Younger Churchgoers Twice as Likely to Want More Liturgy in Worship Services: Survey

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Most Protestant churchgoers in the U.S. are content with their congregation's worship style, but young adults are about twice as likely as older adults to say they want more liturgy in their church services, according to a new poll.

The Lifeway Research survey of American Protestant churchgoers found that 75 percent say they are fine with the current amount of liturgy used in their congregation, while 13 percent would prefer more, 5 percent would like less and 7 percent are unsure.

“Both individual churches and branches of Protestant Christianity have different amounts of liturgy in their history. It’s reassuring to see the vast majority of churchgoers are comfortable with that,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “Whether it’s what they grew up with or what they’ve experienced in their current church, most are satisfied with their congregation’s worship traditions.”

Liturgy refers to the structured elements and order of a worship service, such as responsive readings, recited prayers, creeds and other formal patterns of congregational worship.

About one-fourth of churchgoers (27 percent) say their congregation has no liturgical style. The largest group, 42 percent, says their church includes some liturgical elements, while 24 percent describe it as very liturgical.

“Whether a church uses responsive readings and creeds or a more organic style of worship, those different expressions share the same goal – helping people acknowledge God’s presence and worship Him together,” McConnell said. “When churches are moving in that same direction, a variety of worship styles can be effective.”

Although most churchgoers are satisfied with their congregation's worship style, some demographic groups are more likely than others to say they want more liturgy. Specifically, those ages 18-29 (18 percent) and 30-49 (19 percent) are about twice as likely as those ages 50-64 (9 percent) and 65 and older (9 percent) to say they would like more liturgical elements in their worship services.

“Many younger churchgoers are curious and eager to grow in their faith, but they may still be learning how the larger story of Scripture fits together,” McConnell said. “Liturgical elements such as creeds and other regular practices can serve as helpful reminders of biblical truths and provide structure that guides believers through worship.”

Nondenominational and Baptist churchgoers are the most likely to say their congregation has no liturgical style, while Lutherans (56 percent) and Presbyterian/Reformed churchgoers are the most likely to describe their services as very liturgical.

The survey was based on responses from 1,200 American Protestant churchgoers.

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Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

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