Since they have always adhered to the principle of freedom in those things which were considered nonessentials, it may come as no surprise that diversity marks the worship practices of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Because music and the other arts are not essential elements of belief and because there is no extensive musical heritage, the denomination has always felt free to leave the development and implementation of worship practices to local leaders. Unlike the Church of Christ, the Disciples of Christ permits the use of the organ and other instruments in congregational worship.
As a denomination, a theme heard more generally and more often than any other during the decade of the 1980s was “diversity.” This theme expresses both a growing reality as well as an increased awareness of what has been true of the denomination. Diversity is increasing within the church in most respects, including ethnic make-up, theological perspective, the nature of church or nonchurch backgrounds, family and lifestyle choices, tastes, and sociological variety. This is not unlike the experience of most denominations during this period, excepting perhaps those church bodies which seek a specific and intentional homogeneous grouping, such as some Pentecostal and some fundamentalist sects. All these factors influence the practice of the arts in congregations.
However, diversity has always been a facet of the denomination. A frequently quoted saying of the church’s founding father, Alexander Campbell, is: “In essentials unity; in nonessentials liberty; in all things, charity.” Disciples of Christ have fiercely adhered to liberty in nonessentials as an inalienable right.
Music
Among the Disciples, music and the arts have never been considered an essential area in which unity be sought. Opinions continue to range widely. A fair percentage of the church—perhaps even a broad majority—would concur that music is a necessary aspect of worship. Beyond this simple acknowledgment, however, there immediately springs a myriad of contradictory thoughts about particulars. Disciples of Christ do not have a musical heritage that informs and guides its leadership, no Martin Luther or Samuel Wesley to look to and claim.
Two historic events which are uniquely within the denomination’s history have made a significant impact on the musical life of congregations. The first is the rift that occurred at the close of the nineteenth century between those who ardently pursued the restoration of biblical worship forms and those who favored a more pragmatic or modern approach to worship. As this battle raged, the organ and other musical instruments became a symbol of this argument, with the restorationists insisting that organs were not used by the biblical church in worship and should not be used by modern-day congregations. Pragmatists disagreed. The ideological split eventually produced in 1910 two denominations: the Church of Christ (noninstrumental) and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). While Disciples of Christ publicly voiced no objection to using organs and other instruments, the scars of battle have had a lasting effect on the use of music in general within congregations, seminaries, and the national level of the church. To this day there is no staff for sacred music in national, regional, or area structures of the church. Only a very few congregations employ musicians with specific education in sacred music. And over the past decade, the number has declined.
The second historically significant event was the formation of the Association of Disciple Musicians, established in 1962. The principal activity of this group has been to sponsor annual church music workshops. Each year, major personalities in choral, organ, children’s choir, handbells, and worship leadership are attracted to lead five-day classes. A significant number of the denomination’s musical leaders come together each year for study and fellowship. This annual event has remained the only denominationally sponsored opportunity for the encouragement and growth of church musicians. While its impact continues to be felt in specific congregations, it has not had a broad influence across the denomination. The national church structure (the “General Church”) provides administrative support, but there is no paid staff that directs the organization. It does enjoy official recognition within the denomination.
Given its “nonessential” status and an absence of direction from the denomination’s leadership and seminaries, the practice of music and other arts within congregations have been left entirely to local leadership. With a pervasive lack of trained leadership in church music in local churches, the practice of music within the denomination has been left to the winds and wiles of secular culture.
In the decade of the 1980s, the musical practice also followed the general theme of “diversity.” Each local congregation practices the art of church music as they see fit. The trend in the past decade was to respond to popular (uninformed) opinion and commercial tastes of music which increasingly have replaced traditional church music and music of historical source and practice. Pianos are increasingly used; organs less so. Popular styles of music increasingly replace traditional choral anthems and solo singing and small vocal ensembles sing popular songs and new “Gospel” music with increasing frequency.
The Hymnbook for Christian Worship of 1970 was not broadly accepted, and churches have largely moved to nondenominational hymnals. Supplemental hymn publications have grown in popularity, typically including youth camp-style choruses and gospel songs. Instrumental groups have grown in popularity, primarily as ensembles of youth who perform folk and modern gospel music. Handbell choirs for all ages are common and are used mostly as replacements for organ preludes and offertories and as accompaniments to choral groups. Modern interests in psalm-singing, chanting, antiphons, and other “liturgical” forms have not gone unnoticed in Christian churches.
The Other Arts
Interest in banners, vestments, and other environmental art has been very modest. Some products of the 1960s and 1970s, the period when popular interest peaked, are still being used. Art expressions within the Disciples of Christ are more of a social experience. Members of churches are sometimes given opportunities to display their crafts, amateur secular photography, and painting. Displaying children’s art is common. Liturgical dance is practiced in a handful of congregations.
Disciples rely on the publication efforts of others in all areas of the arts. The church’s publication house, the Christian Board of Publication, has contributed an occasional resource in the past, but not in recent times. The church’s recent worship resource, Thankful Praise, makes only an occasional suggestion for musicians. The Association of Disciple Musicians offers no publications or journals beyond a promotional newsletter.