Worship Team Leader gets boot, team gets put on hold

[guit30]

I got 2 phone calls last night on my answering machine. One was from my worship team leader, letting me know that he was not going to use me Monday night, but to come on out. Another message was from our Bible Study Pastor saying that He wanted to talk to me. I called him back and he said they had given the boot to Fred WL and that the worship team was not going to play any more this year. I was a bit disappointed, we still have a guitarist, fiddle , keyboard player and several singers, I have experience in leading Worship at another church.

He is going to let A guy lead hymn singing with a piano for the rest of this year. Then, He wants to bring in someone else next year to be worship leader. They make simple things so difficult. Maybe the new guy will know the sound board. Honestly a bit disappointed, but I'll keep pickin' and hopefully next year, things will be better. Honestly ,recently, I thought there had been more problems with the sound board guy

Jim

[AK47]

Sorry to hear about your set back. Maybe the rest of you can practice somewhere together to keep in shape while awaiting your turn. I wonder if the tension in the group ultimately caused this to happen? This is a shame because the Christmas season seems to be such a wonderful time to play worship music. I pray thinks work out sooner rather than later.

[Pvine]

Sometimes, organized worship ain't all it's cracked up to be...

[Sweb]

Honestly, man, I was expecting the post to be nothing short of a ticker-tape parade, armistice day celebration. I mean, there comes a time when the solution will be to cut some losses, heal, re-group and move on. This is one of those times. Yea, it's a pity it all had to go down the way it did but the head-man there did the right thing. Now, he has elected to stabilize the worship and, once done, he can comfortably do what he needs to do to re-organize the group. Smart guy. You'll miss playing but the turn of the year is close. Keep playing and be ready for it.

[recordingtrack1]

Heck Jim, next year is only officially 2 months away. In the mean time I would have private practices with the rest of the group and work up some killer stuff and be ready when the chance comes to play it. This sounds potentially like a good thing to me.

 

 

RT1:thu:

[guit30]

A lot of people are discouraged and wanna quit. It was handled very poorly. When worship becomes such a major production, the joy goes out, and so does the Lord. I have worked so hard with this bunch.

Jim

Ps- I'll get over it, but I'm down about it, talked to the fiddle player, he was disgusted, something ain't right about this picture

[Tony Burns]

Im sure your pastor is just trying to cool things down a bit , just give it some time - playing in a church is alot like playing in a bar , theres alot going on as far as personalities clashing and small struggles for leadership. ( stuff like who's song do we play and who does the lead etc ) -- ive done both and believe me , its almost easier playing in a Bar---

[Sweb]

Okay. Nothing wrong with being discouraged. Like you say, you'll get over it. Also, have any of you practiced together outside the formal church gathering? You haven't mentioned that. Seems there should be some effort independent of a worship leader working here.

[guit30]

I'm going to continue with the Bible study, maybe I'll do some recording , something I haven't done in a long time, have an old tape deck and a decent Omni directional mike. Going to play with a 10 year old tonight, He's my best friend's son, he is a very good lead player, his teacher has only taught him single string, so I play rhytmn. His name is Duane, My friend named him after my son. Named my son after Duane Allman.

Jim

[kwakatak]

 

Originally posted by Sweb Honestly, man, I was expecting the post to be nothing short of a ticker-tape parade, armistice day celebration. I mean, there comes a time when the solution will be to cut some losses, heal, re-group and move on. This is one of those times. Yea, it's a pity it all had to go down the way it did but the head-man there did the right thing. Now, he has elected to stabilize the worship and, once done, he can comfortably do what he needs to do to re-organize the group. Smart guy. You'll miss playing but the turn of the year is close. Keep playing and be ready for it.

 

 

+1

 

I'm confused though. How was it handled poorly?

[Sweb]

 

Originally posted by kwakatak +1 I'm confused though. How was it handled poorly?

 

 

Just a guess but I'm thinking the head-man was possibly a bit abrupt and too clinical in his actions leaving everyone feeling somewhat dejected.

[kwakatak]

Originally posted by Sweb Just a guess but I'm thinking the head-man was possibly a bit abrupt and too clinical in his actions leaving everyone feeling somewhat dejected.

 

Uhhh... I still don't get it. Is everybody unhappy about the imposed 2 month break or that the praise leader was let go without an "official" warning?

 

[Sweb]

Originally posted by kwakatak Uhhh... I still don't get it. Is everybody unhappy about the imposed 2 month break or that the praise leader was let go without an "official" warning?

 

Jim? Oh, Jim?

 

I think the leader's ousting was a small part of it - very small - because no one seemed to like the guy anyway. I also think the idea of the "layoff" was completely unexpected and, especially with this particular group, reassurances were not forthcoming as they might have been regarding security and solidarity from the top decision maker. There was only a vague notion of sometime in the new year to try again.

 

You work hard, keep the faith, try to cooperate and then with no warning *poof* you're cast off into limbo feeling somewhat abandoned. That's my impression.

[zb0430]

 

Originally posted by guit30 A lot of people are discouraged and wanna quit. It was handled very poorly. When worship becomes such a major production, the joy goes out, and so does the Lord. I have worked so hard with this bunch. Jim Ps- I'll get over it, but I'm down about it, talked to the fiddle player, he was disgusted, something ain't right about this picture

 

 

I have to respectfully disagree with the production statement. I'm taking that as meaning putting such effort and such preparation into it... so, if that's not what you meant, I'll preface with an apology.

 

If you still have meaning behind what you're singing/playing, production/preparation is a great thing. Prior, proper planning and lots of organization just puts you on the path to the Colossians 3:23 plan, doing everything to the utmost of your ability and trying to achieve excellence. But, it doesn't happen when someone in the group is bringing the others down, so in the long run, this will be a good thing.

[guitarist21]

 

Originally posted by guit30 A lot of people are discouraged and wanna quit. It was handled very poorly. When worship becomes such a major production, the joy goes out, and so does the Lord. I have worked so hard with this bunch.

 

 

That's disappointing and I'm very sorry to hear that. I'm sure its really hard when you've got people that want to quit and you don't. Praying for you and your church; good worship leaders are hard to find.

 

Ellen

[KATMAN]

Probably not what you was looking for to say the least. I hope you can last at least till the new praise and worship leader gets there. Untill then,just keep on jamming and practicing with the group like before,if that is allowed. If not in the church,perhaps somewhere else,like a garage or a large living room(if wife doesn't mind). If nothing else comes together,form your own group. It might be a time to try out new things.

[crossways]

 

Originally posted by zb0430 I have to respectfully disagree with the production statement. I'm taking that as meaning putting such effort and such preparation into it... so, if that's not what you meant, I'll preface with an apology. If you still have meaning behind what you're singing/playing, production/preparation is a great thing. Prior, proper planning and lots of organization just puts you on the path to the Colossians 3:23 plan, doing everything to the utmost of your ability and trying to achieve excellence. But, it doesn't happen when someone in the group is bringing the others down, so in the long run, this will be a good thing.

 

 

You know there is a balance that does have to be achieved. And from the very small bit I know of the situation it does seem, at the very least as though all of the folks involved are not on the same page as to why they are doing what they do.

 

As a Worship leader in my church, I can appreciate Col. 3:23 and the message behind it. It is the same message that God tried to send very early on to Cain. "I want your best!" We certainly can't offer our best without good planning and attention to the details that could distract from worship.

 

But I think I understand what he means in his statement. If our eyes are fixed on Jesus and His worship, then everything is fine. BUT if our eyes wander and it starts to become more about sound, parts, equipment, arrangments, etc. Then we have lost the very purpose for our efforts. I know this all too well, because I fall into this trap more than my fair share.

 

Good luck to your church and worship team. I'll be praying for you.

Just bear in mind that the enemy would like nothing more than for you guys to disband and give up, so resist that temptation. And if the decisions have been made then try not to look back, but instead pray and work towards healing and unity.

 

Jason

[STEELSTRINGS]

Hey Jim, Maybe the Lord has a better plan for the worship team and for you. Keep on praying and seeking the Lord and what He wants...... Be Blessed:wave:

[guit30]

Listen guys,

I'm very grateful for your concern. When I say it was too much of a production, I meant that people were getting into like ego trips, worship leader arguing loudly with sound guy. I didn't like the way it was handled in that this summer they brought in one of the singers husband to help out with the soundboard, He knows nothing about music that I know of. He and the Pastor dismissed the Leader.

One time my guitar was turned off in the house, someone else told me about it, he hadn't noticed. I'm going to pray that something good will come out of this, honestly I guess my being upset is a bit selfish, because I enjoy playing with the group so much, even with the leader, soundman problems. I'm just going to pray and put it into the Lord's hand and sing out with the song leader and support him for the rest of this year.

When a church gets more concerned about sounding professional than being spiritual, that is not right in my opinion.I know it is an attack from Satan too. Wish my Pastor could have a bit more supportive when I called him, I've been very active with this group for the last 4 years,

Blessings

Jim

[flyfis4fun]

You know, the Lord uses these times to help us grow and learn.

He is stretching you and teaching you something through all this but being stretched is painful and we never like to go through it.

 

As I told you in a previous thread, I went through almost the exact same scenario about 5 years ago. I was iced out of a worship team in which the leader was anything but humble or competent as a musician. I couldn't understand why it happened, because all I wanted to do was serve the Lord through music. But you know what? It was during a time of self doubt and reflection that I was just playing songs to God in my basement studio. It was just me, my guitar and my awful voice (I don't sing, just play guitar and keyboard and there is a GOOD reason for that!) singing to God. It was then that the Lord revealed something to me. In essence, he asked me, "If this is the only stage I ever give you, can you still worship me?" It was a hard question to answer at first but as I thought about it and spent time in prayer, I realized that the answer was yes. If I never got to stand before His people and lead them in worship again, it was enough to worship him alone.

 

Once I was able to give up my ambitions and understand what it meant to worship God, He opened up other doors to allow me to return to the worship leader role in a new church. So I guess the point of all this is to encourage you and seek God's will in all this. Humble yourself to serve Him as He calls you, even if that means major changes in your life.

 

Be Blessed my friend.

[sdelsolray]

Originally posted by guit30 Listen guys, I'm very grateful for your concern. When I say it was too much of a production, I meant that people were getting into like ego trips, worship leader arguing loudly with sound guy. I didn't like the way it was handled in that this summer they brought in one of the singers husband to help out with the soundboard, He knows nothing about music that I know of. He and the Pastor dismissed the Leader. One time my guitar was turned off in the house, someone else told me about it, he hadn't noticed. I'm going to pray that something good will come out of this, honestly I guess my being upset is a bit selfish, because I enjoy playing with the group so much, even with the leader, soundman problems. I'm just going to pray and put it into the Lord's hand and sing out with the song leader and support him for the rest of this year. When a church gets more concerned about sounding professional than being spiritual, that is not right in my opinion.I know it is an attack from Satan too. Wish my Pastor could have a bit more supportive when I called him, I've been very active with this group for the last 4 years, Blessings Jim

 

While respect must be given to attribution, there's another possible solution - find a competent leader and a competent soundman yourself, reconsitutute the group and sell the package to the pastor. Assuming you have corrected the prior problems with the replacements, the pastor should let you guys go forward.

[Sweb]

 

Originally posted by sdelsolray While respect must be given to attribution, there's another possible solution - find a competent leader and a competent soundman yourself, reconsitutute the group and sell the package to the pastor. Assuming you have corrected the prior problems with the replacements, the pastor should let you guys go forward.

 

 

Yep. I was thinking the same thing. It's almost like the tail wagging the dog the other way around. I mentioned this in an earlier post on this thread about practicing outside the normal session. Not unlike rehearsing for a gig at any other establishment.

[JakeELee]

I think the situation certainly calls for some reflection on everybody's part that was involved with your worship team.

 

Honestly, how does a team with hearts for service disintegrate into a level of dysfunction involving shouting matches? Anybody, worship leader or not, needs to be put back in check by the other members when their behavior steps over the line. It seems to me that somebody who gets that upset in a worship ensemble is probably thinking way to much about themselves and not enough about the big picture...and likely is there for the wrong reasons. If the shouting was just allowed by the rest of you to continue, then I think the whole team likely needs to undergo some self examination.

 

As someone who runs sound for a large church, I'm a little disappointed by the attitudes toward sound people in a lot of worship team threads that I read on many of the discussion boards. Communication in a respectful manner is key...and pleasing everyone in a worship ensemble is difficult especially when you are dealing with the equipment limitations that are often present in many churches. Also, unless you are extremely fortunate, remember that many of the people behind the boards are simply amateur volunteers who have likely not had much formal training and give their time simply as an act of service. They need to be competent, but you are setting yourself up for disappointment if you are expecting professional grade sound in most cases. New sound people require extensive mentoring and supervised training. Anything less is going to yield very poor results.

 

I do think musicians need to gain a greater appreciation for sound that is decent in the worship team setting. It can be difficult with people who lack experience. It's easy to complain about the sound, but then again you're likely not exactly Casting Crowns or Third Day yourselves. If you still don't get it, there is a simple solution. Have each of you in the worship team rotate thru the soundman role, and YOU do better. Chances are that if you haven't done it much, that you'll struggle with the same issues and perhaps gain a better appreciation for the people who regularly do their best every Sunday. Maybe you'll even learn to help break down the equipment when you're finished next time you play on stage.

[WGH]

Tomorrow my wife and I and some of our friends will be leading worship at a small church that is unable to put together a contemporary band. We have a regular circuit of small churches that ask us to come in and lead worship several times a year.

 

This ministry wasn't anything we were seeking...we just happened to be available one time when a friend needed a guitar player and a singer. We practiced together a few times and played for the service (a one-shot deal). Well, somebody from another church was there and invited us to their place, and so, and so on...

 

Sometimes I wish I was a part of an established worship team, but if this is where God leads then I'm happy to serve.

 

What I'm getting at is maybe your group should stay in touch, practice together, and continue to learn new material and grow closer together musically. You never know how, where, or when God may choose to use your talents again.

 

John

[donter]

sometimes you have to take a step back to go forward.I'm sure the Lord has a plan for you. Feel lucky you have the experience Good Luck with whatever happens