Contemporary worship

Congregational singing typically comprises a greater proportion of the service than in conventional forms of worship.

Where contemporary worship is practiced in churches with a liturgical tradition, elements of the liturgy are frequently kept to a minimum.

Contemporary worship normally includes a number of songs sung in succession, with little or no intermediate speaking.

In more traditional forms of worship, it would be normal for hymns to be interspersed with prayers, readings, liturgical items, etc.

Worship bands may also be utilized with the rationale that some non-churchgoing visitors will feel more comfortable.

Hence many churches that adopt a contemporary style of worship project the words to the songs onto one or more screens.

Specialised software, known as worship presentation programs, was developed to generate the images for display.

Critics have also argued that contemporary worship services are actually 'entertainment', claiming that the increased amounts of music (often played by a band) and lack of intercession, create the atmosphere of a concert or performance.

[3] Interviewed in Christianity Today in 2011, Grove City College professor T. David Gordon stated that churches were adding hymns to contemporary services, but that in the past the main concern had never been how new the music sounded.

[4] After his 2011 interview, Gordon said Mark Moring of Christianity Today had observed that contemporary music in churches was on the decline.