Pastors and congregations are seeking "liturgical renewal"--ways to enourage wholeness, freedom, and spontaneity in worship while remaining faithful to the gospel. In this book, Melva Wilson Costen demonstrates how the characteristics of traditional African American worship can enrich the worship experience.
In this update to her 1993 classic, African American Christian Worship, Melva Wilson Costen, again delights her reader with a lively history and theology of the African American worship experience. Drawing upon careful scholarship and engaging stories, Dr. Costen details the global impact on African American worship by media, technology, and new musical styles. She expands her discussion of ritual practices in African communities and clarifies some of the ritual use of music in worship. In keeping with recent congregational practices, Dr. Costen will also provide general orders of worship suitable for a variety of denominational settings.