The Emerging Worship Initiative

We are living in a time of overwhelming spiritual curiosity. However, there are few signs of people flocking to churches for spiritual fulfillment. In fact, many people are leaving the church in search of deeper rituals and more mystery...

In an attempt to attract spiritual “seekers” many churches have turned to novel forms of worship. Experimentation with worship forms has created great tension among the church’s faithful — some have even declared a worship war! ... Some of these issues, such as hospitality, encourage a deeper understanding of worship and our rich heritage as the Body of Christ. On the negative side, however, there are deep disagreements over worship style, music, technology, space, time and generational differences. People often become polarized over issues that may have little to do with worship that is authentically Christian.

We believe the time is ripe for church leaders to use the momentum created by current worship controversies to deepen worship education in their congregations. This is an extraordinary teachable moment for worship reform and renewal.

The Emerging Worship Initiative is an ecumenical movement spearheaded by the Office of Theology and Worship of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. A study group was convened in Seattle last September to discuss this initiative. The group, which consisted of professors, ministers and denominational staff from the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., the United Methodist Church, the United Church of Canada, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, began to frame a discussion designed to give a more full expression of Emerging Worship.

Read the full text of the Emerging Worship Initiative