Date

5-20-2026

Department

School of Music

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Worship (PhD)

Chair

Hannah Byrd

Keywords

worship inclusivity, Seventh-day Adventist, multicultural worship, migrants, immigrants, cultural identity, Biblical Theology of Worship, intercultural, acculturation, 1st generation Americans, decolonial, Adventism, cross-cultural, intercultural, intergenerational, race, ethnic, missiological, leadership, mentorship, eschatological vision, doctrinal boundaries, Traditional Western Adventist Paradigm, authentic worship, reverence

Disciplines

Liturgy and Worship | Music

Abstract

This dissertation examines worship inclusivity within multicultural Seventh-day Adventist congregations in the greater Houston, Texas, area, focusing on the experiences of migrants, first-generation Americans, and long-standing members. It highlights how their diverse cultural backgrounds, theological beliefs, and worship expectations shape congregational life. The study fills a gap in Adventist worship scholarship by exploring the lived experiences of worshippers in multicultural settings, particularly the perspectives of migrants whose attitudes toward worship are influenced by cultural heritage and traditional views of reverence. Data were collected through surveys, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic observations. Thematic analysis reveals eight interrelated themes, showing that participants understood inclusive worship as a transformative encounter with God, a culturally embodied practice of belonging, and a theologically grounded expression of communal faithfulness. Findings indicate that migrant participants associated reverence with structure, restraint, and continuity, while first-generation Americans sought worship that reflected their bicultural experiences and broader multicultural exposure. Participants redefine reverence as authenticity rather than mere formal uniformity and connect inclusive worship to the biblical vision of unity in diversity found in Revelation 7:9. In conclusion, the study finds that worship inclusivity in multicultural Adventist congregations is not a departure from theological fidelity but an embodied expression of that fidelity—one that honors cultural diversity, strengthens communal unity, and anticipates the worship of God’s kingdom.

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