I'm not a fan of organ music, and I had to leave a Church when I couldn't convince our Minister that Charles Wesley and Isaac Watts weren't the greatest composers of the 21st century, and that their hymns were necessary in every (YES) service. But once, when we had a music minister who had her music degree in the organ, after she had our organ fixed as well as it could be, I was astounded by what music came out of it!!  It was nothing like the funereal droning I had heard before, probably because I'd heard pianists doing their best on the organ. I would advise church leaders to mothball their organs, not demolish them, if possible; you may find yourself a real organist one day.

I do not like Organ music what so ever.  However it may be the person playing lacks the vim and vigor the organ needs to really sore.  I prefer upbeat music that , when you hit the last note, does not hang, drone, buzz, hum in the air for another full 30 seconds making you wonder if the person playing the organ didn't pass out on the key board:)  So lets get up beat and yes, add some drums, violin, tuba, guitar etc. etc.

I, too, feel like the organs ought to be locked up, although I hasten to add, only because using them is such a deeply-seated reflex in mainline church music. The church musician is still routinely referred to as the "organist". How about a 5-year moratorium on all organ music? {barely joking}

Melchizidek points out the obvious--there aren't necessarily people in mainline churches ready to replace the organ(ist) with a group of non-traditional worship instruments and styles. Although I agree that that's true, I reply that non-traditionals have probably given up not only on church music, but church itself, because of the slowness to embrace change and seek new directions. Music is the scene of but one of many such failures.

I am often impatient with the "either/or" false dichotomy in mainline church music thinking. it's not either an organ or non-traditional instruments. Like Ab-Nirmal, I think they can co-exist, and ought to. I am just as uncomfortable in a guitars/bass/drums only situation as in an organ only situation--two things are missing from both. The first is variety. Each seems to rigidly stick to its own style, with no in-between. Furthermore, you'd never know from the UCCAN hymnal, Voices United, that there are dozens of different style of music represented--Sacred Harp, Celtic, traditional English, to name but three. On the organ, they are all homogenized, and, frankly, castrated of their power. With the electrics, all soft rock--where's the acoustic? And other music styles? 

I said there were two things missing from both--the second is periods of meditative silence. But that's another posting.  :)

I always wondered if wood-panelling and electronic organ sales teams travelled together in packs during the last century, but that's for another blog...

As a worship presider (and former classical pipe organist and jazz /blues/gospel, 'country' and 'pop' keyboardist) I'd be happy to consider an 'organ transplant' to some other instrument(s) (or some great amalgamation of music styles) in the smaller churches in which I've served - but NOT ONE of all the 'dump-the-organ-music' voices over the past 50 (count'em!) years has ever offered up  a cadre of younger musicians (or a strategy to find even one) willing to commit themselves Sunday after Sunday after Sunday after Sunday after ...well..you get the idea..

At its genesis (we're talking human year '0'), worship music began as fides querens voca (?) - seeking an external theological referrent - 'modern' music that might make me feel good is..well...pleasing but whether it's 'worship' is for another discussion and a couple 2-4s after the gig.

You know what would be great?  Keep the organs and add the modern band as well.  Be flexible because I like both.