Clapping in Church
Over the past few years there has been a marked increase in the amount of applause in our worship. This is particularly true at our main service on Sundays where musical offerings from children, youth, and adults are more frequently applauded. Occasionally, this is true of sermons as well.
I was raised with the understanding that clapping in church was completely inappropriate. “Worship is an offering to God and is not a performance,” was the refrain.
This is not just an Episcopal thing. I recently came across this story:
One Baptist congregation in a metropolitan area was very pleased to have younger families joining the church. But some of the long-tenured members were upset when others in the congregation applauded the children after they sang an anthem in the children’s choir. “What do I do?” asked one member, who felt caught in the middle. “I really feel like clapping, and I think the children need the encouragement. But I also know that I’m breaking my father’s heart. He is standing right next to me and hates to hear clapping in church.” (Leading Change in the Congregation, Gilbert R. Rendle, p. 32)
For some folk, I’m learning, applause is seen as a response to the spontaneous movement of the Holy Spirit. It is also a celebration of the gifts and offerings of others. For others (like me), even when I do clap in church, I do so looking over my shoulder, wondering if I’m about to experience the wrath of God (or at least the condemnation of those voices from my own youth that still play in my head).
This is part if the tension in which I live, and I suspect that there are others who do as well. The issue for some may be clapping—for others it’s kneeling or something else. What about you?
–The Rev. John Paddock
Christ Church Blog 
IF THIS IS AN ISSUE SEPARATING “OLD CHURCH” AND “NEW CHURCH”, IMAGINE HOW DAUNTING THE VERY SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES WE WILL BE ASKED TO ACT UPON NOW AND IN THE FUTURE WILL SEEM! WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ONE COULDN’T EAT ANYTHING PAST MIDNIGHT ON THE SUNDAY THEY WERE RECEIVING COMMUNION…SOME KIDS WORRIED ABOUT THE STATE OF THEIR SOULS IF THEY HAPPENED TO SWALLOW A BIT OF TOOTHPASTE WHILE BRUSHING APPLAUSE, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION HAS NOT BECOME TOO BIG AN ISSUE.
IF IT IS TO SOME, WHAT ABOUT SOME OF OUR PARISHIONERS EXITING CHURCH DANCING TO “THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN”. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A CONTEMPORARY, PROGRESSIVE EPISCOPAL PARISH. LET’S NOT SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF…AND THIS REALLY IS THE SMALL STUFF.
The previous response is right on in my opinion. Surely clapping in church to joyous music by children and the marvelous music by Yun Kim does nothing but make the angels smile. Clapping is small stuff compared to shootings in NYC, Norway and Colorado, mental health patients walking up and down our streets and folks in our pews with heavy hearts needing a lift. So, I say clap, whistle, however the Great Spirit moves you. Just no snakes please.
When I complained to John about this I specifically said, “Applause for 50th wedding anniversaries, tenth birthdays, graduations, good jobs done, etc. are another matter entirely.” I came to church shaken by the sudden and severe illness of one of my good friends and when the soloist was applauded during a serious part of the service, I put my head in my hands. Sometimes one feels solemn and, at least in the past, the church was a place of solace, strength and renewal — and commitment, too. Celebration and joy are fine, but the deeper needs of the people should have a place, too
The following comment was sent to me (John Paddock) by email from Tim Riffle:
“The Lord said, “Make a joyful noise”. Doesn’t that include clapping? Well Rev. Paddock does this mean we can’t laugh in church also?