Liturgical issues and Directions in American Presbyterianism (concluded)

Stephen H. Brown

The extraordinary variety in attitudes and practices in worship since the Reformation. Worship has accommodated itself to culture. Although there has been a release of language, congregations still have their unspoken limits for worship reform. The need to change the images we use. We also limit and idolise the church’s art and music; openness to a growing diversity and richness is necessary. There is still a tension between performance and participation. These continue into the issue of professionalism versus lay participation; we have valued quality in leadership but may have created an elite. The writer notes certain trends: the liturgical (the Worshipbook), ecumenical, yet tends to be upper-middle class; participatory – the minister as enabler – but it can be unrealistic in its expectations; the missionary trend. The debate continues between, in particular, the first two of these trends.

Reference: Volume 11, Number 01 May 1981, p13
Scroll to Top