Exploring Contemporary and Alternative Worship
Convener
Eileen Crowley
1401 W. Gregory St., 2E
Chicago, IL 60640
Office: 773-753-5354
Home: 773-506-6244
eileen.d.crowley@earthlink.net
2006 Agenda
For many years now, members of the Exploring Contemporary Worship seminar have been investigating and tracking developments in contemporary modern worship, such as seeker services in Protestant megachurches and new music and leadership styles embraced in churches large and small. Members have also been reporting on post-modern approaches to worship, what have been called Alternative Worship and Emerging Worship. In this year's seminar, members will continue to report on these developments, but will begin to address the question of methodology, that is, how to conduct research in ways that will help the Academy understand more deeply these approaches to worship, Protestant and Catholic. As part of this discussion, members will also address the future direction of the seminar itself.
Individual members will be contributing the following topics:
- Margaret Brady, a case study on Evangelical Covenant school chapels and the issues that emerge as a denomination and its educational institutions attempt to adapt to a changing worship culture.
- Marlea Gilbert, presentation on the role and methods of welcome in the contemporary and emergent worship as more crucial than any issues of style, as well as a report on the worship at Solomon's Porch, a post-modern Minneapolis multidenominational community that gives priority to the arts as it seeks to minister to young people.
- Lester Ruth, trends in contemporary worship music songs (as noted by CCLI from 1989 to 2004), including an analysis from a Trinitarian perspective of the theological content of the most-used songs.
- Carl "Chip" Stam, A New Hymnody for the Modern Church: The Worship Music of Stuart Townend and Keith Getty (whose major blockbuster "In Christ Alone" is currently #1 on the CCLI list.) They have produced a body of modern hymnody that is both deep and wide—songs for the modern church that are wide ranging liturgically and thoroughly biblical: songs for the church year, Thanksgiving, Communion, before Scripture and Preaching, and for Children. Chip will also report on the Sojourn Community in Louisville.
- Karen Ward, an update on worship at her Lutheran-Episcopal church plant in Seattle called Church of the Apostles (COTA),background on the development of the 'emerging morning prayer' service her COTA staff will lead as part of the NAAL annual meeting, and a report on Alternative Worship she encountered in England at the Greenbelt Festival where they curated two alternative worship services.
- Other members will report on their new books, research and other projects, and field observations. As possible, the seminar will visit a local church of interest.