Alternative:
These verbs mean to regard with the deepest respect, deference, and esteem.
Consider how alternative approaches to worship might help someone you know engage in worship of God.
Consider different temperaments, learning styles, attention spans.
What:
Christians reinventing faith expression for themselves within their own cultural settings
a response to postmodern Western society and cultural change
faith expression within culture, not in a parallel 'Christian' culture
reconsideration of all inherited church forms and structures, including recent modernising ones
rediscovery of ancient and alternative Christian traditions as resources for the present and future
paradigm shift from centralised into networked forms of church
not an attempt to reach particular social or cultural groups
not about making Christianity appear cool or fashionable
not a restyling of existing forms and structuresWhen & Where:
beginning UK late 1980s
established Australia/New Zealand by mid 1990s
emerging in USA/Canada/Europe since 2000
no single centre or authority
no single theological position or statement of beliefs but mostly within Christian orthodoxy
sometimes working within existing church structures, sometimes forming separate churches
crossing denominational and theological boundaries, even within single groups
high levels of friendship and exchange of ideas throughout movement
loose structures, little hierarchy
no fixed leadership or fixed roles
many of the people in positions of influence or leadership are not ordained or church employees
faith as journey, to be facilitated rather than controlled
giving people space for their own encounter with God
an exploration of creativity - in everyone, not just a gifted few
risk-taking, experimental - openness to failure and mistakes
holistic - life not divided into sacred and secular
any part of our lives and abilities as potential material for faith expression
participation - involvement encouraged, passive consumption discouraged
minimal exclusion - shaped by whoever gets involved
consensus - not one person imposing their direction
low threshold of permission - in general if you want to do something go ahead
high quality, as good as we can make it - culturally aware
awareness of ourselves as part of God's creation, and a concern for its welfare
the entire expression of the faith community seen as 'church' not just one event
reluctance to draw boundaries that determine who or what is in or out of God's kingdom
openness to God's presence in any area of life or culture
everything that happens communicates aspects of theme
no fixed or obligatory elements
almost anything permitted if it communicates
shape of event worked out in group
individuals take pieces of the event to do
event comes together on the day without rehearsal, in accordance to the shape agreed during planning
high level of trust in people's ability to deliver appropriate content
events not restricted to conventional church timetables or venuesWhat usually happens:
event led by many people not one or two
relaxed, informal
congregation are active participants
discussions - small groups or whole congregation
rituals and liturgies - ancient e.g. Communion or newly created
moving around the space
interaction with installations and artworks
periods when people can do different things at the same time
learning by exploration and interaction, not located in a single 'teaching' slot
sitting in one place all the time
worship bands, choirs or organs
one person at the front directing everything
Powerpoint presentations
no pulpit or stage
non-directional space - no front to face, things happen all around
soft seating, sit or lie on floor
cafe spaces - chairs and tables, sofas, food and drink
intimate lighting - spotlights, candles, TVs, projections
installations and artworks
ambient music - as background to everything including speech and prayer
ambient video - relevant to event content but not attention-grabbing
creative use of available technology and media, including from home or work
technology and media used as environment or art as well as presentation tools
venue may or may not be an existing church building
- Allowing or necessitating a choice between two or more things.
- Existing outside traditional or established institutions or systems: an alternative lifestyle.
- Espousing or reflecting values that are different from those of the establishment or mainstream: an alternative newspaper; alternative greeting cards.
- Usage Problem. Substitute or different; other.
Worship:
- To honor and love as a deity.
- To regard with ardent or adoring esteem or devotion. See synonym- revere
- To participate in religious rites of worship.
- To perform an act of worship.
These verbs mean to regard with the deepest respect, deference, and esteem.
Consider how alternative approaches to worship might help someone you know engage in worship of God.
Consider different temperaments, learning styles, attention spans.
Worship is about God, not the worshipper, but is it not reasonable to consider forms that will aid in that connection being made?
Edited from a description by Steve Collins of alternativeworship.org
What:
Christians reinventing faith expression for themselves within their own cultural settings a response to postmodern Western society and cultural change
faith expression within culture, not in a parallel 'Christian' culture
reconsideration of all inherited church forms and structures, including recent modernising ones
rediscovery of ancient and alternative Christian traditions as resources for the present and future
paradigm shift from centralised into networked forms of church
Not:
not intended to transition people into existing forms of churchnot an attempt to reach particular social or cultural groups
not about making Christianity appear cool or fashionable
not a restyling of existing forms and structures
When & Where:
beginning UK late 1980s established Australia/New Zealand by mid 1990s
emerging in USA/Canada/Europe since 2000
Who:
a diverse network of individuals and small groups, practitioners and theoristsno single centre or authority
no single theological position or statement of beliefs but mostly within Christian orthodoxy
sometimes working within existing church structures, sometimes forming separate churches
crossing denominational and theological boundaries, even within single groups
high levels of friendship and exchange of ideas throughout movement
loose structures, little hierarchy
no fixed leadership or fixed roles
many of the people in positions of influence or leadership are not ordained or church employees
Ethos:
authenticity - faith expression that truly represents the people who make and take part in itfaith as journey, to be facilitated rather than controlled
giving people space for their own encounter with God
an exploration of creativity - in everyone, not just a gifted few
risk-taking, experimental - openness to failure and mistakes
holistic - life not divided into sacred and secular
any part of our lives and abilities as potential material for faith expression
participation - involvement encouraged, passive consumption discouraged
minimal exclusion - shaped by whoever gets involved
consensus - not one person imposing their direction
low threshold of permission - in general if you want to do something go ahead
high quality, as good as we can make it - culturally aware
awareness of ourselves as part of God's creation, and a concern for its welfare
the entire expression of the faith community seen as 'church' not just one event
reluctance to draw boundaries that determine who or what is in or out of God's kingdom
openness to God's presence in any area of life or culture
How an event is made:
events generally planned around a chosen themeeverything that happens communicates aspects of theme
no fixed or obligatory elements
almost anything permitted if it communicates
shape of event worked out in group
individuals take pieces of the event to do
event comes together on the day without rehearsal, in accordance to the shape agreed during planning
high level of trust in people's ability to deliver appropriate content
events not restricted to conventional church timetables or venues
What usually happens:
event led by many people not one or two 
relaxed, informal
congregation are active participants
discussions - small groups or whole congregation
rituals and liturgies - ancient e.g. Communion or newly created
moving around the space
interaction with installations and artworks
periods when people can do different things at the same time
learning by exploration and interaction, not located in a single 'teaching' slot
What usually doesn't happen:
sermons or didactic teachingsitting in one place all the time
worship bands, choirs or organs
one person at the front directing everything
Powerpoint presentations
New forms of church environment:
no pews or rows of seatsno pulpit or stage
non-directional space - no front to face, things happen all around
soft seating, sit or lie on floor
cafe spaces - chairs and tables, sofas, food and drink
intimate lighting - spotlights, candles, TVs, projections
installations and artworks
ambient music - as background to everything including speech and prayer
ambient video - relevant to event content but not attention-grabbing
creative use of available technology and media, including from home or work
technology and media used as environment or art as well as presentation tools
venue may or may not be an existing church building
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