Contemporary worship

Contemporary worship is a form of Christian worship that emerged within Western evangelical Protestantism in the 20th century. It was originally confined to the charismatic movement, but is now found in a wide range of churches, including many which do not subscribe to a charismatic theology. In many evangelical churches (usually Baptist, Methodist, Quaker, Pentecostal, and nondenominational Christian), contemporary worship uses contemporary worship music in an informal setting. Congregational singing typically comprises a greater proportion of the service than in conventional forms of worship. Where contemporary worship is practiced in churches with a liturgical tradition (Roman Catholicism and Evangelical-Lutheranism), elements of the liturgy are retained while the music sung is accompanied by guitars and drums, rather than the traditional organ or piano. The terms historic worship, traditional worship or liturgical worship are sometimes used to describe conventional worship forms and distinguish them from contemporary worship.