Music And The Arts Among The Churches

The entries that follow offer an overview of the current worship practices of most of the major denominations in this country, each prepared by a person active in that particular church. Read individually, they furnish a wealth of fresh ideas; collectively they give evidence that, while each denomination remains theologically focused on its tradition and centers its worship on the familiar, there is hardly one which is not actively re-examining its worship philosophy and experimenting with new forms, music, and visual art. Insularity and Rigidity (and their offspring Routine and Passivity) have given way to a flowering of creativity which fosters commitment. Earlier labels such as Liturgical, Praise, Full Gospel, and Evangelical are no longer definitive. Each denomination appears to be eager to learn from the practices of others as a stimulus to their own worship rather than looking only to the past, only inward, or only to other churches within their denomination. Narrowness is out, and features once thought the special province and mark of a particular group are being fruitfully and joyfully embraced by others. The variety is so widespread that it is almost more appropriate to focus on the specific practices of an individual congregation, rather than to make generalizations about a denomination as a whole. As Philip Begrrov Peter notes,"Style is becoming more and more eclectic and there is a healthy regard for the special contribution that every individual may make. Worship, once almost the property of the officiating clergy rigorously hewing to a prescribed pattern, has rightly become the responsibility of Every person. "

1. Adventist Churches
2. African Methodist Episcopal Churches
3. African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
4. The American Baptist Churches In The USA
5. Anglican And Episcopal Churches
6. Assemblies Of God Churches
7. Baptist (Evangelical Denominations And Independent Baptist Churches)
8. Baptist General Conference
9. Brethren (Plymouth) Churches
10. Calvary Chapel
11. Charismatic Churches
12. Christian And Missionary Alliance Churches
13. Christian Church (Disciples Of Christ)
14. Christian Churches (Independent) And Churches Of Christ (Instrumental)
15. Christian Reformed Church In North America
16. Church Of God, Anderson, Indiana
17. Church Of God, Cleveland, Tennessee
18. Church Of God In Christ
19. Church Of The Brethren
20. Church Of The Nazarene
21. Churches Of Christ (Noninstrumental)
22. Congregational Churches
23. The Eastern Orthodox Churches
24. Evangelical Covenant Churches
25. Evangelical Free Church Of America
26. Evangelical Lutheran Church In America
27. Friends (Quakers)
28. International Foursquare Gospel Church
29. Independent Fundamentalist And Evangelical Churches
30. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
31. Mennonite Churches
32. Messianic Synagogue
33. National Baptist Convention Of America
34. National Baptist Convention Of The USA
35. Presbyterian Church In America
36. Presbyterian Church USA
37. Progressive National Baptist Convention
38. Reformed Church In America
39. Reformed Episcopal Church
40. Roman Catholic Churches
41. The Salvation Army
42. Southern Baptist Convention Churches
43. United Church Of Christ
44. United Methodist Churches
45. Vineyard
46. Wesleyan Churches
47. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
48. Women's Aglow Fellowship
49. Alternative Use Of Music And The Arts In The Liturgical Tradition
50. Alternative Use Of Music And The Arts In The Free Church Tradition
51. Alternative Use Of Music And The Arts Among Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches
52. Alternative Use Of Music And The Arts In The Seekers' Service