Contemporary Worship Music and Intergenerational Formation

Dear Colleagues,

“The Christian church was born in song” writes Ralph Martin (Martin, 1974). Indeed, song is one of the three acts (along with prayer and the proclamation of scripture) that has characterized Christian worship of every era and tradition (Chan, 1998). In recent years, however, music has taken an even more central place in corporate Christian worship. This is especially the case in contemporary praise and worship—a relatively new tradition of worship that over the last half-century has expanded rapidly in both the U.S. and globally (Ruth and Lim, 2021). The landscape of ecclesial affiliation was once marked by denominational affiliations. Today, however, a far greater number of churches are independent and embrace a shared constellation of worship practices that (regardless of the church’s denominational background) are drawn from evangelical, Pentecostal, and charismatic influences (National Congregations Study, 2021). Scholars estimate that nearly one-quarter of the world’s Christians (Ingalls and Yong, 2015) practice some form of contemporary praise and worship, including and beyond more than half of the world’s Protestants who are Pentecostal (Marti, et al., 2017). Contemporary praise and worship music has become an ecumenical tradition (Johnson and Loepp Theissen, 2023). However, its impact on the spiritual formation of those practitioners, especially children and youth, has not been well researched.

These shifts in practice also mean that the independent worship music industry and other independent publishers have come to play an increasingly prominent role in providing materials, principles, and frameworks for worship and prayer. Some of the most popular and all-encompassing children’s ministry curricula, such as Grow, Orange, and Group, include ready-made worship materials intended for children’s and family ministries. Other materials marketed specifically for children are produced by large influential churches that dominate the independent worship music market, such as Elevation Church (Charlotte, NC) and Bethel Church (Redding, CA) (Perez, et al. 2023). A cursory view of Spotify charts alone reveals millions of listeners for the top songs published by each group. This complements the much wider listenership of worship music from these sources that is marketed to all ages and is available through streaming platforms and on Christian radio. Independent artists and the four major Christian record labels also maintain a steady flow of music releases intended to encourage and enable children and families at worship.

Given these historical and industrial realities, this Special Issue aims to fill a gap in research on the impact of contemporary praise and worship music on the faith formation of children and communities.

Potential areas of research include the following:

Children’s Participation and Experience:

• In contemporary worship music settings, how does active participation in intergenerational worship impact the spiritual development and sense of belonging among children?
• What role does music play in facilitating intergenerational worship experiences, and how might contemporary musical styles impact children's capacity to participate fully?
• To what extent do children's participation and engagement in contemporary worship music impact their long-term involvement in faith communities and their spiritual development?

Theological Foundations and Pedagogy

• What theological foundations underpin the current situation of intergenerational worship, and how might these be strengthened within contemporary worship contexts?
• How do historic practices of intergenerational worship compare with contemporary approaches, and what insights can be gleaned to inform current practices, including (but not limited to) children?
• What theological underpinnings from the history of contemporary praise and worship might be reclaimed to renew attention to intergenerational worship?
• Which theological themes are most prevalent in worship music for children and intergeneration settings?

Practical Implementation and Innovation

• What are the perceptions and experiences of parents and caregivers regarding the presence and involvement of their children in contemporary worship music?
• How do congregational leaders, musicians, and worship planners perceive the theological, logistical, or developmental challenges and opportunities of involving children in contemporary worship, and how do these perceptions inform their practices and decision-making?
• What potential barriers exist and what are the strategies for creating inclusive and accommodating contemporary worship environments that cater to children with disabilities and needs within the context of contemporary worship?
• How do children's perspectives and voices contribute to the shaping of contemporary worship practices, and how can their input be effectively integrated into decision-making processes?

References

Berhó, Deborah L., Gerardo Martí, and Mark T. Mulder. “Global Pentecostalism and Ethnic Identity Maintenance among Latino Immigrants: A Case Study of a Guatemalan Neo-Pentecostal Congregation in the Pacific Northwest.” Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies 39, no. 1/2 (March 2017): 5–33. https://doi.org/10.1163/15700747-03901004.

Chan, Simon. Spiritual Theology: A Systematic Study of the Christian Life. InterVarsity Press, 1998.

Chaves, Mark, Joseph Roso, Anna Holleman, and Mary Hawkins. Congregations in 21st Century America. Durham, NC: Duke University, Department of Sociology, 2021.

Ingalls, Monique Marie, and Amos Yong, eds. The Spirit of Praise: Music and Worship in Global Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity. University Park, Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2015.

Johnson, Sarah Kathleen, and Anneli Loepp Thiessen. “Contemporary Worship Music as an Ecumenical Liturgical Movement.” Worship 97 (July 2023): 204–29.

Martin, Ralph P. Worship in the Early Church. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1974.

Perez, Adam, Shannan Baker, Elias Dummer, Marc Jolicoeur, and Mike Tapper. “‘Do It Again’: Chart-Topping Worship Songs and the Churches Behind Them.” Liturgy 38, no. 4 ( 2 October 2023): 31–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/0458063X.2023.2259766.

Ruth, Lester, and Swee Hong Lim. A History of Contemporary Praise and Worship: Understanding the Ideas That Reshaped the Protestant Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2021.

Prof. Dr. Steve R. Guthrie
Dr. Adam A. Perez
Guest Editors

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