Worship growing more diversified, survey of Protestant churches says_32204

Posted: 3/19/04

Worship growing more diversified,
survey of Protestant churches says

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

The typical worshipper in a Protestant church today is more likely to be singing choruses projected on a screen and taking notes from his pastor's PowerPoint presentation than he was five years ago, a new study reveals.

But the same research shows most churches still sing traditional hymns and use a printed order of worship at least once a month.

Ellison Research, a marketing research firm in Phoenix, Ariz., conducted the survey for Facts & Trends magazine, a publication of LifeWay Christian Resources.

According to survey results published in the magazine's March-April issue, churches moving toward more contemporary worship styles outpaced those shifting to more traditional styles by an 11-to-1 margin.

Researchers surveyed 659 ministers in all 50 states representing all major Protestant denominations. Geography, church size and denomination were carefully tracked to ensure appropriate representation and accuracy.

Ministers currently active in church leadership were asked whether worship style in their church had changed in the last five years. Fifteen percent said their worship has become much more contemporary, and another 36 percent said it was somewhat more contemporary. Forty-four percent noted no significant change, while 5 percent said their worship has become more traditional in the last five years.

Movement toward a more contemporary worship style was most pronounced in the larger churches and among Pentecostals. Twenty-seven percent of churches with 200 or more members had become much more contemporary, compared to 14 percent among mid-sized churches, and 9 percent among churches with fewer than 100 members.

Pentecostal churches were more than twice as likely as non-Pentecostal churches to report a major shift toward contemporary worship styles (31 percent, compared to 12 percent).

Not surprisingly, pastors under age 60 were almost twice as likely to have led their church toward much more contemporary worship as were older ministers.

The study also examined specific elements used in worship, and it showed the greatest increase in the last five years was in the use of electronic media, though they still are used by fewer than half of all American Protestant churches.

Five years ago, only 5 percent of Protestant churches used computer graphics presentations at least once a month. Today, projected computer graphics are used in more than one-third (36 percent) of all Protestant churches. Five years ago, 4 percent used video clips during worship services, compared to 29 percent now.

The number of churches using praise and worship choruses nearly doubled in the last five years (from 38 percent in 1999 to the current 74 percent). Churches using drama have grown from 23 percent to 42 percent.

But if pastors are trying to appeal to a visually oriented generation with a short attention span, they're missing the mark in at least one area. The survey showed the average sermon is nearly 31 minutes long–roughly the same length as it was five years ago.

And some other things remain unchanged. Nearly all churches (95 percent) pass an offering plate, bag or basket in the worship service. A clear majority of churches observe communion (89 percent), sing traditional hymns (88 percent), print an order of worship (85 percent) and use hymnals (78 percent) at least once a month in worship.

A majority of Protestant churches still have choirs (62 percent), use congregational or responsive readings in worship (52 percent) and offer Sunday night worship services (51 percent).

The study found considerably more diversity in worship today than was present just five years ago, said Ron Sellers, president of Ellison Research.

“Of the 17 worship elements we explored in this study, the average church today uses 9.8 of them once a month or more,” Sellers noted. “Five years ago, the average church used 7.3 of them. Even traditional elements such as hymns, altar calls and communion celebrations have become more common as churches diversify what they offer to worshippers.”

For more information, visit www.ellisonresearch.com/PastorStudy.htm.

Data summary:

Passing an offering plate/bag/basket etc.: 95 percent use today, 80 percent used five years ago

Celebration of communion: 89 percent use today, 72 percent used five years ago

Traditional hymns: 88 percent use today, 76 percent used five years ago

Printed bulletin/order of service: 85 percent use today, 68 percent used five years ago

Hymnals: 78 percent use today, 73 percent used five years ago

Praise & worship choruses: 74 percent use today, 38 percent used five years ago

An altar call: 67 percent use today, 52 percent used five years ago

Children's sermon or children's worship: 65 percent use today, 47 percent used five years ago

A choir: 62 percent use today, 55 percent used five years ago

Congregational/responsive readings: 52 percent use today, 44 percent used five years ago

Worship on Sunday evenings: 51 percent use today, 44 percent used five years ago

Drama (skits or sketches): 42 percent use today, 23 percent used five years ago

Identifying visitors (stand, raise hands, etc.): 38 percent use today, 34 percent used five years ago

PowerPoint or similar computer graphics: 36 percent use today, 5 percent used five years ago

Video clips shown in the service: 29 percent use today, 4 percent used five years ago

Christian rock/pop/country music: 25 percent use today, 9 percent used five years ago

Secular music: 7 percent use today, 4 percent used five years ago

(Courtesy of Facts & Trends)