Many of us are given the authority to oversee worship. Some denominations say in their polity that the senior minister is in charge of/responsible for worship. This easily becomes a platform for control. Some of us want to control every aspect of worship either because we believe we are best suited, because we have to make sure it is good since the buck stops here, or because we do not know how to share ministry and still be the one who is ultimately in charge. We know deep down that we are not in control! If we believe in the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through the worship experience, then we know that, ultimately, this is about God at work and not our proficiency or success. We also can speak volumes on the actions of children, ushers, musicians, and lectors whose involvement in worship is out of our control! However, we can respond to this knowledge and these experiences by seeking more control rather than empowering trained and effective leadership. We can become envious of the power and effectiveness of our musician colleagues, as well as their incredible gifts. You, the musician, can create a crescendo that stirs the hearts of the parishioners more deeply than any sermon of ours. If a choir is to have any effectiveness, it requires your leadership and their loyalty as well as ability to work their voices together. How wonderful it would be if the entire ministry of the church could function as smoothly as a four-part anthem. You
also have to create community in order to foster the ministry of the choir. You are a group. If we feel isolated in our ministry, we can become very envious of your relationship with the choir. We can easily focus on the sermon as if it were the only important act of worship. For some congregations, preaching is the focal point or climax of the service. However, that does not mean that the other parts of worship are not equally important and do not deserve equal attention in planning and synchronizing with one another. For some of us, it is very difficult to admit we are wrong. There is something about the power we are given and the way we respond to expectations from congregations and our superiors that seems to lead us toward defensiveness instead of self-evaluation and seeking opportunities for growth personally and professionally. In order for our leadership to be trusted, we need to be able to make sincere apologies and to move toward reconciliation and change when and where it is needed. When we come to a point of disagreement, we need to be able to foster resolution. Like all human relationships, the relationship between the musician and the clergy takes work. This work involves listening, respecting, speaking honestly, building trust, and learning how to be partners in ministry. We are partners with distinct gifts, responsibilities, and authority—yet, partners. How else can we live out Paul’s image of the fine church as the body of Christ?
we can become envious of the power and effectiveness of our musician colleagues, as well as their incredible gifts
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2012 | creatormagazine.com
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