SCD Ideas

by Elliott Wright*Orlando, FL, August 2, 2008–What kind of music is best for worship in a new church start? That question was explored in a seminar for church developers, but there was no single and simple answer.“There are many options,” said Marcia McFee, a specialist in church music and worship. New music that appeals to contemporary groups is often a good choice, or new uses of older music. “We need to remember that the contemporary movement in worship is 35 years old, and there are also other options today. One size does not fit all.”

She reminded the seminar that music is the “glue” of worship services, often determining the flow and setting the tone.

The seminar was part of the 2008 School of Congregational Development, held annually to assist pastors and other church leaders in understanding better how to start new congregations and to revitalize existing ones.

McFee has a broad experience in many forms of church music and styles of worship. She was co-director of music at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference, the legislature of the denomination that meets once every four years.

Her central point was that music is what connects the verbal, visual, and visceral aspects of worship: “what we hear, what we see, and what we do.”

McFee presented the variety of musical forms and idioms that can be appropriate to new church starts, depending on locations, interests, and instruments available. These include:

hymns old and newcontemporary songs old and newblues and spirituals

popular music

global music

music from contemplative religious communities, such as Taizé in France and

Iona, an international ecumenical movement that began in Britain.

Both McFee and another speaker, the Rev. Carol Howard Merritt, stressed that many young adults today are strongly attracted by contemplative, meditative music and worship. “Don’t make the mistake of assuming that contemporary praise songs are the only option when trying to reach young adults,” McFee said. She also noted that young adults today have no problem combining the joyful praise of God with a concern for justice.The approach to music when starting a new church or revitalizing an older one should be that of “intentional design,” McFee explained. Emphases should fall on:

“Music that inspires us to action”Music that connects us to the timeless, ageless foundations of faith”Music that creates community, celebration, and intimacy

“Music that draws us close to the immanent God and the deep wells of our souls.”

McFee proposed that planners of worship learn to think like filmmakers, who use music to move along the story and its action.

Some seminar members asked if it would take a great deal of time and talent to follow McFee’s suggestions.

She agreed that it did take planning and rehearsal time, and perhaps the recruitment of students and others who might want to donate their musical talents, for example, to form a small band for a church just getting started.

The effort is worth it because the music helps to create an “environment in which to express the holy,” McFee said.

The School of Congregational Development met in two locations this year: St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando, Florida, and Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Some plenary sessions and worship were shared by satellite links. Three hundred people took part in Orlando and 150 in Grand Rapids.

*Elliott Wright is the information officer of the General Board of Global Ministries.

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 3rd, 2008 at 2:28 pm and is filed under Arts, SCD News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.