Question:
I came away from our prayer meeting last night feeling heavily burdened... and all because the team leader for worship, who happens to be leading this Sunday, didn't tell his singers and musicians that there was no practise that night. We have to wait till Sunday morning now to find out what songs we are supposed to be playing.

Thats just one bad example of disorganisation with many others to go along with it.

It's gotten so bad, and affecting me so badly that I'm considering on stepping down from leading worship and being a backing vocalists and guitar player for other teams.

I feel this has turned me into be critical of things happening in and around worship and how things are done and run. I don't have faith anymore in this team leader and because he doesn't take things seriously and I just can't bringhim ideas anymore because I know it will go in one ear and out the other.

I want to write a letter stating that I'm considering on stepping down from worship with the reasons why and how things that have happened, have affected me negatively.

It hurts me that I feel no support from this guy and it frustrates me that things can be run so much better.

If you need more situations of whats been happening, I can give them if it will help you better reply.

But I guess, I just not sure how to go about this. I'm scared of telling them that I want to step down, because worship is my God given passion. But I also know that if I don't say anything and let it carry on that my critical spirit will just get stronger and that I will become less supportive of this guy and I will become more negative.

Thoughts?

PS. He's an elder in our church.
Answer:
Being honest with him is a good first step. I'm on an intentional break from the worship team at the church we've been attending for 5 years or so for much of the same reasons. I got so caught up in the politics and the leader's shortcomings (intentional or not) that I had lost sight of worshipping God. People in the congregation were being blessed but I was so caught up in my own issues with the team I've been blind to it. After much prayer and discussion with the director's assistant and my wife I decided a break was the best thing to do. I am starting to talk to the director now about what has been bothering me and brought me to a place where I couldn't even stand being on the team anymore. Hopefully some fruit will come from it, and perhaps I'll rejoin the team, but perhaps not. I definately intend to disclose everything to the director and hope to do so with love and humility - I was really angry about the whole situation for a while so I couldn't talk to her right away. A break may be just what you need.
Answer:
Did you just tell them you were stepping down, or did you leave it up to them to decided whether you should or shouldn't?
Answer:
Originally Posted by nix Did you just tell them you were stepping down, or did you leave it up to them to decided whether you should or shouldn't?
I told them I was going to step down; but only after several long conversations with the assistant director. We started out just talking about my frustrations - he was more or less giving me an oppurtunity to vent, and after that, I realized probably what I needed was a break from the team.
Answer:
I stopped playing guitar in our regular services some time ago because I simply did not think the worhsip knew what he was doing. IE
- Trying to do songs that we are not equipped for.
- Charts are terrible and lead to confusion about what chords to play
- Charts are just wrong, and the leader can't hear the difference
- Bizarre transitions from song to song
I had attempted to address these issues but my concerns fell on deaf ears. The most common response is, "It will all work out", "God will take care of it", "You just gotta have faith", and my favorite, "Just make a joyful noise". Now all that to say, and to your point, I talked to my Pastor and told him I could not in good conscience minister in those conditions. He understood. I play for the youth group now.
Richard
Answer:
I don't see anything wrong with switching to the support position. It might be the break you need.
If you send him the letter, I would recommend a follow up conversation to give him the opportunity to provide a response.
Answer:
Don't give up for even a second.
Don't let these things run you, I beleive that you need to start running things. It's time for a change in that church and if he is not willing to share the leadership with you, watch out. God does not put us in positions in the church so that we can Lord over people. God wants to be Lord over all and when man gets in the way God often removes them from their position of authority.
I barely know you but I can just sense the presence of God when you write, I can't imagine how cool it would be to worship with you. I beleive you would rob the congregation of a great blessing if you stepped down. If your heart is for the people don't give up for even a second. Take the tears and pour them out as an offering take the hurt and pain and light a fire to burn the sacrifice of praise. I don't just give you idle encouragement I give you a charge to fight for the presence of God in your church. What's happeneing is tough and the congregation needs tough defenders to rise up and protect the annointing.
My prayers are with you.
If your ever in Windsor Ontario Canada you are welcome at our church.
We have alot of ministry that come to our church for refreshment and healing.
Answer:
Talk to him?
Please accept this as it is intended (as an idea from someone who realizes that he doesn't really have the experience to be sharing ideas like this): is it really better to handle big things in less personal ways? I see people in the Dating & Relationships forum talking all the time about asking people out with a tape or letter. I mean, it may be easier, but it just seems to be missing the point. Why not just talk to the guy about how you feel and what you're planning to do?
Answer:
Originally Posted by Jumpinjoegraham Don't give up for even a second.
Don't let these things run you, I beleive that you need to start running things. It's time for a change in that church and if he is not willing to share the leadership with you, watch out. God does not put us in positions in the church so that we can Lord over people. God wants to be Lord over all and when man gets in the way God often removes them from their position of authority.
I barely know you but I can just sense the presence of God when you write, I can't imagine how cool it would be to worship with you. I beleive you would rob the congregation of a great blessing if you stepped down. If your heart is for the people don't give up for even a second. Take the tears and pour them out as an offering take the hurt and pain and light a fire to burn the sacrifice of praise. I don't just give you idle encouragement I give you a charge to fight for the presence of God in your church. What's happeneing is tough and the congregation needs tough defenders to rise up and protect the annointing.
I am very VERY iffy about that "defender" statement. It seems to be causing unneeded division. Unity and love in the church is 10,000 times more important than who leads the worship service. You are seeming to make this guy an enemy. That cannot be. It would be far better to throw out the entire "worship" service and have unity. Then procede this way.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Insane Drummer I am very VERY iffy about that "defender" statement. It seems to be causing unneeded division. Unity and love in the church is 10,000 times more important than who leads the worship service. You are seeming to make this guy an enemy. That cannot be. It would be far better to throw out the entire "worship" service and have unity. Then procede this way.
Your probably right,
Nix is a smart cookie she can figure this out on her own though. I just wanted to give her a point of view on the opposite side I'm the only one here so far that really stressed don't give up.
In his service
Trust God not man.
Answer:
Nix,
If you really wanted to step down you would have stepped down. Because you are posting this there's a part of you that really doesn't want to step down. So don't.
Answer:
Talk to him?

Well, thats just it. I have spoken to him so may times... it goes in one ear and out the other. I have sent him emails with important suggestions and work I did that needed attention and needed to be mentioned to the worship group.... and he didn't reply, or even mention it at the joint worship meeting. I've told him that I'm keen to help in the administration side of things, but that only worked out once with a big job that he had "no time" to do so I came in on a saturday for 7 hours to finish it for him.

The encouragement is appreciated because, no, I don't want to step down, but with how he does things, it become frustrating.

For instance, there are 3x in december where people have taken a break or can't make it, and nothing has been organised.

I can only expect a last minute call with begging to step in at the last minute.
Answer:
Oh, he lead worship on Sunday, he was very keen to get us to do a new song.

We didn't have a song list till that morning. He faffed around from 8am (we came early) till 8:40 till we actually got down to practise.... and it was an old song list.
Answer:
My $.02
You need to go above the leader with this and bring it to the attention of others if you're getting no response from the team leader.
There might be other life-factors involved that's preventing this guy from committing to the ministry. If so then they need to be handled...maybe he needs some help in administration or gathering items together for the week's rehearsals and such...or maybe he's just a flake and likes the title of his position but not the work that goes along with it.
The worship ministry will only be as good as the environment that the leader creates for there to be worship.
Yes, I know God is God and we should worship Him because of who He is but in the very practical world our worship can be made increasingly difficult to see through if the people leading it do little to nothing in regards to the ministry in which they've been supposedly called to.
God is to be worshipped but people acting as speedbumps, obstacles and flat-out barriers can get in our way...sometimes.
There's too many lukewarm folks in the ministry...either be hot or cold...at least then people will know where one's position is.
Nix, I'll be praying for you and your team leader in this situation. You obviously have a heart for this ministry and that will be rewarded and you'll be blessed if you just hold onto the fact that worship can happen everywhere else besides the platform at church on a weekend.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Jumpinjoegraham Nix,
If you really wanted to step down you would have stepped down. Because you are posting this there's a part of you that really doesn't want to step down. So don't. Not sure I see how one thing leads to another here. Wanting to lead and being able to lead in a given situation are separate issues, IMO. And sometimes stepping down precipitates positive (or negative) change.