WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE OF A M.O.M AND A MUSICIAN???

[bishopcole]

Hello Lgm Family. I am truly concerned from reading several posts that some people might not know the big differences of a M.O.M and a musician. I really want you to sound off on this and tell me what do you think is the difference or if there is a difference at all. I will later comment on this topic to as I have been a M.O.M for several years as well as a musician. NOW SOUND OFF!!!     Bishop Cole

[keptbyJesus]

Well from what I have learned.

A Musician, is there to play and maybe teach here and there.

A M.O.M. is normally over the entire music ministry of the church, meaning, each choir & praise team, writes the mission statement for the music ministry, (in my churches case our MOM is the spritual advisor of the Mime & Praise Dance Ministried), he or she should be skillful in all areas (or most) of music (i.e. teaching, directing, playing, etc.) he or she should also make sure the music ministry is always on one accord and each choir & prasie team will sing songs appropriate for the season, services, theme, etc. and that the songs are also biblically based, and that there is no mess going on in the choirs.   

[temejo1]

A musician is there to provide music for choirs, praise teams, and to back the preacher.  It is NOT the musicians' role to teach the song.  The is the director's job.  Yes, I agree that the MOM is over the entire music ministry that reports to the PASTOR, not the choir president.  Yes, they should be skilled in all areas of the music ministry.

Most small churches don't have MOMs, because they don't have a lot of choirs. You usually find them in larger churches, districts, jurisdictions, regions, or states.  Well, you get the picture.

[B_XALTED]

This is an interesting question, I deal with this on a daily basis. I think that the two roles boil down to responsibility.... In the ministry that is.

I can use my self as an example... I am a drummer, a musician if you will. My responsibility is to play the drums under the direction of the M.O.M. Being the musician, my job is to learn the music that the directors give me, and to display musicianship in terms of knowing my music, being at all events that require me to play, to be submissive to my leadership, and to follow the directions of the M.O.M...

The M.O.M is a little different, well, a lot different. they have to know theory, voices, media, how to play every insturment in their particular church. They have to be able to delegate responsibility, and be accountable for their musicians, and choir members, dancers, stompers, and sound tech people. the MOM has a responsibility to lead worship and ministering to every level of salvation in the church. From the oldest to the youngest, saved and unsaved. The MOM is directly under the pastor, and should be treated with the same amount of respect that the pastor is treated with. They arent merely the director, or head musician. The MOM is responsible for the business aspect as well. Accepting or declining playing/singing at other churches or programs, if the choir is required to pay dues, the MOM ensures that dues are being paid, making sure that the budget for the music ministry is good and in order. And the list may actually go on. They are teachers, advisors, conselors, spiritual warriors in the sense that they have been called by God to complete the task of MINISTER....

I really dont understand how a person could think that the MOM and a musician is the same thing. Because they are NOT. I think that in smaller churches, or rural areas with small congregations, they may not have the means to pay a MOM, so they use who they have, and most times, they get by okay.

All in all, I think that there is a well defined, very obvious difference between the two.....Ray Charles can see it.  Why is this even a debate???

[gtrdave]

In a very general sense, a musician is a musician but a minister of music is a minister who happens to be a musician.

[B_XALTED]

In a very general sense, a musician is a musician but a minister of music is a minister who happens to be a musician.

LOL..... okay....

[nessalynn77]

I think confusion comes in because in many churches one person holds both positions, and it kind of blurs the line when the responsibilities are separated.

[B_XALTED]

I think confusion comes in because in many churches one person holds both positions, and it kind of blurs the line when the responsibilities are separated.

I am a drummer.

Thats it. nothin more nothin less.... I beat dem drumz.

[temejo1]

I am a drummer.

Thats it. nothin more nothin less.... I beat dem drumz.

And I bet you tear them drums up too!!!!!  Well, let me get grammatically correct.  I believe you can really play the drums!  hahahahahahahahahaha

[B_XALTED]

And I bet you tear them drums up too!!!!!  Well, let me get grammatically correct.  I believe you can really play the drums!  hahahahahahahahahaha

LMBO... you was right the first time.

[Furious Styles]

I think it depends on the vision of the church. Most MOM's probably can't play every instrument. MOM's are an extenstion of pastoral leadership in churches and oversee the music ministry in a church. When you have a larger church congreation you may not see the MOM having to play. They maybe to busy facilitating the day to day operations of the music department. Musicians and MOMS are equally valuable because they are both people of God. However MOMS carry a different responsiblity because of  their assigment music style, selection, and delivery which in some cases fall directly on their shoulders. This doesn't mean there is a monarchy for the position it just means more responsiblity. I think people desrie the title more than the true responsibility. MOMS have to be in sync with the pastor who should be plugged in to God. Some pastors who aren't musically savvy allow their MOMS to be MOMS. There are some who may have some musical background who are very tight with the reigns which can cause the spirit of God to be hindered or can be a good thing if the MOM falls into a place that they shouldn't be. Musicians should be included on the music ministry with the respect that the MOM is the final authority not because he greater than you spiritually per se but because you yourself may have an opportunity to run your on department someday. Musicians should show themselves dependable, trustworthy, saved, spirit filled, and faithful believers in God's Word as well. It is up to the MOM to put all of that together. I believe that is the only distinctiive difference. Both are musicians but the leadership role is another animal and it should be well respected. My 2 cents

furious

[uniquepraise]

I believe its means different things for different churchs.  Our MOM does not play an instument but is musically anonited to teach parts etc, the people who play instruments in our ministry are called minstrels because its a different level of ministry than just playing to be playing or playing for pay.

[ANOINTEDWOMAN]

http:// A MOM runs the show. The musician(s) fall under the direction of the MOM. I am the MOM at my church. I have an organist and drummer who work under me. I decide who sings and what we sing. I was appointed to this position by my pastor because of my faithfulness and my knowledge of music.

[MinJDPeters]

This is how I teach it:

The MOM is the overseer of the music department.  That includes the praise team, choirs, musicians, praise dancers, sometimes the audio people, etc.

Whether or not the MOM can play or dance is not important.  What's important is their administrative skills and their ability to mold, develop and oversee people.  But it does help if the MOM has some level of knowledge in all these areas.  For example, I play the keyboard and the organ.  But I have played the drums before and can hold an entire service and i'm not half bad, so I know how percussion.  I know a little about guitars, so I can instruct in that area.  I'm not a dancer but I know a little about dancing.  I'm not an audio booth person but I know a little something about audio principles and how stuff should sound.

[Mysteryman]

Churches let people get in the MOM position without any trainning sometimes. I believe the MOM should have knowledge in all those areas or be trainned with some knowledge in all those areas. Its like the person in college for Music Education. They learn a little about everything but may not play everything.
Even the title Minister of Music does not make sense if you cant not minister through music.

[drumz4life]

I agree they need to trained on how to flow. The mom has be able to look out for the pastor best intrest as well as the musicians and the church. He or she must always be on one accord with God.

Some mom only cater to one particular part of the music ministry or they just look out for themselves.

I have seen both sides of the fence.

The bad side where the mom knows nothing about being a mom. Theres no communication between the mom and the musicians. The mom never had regular meetings with his staff or the music ministry as a whole. The mom never took care of the business side like making sure the paid staff where getting there checks, any problems with the checks and so on and so forth. Not knowing what the choir was going to sing on sunday( because we rehearsed something else then sunday the mom decides to change it)
Not to mention having a million cds worth of music to learn and the praise team stills does the same 6 songs in heavy rotation. Oh yeah and the last minute services(well serivces he knew about for weeks but wouldn't call us until that day asking us to come). Never saying thank you for anything( not even when the music stuff was stolen and the musicians got together and replaced everything.....twice!)

The good side where mom is on point. We have regular meetings with the whole music department( and with each department by them selves). Always communicating with everyone. Making sure paid staff was ok with everything. Every cd we got we learned did it that sunday. Always thanking us for everything. Giving us money out his pocket when we would go out and do othe services outside of the church( half we wouldn't take it but man just for him to offer). Making sure the instruments where together and tuned( i.e. the drums, organ, piano) not broken and would have them fixed before sunday if the were broken. Just making sure everything ran smooth. The music ministry was able to flow very well.

So that's my take. Hope you learnded something.

[childofgod4u]

What an excellent question because I know in alot of churches u got conflicts goin on wit people who can do 2 things at once and that is not the case when it comes down to thes two roles....

A musician is basically someone who plays an instrument for a church and maybe even sometimes teaches a few parts of a song....nothin else u either beat the drumz...play the piano,guitar,bass...whatever u jus an instrument player....

Now M.O.M...you have the most important role in the music ministry.You are responisble for the whole shabang.You make sure the musicians are correct the singers,praise team and even yourself is in order.Heck you may even play a musical instrument but the other groups have to be respectful of you...and not try to take your job as a leader.

[B_XALTED]

What an excellent question because I know in alot of churches u got conflicts goin on wit people who can do 2 things at once and that is not the case when it comes down to thes two roles....

A musician is basically someone who plays an instrument for a church and maybe even sometimes teaches a few parts of a song....nothin else u either beat the drumz...play the piano,guitar,bass...whatever u jus an instrument player....

Now M.O.M...you have the most important role in the music ministry.You are responisble for the whole shabang.You make sure the musicians are correct the singers,praise team and even yourself is in order.Heck you may even play a musical instrument but the other groups have to be respectful of you...and not try to take your job as a leader.

Dont you just miss Titus, April, Idella and them.....

[LyricTenor]

5 words:  Look At The PAYCHECCS!!!!   

[ABMJ]

I think it depends on the vision of the church. Most MOM's probably can't play every instrument. MOM's are an extenstion of pastoral leadership in churches and oversee the music ministry in a church. When you have a larger church congreation you may not see the MOM having to play. They maybe to busy facilitating the day to day operations of the music department. Musicians and MOMS are equally valuable because they are both people of God. However MOMS carry a different responsiblity because of  their assigment music style, selection, and delivery which in some cases fall directly on their shoulders. This doesn't mean there is a monarchy for the position it just means more responsiblity. I think people desrie the title more than the true responsibility. MOMS have to be in sync with the pastor who should be plugged in to God. Some pastors who aren't musically savvy allow their MOMS to be MOMS. There are some who may have some musical background who are very tight with the reigns which can cause the spirit of God to be hindered or can be a good thing if the MOM falls into a place that they shouldn't be. Musicians should be included on the music ministry with the respect that the MOM is the final authority not because he greater than you spiritually per se but because you yourself may have an opportunity to run your on department someday. Musicians should show themselves dependable, trustworthy, saved, spirit filled, and faithful believers in God's Word as well. It is up to the MOM to put all of that together. I believe that is the only distinctiive difference. Both are musicians but the leadership role is another animal and it should be well respected. My 2 cents

furious

Very Well Said!