"What Every Worship Leader Wants Their Pastor to Know"
I. "TEAM" IS MORE IMPORTANT TO US THAN TITLES.
1. Value our input as though we have a strategic role to play.
2. Don't give us responsibility without appropriate authority.
3. Communicate your vision regularly in a compelling manner.
4. Bless and release us to do what we do best.
II. DEMONSTRATE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN OUR GIFTS AND US BY "GIVING US ROOM" TO LEAD.
1. Trust us: Please don't micromanage every faith-step we attempt during worship.
2. Teach us: Please step in and point us in new directions when we seem hesitant in worship.
3. Protect us: Please honor our best efforts before the people; address our worst efforts in private as needed.
4. Lead us: Please don't work on your sermon while we lead worship. But if you must, let it be the exception rather than the rule. (OUCH!!!)
III. BUILD SABBATH INTO OUR SCHEDULES AND INSIST WE HONOR IT.
1. Do if for our own emotional and spiritual health.*
(Burnout is usually the result of trying to give too much. It's the result of trying to give what isn't really in me" WHOA!!!!!!! :scared (Parker Palmer:Quaker) It's one thing to embrace my gifts; it's another to embrace my limitations. But to take an unblinking look at my limitations is one of the greatest tests of character I know." John Ortberg: WCCC) MY MY MY!!
2. Do it for the health of our families.
3. Do it for the health of the church.
4. Do it for the health of our relationship.
5. Do it for the healthy epression of our gifts.
6. Do it regardless of our excuses to the contrary.
IV. PROVIDE US THE RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS
1. Financial resources
2. Administrative resources
3. Technical resources.
4. Ample time for creativity
5. Continuing education/training resources.
6. Clear job description, evaluation, and affirmation
7. Spiritual resources: be MY pastor
V. DON'T EVER LOWER THE "BIBLICAL BAR" FOR US
1. Keep us Chrisitan: love us enough to insist that we live as Disciples of Christ.
2. Keep us focused: love us enough to regularly remind us that we don't worship "worship", we worship GOD.
3. Keep us anchored: love us enough to survey and strengthen our theological foundations.
4. Keep us accountable: love us enough to hold us accountable for sin.
5. Keep us secure: love us enough to stand by us and for us in every season.
6. Keep us inflamed: love us enough to lead us corageously and passionately.
VI. SUMMARY
1. "Team" is more important to us than titles.
2. Demonstrate your confidence in our gifts and us by "giving us room" to lead.
3. Build Sabbath into our schedules and insist we honor it.
4. Provide us the resources necessary for success.
5. Don't ever lower the "biblical bar" for us.
6. Allow us ample time for worship. (Luke 16: 10-12)
7. Do something creative with the announcements.
8. Teach the congregation about worship.
Any comments anyone? I got these great notes from a Seminars4Worship conference in October...
Check them out at
www.seminars4worship.comPlease comment...
MrSparrow
