On Music: Navigating Style Preferences in Worship Planning

Laura Jeon

Many churches struggle to address the challenges of worship music in today’s diverse settings. As we move through 2024, congregations find themselves at a crossroads, grappling to reconcile the varying musical preferences across generations within their communities. This issue goes beyond the type of music played and touches deeply on what makes worship meaningful for different age groups. It can potentially affect their sense of belonging and spiritual engagement.

As the director of Worship Arts and Choral Music at North Avenue Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia, I serve in a community with diverse musical tastes and preferences. In each service I plan, I strive to blend historical with contemporary music, so that all members might feel a part of our worshiping community. In my experience, more senior church members tend to prefer a worship style that carries forward the customs and musical styles they have grown accustomed to over the decades. This often includes services characterized by organ or piano music, choirs, and organ-led hymns, which, to these individuals, create a sense of holiness and reverence during worship. For many in this demographic, these elements are not just preferred but seem essential for genuine worship. On the other hand, members of my community from younger generations, including young adults and young families, often seek a different experience that resonates more closely with the musical styles and aesthetics they encounter daily. For them, the traditional sounds of hymns and organ music often feel un-relatable and create a palpable sense of alienation, making it challenging to feel they genuinely belong to their church community. 

The journey towards a unified worship experience requires a pastoral approach, acknowledging and embracing the spiritual identities of all congregants, regardless of their age or musical preference. This can be particularly challenging, yet deeply rewarding. It requires an understanding that each style of music, whether traditional hymns or contemporary songs, carries a different expression of worship and can touch the hearts of worshipers in unique ways. Encouraging congregants to appreciate and respect these different expressions can help reduce a sense of exclusion among generations. Congregations can benefit from occasional educational sessions to foster a sense of inclusion. These sessions can explore the history, significance, and role of each musical style in worship, educating the congregation and cultivating a deeper appreciation of diverse worship expressions, hopefully making every member feel valued and included. 

Of course, a vital consideration in this conversation is that collaborative worship extends beyond the selection of music and into the very act of worshiping together. Planning worship that navigates a divide in style preferences should challenge congregations to reflect on what it means to be a community that not only worships in the same space but also genuinely uplifts every voice within it. One approach involves the weaving of traditional and contemporary elements in a single service—perhaps singing a classic hymn to a modern arrangement or a contemporary worship song alongside a reading of Scripture that makes an interpretive connection. When crafted carefully and thoughtfully, these elements do not have to merely coexist alongside one another within a service; they can interact in a way that makes the worship experience richer and more vibrant for everyone involved.

Worship must reflect the diversity of God’s good creation and a sense of collaboration among races and cultures. If we can imagine the music in heaven, it does not adhere to one style, for we imagine all races and all nations worshiping and praising together. Though we cannot replicate heaven, worship is an expression of eschatological hope, and our differences should not prevent us from learning to be present with one another here and now. Whether traditional or modern, worship in collaboration should reflect this divine diversity and foster a worship environment in which everyone can truly belong. 

A divergence in musical taste within a congregation can pose a significant challenge for church leadership tasked with designing services. Questions arise for church leaders as they strive to promote worship that honors the entire church community and the God we worship, including: What is the best approach to unify the service for a multigenerational congregation with diverse musical preferences? How can churches balance traditional and contemporary worship styles to create a cohesive and inclusive worship environment? Are there theological considerations to be made when deciding on the style of worship music, and if so, what might those be?

One Boston-based historic church with a four-hundred-year history initially adopted a two-service approach to address the needs of different age groups. However, this approach raised concerns among the church’s leadership and created divisions within the congregation. To respond to this issue, they came up with what they called “blended worship,” which merges aspects of traditional and contemporary worship into one inclusive and unifying experience. Blended worship typically incorporates a mix of traditional hymns played on an organ with modern contemporary Christian music played by a band. Choirs may wear traditional robes and perform classical choral works, but the service might also include more contemporary solo or group performances. The goal is to accommodate to the preferences of different age groups while honoring the congregation’s diversity. However, the implementation of such a service is not without its challenges. Seamlessly integrating diverse musical styles without one overpowering the other can be daunting. It requires careful planning, sensitivity, and creativity from worship leaders. The goal is to create a true blend that feels coherent and spiritually enriching for all attendees, a task that can be both complex and rewarding. 

As churches explore and refine the blended worship model, it becomes evident that there is no universal solution to the question of worship music. The effectiveness of any worship style, be it traditional, contemporary, or blended, ultimately hinges on how well it facilitates the congregation’s connection with the divine and with one another. This underscores the crucial role of church leaders in fostering ongoing dialogue with their communities. By understanding their needs and preferences and by being open to adaptation and innovation, leaders can ensure that their worship practices remain relevant and meaningful. 

Music is a powerful tool for spiritual engagement and community-building. Whether through blended worship or other innovative approaches, the goal should always be to foster a sense of belonging and spiritual nourishment for everyone in the congregation, thus strengthening the church’s unity and its mission in the world.