combined church event, I try to hold tightly to these core values.
If possible:
• Use a neutral venue
• Read Scripture together
• Pray together
• Sing songs that are widely known and loved across traditions
• Present the music in a style that supports the voice of the congregation
• Use a team of singers, instrumentalists and techs that represents many local churches, not just one
• Avoid turning the gathering into a sermon event
• Resist the urge to platform one church culture above the others
One of my favorite moments is often what I call the“ Prayer Line.” Pastors and leaders from many churches stand shoulder to shoulder and pass a single microphone down the line, each praying briefly in turn. No sermonizing. No explaining. No backstory. Just prayer.
And please— don’ t say“ amen” between each prayer!
If possible, end by praying or singing The Lord’ s Prayer together.
In short: Unity is not the same thing as pretending our differences do not exist. But let’ s find what we can agree on— and do those things together. Let’ s sing, pray and open the scriptures together and do those things well. Let’ s not wander from these central, unifying activities. Then let’ s see what God does to build His unity between the churches.
If you’ d like to know more about the rationale behind this approach— especially regarding congregational song selection— I’ d encourage you to read my SUNG WORSHIP: DIVERSITY OF EMPHASES series of articles:
• PART 1: THEOLOGICAL VS. EXPERIENTIAL
• PART 2: VERTICAL & INDIVIDUAL VS. HORIZONTAL & COMMUNAL
• PART 3: TRADITIONAL & STRUCTURED VS. MODERN & SPONTANEOUS
• PART 4: GOD IS BIGGER THAN THE GRAPH
Incidentally, earlier this year I returned to the same city- Dunedin, New Zealand- where I’ d previously met Pastor Joe. Three churches( not including Joe’ s) partnered together to host an inter-denominational, combined-churches celebration of Palm Sunday called‘ Hosanna Dunedin’. Very intentionally, we invited others to attend. We filled the room. At least ten different churches were represented. And Pastor Joe was one of the prayers in the Prayer Line.
I spoke with my friend Pastor Joe after the event was over. He was bubbling. Joyful. He loved it. So did the strong delegation of his congregation that attended. The gathering was different from what many of them were used to in several ways. But the sense of unity— of real oneness in Christ— was palpable.
Grant Norsworthy Grant is the founder of More Than Music Mentor- providing online & onsite training for the heart & the art of worshipping singers, instrumentalists & technicians. Grant’ a passion is to IMPROVE musicality, INCREASE participation, INSTILL unity & INSPIRE worship in The Church worldwide. An Aussie who also lived in Nashville, TN, USA for 17 years as a pro CCM muso, today Grant lives and works from his Nelson New Zealand home base.
MoreThanMusicMentor. com Facebook. com / GrantNorsworthy
60 June 2026 Subscribe for Free...