Inspired by a well-known set of singing instructions by John Wesley, I wrote this piece for a parish that was in the throes of what some in the church have called “The Music Wars,” battling about what kinds of music were suitable for church and what should be excluded. I offer it to you as a look into how I think about music and worship, and hope it will spark conversation in our church.
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusted in him, and I am helped:
therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth;
and with my song will I praise him.
Psalm 28:7 (KJV)
“Sing unto the Lord a new song,” says the psalmist. The Episcopal Church’s Canon II.6.1 requires each minister of the church to “see that music is used as an offering for the glory of God and as a help to the people in their worship.” But even if music were not required of us by the decree of both God and church, we would sing because music expresses our deepest thoughts and feelings when words fail us. Music has a sacramental power. It can speak of great joy or great sorrow, and at the same time move the listener to share the emotion it invokes. The ability to “effect what it symbolizes” defines sacrament. It is for this reason that we worship with music.
Throughout history, the most significant events in human life, both public and private, have been accompanied by music. We have had music for birth and music for death; music for war and for peace; and especially, we have had music for prayer and for worship. Music unites us in our common purpose, and nurtures us in our singular pursuits.
It should be the desire of any congregation to worship and praise the Lord with the fullness of our beings, making an offering to God from all the gifts which we have received. To that end, in order to become a musical people, with the Lord as our strength and song, I offer the following principles as guidelines for our common musical life:
I. Music should be a regular part of the worship life of every parish.
II. Every kind of music has a place and purpose in human life, and every kind of music has a place in the life of the parish.
III. Music has the power to divide. Musical tastes separate generations, cultures and classes. But music also has the power to unite, and we are committed to work toward unity, both by seeking musical “common ground” and by striving to understand and appreciate the music that pleases others.
IV. Music is an offering to God. When we offer music, everyone should participate.
V. Musical participation takes many forms. Singing, hand-clapping and attentive, prayerful listening are all vital forms of participation.
VI. The musical life of any community is enhanced by the gifts of many people. We should be committed to seeking out those gifts among the members of the congregation and nurturing them, and to inviting others in the community to offer their musical gifts with the church.
VII. Musical gifts and offerings will be strengthened and nurtured by the leadership of trained musicians, both amateur and professional. Congregations should be committed to finding effective musical leadership for the kinds of music offered in worship, so that the offering will be as pleasing to God as humanly possible.
VIII. Musical ministry is both pastoral and evangelical. Music has the power to move, to stir, to comfort and to heal. Music also has the power to bring the Gospel to the world, and to draw the world into the Body of Christ.
IX. Music has the power to exclude. Music that is hard to sing, or hard to understand can shut people out as effectively as a barred sanctuary door. Congregations should be committed to choosing music for worship that is accessible.
X. Children are full members of the musical life of a congregation, just as they are full members of the body of Christ. The church must be committed to teaching our children to sing, and to sharing a musical life with them, both by inviting them to participate in the music we love, and by participating in the music they love.
The LORD is my strength and song,
and is become my salvation.
Psalm 118:14 (KJV)
The Rev. Dr. Bill Doggett