The members of and visitors to this seminar track developments in “contemporary” worship (seeker services, praise-and-worship services, convergence worship, and “traditional” services that “blend” in elements from these other kinds of services). We research particular faith communities’ worship, as well as the general trends in worship and music styles, liturgical art, architecture, and seminary education for those preparing to become worship leaders in these worship settings, Protestant and Catholic.
Convener
Seminar Report 2026
Convener
Nelson Cowan
Description of Work
Keeping with the seminar’s custom, we engaged with a diverse
range of papers and presentations. On Day One, presentations
covered Pentecostal worship typologies, the book Why We Gather,
Southern Baptist musical trends in Alabama, and a case study on
family-targeted church growth. We also gathered around the
piano to sing “fan favorites” from the contemporary praise and
worship repertoire. Day Two opened with an interactive session on
compositional techniques in contemporary worship, followed by a
panel presentation on the Young People and Christian Worship
(YPCW) study.
Other Work and Plans for the Future
We discussed the following possibilities:
- Liturgical music singalong
- joint session with Liturgical Music
- Songwriting initiative – James Marriott
- maybe some kind of joint songwriting
- Something on AI / contemporary worship
- maybe a panel
- YPCW Study Update
- Hartford Seminary’s Congregational Worship research – Taylor
Burton Edwards - “How Worship Became Music” – Sourcebook
- Bruce Benedict dissertation – Evangelical Funerals
- Effect of Lilly grants on congregational life
- Messianic Jewish practices – Noel
- Book: How to Worship for All its Worth by Steven Félix Jäger
Seminar Report 2022
Convener
Nelson Cowan serves as lead pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, FL, while also teaching as contingent faculty for Drew University, Emory University, and Wesley Theological Seminary
Members in Attendance
Taylor Burton-Edwards, Dawn Chesser (online), Nelson Cowan, Suzanne Duchesne (online), Billy Kangas, Swee Hong Lim (online), Jim Marriott (online), Ed Phillips, Lester Ruth, Casey Sigmon, Noel Snyder, Nicholas Zork
Visitors in Attendance
Saya Ojiri (online), Jonathan Ottaway (online), Adam Perez, Diana Sanchez-Bushong, Glenn Stallsmith, Teresa Stewart, Debbie Wong
Description of Work
The Exploring Contemporary and Alternative Worship Seminar had robust lineup of papers and book presentations on topics related to Pentecostal, Evangelical, and Charismatic movements (histories, theologies, analyses of practice), as well as alternative forms of worship emerging within Mainline denominations. We had two sessions of exemplary note. The first was a 2-hour introduction to Lester Ruth and Swee Hong Lim’s groundbreaking and field-defining book release, A History of Contemporary Praise & Worship. The second was an open seminar session co-led by Taylor Burton-Edwards and Ed Phillips on the Ecumenical Consultation on Protocols for Worship, Fellowship, and Sacraments.
Papers and Presentations:
- Adam Perez, “‘Contemporary/Modern (Christian) Praise/Worship (Music)’: A Review of Terms Towards Defining a Field.”
- James Marriott, “From Welcome Guest to Full Participant: The influence of migrant worship practices in the Lutheran-Church Missouri Synod.”
- Lester Ruth and Swee Hong Lim, “A Tale of Two Rivers: Introducing A His- tory of Contemporary Praise & Worship.”
- Taylor Burton-Edwards and Ed Phillips, “Adapting Worship for the Public Good: A Model from the Ecumenical Consultation on Protocols for Worship, Fellowship, and Sacraments.”
- Debbie Wong, “Transcending Tradition: A Reappraisal of Methods for Studying Charismatic Worship.”
- Jonathan Ottaway, “The Synthetic Theological Method in Pentecostal Theologies of Praise and Worship.”
- Noel Snyder, “Steven Furtick as Songwriter and ”
- Abigail Peper, “Setting the Homiletical Tables: A Sacred Feast With a Side of Conversational Preaching and Communal Authority.”
- Glenn Stallsmith, “Praying in Christ: The Role of Liturgical Prayer in an Evangelical Megachurch.”
- Nelson Cowan, Facilitated Conversation: “ECAW & Public ”
Other Work and Plans for the Future
For Toronto in 2023, we are issuing a general call for papers and presentations that pertain to the work of our seminar. Topics for consideration may be submitted directly to the convener for review. Potential site visit: The site of the Toronto Blessing Revival. Potential joint session: Liturgical Theology, discussing Melanie Ross’ latest book release. We will elect or re-elect a convener for another three-year term.
Seminar Report 2021
While the NAAL did not gather for our Annual Meeting in 2021, our seminar held a series of Virtual Meetings in January 2021.
Virtual Seminar Topics
Ed Phillips – Book Discussion, ”The Purpose, Pattern, and Character of Worship”
Billy Kangas – “Composing Utopia – How Charismatic Worship Spread the Covenant Communities Movement”
Amy Davis – Book Proposal Working Session, “Transforming Rites for Our Stories: Celebrating Beginnings, Middles, and Ends”