Perceptions of Congregational Engagement in Evangelical Church Worship Programs

Despite existing research on worship leader training and choosing music for congregational worship, a study on the perceptions of congregational worship engagement from the perspectives of worship leaders and congregants has yet to be examined. Congregational worship is formational and helps believers continue to grow in their faith by singing their praise to God with one voice and declaring the tenets of their shared faith. This study sought to reveal perceptions of worship engagement by surveying nineteen worship leaders and one hundred fifteen congregants from thirty-nine evangelical churches around the United States to identify the musical aspects that either enhance or diminish worship engagement through both worship leaders’ and congregants’ perspectives. By posing questions to both worship leaders and congregants, this hermeneutic phenomenological study identified consistencies with perceived engagement, such as familiarity with worship songs and melodic clarity. The discrepancies in perceived engagement included the worship team’s preparation and the intonation of the lead voice. Because congregational singing is spiritually formative, this study was necessary to bridge the gap between observed and experienced worship engagement. By understanding what musical aspects contribute to or diminish congregational engagement, worship leaders can adjust their planning, preparation, rehearsal, and execution to encourage more meaningful worship engagement while minimizing aspects that detract from engagement. Furthermore, formal worship leader education and training programs can benefit from understanding what musical aspects either contribute to or diminish congregational worship engagement and adjust their curricula and methods accordingly.