Webber, born in the Congo to missionary parents, was raised in the Philadelphia area. He earned a Th.D. from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and served as professor of Theology at Wheaton College, from 1968 to 2000, where he was named professor emeritus upon his retirement. In the fall of 2000, he was appointed the William R. and Geraldine D. Myers professor of Ministry and director of the M.A. in Worship and Spirituality at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Illinois.

In 1998, he founded the Institute for Worship Studies (now the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies.) The Institute is a Masters and Doctorate level graduate school focused on the study of the theological, Biblical, historical, sociological and missiological foundations of Christian worship. It is hosted by Grace Episcopal Church of Orange Park, Florida, and combines distance learning with one-week on-campus intensive courses involving students, faculty and alumni from around the globe.

Webber was noted for his numerous writings and workshops in worship and worship renewal. Some of his books include "Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail," "Worship is a Verb," and "Worship Old and New."

He leaves a wife, Joanne, four children, seven grandchildren, and a rich legacy of friends, colleagues and students.

Memorial services will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in Orange Park, Florida, June 15 at 7 p.m. and at Northern Seminary. Contact seminary for date, location, and time.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Robert E. Webber Endowment Fund at the Institute for Worship Studies, 151 Kingsley Ave., Orange Park, Florida 32073, or the Robert E. Webber Center for an Ancient Evangelical Future, c/o Northern Seminary, 660 E. Butterfield Rd., Lombard, IL 60148.