I have served for 30 years in church worship teams, predominantly as a worship leader, a role in which one guides the congregation through collective singing during a church service. It has been a joy serving the church, and I have had the opportunity to lead worship in many different
church services across Australia, Europe, the United Kingdom, and now back in Aotearoa New Zealand, where it all began. Looking back, I now see the unique strengths and challenges that church communities face in creating meaningful worship experiences. These experiences guide
my research as I explore how local contexts can shape worship practices and how a community’s unique voice can be expressed through collaborative songwriting in the contemporary worship music landscape.