Contemporary and Traditional Church Services

Declining membership has remained an issue for many mainstream Christian denominations. In an effort to build congregations, churches are offering two distinct services: contemporary and traditional.

Contemporary and Traditional Church Services
Declining membership has remained an issue for many mainstream Christian denominations. In an effort to attract and retain younger members, a number of churches have begun to offer separate contemporary services, or at least blend some contemporary elements into their traditional services. Some have even considered eliminating traditional services altogether in favor of the more dynamic and youth-oriented contemporary worship style. The results of these conversions or adaptations, however, have been decidedly mixed, with some parishioners seeking out more traditional services elsewhere. Younger members of older congregations have also migrated towards churches and worship centers with an emphasis on contemporary services. Before joining a church, it is important to understand the differences between traditional and contemporary services and which version best addresses your specific needs and lifestyle.
Many churches hold separate contemporary and traditional services. When looking for a new church to attend, pay close attention to the listing of its services in the local newspaper, telephone directory or outdoor sign. It is not unusual for contemporary services to begin much earlier than traditional services in order to fit into a traditional schedule of Sunday school followed by morning worship. This could be a consideration if you are not generally a morning person, since contemporary services can be very energetic and boisterous at times. If you prefer a contemporary style of worship, you might be happier attending a modern worship center with more conventional service times. Traditional services often follow a prescribed order of worship, while contemporary services could become a bit more freeform. Even if the starting time for worship is not an issue, for some the ending time might be. Some feel traditional services may be too scripted, while others feel contemporary services may be too open-ended.

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Author: Michael Pollick



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