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Vocalist Dilemma

First off, I'm a co-leader on our praise team at church. My tasks are song selection and arrangement. Another person handles rehearsal, and to the team more-or-less comes off as the "leader."

The question regards a singer. This singer ("A") is a professional, very talented. "A" has only been a part of our team for about 6-9 months. From about the 3rd Sunday, the rehearsal leader had moved "A" to a point of leadership on the platform, in the process supplanting a committed, longer-term singer ("B") who is somewhat timid when it comes to leading songs, but has excellent harmony vocals.

There are several factors to "A"'s service that trouble me. "A" can only sing with the team twice per month (while other leaders commit to 3 or 4 per month). "A" is a much-more charismatic singer than anyone else on the team, and feedback from some congregation members indicate some discomfort and distraction because of this. "A" also seems to command the stage, perhaps because of experience as a pro singer, and often looks out of place standing in the choir because of the charismatic movements.

The other tough part is that my co-leader seems to be happy with "A"'s style, even though it pretty much clashes with what the rest of the team does (we have 3 or 4 other vocalists with lead ability). We have a worship planning team that has given a lot of direction to my co-leader that we feel "A" needs to be mentored towards blending with the rest of the team. This has been happening for months, as far as I know it hasn't been addressed with "A" yet.

My questions are...
1) Are we being sticks in the mud? If God is leading a church to be contemporary, but not exactly Pentecostal/charismatic in their style, is it appropriate to reprimand a singer who seems to be drawing attention to themselves because the style is more progressive than the other singers?

2) Would you allow a vocalist to lead songs if they only come to practice and sing two times per month? I know there are probably teams who rotate weekly, biweekly, or monthly, so that's a reality of it...but if the culture is to have lead vocalists sing 3-4 Sundays per month, does it create dissension to have a twice-a-monther lead songs that other more committed leaders could handle?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Tags: commitment, styles, vocals, worship

Views: 18

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Guitarearl on July 14, 2010 at 12:00pm
Thank you Andy. Worship teams are always works in progress. Each of us grow as time goes on. I like your idea of a common goal (win) in order to guide the team towards a positive ending. I want to see everyone on the team grow in their faith as well as their ability.
Permalink Reply by Andy Bartlomain on July 14, 2010 at 1:26pm
Melanie, you are right on when it comes to the whole pride vs envy thing. That's a battle that EVERY musician has to face at some point or another. I just tweeted something along those lines a few days ago @resonateloud
"Every worship leader/musician must walk a narrow line. Step too far to the right, vanity. To the left, jealousy. The line? Humility."
Permalink Reply by Greg Moore on July 20, 2010 at 8:57pm
...and what is a servant's heart? I am pretty successful at being deferential, and people often tell me I have a servant's heart. If they only knew the pride, envy and frustration that dwell within me! Augh!

As Massala said in Ben-Hur, "it goes on, Judah... the race... goes... on."
Permalink Reply by Greg Moore on July 21, 2010 at 11:05pm
Melanie - Yi! I was going on this really nice Romans Seven Rant -- but I like your answer. It was timeless, and timely. Bet I don't think I need therapy or counseling; I hardly ever carry a bad thought about my neighbor through the night, and have burned up a few telephone wires making difficulties right. The point of my Rant was that these things exist in normal, operating-within-parameters Christians, such as myself, you and others, and we do well to be wise about them.

Paul writes, "WE wrestle..." This wrestling is something that is common to all mankind, or should be. Yes! NOW is always a good time to deal with Pride, and a good time to be wary of its onset. Pride doesn't usually strike you point-blank (like Lust or Sloth), but works insidiously, coating its offerings with Self-Justification, like a bad malted-milk ball. Mmmm.. Crunch! Yuck!

There are all kinds of ways with dealing with pride. Sometimes humiliation - being caught with no excuse - is a great antidote. I like to sing God's Word against it - wrote an entire musical on the subject, and am working with another, closer to home - Galatians, in modern dress, with a contemporary worship band as the lead characters.

Now, the Massala quote - I assume you have seen "Ben-Hur." If you haven't, you must. It is a magnificent sermon on Pride. Massala's death (which I was quoting) at the chariot race becomes the "accidental" revenge Judah had dreamed of -- yet Judah is left more bitter than before. Nothing, nothing, nothing but the redemptive blood of Jesus on the cross, His forgiveness, truly avails.

"When I survey the wondrous cross / on which the Prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss / and pour contempt on all my pride"
Permalink Reply by Aaron Amico on July 14, 2010 at 3:46pm
amen amen, melanie
Permalink Reply by David Estes on July 20, 2010 at 8:14pm
That is a great book! I love it.
Permalink Reply by Greg Moore on July 16, 2010 at 6:00am
If you have three or four other vocalists with lead ability, it would seem to use all six, rotating, would be best. The four that are getting almost no experience will begin to blossom. But that's only what I would do.

It's hard to write about this, because it's a little bit of an emotional issue with me. I've been replaced (I mean, lost my job), or labored in the shadow of, "A" types more than a few times in my life. I've stretched to make my ":B" self an "A-B", but just can't get myself to say "c'mawn, c'mawn!" and the kind of thing "A"s do. Now I must temper this snide comment I just made by observing that "A"s have a personality, God-given, of their own. To them, "A" behavior is as natural as singing trills is to an opera singer. Their soul demands deep-gut movement and gesture, when us "B"s are perfectly satisfied with the lyric, tone, and content of the song. To an "A", part of the content IS the gesture. He may be every bit or more sincere a Christian as the rest of us; but it would help if he could relate more readily to the overall ethos of the rest of the musicians.

Have you sat at table, had communion together, talked on the subject of music in worship with A?

I just can't draw a conclusion here; but I'll throw those observations out, to think about.
Permalink Reply by Cory Zipperle on July 16, 2010 at 7:04am
In the first church that I staffed, we had three front men worship leaders. They all brought their unique style to the table - it was great!

At my last church we had two guys that could lead worship. Again, same benefit.

I think if you have more than one good worship leader, it would be great to figure out how to use those guys in leading roles.

The trouble is, some churches actually balk at this idea. If you are paid to lead, you have to be the obvious leader. I think this creates a lot of misunderstanding and holds back a lot of churches.
Permalink Reply by Aaron Amico on July 16, 2010 at 7:30am
what about having a different pastor teach every week?
Permalink Reply by Cory Zipperle on July 22, 2010 at 9:03am
One church that I worked in did this. It did a lot for the growth and health of the church. There were two full time staff pastors that would each preach once every quarter. Every other week it was a guest speaker.

I would call that church a unique situation though - I don't know how that would work in other settings.
Permalink Reply by Lyssa Berner on May 27, 2011 at 7:13am

I'm a former staff worship leader from a non-denominational Contemporary Christian Church in Virginia.  I've moved across the country and have stepped down from ministry to homeschool my kids. I have been through what you are going through, but I tend to lean on the side of your co-leader and for several reasons. Let me rephrase your questions a little.

 

Question 1)  IS God leading any church to be a particular "style"? Is the singer drawing attention to themself, or is their worship authentic? I think we often get caught up with what is palatable for us and "our" church and sometimes quench the Holy Spirit.  You will have to look at the heart. For example,  David was a man after God's own heart. He was radical in his worship to the extent that Saul's daughter was infuriated with him and his wife was disgusted. But, David was annointed for this and was filled with the Holy Ghost and ministered to many. The Holy Spirit is what gives us our boldness in Christ.  It gives us the boldness and passion to lead others. Many people desire to be in ministry, but they are not annointed for it. Worship is a warrior position.  It's powerful! It tears down strongholds and drives out spirits. A timid worship leader/song leader is like a warrior clinging to his sword in fear of the impending battle.  I personally feel singer "B" needs the training.  The energy on the platform is only reciprocated at 50% by the congregation. The walls of Jericho were not brought down by a handful of musicians.....the whole army was worshipping.  

 

Take away:

1. What is most important is that you have a true worshipper leading God's people and not a performer.  In my experience, personal relationship and knowing someone's heart is no longer a requirement in ministry. 

2. What might NOT minister to you, might minister tremendously to another.  I strongly feel diversity is lacking in many music ministries and is rapidly segregating churches. Know their heart and why they sing.  You may be missing out on a tremendous blessing.

 

Question 2) Does it create dissension to have a twice-a-monther lead songs that other more committed leaders could handle?  

 

It depends.  Is this person asking for special treatment? Are they gigging at bars on their Sundays off or are they ministering somewhere else?  Do they get their livelyhood as a musician? Do they have small children and a spouse?  All of these things should be weighed.  I had a pianist that was a pro-musician and played every weekend. That is how he supported his family. He would love to be on staff at the church, but we couldn't afford him. I accommodated his schedule because I knew his heart, he just had to make a living too. It really boils down to their heart.  If they are a true worshipper, Christ-centered, grounded in the word, a true spiritual leader, and exemplary in their walk; then make room for their gifting.

 

May God bathe you in wisdom and annoint you with discernment in your decisions.

Permalink Reply by Greg Moore on May 27, 2011 at 6:41pm
What a beautiful, thoughtful and truly Christian response!  This is well worth reading several times.

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