Bright Wings

Because the Holy Ghost over the bent World broods with warm breast and with Ah! Bright Wings.

June 18, 2009

The Preacher and the Singer

...or….“Some Thoughts On The Relationship Between the Senior Pastor and the Worship Leader”

I met last night with Pastor Josh and his crew of worship leader-types (not sure what else to call them). Josh meets weekly through the summer with some men who feel called, gifted, interested, etc. in the dynamics of leading worship in the local church (and a variety of settings therein). They talk about the theological issues, exegetical issues, and practical issues surrounding leading God’s people in worship. Last night we spent some time talking about the crucial issue of the relationship between pastor and worship leader. This discussion falls mainly in the realm of practice and application, and my points carry with them a host of biblical and theological assumptions that I can’t outline and discuss in this post.

As I thought through my points of discussion I was so thankful that I have been blessed with such a great relationship with my worship leader- or in Josh’s case - Pastor. We are able to talk transparently and candidly about these things with a clear conscience and joy. This is rare and wonderful.

I understand that there are many paradigms circulating in the contemporary church with respect to preaching and worship leading. We will assume through this discussion a sort of ‘normative’ paradigm: the preaching/senior pastor as leading the overall service of worship with the worship leader/pastor assisting and aiding with specific regard to what we might call ‘musical worship’. For this paradigm to be healthy and godly it requires an understanding of some key dynamics.

Trust: The pastor/elders need to communicate clearly what is entrusted to the worship leader (or worship pastor) and allow liberty and freedom within those bounds. The worship leader should be careful not to abuse or assume that trust. Often times a worship leader has a misunderstanding of what exactly he is entrusted with. A worship leader, nor a Senior Pastor for that matter, have carte blanche in their leadership and exercise of their gifts. As he assists and leads, the worship leader should be careful to honor and trust the training, wisdom, and authority (with all its burdens) of the Senior Pastor. Trust requires constant communication and clarity of vision/purpose/direction. When this trust (from both sides) breaks down- the wheels come off and it’s back to acapella hymns, Kumbayah, and Aunt Mildred on the piano.

Submission: The worship leader needs to have a healthy understanding of his ‘mission’ as ‘sub’ the Senior Pastor.  The Senior Pastor (SP) needs to exercise leadership with care and love, understanding the difficulty facing a worship leader (WL) in being a corporate yet submitted leader. This is a tremendous duty and burden. There all manner of pressures – congregational expectations and criticism, the constant cry for relevance and excellence, the never ending pursuit of relevance and novelty, etc. Both a SP and WL should always remember that all human submission is predicated upon a general God glorifying order in all of creation.  So, the WL must trust and know that the SP is submitted and accountable to (normally) the Elders of the Church. Otherwise, the leadership of SP becomes tyranny and abusive; and ‘submission’ of a WL becomes oppressive or lapses into subversion.

Humility: Both the SP and WL need to pursue a healthy and humble view of their differing callings and gifts. My Dad would often tell his WL- “I won’t sing if you won’t preach.”  The SP should not intrude upon the gifts and abilities of the WL- musically, instrumentally, etc. I try to keep my concerns as biblical, theological, and corporate as possible. Otherwise I proudly insert myself upon the calling and gifts given to the WL. The WL should be careful to not exalt his status and abilities over and above the SP.  Or exert biblical and theological agendas with his platform as WL.  Don’t use the ‘response song’ to interpret or refine the sermon that came before it.  No pastor, leader, servant, member in a church should ever be deceived that a church’s existence and health is dependant solely upon his particular gifts and talents. As Steve Brown would often say, ‘that is a lie from hell and it smells like smoke.”

Commitment: If a WL cannot be committed to the ministry of the SP- his preaching, his vision, even his ‘leadership style’- he should most likely refrain from such a public and prominent place of leadership; or at least make his concerns abundantly clear and allow the SP to decide if such concerns/differences might keep him from such a role. A WL must also be committed to the church family as a member and never pursue leading and service in worship as mercenary.  A SP needs to demonstrate his commitment to the WL’s function and abilities in the worship service and in his calling and gifting generally. Any concerns or hesitancy in these areas should be expressed graciously and openly.

Corporate and Godward Focus: Leading in musical worship and leading through preaching is the exercise of a gift for the building of the body and the glory of God. There must be a prevailing desire to do what is best in building and caring for the church. The SP and WL must both be wary of using their gifts to promote self, exercise gifts and talents for the gratification of the flesh, create cults of personality, bow to cultural or congregational idols, manipulate with emotion or passion, etc.  The corporate need and God’s design for corporate worship MUST be preeminent.

posted by Erik Braun