Hey everyone,
We’re back with another segment of “The Practicalities Of Worship”. Like I mentioned in my last post, today’s topic is how to implement systems and processes to create intentional and organized worship ministries that attract and support the people that serve in them. If you are looking for who should be serving in your worship ministry, you can reference part one of this series in my last post before reading the rest of this one.
The hard reality of any organization, or gathering of people is that they rely on precedents and systems to operate. Imagine a corporate office that had no calendar, no phone line for people to reach them, and didn’t have any job titles. No one would take them seriously and they would likey, very quickly spiral into disaster. Why? Because human nature desires, and often requires order. We think clearly in order, and are able to focus on what matters instead of dealing with the next thing that inevitably becomes everyone’s problem in a disorganized atmosphere. It is similar with our personal lives. The mess at home can only get so big and bad before we have to clean it up to function properly. If you don’t have a regualr dish schedule, they pile up. If the dishes pile up, you can’t cook dinner because there is no where to put the dirty pan. So you order pizza and spend the whole evening tackling the dishes, but then you realize that distracted you from doing laundry. Suddenly you have no clean clothes to wear to work and that has the potential to throw your next day off. The next day, throws your week off, and very quickly things feel overwhelming.
For some reason, I have not seen organization translate how it does everywhere else in life, into the church. I’m not 100% sure why this is. I think it is different for different ministries. Sometimes there is the guy who got a theology degree running the show that thinks he knows the best way to do everything because he has a theology degree and can do no wrong. Sometimes it’s that there isn’t a ton of margin for staff in a smaller church context, and the most willing volunteer takes the reigns. Other times, more big vision staff is leading and needs the right detail oriented people to help create the needed systems.
Whatever the reason may be, if you want your ministry to grow and be able to sustain it, you have to have the right systems in place. In worship ministry specifically, those could be putting an audition process in writing, having a written dress code, clarifying the purpose and mission of your worship ministry, creating written parameters around who can join the team, and setting personal/professional expectations for those that are on the team. These are just a handful of ways that you can set your worship ministry up for success. They might be difficult to implement at first. But if you rally people together, and allow them to take ownership of these things along with you, I have rarely seen someone fully reject these systems. The key to putting these things in place is to remember that you are not a dictator. You are a shepherd.
That said, I want to break down each of these suggestions I gave. Of course, pray into what is right for your church and ministry. But these are a starting point for things I have seen go really well over my 13 years serving in different ministries.
AUDITION PROCESS
More than any of these systems, this one will likely vary the most from church to church. In a larger church system with multiple people on worship staff, I have found it to be most beneficial to audition people as a team. Have your audition dates set and allow people to sign up, and don’t be afraid to ask for information from them to begin with. Anyone that doesn’t want to share their musical background, or the testimony of their faith likely isn’t who you are looking for. Share positive feedback and where there is room for growth with everybody who auditions, and if you turn someone away, encourage them to work on specific things and come back and audition again. I worked in a ministry that mastered this system and it was incredible for team building, and an opportunity for growth for those auditioning. In a smaller church atmosphere, a video audition system might be more appropriate so you aren’t left alone with anyone during an audition, and so you can be a little bit more flexible with your time as you search for the right people to join your team.
WRITTEN DRESS CODE
Every single church should have a written dress code for those that are on a platform or serving in any way. This code is not an issue of what is right or wrong to wear while serving. It is an issue of what is wise to wear while serving. I do think you can dress code things to the point of legalism. But there have to be parameters because what happens when one of your singers walks into rehearsal in a skirt that is way too short for the platform? Odds are she did not intentionally wear something she thought was going to be inappropriate. Is a pastor going to pull her aside and have a conversation? I sure hope not. A man should never be commenting directly on a woman’s clothing in church, largely for the sake of staying above reproach. If you have it in writing, instead of saying “I don’t think what you are wearing is appropriate for the platform”, you can say “Our dress code requires skirts or dresses to be below the knee”. This sets a standard for everyone that takes away the gray area of how different people define modesty. Because people do often define it differently even in church spheres. If you serve in the worship ministry, you agree to follow the dress code. It makes expectations clear and solutions simple.
MISSION STATEMENT
Chances are that your church likely already has one of these mission statements. If your church doesn’t have one of these mission statements, you need one. At the church I serve in currently, the mission statement is that we are a “SENT Church”. Everyone uses that lingo and is united behind it. At a prior church I served in and adored it was “Love Well. Change Lives. Through Christ”. It’s on t-shirts, it’s on the website, and it’s in the DNA of the church. Rallying your church behind a common goal or message is unbelievably powerful. For your worship team, it may be that same message that the church as a whole is living out together. It could also be a key verse in scripture that you want at the forefront of your teams mind as they worship. It sets the tone, and inspires unity.
REQUIREMENTS TO JOIN
I talked about this is my last post just a bit. But I am going to say it again for the people in the back. Please do not put someone on your team that is not musically gifted. For more on that, see my last post. There are requirements for everything in life. You want to drive? Take the test. You want to go to college? Apply. You want to ride the rollercoaster? Stand next to the post and see if you are tall enough. Here are some of the requirements I have found to be important for those looking to join in a worship ministry:
Must be a devoted follower of Jesus (no exceptions)
Must be attending and involved in the church for a certain amount of time before joining
Must be proficient in a primary instrument
TEAM EXPECTATIONS
Once people join your team, what are you asking of them? These are the first things you walk through with someone when they join. How are they to interact with the rest of the team? How should they prepare for services? How often are you asking them to serve on average? Attach that dress code. Mention other events you may need people to serve at. Set a standard for what they say or promote while affiliated with the ministry. I know that last one can ruffle feathers. But what if you choose not to include a song in your rotation for theological reasons, and then out of nowhere you see a post on Facebook where someone has posted their favorite song, raved about it, and then put you on blast for not playing it. I know, it sounds dumb. And it is. But some people don’t have discernment or discretion, and it happens. Should that happen to you, it would be nice to be able to point back to the code of conduct and point to the specific agreement they breeched. That is just one example of many. Hopefully it conveys the point. An agreed upon standard benefits everyone and preserves the health of a team.
That’s what I have for you on this topic. I hope this gets the logistical wheels turning and encourages you that ministry doesn’t have to be as hard as it can be sometimes. Keep Jesus at the center, and people at the top of the list of priorities as you prayerfully work on these systems and I know the Lord will bless the work.
Grace and Peace,
Laurel