The Future of Worship

Where is the worship of God headed in the future? This is the question that Tim Studstill, director of music and worship for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, attempted to wrap his arms around.

According to this article below — denominations are out, participation is in, and I should have gotten a degree in music therapy.




Wish I could fast forward 15-30 years to see what skills I'm going to need today to lead worship tomorrow. Never forgot. You've gotta have skills.

Napoleon Dynamite: Well, nobody's going to go out with *me*!

Pedro: Have you asked anybody yet?

Napoleon Dynamite: No, but who would? I don't even have any good skills.

Pedro: What do you mean?

Napoleon Dynamite: You know, like nunchuku skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills... Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills.

clipped from www.baptiststandard.com Mimicking trends could turn musician into worship ‘barista,’ leader warns WACO (ABP)—Trying to adapt to every trend in worship can become disruptive and distracting to a church, said Tim Studstill, director of music and worship for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Studstill described several trends that are influencing worship—relaxing the dress code, embracing a more contemporary approach to music and using more technology. Churches also have begun to throw out printed materials such as the church bulletin and the order of worship. Terry York, associate professor of Christian ministry and church music at Baylor’s Truett Theological Seminary, helped conference participants look to the future of the church and what it might look like. Participants predicted denominations no longer will have significant meaning, worship might become less performance-oriented and more participatory, and churches may offer music therapy to individual members, in the same way they offer counseling now.