Date

4-29-2026

Department

School of Music

Degree

Doctor of Worship Studies (DWS)

Chair

Jerry L. Newman

Keywords

Bible Belt, Worship Leadership, Revivalism, Denominational Differences, Congregational Engagement, Church Growth, Evangelicalism, Music in Worship, Multigenerational Worship, Livestream Worship

Disciplines

Music | Religion

Abstract

Despite significant scholarship on church growth strategies and worship practices, the nuanced impact of worship leadership styles on church dynamics within the Bible Belt remains underexplored. This study examines how worship leadership styles ranging from traditional liturgical approaches to contemporary band-led services shape congregational engagement, retention, and growth within evangelical churches across this historically significant region. Tracing the Bible Belt’s revivalist heritage, denominational distinctives, and worship traditions, the research situates contemporary practices within their broader historical and theological framework. Utilizing a historical qualitative research design, the study integrates archival research, denominational reports, church bulletins, worship setlists, and livestream archives. It also utilizes secondary literature to examine the correlation between leadership and music practices, as well as growth outcomes. By avoiding IRB constraints and focusing on public and archival sources, this research provides a rigorous yet accessible pathway for evaluating worship leadership in a regional and historical context. The findings aim to guide worship leaders, pastors, and scholars in cultivating approaches that resonate with diverse, multigenerational, and multicultural congregations in both rural and urban contexts. By situating contemporary worship within the Bible Belt’s historical trajectory, this research contributes to academic discourse in worship studies, leadership, and ecclesiology while offering practical strategies for fostering engagement and spiritual vitality.

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