Somewhere over the Midwest I asked Ryan in seat 7A what his ideal church would be like. The 26-year-old nominal Catholic with a degree in food science and interest in "spirituality" provided an increasingly common answer: "I don't understand the rock concert-style churches. I like the practical Bible teaching, but I always find myself wanting to go to Mass instead. Ideally I'd like the liturgy with practical Bible teaching."

Ryan's answer hints at the shifts in the worship preferences of many; not just the younger generation's interest in liturgy, but the general blurring of lines between worship traditions and the theological schools from which they emerged. Today you can find a praise band at St. Mark the Apostle, a Friday night Taize service at First Baptist, and the holy Eucharist adored at Something Creek Community Church.

In this shifting landscape, Exploring the Worship Spectrum proves a valuable roadmap. The contributors intelligently speak to the history, theology, and benefit ...