WORSHIP TEAM

WORSHIP LEADING DYNAMICS

In the "Stand To Reason Blog" Justin Taylor wrote about "The Art of Leading Congregational Worship"

Michael Bynum found this article and brought it by the Vineyard. Justin and James Smith say it so well.

Justin wrote: "I suspect you’ve seen this in church before: The worship band begins to play a well-known hymn. The congregation confidently joins in. Then the band creatively adds a little unexpected extra space between stanzas, and a few people get caught singing loudly through the silence. Everyone is immediately on guard, hesitant. Sometimes we recover, but as the creative liberties increase, the number of people worshiping steadily decreases. We wait quietly, listening, watching the band worship as our limited time together slips away.

The art of leading congregational worship is being lost, and I think we are all poorer for it."

He goes on to quote James K. A. Smith in his “An Open Letter to Praise Bands”:

1. "If we, the congregation, can't hear ourselves, it's not worship. Christian worship is not a concert. In a concert (a particular "form of performance"), we often expect to be overwhelmed by sound, particularly in certain styles of music. In a concert, we come to expect that weird sort of sensory deprivation that happens from sensory overload, when the pounding of the bass on our chest and the wash of music over the crowd leaves us with the rush of a certain aural vertigo. And there's nothing wrong with concerts! It's just that Christian worship is not a concert. Christian worship is a collective, communal, congregational practice--and the gathered sound and harmony of a congregation singing as one is integral to the practice of worship. It is a way of "performing" the reality that, in Christ, we are one body. But that requires that we actually be able to hear ourselves, and hear our sisters and brothers singing alongside us. When the amped sound of the praise band overwhelms congregational voices, we can't hear ourselves sing--so we lose that communal aspect of the congregation and are encouraged to effectively become "private," passive worshipers."

2. "If we, the congregation, can't sing along, it's not worship. In other forms of musical performance, musicians and bands will want to improvise and 'be creative,' offering new renditions and exhibiting their virtuosity with all sorts of different trills and pauses and improvisations on the received tune. Again, that can be a delightful aspect of a concert, but in Christian worship it just means that we, the congregation, can't sing along. And so your virtuosity gives rise to our passivity; your creativity simply encourages our silence. And while you may be worshiping with your creativity, the same creativity actually shuts down congregational song."

"Worship leaders, if you look out over the congregation and you see that we are not singing with you, something has gone wrong. Are you jamming alone up there for extended periods of time? Are you changing well-known melodies just enough to surprise us and make us hesitant to sing out, and/or adding flair that we can’t follow? Are you choosing soloistic songs with complicated melodies rather than musically simple ones designed for group singing?"

"The best thing you can do is to consider carefully the purpose of your role as you make your decisions for each service. You have the noble position of enabling all of us to draw together as one before God to express our love and honor through a powerful medium. If you can keep that goal in mind—the goal of enabling the congregation to worship—and ruthlessly shed anything, however musically tempting, that doesn't advance that goal, we will thank you."

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ACTIVE WORSHIP LEADER REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVE WORSHIP LEADERSHIP

As an active worship leader at the Gadsden Vineyard, you must take on certain responsibilities that go hand-in-hand with the authority you have agreed to take on. Below, this authority and responsibility is explained, so that all our active worship leaders know what is expected of them.

Not all worship leaders at Gadsden Vineyard must be considered “active.” If you can’t take on this level of responsibility, or if you need to lay it down for a while, this doesn’t mean you can’t ever lead worship. It only means you shouldn’t be in regular rotation for the main service. This service is where we have the widest cross-section of regulars and visitors, mature Christians and baby Christians, and all manner of opinions (and differences of opinion) on spiritual and doctrinal issues. This is where everyone in spiritual authority must take the most care to walk under the umbrella of that authority in order to be a good steward and leader to an impressively varied flock. There is no particular restriction on how often you may lead worship in other services, small groups, or Bible studies. However, you must of course still heed church leadership where any instruction or correction is given in those settings as well.

On the other hand, a worship leader who is not in the regular main service worship rotation may choose to be considered active if they can take on the responsibility. In fact, they are encouraged to do so, to help in having greater accountability and continuity in other services, as well as in setting an example for the rest of the congregation in worship and church life in general.

What does it mean to be an active worship leader?

An active worship leader, as opposed to an inactive one, makes a conscious decision to place him or herself in a place of spiritual authority in the church, which means agreeing to abide by the standards listed below. But think of it this way: your position is really no different than what it would be if you were the only worship leader in the church (which is the situation at most other churches). Just because we’re blessed with an abundance of Godly musicians who can share the task of leading worship from week to week, it doesn’t mean that we water down the accountability required to do it right. On the contrary, we have to take more care to stay on the same page spiritually. When our worship is out of whack or uninformed by God’s direction over the fellowship, it’s those we’re leading in worship who suffer for it. We have lots of different flavors, but we all gotta be ice cream.

What are the responsibilities of an active worship leader?

When leading worship:

1. Plan your worship prayerfully and deliberately. Sometimes God will change things on you at the last minute, and we’re all about accommodating that. But don’t just “throw it together” without taking time and consulting God about what He wants to say or hear. Song selection can be very important, but even the details like what order they should be in, what keys, and the musical arrangements, should be prayerfully considered.

2. Start and finish the worship on time. We’re all about being open to God’s will at every moment, even if that means disrupting how the service is normally run. But it’s not your job, as worship leader, to decide when this should happen. It’s the pastor’s job. When we step outside the allotted time without either the direction or permission of the pastor, we’ve stepped outside of our authority.

3. Be mindful of all the items on the worship leader’s checklist 
(a copy of this checklist is posted on stage, where you should consult it before and after worship to make sure you’ve remembered everything):

a. Pull overheads. Make sure you have time to type one up if you can’t find it, and please use the Gadsden Vineyard format. Copies of lead sheets are NOT acceptable.

b. When you set up, keep all equipment inside the carpeted area of the stage.

c. Start worship at 10:30 (it’s best to be done with rehearsal by 10:20 so band members can go to the restroom and grab a cup of coffee).

d. When finished, put everything back like you found it. Put up any extra cords or stands you borrowed from somewhere else. If you moved speakers around or switched any inputs, put them back like they were.

e. Put overheads you pulled back into the box in their correct alphabetical order.

f. Clean up copies of your lead sheets. They don’t have to go home, but they can’t stay here.

4. Abide by any additional direction given by the pastor about how worship should be conducted.

Outside of leading worship:

1. Attend worship kinship meetings whenever possible. This is where we seek God together, and where the lion’s share of necessary communication and coordination takes place. You should make it a priority, and plan ahead, to be there unless there is an unavoidable conflict.

2. Attend Gadsden Vineyard church services often. If you’re only there when you’re leading, you are probably not involved enough in “church life” to have the necessary insight and understanding of where we are spiritually. This doesn’t mean you can’t ever miss a service. On the contrary, visiting other churches can be a great source of new ideas, inspiration, and cross-congregational relationships. But Gadsden Vineyard should be your primary church family.

3. Take responsibility for your worship when you’re not leading as much as you do when you are. It’s up to you to decide what that looks like, but when you’re worshipping off-stage, you’re still a leader. Help to set the example for real and honest worship for the rest of the congregation.

4. Foster other worshippers who have a desire to be involved in leading worship by taking opportunities to include, teach, and encourage them.

5. Should you have any disagreements with the pastor or other church authorities that challenge your relationship with them or cause you to be uneasy with any aspect of their authority, you should discuss these issues with them and come to a place of understanding as soon as possible.

6. Whenever possible, take advantage of worship workshops and any other opportunities to learn from others and cultivate your leadership skills.

7. You are encouraged to take opportunities to go out and share your worship with other groups or fellowships. It’s a spiritual principle to give of what we have to those in need, and this is something we have. Of course, always keep in mind that when you worship in other places, you should always honor the rules and authorities in place there that may be different from ours.

8. Foster other worshippers who have a desire to be involved in leading worship.

9. As in any position of church authority, a worship leader should set a good example in all areas of life, dealing with others in accordance with Christian principles and approaching life with responsibility, honesty, honor, and love.

MAY 2013

- Liz Finlayson Wood

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Kinship/Small Group Worship Leader

To lead worship for a Small Group.

To glorify and exalt the name of God through our worship.

To lead others (by example) into intimate times of worship.

To accomplish God’s purposes for the group through worship.

Accountable to: Worship Coordinator and Small Group Leader

Spiritual Gifts:  service, leadership

Talents/Abilities:  vocal and instrument proficiency

Passion:  music, worship

Qualifications:

• Member of GVC or knows and understands Vineyard Worship and has approval of the Worship Coordinator and Kinship/Small Group Coordinator
• Must be able to model and lead others in worship
• Must be able to play (guitar/piano) and sing well with a commitment to improving musical skills
• Able to follow direction as given by the small group leader
• Involved in a small group
• Ability to select songs and lead worship
• Love and dedication to the Lord

1.   Personal worship before God (away from your small group)
2.   Ongoing growth in spiritual walk
3.   Surrendered to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life

• Love for people

1. Humility (this is not about you—Philippians 2)
2. Preferring others above yourself
3. Willingness to forgive quickly

• Character

1.   Having your family in order (they are your first priority)
2.   Willingness to serve
3.   Dedication to the worship ministry at GVC
4.   Being spiritually and musically prepared to lead any given small group service
5.   Sincerity and integrity
6.   Loyal to GVC values and leadership

• Talent and ability:

1. Increasing level of musical proficiency if a beginner
2. Commitment to support the small group leader
3. Follow direction as set by the small group leader
4. Willingness to do what is asked without complaining
5. Pray for the small group leader and his/her family

Responsibilities:

• To participate in leading worship in a manner that glorifies Jesus and reflects our values of integrity, humility, biblical truth and simplicity in worship.
• Model worship in such a way to lead others (this flows out of one’s individual worship experience and is not simply manufactured for show). Examples:

1.   Clapping
2.   Raising of hands
3.   Enjoyment of worship is evident in your countenance
4.   Your attitude while leading worship in your small group can influence the environment in your small group

• Faithfully attend the small group where you are leading worship.
• Support and serve the Small Group Leader so that his/her vision and goals for the group may be accomplished.
• Model worship in such a way as to reflect Vineyard values and style of worship.  (Worship, not performance).
• Arrive at least 10 minutes early. 
• Come with a prepared heart and a song list or sense of flow for worship.
• Lead others into worship by singing loudly, in a comfortable range, playing with confidence.
• Provide frequent explanation of worship and encouragement to participate.
• Be able to play most GVC songs
• Be able to arrange a play list as to promote worship and participation:

1. Key the song is sung in
2. Flow to songs (do the songs thematically flow together?)
3. Select songs that are biblically sound and that your people can understand.

• Continually learn and introduce new songs when they are available.
• Have an ongoing commitment to improving as a musician and as a worship leader.
• Recruit/Train other possible worship leaders.  (Multiply yourself).
• Attend all Small Group Worship Leader meetings.
• Explain and teach the Vineyard values and importance of worship to your small group.

Training:

   Dynamics of Worship Leading

   Musicians’ Fellowship/Training meetings

Support:

   Attend worship team kinships

Time Commitment:

   3-5 hours per week

Length of Service:

   One semester

Significance and Benefits:

• Fulfilling your role

1. Using your gifts in the body
2. Your ministry touches all whom attend your small group

• Eternal significance
• We are fulfilling our greatest call as believers (to worship God)
• We are making a difference in people’s lives

1. Salvations
2. Healings
3. Restored Families

• Partnering with the church to advance God’s Kingdom
• It pleases God

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