Melanie C. Ross – författare

Say the words “evangelical worship” to anyone in the United States -- even if they are not particularly religious -- and a picture will likely spring to mind unbidden: a mass of white, middle-class worshippers with eyes closed, faces tilted upward, and hands raised to the sky. Yet despite the centrality of this image, many scholars have underestimated evangelical worship as little more than a manipulative effort to arouse devotional exhilaration. It is frequently dismissed as a reiteration of nineteenth-century revivalism or a derivative imitation of secular entertainment -- three Christian rock songs and a spiritual TED talk. But by failing to engage this worship seriously, we miss vital insights into a form of Protestantism that exerts widespread influence in the United States and around the world.Evangelical Worship offers a new way forward in the study of American evangelical Christianity. Weaving together insights from American religious history and liturgical studies, and drawing on extensive fieldwork in seven congregations, Melanie C. Ross brings contemporary evangelical worship to life. She argues that corporate worship is not a peripheral “extra” tacked on to a fully-formed spiritual, political, and cultural movement, but rather the crucible through which congregations forge, argue over, and enact their unique contributions to the American mosaic known as evangelicalism.

Say the words "evangelical worship" to anyone in the United States -- even if they are not particularly religious -- and a picture will likely spring to mind unbidden: a mass of white, middle-class worshippers with eyes closed, faces tilted upward, and hands raised to the sky. Yet despite the centrality of this image, many scholars have underestimated evangelical worship as little more than a manipulative effort to arouse devotional exhilaration. It is frequently dismissed as a reiteration of nineteenth-century revivalism or a derivative imitation of secular entertainment -- three Christian rock songs and a spiritual TED talk. But by failing to engage this worship seriously, we miss vital insights into a form of Protestantism that exerts widespread influence in the United States and around the world.Evangelical Worship offers a new way forward in the study of American evangelical Christianity. Weaving together insights from American religious history and liturgical studies, and drawing on extensive fieldwork in seven congregations, Melanie C. Ross brings contemporary evangelical worship to life. She argues that corporate worship is not a peripheral "extra" tacked on to a fully-formed spiritual, political, and cultural movement, but rather the crucible through which congregations forge, argue over, and enact their unique contributions to the American mosaic known as evangelicalism.

Say the words "evangelical worship" to anyone in the United States -- even if they are not particularly religious -- and a picture will likely spring to mind unbidden: a mass of white, middle-class worshippers with eyes closed, faces tilted upward, and hands raised to the sky. Yet despite the centrality of this image, many scholars have underestimated evangelical worship as little more than a manipulative effort to arouse devotional exhilaration. It is frequently dismissed as a reiteration of nineteenth-century revivalism or a derivative imitation of secular entertainment -- three Christian rock songs and a spiritual TED talk. But by failing to engage this worship seriously, we miss vital insights into a form of Protestantism that exerts widespread influence in the United States and around the world.Evangelical Worship offers a new way forward in the study of American evangelical Christianity. Weaving together insights from American religious history and liturgical studies, and drawing on extensive fieldwork in seven congregations, Melanie C. Ross brings contemporary evangelical worship to life. She argues that corporate worship is not a peripheral "extra" tacked on to a fully-formed spiritual, political, and cultural movement, but rather the crucible through which congregations forge, argue over, and enact their unique contributions to the American mosaic known as evangelicalism.

Why is there such a deep divide between evangelical and liturgical churches, especially when it comes to worship? How did this unfortunate evangelical-liturgical dichotomy develop, and what can be done about it?In this book Melanie Ross draws on historical analysis, systematic theology, and the worship life of two vibrant congregations to argue that the common ground shared by evangelical and liturgical churches is much more important than the differences than divide them.As a longtime evangelical church member who is at the same time a teacher of liturgical studies, Ross is well qualified to address this subject, and she does so with passion and intelligence. Evangelical versus Liturgical? is an important addition to the scant literature explaining nondenominational worship practices to those from more historically established liturgical traditions.

In honor of Teresa Berger, we are invited to consider the heights and the depths of worship in communion with creation.What if at the heart of the created universe lives the worship and praise of the Creator? And what if everything created finds its fulfillment in turning to this Creator God in worship? In a time of environmental crisis, Psalm 148 is a bold reminder that all of creation—heavenly beings, stars and planets, earth’s landforms and water bodies, flora and fauna, humans young and old—have a capacity for worship, to join in praise to and of their Maker.   Written in honor of the prolific liturgical theologian Teresa Berger, the essays included in this collection affirm this biblical witness in studies theological, liturgical, and artistic by offering perspectives and examples from Christian antiquity to the present and by identifying ritual and musical expressions from both the Christian East and West. The contributors also consider the cosmic and the earthly, to recognize the heights and the depths of worship in communion with creation. Berger’s 2025 Berakah Award address to the members of the North American Academy of Liturgy is also included.   Contributors:Antonio Eduardo AlonsoKimberly Hope BelcherTeresa BergerHarald BuchingerNathan P. ChaseNina GlibetićPhoenix GonzalezWillie James JenningsAndrew B. McGowanGabriel RadleMarkus RatheyMark Roosien Melanie C. RossBryan D. SpinksBenjamin M. StewartKathryn TannerKaren Westerfield Tucker

In honor of Teresa Berger, we are invited to consider the heights and the depths of worship in communion with creation.What if at the heart of the created universe lives the worship and praise of the Creator? And what if everything created finds its fulfillment in turning to this Creator God in worship? In a time of environmental crisis, Psalm 148 is a bold reminder that all of creation-heavenly beings, stars and planets, earth's landforms and water bodies, flora and fauna, humans young and old-have a capacity for worship, to join in praise to and of their Maker. Written in honor of the prolific liturgical theologian Teresa Berger, the essays included in this collection affirm this biblical witness in studies theological, liturgical, and artistic by offering perspectives and examples from Christian antiquity to the present and by identifying ritual and musical expressions from both the Christian East and West. The contributors also consider the cosmic and the earthly, to recognize the heights and the depths of worship in communion with creation. Berger's 2025 Berakah Award address to the members of the North American Academy of Liturgy is also included. Contributors:Antonio Eduardo AlonsoKimberly Hope BelcherTeresa BergerHarald BuchingerNathan P. ChaseNina GlibeticPhoenix GonzalezWillie James JenningsAndrew B. McGowanGabriel RadleMarkus RatheyMark RoosienMelanie C. RossBryan D. SpinksBenjamin M. StewartKathryn TannerKaren Westerfield Tucker

2026 Catholic Media Association Honorable Mention, The Future of the ChurchExplore the ways material economies have shaped past liturgical practices and continue to underlie our worship today.  Because the “stuff” of Christian worship is inextricably enmeshed in the marketplace, it seems that our liturgical practices, materiality, and economics are forever intertwined. In On Earth as in Heaven? leading scholars who presented the 2023 Yale Institute of Sacred Music Liturgy Conference break new disciplinary ground by investigating complex dynamics of liturgical production, distribution, and power throughout history.   This collection critically engages the tension between "earthly" materialities and eschatological visions of Christian hope, offering innovative methodologies, case studies, and approaches that promise to stimulate further research in liturgical studies and beyond.

2026 Catholic Media Association Honorable Mention, The Future of the ChurchExplore the ways material economies have shaped past liturgical practices and continue to underlie our worship today.Because the "e;stuff"e; of Christian worship is inextricably enmeshed in the marketplace, it seems that our liturgical practices, materiality, and economics areforever intertwined.In On Earth as in Heaven? leading scholars who presented the 2023 Yale Institute of Sacred Music Liturgy Conference break new disciplinary ground by investigating complex dynamics of liturgical production, distribution, and power throughout history. This collection critically engages the tension between "e;earthly"e; materialities and eschatological visions of Christian hope, offering innovative methodologies, case studies, and approaches that promise to stimulate further research in liturgical studies and beyond.

This volume brings together an ecumenical team of scholars to offer a historical overview of how worship developed. The book first orients readers to the common core elements the global church shares in the history and development of worship theology and historical practice. It then introduces the major streams of worship practice: Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant, including Reformation traditions, evangelicalism, and Pentecostalism. The book includes introductions by John Witvliet and Nicholas Wolterstorff. A previous volume addressed the theological foundations of worship.

This volume brings together an ecumenical team of scholars to present key theological concepts related to worship to help readers articulate their own theology of worship. Contributors explore the history of theology's impact on worship practices across the Christian tradition, highlighting themes such as creation, pneumatology, sanctification, and mission. The book includes introductions by N. T. Wright and Nicholas Wolterstorff. A forthcoming volume will address the historical foundations of worship.

This volume brings together an ecumenical team of scholars to offer a historical overview of how worship developed. The book first orients readers to the common core elements the global church shares in the history and development of worship theology and historical practice. It then introduces the major streams of worship practice: Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant, including Reformation traditions, evangelicalism, and Pentecostalism. The book includes introductions by John Witvliet and Nicholas Wolterstorff. A previous volume addressed the theological foundations of worship.