The survey by Ellison Research, a Phoenix-based marketing research company, asked clergy whether the overall style of worship in their congregation had changed in the last five years.
Fifteen percent said their worship had become much more contemporary while another 36 percent said it had become a bit more contemporary. Forty-four percent said there had not been any significant change and 5 percent said worship had become more traditional over that period.
The greatest change in specific worship elements was in the use of electronic media.
Just 5 percent of Protestant churches used computer graphics presentations such as PowerPoint at least once a month five years ago. Today, such displays are used in 36 percent of churches. Likewise, the use of video clips--such as those from movies, music videos and popular speakers--increased from 4 percent to 29 percent.
Several other worship elements increased significantly in that time period.
The use of praise and worship choruses during worship rose from 38 percent in 1999 to 74 percent today. Christian rock, pop or country music has become a part of 25 percent of churches, compared to 9 percent five years ago. And the use of drama skits or sketches has grown from 23 percent to 42 percent.
Ron Sellers, president of Ellison Research, said the study shows that worship styles have grown more diverse in the last five years.
"Even traditional elements such as hymns, altar calls and communion celebrations have become more common as churches diversify what they offer to worshippers," he said in a statement.
The survey of 659 senior pastors of Protestant churches across the nation has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.
The survey results were first released in the March/April edition of Facts & Trends, which is published by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
