Dr. Ingrid Buch-Wagler – A Life of Worship

Dr. Ingrid Buch-Wagler, one of our long-time faculty members passed away August 31, 2020.  Dr. Buch-Wagler left an indelible print on our students and seminary.  She will be greatly missed. Ingrid Buch-Wagler held a Ph.D. in Conflict Management from Trinity Theological Seminary and taught at Rockbridge Seminary since 2009. Her classes included Developing the Focused Life, the Theology and Practice of Worship, and Practicing the Focused Life.  Her teaching and research interests included Conflict Management, Worship, and Mentoring/Discipleship.

She described herself as, “the daughter of Pastor Mark; sister of Dr. Wes; wife of Dr. Johnny; mother to John Jamin Wagler, a musician and sound engineer; worship leader of a fine church body; mentor to some awesome young women; prof to great students;  and watched over by a coterie of amazing friends.”  Ingrid enjoyed daily prayer walks, working out, singing in her head, and enjoyed her little home office which is filled with all the books and things she loved. She was of Danish-English heritage, a Canadian citizen, and happily lived in the U.S. as an alien.  Listen to the remarks from her students:

“I also enjoyed reading stories written by Professor Buch-Wagler.”

“I really enjoyed the classmates and Dr. Ingrid’s interactions throughout the course. Lots of great perspectives.”

“I enjoyed the student/Professor interactions the most. Very insightful on reality.”

“Dr. Buch-Wagler was fantastic!”

 “I loved having Dr. Buch-Wagler as the professor. She was personal, friendly and very interactive with each of the students. She gave insight and much value to the learning process.”

“Online conversations and interactions with Dr. Buch-Wagler were my favorite aspects of this course.”

“Dr. Buch-Wagler was encouraging while holding us very accountable. Great balance.”

“The course was led through an outstanding desire to worship by Dr. Ingrid Buch-Wagler. I can’t wait to meet her, truly an encouraging course leader!”

“Dr. Ingrid Buch-Wagler was a great professor for the course. She is smart, has great insight on worship, responds quickly to any questions, and is very encouraging. I would love to have another class with her. She is a great asset for Rockbridge Seminary.”

“Dr. Ingrid was encouraging and supportive throughout the class. I felt she was available and engaging. LOVED this class.”

“The professor was one of the most enjoyable aspects of this course. She is a wonderful educator.”

“Dr. Ingrid– she’s amazing!”

I loved to hear Dr. Ingrid Buch-Wagler pray in our faculty meetings.  She lived a life of worship.  In honor of her life and service, we are reposting a blog she wrote for us.  Please pray for her family.

The Truth Online Learning by Dr. Ingrid Buch-Wagler

I am an online professor. When I first started teaching online it was 2005 and I thought quite frankly, “This will never work.” Now over a decade later, so much has changed, including my opinion.  Online theological studies allow a student to be both in the field and in the academy at the same time, with both informing the other. Rockbridge students must already be in ministry. The seminary is only looking for students who have already received a call, have had that call endorsed, and are serving in a church or para-church community. The great value of a Rockbridge theological education is two fold: it is very hands-on practical and it involves a local mentor. The adult learners I serve in Rockbridge worship courses are not wanting an ivory tower education. They are wanting real applications to the real situations in which they engage. In the courses I teach, students want to feel that I have the academic side covered, but that I know the ropes because I too am in ministry. And I do. I was born into it. My dad, brother, and husband have all been pastors. I began serving when my dad would take me along on his pastoral visitation and I would belt out hymns. I was 11 years old when I was ready to accompany congregational singing on Sunday morning. But I am clear in the worship courses I teach, that worship is not first about music. It is about a posture of the heart.

I think the greatest value of online learning is the collaborative nature of the community built in each course. Students engage with men and women from different ages, stages, ecclesiastical streams, ethnicities, backgrounds, and geographical locales. They serve in small rural churches, mega churches in suburbia, and missions in the inner city. They are all there to learn from the course content and each other.

These learners already know who they are and what they are about. They are not trying to find themselves. They know how to manage one more area of their life as they go back to online “school.” They are motivated and confident. That I as a professor get to speak into their lives and facilitate their goals is such an honor.