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United Methodist Worship Today (USA): Traditional or Contemporary?

There are two recent major efforts at researching opinions and practices of United Methodist music and worship in the United States:

  • Joint General Conference Music and Worship Study, 2004-2007
  • New Hymnal Research Report 2007-2008

The Music and Worship Study looked into actual music and worship practices in place today in The United Methodist Church, with some research into opinions, while the additional Discipleship Ministries research looked primarily into personal opinions with some research into actual practices. It is important to remember the difference between the two. It is the Music and Worship Study that gives us the more accurate picture of United Methodist music and worship practices in the church TODAY, and the additional Discipleship Ministries research that may give an indication of future trends.

With that distinction in mind, and using only data from the Music and Worship Study, we can get a picture of what United Methodist worship and music looks like today, specifically asking the question, "Is United Methodist music and worship traditional or contemporary?" Responses come from the largest and most representative sample of the study and not any particular constituency.

  • Describe your church's worship services:
    • Main service: 56% traditional; 7% contemporary; 36% blended; less than 1% emerging
    • 2nd services: 42% traditional; 33% contemporary; 21% blended; 4% emerging
    • 3rd services: 41% traditional; 35% contemporary; 16% blended; 7% emerging
  • How often are the following musical styles used in your services:
    • Traditional hymns: 59% always; 39% frequently; 4% occasionally
    • Contemporary Christian songs: 5% always; 23% frequently; 40% occasionally
    • Praise choruses: 21% always; 28% frequently; 30% occasionally
  • What instruments are used in your worship services:
    • Main service: 89% organ; 79% piano; 17% praise band
    • 2nd services: 70% organ; 45% piano; 38% praise band
    • 3rd services: 60% organ; 41% piano; 47% praise band
  • Who accompanies congregational singing:
    Main service:
    • Organ: 78%
    • Piano: 72%
    • Choir: 52%
    • Praise band: 17%
    • Prerecorded tracks: 14%

    Other services:

    • Organ: 30%
    • Piano: 40%
    • Choir: 16%
    • Praise band: 28%
    • Prerecorded tracks: 13%
  • Who leads congregational singing:
    Main Service:
    • Music coordinator: 35%
    • Pastor: 33%
    • Choir director: 29%
    • Worship leader: 19%
    • Praise team: 17%

    Other Services:

    • Music coordinator: 18%
    • Pastor: 16%
    • Choir director: 12%
    • Worship leader: 15%
    • Praise team: 26%
  • Do you sing from a hymnal/songbook or use projection:
    • Main service: 70% print; 15% projection; 12% both print and projection
    • Other services: 51% print; 36% projection; 11% both print and projection

    The picture that emerges is that The United Methodist Church in the United States today worships and sings much more in a traditional than in a contemporary manner. What this picture does not reveal is what this snapshot might look like in five, ten, or twenty years. One question that may give an indication of future trends is:

  • Indicate whether you see the following musical styles increasing, decreasing, or staying the same in popularity.
    • Traditional hymns: 12% increasing; 24% decreasing; 64% same
    • Contemporary hymns: 65% increasing; 7% decreasing; 28% same
    • Contemporary Christian Music: 51% increasing; 11% decreasing; 37% same
    • Praise and worship music: 63% increasing; 10% decreasing; 27% same

Using the indicator of style of congregational singing, we can conclude that the expected trend is a significant increase in the use of contemporary music. Considering the fact that past worship wars and ongoing disagreements today have largely been over the musical style of congregational singing, this is a significant trend for the future direction of United Methodist music and worship.

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