A. B. Simpson, the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches, first articulated the need for a spirit of renewal in worship, and this approach has marked its practices ever since. While avoiding extremes, some congregations, such as the one described here have been open to new music, using guitars, synthesizers, and drums along with the organ, and regularly includes drama and banners as examples of the other arts.
With its roots in the Pentecostal movement, which had rejected most of the fine arts as worldly, the charismatic movement has only more recently begun to explore the full range of artistic activity in worship. Although the visual and literary arts largely await development, both dance and drama have found increasing acceptance in some charismatic circles. Most importantly, charismatics have become leaders within the Christian community in the creation of contemporary worship music.
Plymouth Brethren worship is characterized by a commitment to austerity and simplicity. Music in worship has traditionally been limited to unaccompanied hymn singing. Musical and artistic creativity is most prevalent in Open Brethren churches in worship services other than the breaking of bread service. In some cases, instrumental accompaniment, contemporary music, and dramatic presentations of portions of Scripture are now used.
The Baptist General Conference has been influenced by contemporary music and arts. Many of its churches sing praise choruses as well as hymns and gospel songs. The popular arts of drama, storytelling, and banners are used in many churches.
Music in evangelical Baptist churches derives largely from interdenominational hymnals, but also calls on a wide variety of sources ranging from choruses and pop gospel to Anglican chant. Many Baptist churches are also making use of dramatic arts and the structure of the Christian year to enhance worship, as does the congregation described here.
Assemblies of God churches have always maintained a highly pragmatic approach in their use of music, always making use of a secularized and popular style of church music. In recent years this has extended to the inclusion of Christian music derived from rock music. They believe that matters of artistic style are secondary to moral purity or doctrine.
Anglican and Episcopal Churches inherit a rich liturgical tradition that is the product of many periods of worship renewal in the history of the church. Worship renewal in Anglican and Episcopal churches today seeks both to maintain the vitality of the historic liturgy and to use the best of contemporary musical and artistic expressions.
As a result of both the autonomy of their local churches and the ethnic diversity among member congregations, diversity is the dominant adjective used to describe the use of music and the arts in American Baptist churches. The size, theological orientation, and geographical location of individual congregations are all factors that influence the music and arts used in individual congregations. National conferences are important in providing vision and leadership for music and the arts.
Zion Methodism continues to use hymn singing as its chief expression of music in worship. Congregational hymnody ranges from traditional hymns to spirituals and gospel hymns. These hymns, along with choral responses, are carefully integrated into the liturgy. Although not traditionally important, banners and dramatic presentations are now included in some worship services.