Jonathan Rundman: Church resource information

JONATHAN RUNDMAN is available as a music and/or program resource for churches, youth gatherings, retreats, festivals, worship services, leadership events, colleges, and coffeehouses. For Booking and Contact information please CLICK HERE.

BIOGRAPHY

JONATHAN RUNDMAN is a Midwest-based songwriter, performer, and recording artist. His critically acclaimed songs have been highlighted in publications such as Billboard, Paste Magazine, CCM, The Christian Century, and The Lutheran, and have received radio airplay from coast to coast.

Jonathan’s songs have been used as programmatic theme music for regional and national Youth Gatherings. Dozens of congregations across the country use his newly released Heartland Liturgy for their church services. In addition to being a leading voice in new Lutheran music, he was also a contributing author for the bestselling theology/comedy manual The Lutheran Handbook.

Originally from Ishpeming, MI, Jonathan now lives in Minneapolis, MN with his wife Dr. Dawn Rundman, a developmental psychologist and an editor at Augsburg-Fortress, the publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. They are members at Edina Community Lutheran Church in Edina, MN.

For more information about Jonathan's work as a church resource person, visit his page at Churchnoise.com

MISSION STATEMENT

When Jonathan serves as a music/program resource in a church-related setting, he has a few goals:

to support and enhance the specific theme of the event
to encourage people to explore the freedom and joy that comes from a Grace-oriented faith perspective
to provide an example of a faith-based lifestyle apart from the confines of “Contemporary Christian Subculture”

RECENT & FUTURE
NATIONAL EVENTS

FEBRUARY 2008: Jonathan will be a featured performer at the ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza in Anaheim, CA.

For Jonathan's complete performing schedule CLICK HERE.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

YOUTH MINISTRY EVENTS/GATHERINGS

Jonathan has been a featured musician, speaker, and/or facilitator at many events, including:

+ 2006, 2003, 2000, 1997 ELCA National Youth Gathering
+ 2002 ELCA Western States Youth Gathering
+ 2005, '03, '02, '01, '00 ELCA Youth Ministry Network
+ 2004, 2001 LCMS National Youth Gathering
+ Regional and Synod Youth Gatherings
+ Youth Encounter Congresses and Youthquakes
+ Leadership Training Schools
+ Lutheran Campus Ministry Events
+ Synod Assemblies
+ Songwriting and Music Workshops
+ 1999 Postmodern Generations Event
+ 2000, 1997 ELCA Churchwide Youth Convo
+ 2004, '03, '02, '01, 2000, 1999 LiFest Music Festival
+ 2004, 1999 Cornerstone Music Festival

SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES

Jonathan has been a guest speaker, artist-in-residence, and/or provided musical curriculum for these eduational institutions:

+ Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN
+ Trinity Seminary, Columbus, OH
+ Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, IA
+ Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, CA
+ Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, PA
+ Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, PA
+ Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago, IL
+ Carthage College, Kenosha, WI
+ Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN
+ Luther College, Decorah, IA
+ California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA
+ Texas Lutheran University, Seguin, TX
+ Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA
+ Concordia College, Moorhead, MN
+ Concordia University, River Forest, IL
+ Concordia University, Anaheim, CA
+ Concordia University, Bronxville, NY
+ Concordia College, Mequon, WI
+ Concordia College, St. Paul, MN
+ Concordia College, Ann Arbor, MI
+ Augustana College, Rock Island, IL
+ Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD

CHRISTIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY

Jonathan has opened the show for a variety of Christian Music's leading acts, including Switchfoot, The O. C. Supertones, Jennifer Knapp, Sarah Masen, Smalltown Poets, Mike Roe of the 77s, Vigilantes of Love, Beki Hemingway and The Lost Dogs.
Jonathan has also performed at major music festivals including LiFest in Wisconsin and Cornerstone Festival in Illinois.

WHERE HAVE I HEARD THIS BEFORE?

Chances are you've heard some of Jonathan's music at different events and on a variety of recordings:

wrote the program theme song “The Serious Kind” for the 2003 ELCA Youth Gathering in Atlanta, performed by Ken Medema
produced and played on the album Something Different by acoustic duo LOST AND FOUND
composed songs for Augsburg Fortress Publishers Middle School Educational Firelight Curriculum: “Surprised by God’s Grace”
composed the theme song "Storyteller" for Augsburg Fortress Publishers Middle School Educational Firelight II Curriculum: "Kingdom Stories"
wrote theme songs “Reach” “Wide Awake” and “Picture This” for Youth Encounter’s teams and events
performed on the main stage and recorded with the band ECHELON for the 2004 and 2001 LCMS National Youth Gatherings in Orlando and New Orleans
wrote the program theme song “As You Did, Lord, At Emmaus” for the 2000 ELCA Youth Gathering in St. Louis, performed by Ken Medema
contributed to the compilation CDs, showcases and internet homepage for Churchnoise.com featuring other performers including Peder Eide, Lost And Found, Agape, The Fitz Family, and Happy Fun Time.

PASTORAL/PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES

"Jonathan's music represents a playful and pointed dialogue between an authentic Lutheran voice and contemporary culture. The results will inspire and energize young and old alike."
RITVA H. WILLIAMS, Associate Professor of Religion,
Augustana College, Rock Island, IL

“Jonathan Rundman is the Neil Young of the Lutheran Church”
REV. DR. GILSON WALDKOENIG
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, PA

"Jonathan Rundman combines humor, fresh musicality and inspired lyrics with a strong theological backbone. He is as ‘real’ as it gets, genuinely connecting with folks whether it is from the stage, in a small group setting, or as a worship leader."
PASTOR DIANE SPONHEIM
Westwood Lutheran Church, St. Louis Park, MN

"Jonathan brings a genuine sense of joy to his great music and wonderful storytelling."
PASTOR JENNIFER ARNOLD
Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Kenosha, WI

"It's like this: you want schmaltz, there's plenty of that in youth ministry today. You want the truth, you want the genuine Lutheran article, you want your kids to really connect - Jonathan's your guy"
MARK ZIMA, Associate in Ministry, ELCA

"Musically unstoppable! Jonathan energizes youth through his music and faith."
MATTHEW NELSON, Youth Director
Christ Lutheran Church, Walla Walla, WA

"Jonathan is a vibrant, gifted messenger of God's presence and grace in word and song."
BISHOP PAUL SWANSON, Oregon Synod, ELCA

"Jonathan's wit and storytelling abilities combine to paint wonderful word pictures...smooth layers and a sharp edge give his music its charm."
GEORGE BAUM
songwriter/singer/pianist, Lost And Found

"Jonathan's music and message make the Gospel come alive in a superbly fresh fashion!"
PASTOR BILL YOUNKER
Immanuel Lutheran Church, East Dundee, IL

home/news • albums • tour dates • bio • press •

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Churches who wish to use Jonathan's songs in worship can obtain copyright and licensing information HERE.

Jonathan's 2006 album Protestant Rock Ethic contains A HEARTLAND LITURGY, a complete liturgical setting for congregational use!

Jonathan helped to write The Lutheran Handbook and The Christian Handbook available from Augsburg Fortress publishers

Sound Theology is Jonathan's 52-song double-CD concept album featuring one song for each week of the liturgical calendar. Here's what people are saying about it:

“Sound Theology is a project of almost overwhelming, epic proportion. Probably the finest Christian album of the year…Rundman is one of Christian music’s best songwriters, worthy of consideration alongside Bruce Cockburn,
Mark Heard, and Victoria Williams”
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC

“ …challenging, thought-provoking, heartfelt, and nothing short of brilliant”
THE ALL MUSIC GUIDE

“GRADE: A. Sound Theology is a supremely clever, humorous, artfully packaged magnum opus”
YOUTHWORKER JOURNAL

“Jonathan’s a dandy of a songwriter, packing in powerful words of wisdom and things we need to hear into two- and three-minute flashes of brilliance”
CCM

“the most ambitious (and unusual) Christian music project in years…sprawling, eclectic, and geeky in a good way”
CHRISTIAN SINGLE

“anyone interested in whether undiluted rock&roll can faithfully convey the deeper truths of Christian experience should listen to this”
WORLD MAGAZINE

“Sound Theology is nothing like contemporary Christian music…a refreshing look at the fusing of belief in the divine AND the guitar”
ILLINOIS ENTERTAINER

“Rundman’s songs offer wry Garrison Keillor-ish observations that let us imagine a more or less typical yearl-long encounter with American religion. He comes off as a Christian who takes seriously the priesthood of all believers and strives, with halting success, to integrate what happens on Sunday morning with life in a workaday world.”
CHRISTIAN CENTURY

“sounding like an angst-filled disciple of Martin Luther, Rundman plays alternative rock that Winona Ryder would swoon over and your preacher would rock out to behind closed doors”
SIOUX FALLS ARGUS LEADER

“Rundman has produced a masterpiece of intelligent pop. He blends faith and rock, transcending the silly ‘Christian Rock’ tag the way Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris transcend the country music label. Maybe I should go visit a Lutheran church this Sunday”
PASTEMUSIC.COM BEST OF THE YEAR LIST

“What is this? Rundman is breaking new ground here, with quality of musicianship, grace-centered theology, and originality that the Church of today needs like oxygen. Forget Christian crossover – Rundman is crafting songs that fully integrate faith into life”
SONGCRAFT

“these songs bleed character, intelligence, orneryness, humor, innocence, and soul”
HM MAGAZINE

“one of the finest releases of the year”
TRUE TUNES NEWS

Christian Century magazine reviewed Jonathan's newest album Public Library, noting the album's "smart production and keen songwriting."