GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 2 Present and Past Musical Battles: Traditional, Contemporary, Alternative The Evolution of the Worship Band 1960s: orientation was counter-cultural; theme was social justice 1980s: strong cultural identification; theme: attract as many people as possible 2000s: lingua franca of our time? ALL THREE attacked the traditional heritage of worship and hymnody

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 3 Worship Music Today: FRAGMENTATION Electronic: microphones, guitars, drums Organists: 4-part hymnal harmony, hymnal’s homorhythms Acoustic Historic Performance Practice One of Multiple Styles Blended

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 4 Further Complications for Traditional Worship Clergy who hate organs or bands Lay people sick to death of organs or bands “Churched,” “un-churched,” “de-churched” The Neo-Monastics The Emergent Conversation

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 5 THE RIVER OF CONGREGATIONAL SONG Jewish Temple & Synagogue Early Christian Chant Early Christian Hymns Greek Hymns Latin Hymns Middle Ages Folk Song German Hymns & Chorales Scandinavian Hymns Genevan, Scottish, French, English metrical Psalms Anglican chant English Hymns Isaac Watts The Wesleys Early American Hymnody American Denominations Native American African, Africana, slavery Spanish, Hispanic, Latino Asian 19 th Century English Hymns 20 th Century English Hymns

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 6 THE RIVER OF CONGREGATIONAL SONG Taize and Gelineau Psalmody Ethnic African American Sunday School Songs Social Gospel Hymns Gospel: historic, modern, contemporary Jazz Later Derivative Forms Other Modern Streams: Rock & Roll, post-Vatican II, Civil Rights & Freedom Songs, Folk Music Other Modern Streams: Country, peace/protest, commercial & entertainment music, British hymnic explosion, modern ethnic & global music, women’s movement, charismatic movement, praise & worship, globalization & internationalization The Gaithers Disposable Hymnody

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 7 What Is TRADITIONAL Worship?

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 8 Defining Traditional or Majority Worship Four-fold pattern: 1-Entrance; 2-Proclamation and Response; 3- Thanksgiving and Communion; 4-Sending Forth 2-4 hymns Primary use of UM Hymnal with some supplementation Support by song leader, choir, organ, piano Invests more time and money in “special” musicians than congregational singing minute sermon on text of the day or a theme

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 9 More Characteristics of Traditional or Majority Worship Worship posture: congregation sits or stands Congregation: participants vs. spectators 60-minute service Concludes with a benediction rather than an invitation Monthly Holy Communion, usually first Sunday Congregation sings from a print hymnal Experimenting or trying out projection of words

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 10 What Is Driving the Push for Change? Technology Generations Politics Globalization Commercialization Entertainment Mainline membership loss

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 11 What is the future? Where are we going? TECHNOLOGY LESS print, MORE electronics MORE use of tracks MORE technology in worship EVENTUAL replacement of print hymnal RE-INSTITUTION of privately owned hymnals POSSIBLY the end of music and worship publishing as we know it

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 12 What is the future? Where are we going? WORSHIP MORE frequent Holy Communion MORE older and second career pastors MORE women pastors MORE non-seminary pastors SHORTER ritual and liturgy LESS reliance on lectionary; MORE thematic worship MORE inclusive language for God and people MORE alternative worship times

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 13 What is the future? Where are we going? MUSIC CONTINUATION of hymnal in some form MORE supplementation of hymnal LESS complex lyrics & language SHORTER hymns & songs MORE new songs. FEWER historic/traditional hymns MORE global, ethnic, and non-English songs and liturgy FEWER Wesley hymns

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 14 What is the future? Where are we going? MUSIC (cont.) MORE hymns of emotion, expression, experience MORE contemplative & prayer songs in worship MORE ebullient, joyful, celebrative hymns MORE use of non-keyboard instruments for congregational singing CONTINUED use of keyboard instruments for singing CONTINUED self-organization by congregations around music style and preferences

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church The following slides contain data from the music study conducted by The General Board of Discipleship at the request of General Conference. Complete report is available on the Discipleship Ministries website. 15

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 16 1.I prefer congregational singing to be accompanied by the organ.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 17 2.I prefer congregational singing to be accompanied by the piano.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 18 3.I prefer congregational singing to be accompanied by guitars or a praise band.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church I enjoy congregational singing that is strong, vigorous, and upbeat.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 20 5.I enjoy congregational singing that is quiet, slow tempo, and meditative.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 21 6.I would rather hear the choir or praise team sing the hymns than sing myself.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church It is important to have a good number and variety of Wesley hymns in the hymnal.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church We need more than the 58 Wesley texts in our current hymnal.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church Wesley hymns help to give United Methodists a common heritage, theology, and identity.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church Wesley hymns are from an earlier time and have little meaning for us today.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church Wesley texts are dense, thick, and difficult to understand.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church Wesley texts should be edited to be made easier to understand.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church A new hymnal should include Wesley texts with their traditional tunes.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church A new hymnal should include Wesley texts with contemporary settings.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church It is important that we have hymns in a variety of musical styles from around the world.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 31 7.a.I wish our hymnal had more traditional hymns.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 32 7.b.I wish our hymnal had more new, recently composed hymns.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 33 7.c.I wish our hymnal had more praise songs.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 34 7.d.I wish our hymnal had more praise choruses.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 35 7.e.I wish our hymnal had more contemporary Christian worship songs.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 36 7.f.I wish our hymnal had more chants and refrains, Taize, and other contemplative music.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 37 7.g.I wish our hymnal had more traditional gospel songs.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 38 7.h.I wish our hymnal had more contemporary gospel songs.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 39 7.i.I wish our hymnal had more Spirituals.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 40 7.j.I wish our hymnal had more southern gospel.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 41 7.k.I wish our hymnal had more global songs.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 42 7.l.I wish our hymnal had more pop/rock.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 43 7.m.I wish our hymnal had more hip hop/rap.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 44 7.n.I wish our hymnal had more country/ bluegrass.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 45 7.o.I wish our hymnal had more avant garde.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 46 7.p.I wish our hymnal had more ethnic songs and styles.

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 47 Links to research data in this presentation: General Conference Music Study: Hymnal Research

GBOD – Leadership Ministries The Future of Traditional Worship and Music in The United Methodist Church 48