Exploring Contemporary and Alternative Worship

Convener: Nelson Cowan (ncowan@bu.edu) is the Director of the Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University. An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, he also holds teaching appointments at Emory University, Drew University, and Wesley Theological Seminary.

Members in Attendance: Taylor Burton-Edwards, Dawn Chesser, Nelson Cowan, Sarah Mount Elewononi, Billy Kangas, Swee Hong Lim, John Ottaway, Timothy Ralston, Ron Rienstra, Lester Ruth, Diana Sanchez-Bushong, Matt Sigler, Noel Snyder, Glenn Stallsmith, J. Terry Todd, Nicholas Zork

Visitors: María Cornou, Michael Lee, Shannon Sigler, Anneli Loep Theissen, Mykayla Turner, Aaron Wong

Description of Work: The Exploring Contemporary and Alternative Worship Seminar had another year of robust papers, book presentations, and facilitated conversations on topics related to Pentecostal, Evangelical, and Charismatic movements (histories, theologies, analyses of practice). We also took an embodied turn in practicing baptismal tai chi as a group, facilitated by Sarah Mount Elewononi. This year, we collaborated with the Liturgical Theology Seminar for a joint session on the topic of Melanie Ross’ book Evangelical Worship.

Papers and Presentations:

• Billy Kangas, “The Virtual Office: Praying Liturgical Hours in the Digital World.”

• Anneli Loepp Theissen, “‘For that reason, all our worship leaders are men’: Gender and Liturgical Authority in Contemporary Worship.’

• Afternoon Liturgy, developed by Alydia Smith from the resource, Then Let Us Sing!

• Lester Ruth, “Silver Haired Liturgical Revolutionary: Judson Cornwall’s Critical Role in Disseminating Pentecostal Praise & Worship.”

• Jonathan Ottaway, “Engaging the Lived Reality of Pentecostal Worship: Acknowledging the Liturgical History of Historically Anomalous Liturgy.”

• Joint Session between Exploring Contemporary and Alternative Worship & Liturgical Theology: Discussion of Melanie Ross, Evangelical Worship: An American Mosaic (Oxford University Press, 2021).

• Sarah Mount Elewononi, “Baptism Tai Chi.”

• Nelson Cowan, Facilitated Conversation, “Engaging ‘Worship Leaders’ Across the Arts: Strategizing at Samford University.”

• Taylor Burton Edwards, “Awe in Contemporary Praise and Worship Services: Importance, Generators, and Potential Barriers.”

• Swee Hong Lim, “Planning Ecumenical Worship at the World Council of Churches.”

Other Work and Plans for the Future: For the 2024 Seattle meeting, Matt Sigler proposed a paper on Fr. Dennis Bennet. Nicholas Zork and Nelson Cowan each also offered to prepare a paper. A site visit to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is also planned.