We Believe: Faith, Community, and the Holy Act of Singing

Sponsored by Emily R. Brink, FHS

Though the emergence of the term "Worship leader" (WL) is relatively recent (40–50 years), the term has become ubiquitous for describing persons who lead the musical portions of worship services, especially those that practice some form of contemporary praise and worship (CPW). Few research studies have examined worship leaders directly. What do WLs think about the songs they lead, the industries that provide those songs, and the WLs' own role in the spiritual formation of their congregations? The Worship Leader Research team (WLR) has spent the last several years unpacking the results of a wide-ranging 2021 survey that looked into these questions with WLs from across North America. In this sectional, the WLR team will present emerging longitudinal results from a winter 2025 survey and explore new insights into WL mental health and wellness. The session will include a presentation of data as well as an opportunity for conversation about the implications for all church musicians.