In Spring 2026, Dr. Laura Carroll’s ENGL 325: Advanced Composition students were challenged to engage Special Collections broadly, and, more specifically, with the hymnal collection. Each student wrote a research paper on a topic inspired by the hymnal collection. Their research included databases, interviews, library print resources, and data collection. Today we welcome ACU student Ashlyn Anderson to the blog. Read on to learn more about her research.
My research project explored the evolution of worship practices at Abilene Christian University and asked the question: how did a university so deeply rooted in a cappella tradition begin incorporating instrumental and blended worship services? I was interested in understanding whether this change represented a rejection of traditional Church of Christ beliefs or a response to changing student expectations over time. Through my research, I found that the shift was gradual and heavily influenced by media exposure, contemporary Christian culture, and the increasing diversity of students coming to campus from different religious backgrounds.
To answer this question, I used a combination of theological texts, historical studies, university lectures, and archival student newspaper articles. One of my main sources was The Instrumental Music Issue by Everett Ferguson, which explained the biblical reasoning behind a cappella worship traditions in Churches of Christ. I also examined historical studies about the interpretation of Ephesians 5:19 and speeches by Jeff Nelson and George Bailey discussing worship changes at ACU. One of the most interesting parts of my research was reading archived issues of The Optimist, where students publicly debated instrumental worship over several decades.
What surprised me most was how emotional and divisive the debate became among students. Earlier articles from the 1980s showed strong resistance to instrumental worship, with many students arguing that instruments lacked biblical authority. Other students defended instrumental worship by pointing to scripture and arguing that worship practices could evolve. By the late 2000s and early 2010s, however, student perspectives had shifted noticeably. Many students viewed blended worship as more inclusive and welcoming to people from different church backgrounds, and some believed it helped ACU remain relevant to modern students.
Ultimately, my research showed that ACU’s worship evolution reflects a balance between preserving tradition and adapting to cultural change. Rather than abandoning its heritage, the university expanded its worship practices to create a more inclusive spiritual environment while still honoring its historical identity.
Thank you, Ashlyn, for sharing your research with us. We’ll be back soon to highlight more student research inspired by our hymnal holdings.
