Church Musicians:How do you cater to a congregation where some want hymns & others want contemporary songs?

We have the same difficulty with our church, but luckily have a large enough congregation where we can have three services.

Honestly, those that program the music need to stop thinking of only themselves - music is in the church to worship the Lord and minister to the people. Where some might not hear the Lord in traditional music, others need to realize that not everyone is in tune with the Lord through contemporary worship music.

Have you tried opening with more traditional hymns, then progressing towards something in the middle, then ending with a contemporary piece? Or vice-versa? We normally start with some hymns from the hymnal - with a piano accompaniment, then a offertory piece that leans more towards contemporary, and then end with something traditional. I'm not sure if your services are arranged so that this could be an option. Sadly, in the end you're not going to be able to please everyone.

Alternately you could go more traditional one week and alternate to contemporary the next. Or find middle-of-the-road music that carries traits of both.

I hope that your congregation is able to find a style of music that allows everyone to freely express their love of the Lord.

And I do apologize if anything I've typed here sounds... off. Cold medicine has the wonderful effect of impairing my ability to communicate.

I wouldn't do alternating services, one week contemorary and the next traditional. I think you'll find that some people won't attend and will be selecting their attendance based on the music style.

The music is actually bridging the gap between generation. You don't want to just do contemporary music and drive away the older membership that desire a more traditional approach. These members are the financial base for the church. However though, you don't want to go all traditional because that would drive away the younger adults and the youth. Without the younger demographic of the church there will be no growth or future for the church.

Solution, everyone needs to understand and be willing to compromise for the greater cause. It's easy to understand why each side wants their kind of music. The question is will they be willing to give into "self" so they are not a stumbling block for another persons ability to worship. Remember it's about worshipping our God, not so much the song selection.

I would tend to lean toward the contemporary as that is the future. The hymn although are the musical history of the church and deserve a role in even the most contemporary services. Try to mix in hymns in a traditional and contemporary style. Put a hymn in the the worship set or mix it up as a special.

At my church we general do hymn in a contemporary style, mostly through instrumentation. We have the flexibility of having a Sunday school time specifically for our "senior saints". At this time our worship minister leads them through several traditional hymns. This gives them a worship environment that they are more comfortable with.

Hope this helps.

I agree with compromising and having the traditional music one week and more contemporary the next. I think that way, no one would be unhappy. My church mostly is traditional, but there are some that like contemporary music. We don't have a band, but just a choir. So, I try to mix up the music we sing. It seems to go over really well. Remember, church services are about worship and not performance. So, every member of the congregation should feel that the music is helping them worship. I always try to remember this as I direct my choir or play my flute in church.

Well, the solution that APPEARS to be the most essential, and the easiest, is to balance the loaded membership of "those who program the music" to reflect the multiple tastes/wishes of the congregation.

Taking turns, rather than combining, seems a more pleasing way to go. Simple hymns one week, contemporary music the next, and perhaps an occasional something else, like children's choir.

Everybody needs to remember this is not Broadway or American Idol. It's about praising God.

Good luck!

Do contemporary versions of hymns. You could even start out with a traditional hymn setting and then kick up the beat and volume.

Become an atheist, then you'll feel no obligation to play bad music to anyone.