Liturgical issues and Directions in American Presbyterianism (concluded)

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.