Passionate church musicians (CM), clear about their call to ministry, do this ministry work because they would be miserable if they weren’t doing it. They are ardent lovers of music and its potential to bring people near to Christ. I’ve never met a pastor (P) who’s not equally passionate about his or her work, but often (too often) mildly suspicious that the CM wants too much of...well, everything—therein lies an ongoing conflict.
Back in the day (as people who can’t remember actual dates are wont to say), we had part time CMs and full time CMs. The part time ones were often school teachers who needed the extra income and could conduct a choir or play an organ. Those folks still exist—God bless them—but are quickly disappearing as if through a glass darkly.
The full time CMs that began taking over the major church positions sometime in the 60s are being morphed into something completely different (see Vern Sanders’ excellent articles
here and
here). That reality prompts this article—but not entirely. There has always been some conflict between CMs and Ps and there always will be, and I’m sure that you, like I, wish we could fix it.
Here are CM snapshots, P snapshots, and possible workarounds (WA) to these very old, but still prevalent, tensions.
CM: (with earnest and inward feeling) Wants people to worship unabashedly and enthusiastically—regardless of style. Traditionalists want to hear people sing hymns over the db level of the organ. Contemporary leaders judge their effectiveness by what they perceive to be the Spirit-led exuberance of their constituency. BTW, I’ve never met a dance band leader who didn’t want people to dance while the band plays on! “Stage” people want their “audience” to enjoy themselves! That is mother’s milk for the CM!
P: (on the way to another meeting) Just wants to make sure the CM leaves a minimum of 40 minutes for the sermon. (CM’s face slackens slightly)
Note: It’s not that Ps don’t like music, they just like talking more—understandably, because that’s what they do.
WA: Try to negotiate with the P to have a service centered on the subject of worship and have the P (who, after all, is the head of worship) lead 1/2 the musical portion and you (CM) preach half of the sermon. BTW, I’ve seen this done dozens of times (and have done it myself) to very successful effect and affect (look it up, I only get so much room) :-). You will both be surprised, alarmed, and enlightened by the experience you have shared.
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CM: (desperate) Worship tools (media tech particularly) are expensive and “I need more money to keep up with the burgeoning demands and new technology.”
P: (where have I heard this before...hmmm) We gave you a big “pop” last year to buy new chairs (or recover the pews) and this “pop” you’re asking for may just be a bubble, since it is highly unlikely you will get one this year.
WA: Instead of showing your pastor the demands and urgent needs you have for worship, try to couch your discussion with him around the ways in which your budget directly impacts his specific role in the church. Then ask him how he would like to prioritize the available funds. His answer may be entirely contrastive to what you expected.
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CM: (feeling isolated and misunderstood) I need to meet with my pastor more regularly to better coordinate services.
P: (not particularly sensing the creative and/or HR need implicit here) I’m placing you under the direct supervision of the church administrator.
WA: There is no workaround here. If you’re not continuing to be connected to your senior pastor, you already have all the answers you need about your role and leadership under this person. If you’ve got 3 kids, hold on as long as you can. If not, leave Dodge and don’t wait for the horse to catch up with you!
One of the single greatest mistakes a pastor can make is to give up this important and mutually beneficial relationship just because he/she doesn’t want to “get into it again with that person.”
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P: (with a smile ) I really like you, but I have to do what’s best for the church.
CM: (internally) “That’s probably the cruelest thing anyone has ever said to me. It may be true that it’s time for me to go, but I’ve spent the past 10 years with one motive firmly in place—serve the Lord while doing what’s “best” for the church.”
WA: Don’t say what you’re thinking, but you do have the right to have the P go a little deeper into the subject of what he senses that deficit to be. It may allow you to more accurately describe your skills and passions as you see them and allow you the opportunity to more assertively meet his perceived needs for your leadership.
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P: (smiling) I have a great idea for our church that I brought back from the conference last week.
CM: (internally) I can’t believe it...another idea! We still haven’t been able to implement the ideas he brought back last year!
WA: Always show a positive face about a potential new idea. Don’t argue it or make excuses why you can’t do it. Ask, instead, how much time he feels you should allot to this new project and what could be eliminated in order for you to really concentrate on the new agenda. Think that’s too obvious? Look, it has to be said at some point. Tell him you’re more than willing to do new things, but that you’re stretched to the limit at the moment, so a plan for execution (hopefully not yours) can be worked out to everyone’s satisfaction..
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