CHOIR and the PoMo Crucible

OK: So i'm in conversation now with some people concerning the concept of "choir." A Worship Pastor approaching the age of 40 suggests that "choir" is definitely NOT PoMo. While he thinks occasional large group participation in leading the congregational worship time (choruses) is cool, choir for listening (his word: performance) is not.

A female M.Div student of about 22 says, "That's so Willowcreek to think that choir is dead. Choir is definitely a part of the PoMo feast of liturgy."

I've got to admit, i'm leaning toward the 22 year old (if for no other reason than she'll be pastoring my grandkids ten or so years from now).  I may be sounding a discordant alarm here, but it would seem that multi-voice sounds like chant, celtic, tribal, even madrigal are attracting more attention with the PoMos. Maybe the church music of the '60s and '70s is gasping for air (e.g., Pass It On: give the spark a rest), but human harmonization (yes, even a capella: maybe especially a capella) is, as my voice teacher used to say, "the highest elevation of the Word."

So, here's the question: will our choirs pass the PoMo crucible? Can we transform stale tradition into genuine, fluid, corporate faith-story? Can we, through choir, model harmonious living - a community of song, if you will? Can we, through woven voices, provoke spiritual reflection in the PoMo crowd?

*PoMo: abbreviated form of Post Modern

Church on the Other Side by Brian McLaren

(renowned author and founding pastor of Cedar Ridge Community Church)