James Abbington

James Abbington holds the endowed Joseph B. Bethea Professor of the Practice of Sacred Music and Black Church Studies at Duke Divinity School. Previously, he served as Associate Professor of Church Music and Worship at Candler School of Theology (Atlanta) and Associate Visiting Professor of Christian Hymnody at Yale University’s Institute of Sacred Music and Yale Divinity School. He earned a D.MA. and M.Mus. from the University of Michigan and a B.A. from Morehouse College.

• Education:
• D.M.A., University of Michigan
• M.Mus., University of Michigan
• B.A., Morehouse College

His research focuses on African American sacred folk music, Christian worship practices, organ performance, choral music, and ethnomusicology. For over 25 years, he has served as executive editor of the African American Church Music Series (GIA Publications). His work bridges musical scholarship with theological practice, particularly in Black Church contexts.

He received a fellowship from The Hymn Society of the United States and Canada. His academic contributions include advancing Black Church studies through Duke Divinity School’s inaugural Joseph B. Bethea Chair, funded by a $5 million award from The Duke Endowment.

Abbington’s advisory and collaborative efforts include editorial leadership in sacred music publishing and interdisciplinary initiatives linking musicology with religious studies.