinking of Siltman -- his religious commitment, his commitment to his work, and his fellowship.

As for his religious commitment, Brower said a person's ability to sing was not what Siltman looked for first in a choir member.

"He was much more interested in their ability to sing to God," Brower said.

Siltman also has a keen sense of fellowship that brought the choir together as a group.

"He just facilitated the whole process," Brower said. "He's such a fine guy."

The church's pastor can vouch for Siltman's fellowship.

"He's probably one of the more jovial people I have experienced as a staff member," Zug said.

Siltman had the ability to get the job done while making sure everyone had a good time as well, Zug said.

"Choir rehearsals were always Ôup,' and you felt good about going to them," said Zug, whose wife, Vivian, is the church's organist.

Siltman and his wife Sue both serve as elders at First Christian, and neither is planning to take a permanent vacation from church work, although their fellow members won't see them for a while.

The Siltmans haven't been at the Sunday morning service since his retirement, by design.

"We just feel like they should have a little space," he said.

Opera singer Richard Burke is filling in for Siltman through the summer.

s part-time minister of music at First Christian, Siltman had plenty of help over the years. His wife, who still teaches part time at Johnston Elementary, was responsible for the children's choir and handbells.

"She was the other half of the music program," Siltman said.

Thirty-one years is a long time to accumulate memories and make observations. One thing Siltman is proudest of at First Christian is the way he has been able to incorporate new music without alienating people.

"I took First Christian from a very classical church music approach to one whose circle was a good bit larger," he said, including gospel, contemporary and praise music.

Just as Zug praised his music minister for his versatility, Siltman credited the pastor for allowing it to be put into effect.

"The leadership of the church has to accept the fact that music is changing," he said.

The church's year-old hymnal contains "Billy Graham type gospel songs," African-American spirituals, and music with a Hispanic flair.

The new music reflects the change in the congregation that Siltman has seen over the years. Outreach programs at the church such as Alcoholics Anonymous and a meals ministry, Breakfast on Beech Street, has brought a change in the face of the congregation.

"First Christian has gone from a very white collar, semi-blue collar congregation to a melting pot," Siltman said, again crediting Zug for opening the church facilities to the community.

"Our home mission effort is much stronger than it has been in the past," Siltman said.

Many of Siltmans' fondest memories include youngsters at the church. Music trips to Arizona, Utah, and Oklahoma not only were fun, they also allowed the children to experience Christianity along with good music.

"We received many letters at our retirement time reliving those experiences you can only have in a close-knit music group," Siltman said.

Retirement won't mean a rocking chair on the front porch for the Siltmans. They plan to continue to be active at church, including singing in the choir.

"We'll be full-fledged regular Sunday members and contributors to the choir and any other aspect of the church," he said.

Siltman also plans to take up composing again, something he hasn't done in 15 years, but something he was quite well known for when he was active. At the last convention of the Texas Music Educators Association that Siltman attended, he learned that one of the new school textbooks contains seven of his songs that he wrote 15-30 years ago.

His compositions are mainly for middle school and high school male choruses. In 1992 he was told by a professor at the University of Texas that for two decades he was the most often listed composer of male chorus literature for contests such as University Interscholastic League.

Siltman plans to get back to that music specialty.

"My goal is supplying young men with quality, contemporary literature," he said.

That goal will have to be realized alongside another that Bob and Sue Siltman have for retirement.

"We planning to be the world's greatest grandparents," he said.