Nancy Beach has a post about a colleague that believed they needed to ask a Worship Band member to step down in order to take the team to the “next level.” I’ve been there.
To start, there are 2 main things I look for when selecting new Worship Band members. First there needs to be a heart attitude of worship, and a desire to be a servant. Second there needs to be clear gifting in the area they desire to serve in. Both of these things are necessary. Sometimes we invite someone into the Band when only one of these qualities is developed, and use the opportunity to move them along where they are lacking. Sometimes it isn’t immediately obvious that they have what it takes in both these areas. When you’re not sure, you have to go slow. Ask them to come to rehearsals, but not to lead on Sundays. For vocalists, ask them to sing in the choir for a few months before singing on a mic up front. See how that rubs them. Their reaction (and whether they even stick around) will clue you into where their heart is.
But what about someone who is not up to par in the musical/technical side. Here are my suggestions in handling that:
1. Let them know the expectations. Tell them you expect a degree of excellence in the presentation of music, and this requires practice apart from band rehearsal. Bottom line – a musical mistake equals a potential distraction in people connecting with God in worship.
2. Be specific. If it is a stylistic problem, tell them how you want it. If it is a technique problem, give helpful suggestions how to improve. Offer to help via lessons outside rehearsal. You can’t just tell them it’s not good enough and not provide a chance to correct it and grow.
3. Put the burden on them. Let them know that unless they get help and improve, we don’t have a place for you to serve here…
4. Offer another venue for them to continue to serve and improve in. There are usually other places that need musical leadership: children’s church, youth band, small groups, prison ministry, etc. Let them serve somewhere else.
In the end, a band is only as good as it’s worst player. If efforts are made to improve and nothing is working, you have to cut the cord. Tell them, “We love you, but God has not gifted you to serve in this area. We know He has somewhere else for you to serve here.”
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Harsh but fair. It is always difficult to cut someone from a music ministry, I think it is important though. (a chain is only as strong as its weakest link) I beleive that if someone takes it really rough then their attitude is not that of a worshipper. If someone truly believes they are called to be a worshipper then they will try to get better and then come back. At the end of the day, many people will come along that are not ready to join the ministry but think they are. It is our job as pastors and leaders to make sure that we talk to these people before an offense rises. It is better to be honest from the get go than just sweeping things under the rug. Good Advice, thank you.
This sort of thing is so difficult. I’m in a Christian rock band (not a church worship band), but the same ideas still apply. We’re actually thinking of having the same talk again to our rythm guitarist because it’s obvious that God has gifted him in the style of worship, not rock. With that said, we’ve had talks with him and given him every chance to evaluate for himself what he wants and where he feels God is calling him.
Number one, it has to be about Christ. Number two, the God given talent needs to be there. Number three, there has to be band chemistry. If any of these things aren’t present, something needs to be done right away… not weeks/months down the road. It just makes things that much more difficult when the time comes where you do talk to that someone.
Moreover, if you feel the need to do anything, do it with love, just as Christ commanded us. It can’t be personal or negative, but it must get the point across.
this is the exact problem we’re having with our bassist in our christian rock band, the only thing is he’s my best friend and doesnt know how to take rejection well so im worried about how we’re going to deal with him
Oscar & Kyle – thanks for commenting!
Hey, who says worship music can’t rock?
Kyle – thanks for lifting up the fact that it has to be about Christ and his Name being increased. That’s a good reminder.
Oscar – if someone takes dismissal or “evaluation” from a leader roughly, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not a worshiper, just that they have some pride or some sensitivity. Musical talent is relative. What one music director considers adequate from a player, another music director may not. That’s when this delicate situation often arises, after a change in worship leadership/staff. But the difficult conversation still has to happen, and should always be done in grace and love.
Another good alternative is to ask someone to just sit in on rehearsals for a period. You can call it a “probationary” period until you’re comfortable with the person and their heart, and skill.
On the other hand, it all depends on your context. I’ve been in a context where there was no band, starting from scratch. Someone wants to play an instrument, but is at the beginner level. In some cases, its more valuable and builds more momentum to have an additional person upfront leading music than not (even if their musical contribution is not where you’d like it to be at the moment).
Similar situation here. Our worship leader let a singer on the worship team which has no musical abilities at all. When asked to sing to pitch a note being played, she can’t even do that. Her heart is in the right place, it’s just that there is not even basic beginner musical skills. My wife sings on the team too. When she sings with this other lady, it is a complete train wreck. There was no audition, no anything. She was just on because she did a Christmas Eve service with the team. Both my wife and I have been praying about how to handle this situation. Our worship leader will do nothing unless he basically forced to. It’s so sad.
Marc: sorry to hear about the musical problems at your church. What do you think about sending him the text of this blog post in an email and initiating a conversation about how people are added to the ministry? Just because you’re a volunteer doesnt mean it’s not your ministry too.