Another related problem is that some professional church musicians have missed the mark on what it means to minister to a congregation: The very word "professional" has developed a negative tone.
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Few professional or better, "pastoral" church musicians are so blessed as to be able to work in the denomination which nurtured their faith and to which they are committed. Many need to find work in other denominations or leave their profession— sometimes an agonizing choice— since there is simply no market for their skills outside the church. In spite of these problems, the number of musicians on church staffs is increasing. Pastoral church musicians are slowly finding their way into congregations, both small and large, who have a commitment to excellence in worship.
More often, a musician needs other employment to earn a living wage. Our survey didn't tell us how many musicians are content with their current compensation.
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Judging from the widely varied practices revealed by the survey and the letters we received, the level of discontent is rather high. Many of these musicians are understandably reluctant to complain on their own behalf about an apparently unjust situation.
- Musicians: To Pay or Not to Pay??
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It's a bit demeaning. But both the discontent and the continuing uneven compensation have had a sad impact on the field of church music. The shortage of organists is increasing alarmingly. And because fewer and fewer college students are studying organ, the shortage Of well-qualified church musicians will continue to rise.
Those churches who rely on volunteers are also facing a shortage. We used to be able to count on volunteer contributions in many areas, especially from women who did not work outside the home. But those days are largely over. Everybody is too busy. As the tensions increase over uneven compensation and too few musicians to fulfill needs, the church will face some struggles. Congregations and musicians alike must learn not to let these struggles and the difficult situations they create impede worship.
Pastoral and Worship Excellence: Becoming more like Christ
Letting frustrations over different hopes and expectations prevent unity in the body is one of the saddest things that can happen to a congregation. At the same time, don't avoid the issues. Work together in a spirit of mutual encouragement and service. Seek advice and ideas from other churches in your areas and from some of the following resources:. Two dealing specifically with compensation are Music in the Church: Complete copies may be obtained from the national office of The Presbyterian Association of Musicians, E.
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Morehead Street, Charlotte, North Carolina When in our music God is glorified, and adoration leaves no room for pride, it is as though the whole creation cried, "Alleluia! How often, making music, we have found a new dimension in the world of sound, as worship moved us to a more profoundalleluia! So has the church, in liturgy and song, in faith and love, through centuries of wrong, borne witness to the truth in every tongue: And did not Jesus sing a psalm that night when utmost evil strove against the Light?
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Then let us sing, for whom he won the fight: Let every instrument be tuned for praise! Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise! And may God give us faith to sing always, "Alleluia! Fred Pratt Green, Reproduced by special permission. As found in Psalter Hymnal and Rejoice in the Lord We have focused on organists only for convenience the organ is still the most typical instrument used in worship and do not mean to discount the contributions made by a variety of other instrumentalists.
Donate to Reformed Worship. Log into the Digital Library here. Church employees -- Salaries. So — it becomes very easy for the worship team to become their small group, their discipleship and their community… so, the staff should truly pastor and disciple, and their hours should be planned accordingly i.
Churches can up their excellence extremely quickly, if they hire the right teams of players. Many times non-believers are the best players, so many people on stage are unbelievers playing a gig and the spirit of worship suffers. This model works best if there is a worship leader who can lead the band and an admin of some sort who can deal with all the booking of band members. There are some churches who move to this paid model, but only hire people who either A were once a part of the ministry as a volunteer; or B only let people join the team as paid member, if they have 1st rose through the ranks as a volunteer many times being on stage unpaid with other paid players.
Similar to 2, but with a start up church, with the vision to use paid players to build excellence that draws other players, but with the goal to move towards volunteers as church members begin to want to be a part of the music program. Similar to 2, a church starts up with consistent excellence, which can be a magnet to musicians who want a good church and a place to serve.
Musicians: To Pay or Not to Pay?
The volunteers serving for free alongside paid players have the opportunity to build resentment; and when you decide to move away from paid players, there can be a lot of frustration by the paid players who are losing a gig. I have seen this used to varying results. But I also think that there can be a boxing in that happens that may not be worth the cost. So you find someone who will play, but only for a small amount.
The Spirit can lead you on Thursday, not just in the moment. Help the church keep their eyes on Jesus.
Do you sing songs about the saving power of Christ, the worth of Christ, and holiness of Christ, and does your preacher offer a proclaimed message that could lead to you having a different eternity when you walk out… not just a better you? Are we reading the Word of God, responding to the Word of God, singing truths from the Word of God, sitting under the Word of God, being challenged and encouraged and hurt and healed by the teaching of the Word of God?
Excellent program without the word of God is not excellent. Excellence looks like someone taking responsibility for everything I just mentioned. Is someone going to make it a priority to be authentic, distraction-less, and word-centered? Or… are we going to continue to let embarrassing worship services happen under our watch?
Someone needs to give a vision for your corporate gathering. Someone needs to give direction for your gathering. Someone needs to love the gathering and lead the gathering.
Someone needs a check-list and a fire in their bones about the gathering. You need a worshipper to be a leader in the planning process.