Worship ministry overview (Part 2)
In the first article in this series we started working our way down an overview of worship ministry. We focused on the first 3 major categories that include really big picture thinking about worship. We focused on theology of worship, design of worship, and then planning worship with a team. Here is the map of where we’ve been and where we’re headed together.
Once we have some systems in place for thinking through the big picture of worship ministry, let’s move on to putting everything together practically.
4. Resourcing your worship team
It’s not enough to have a great theology of worship or a great team designing an intentional gathering. It’s time to start thinking through what equipment and assets you currently have that help you facilitate worship. Then you need to think about what you will need to purchase or make available to your team to turn their vision into a reality.
Financial resources
Is there a budget dedicated to buying resources for worship? Why is the current budget set to that amount? What do you wish you could do that isn’t possible due to budget constraints? What would you love to do if there was room to stretch the budget?
Topics for cost discussion: planning software (planningcenter.com, etc.), purchasing of music related content (charts PraisePharts.com, multi-tracks, Spotify, etc.), musical instruments and presentation technology (will cover separately but things such as Proclaim software, ProPresenter, computers, soundboards, etc.)
People resources
Is there a budget for staffing? Will worship planning and execution be done by a paid staff member? Is the current compensation both good stewardship as well as honoring of the person serving? Is there a volunteer who deserves to be compensated for their talent and time? Is there a need for additional staff or paid volunteers like technical directors, video editors, graphic designers, etc.
Facility resources
Does our current facility help us create a conducive atmosphere for worship? Are there things that make intelligibility or participation difficult? If you were to imagine what the space could be like that would make it easier to focus on God, hear his word, and engage in worship, what would that space look, feel, and sound like?
5. Technology for worship
This is one category where many churches struggle. For a while after I graduated from college, I worked in a music store. There was a common philosophy about churches as they came in to purchase gear. The understanding was that churches went through about 4 or 5 sound systems: 1) the one that was initially installed, 2) the one that was pieced together on top of the first one, 3) the redo by someone who was an in-house “expert”, 4) an additional pieced-together system on top of that one to fix it, 5) then the final one where a true expert was brought in, gave a quote on what was actually needed, and then professionally installed it. I highly recommend for stewardship purposes to not waste all the money on the first 4 systems, but to invest well in having a true professional recommend and install quality gear. Here are the three main categories to think through.
Musical equipment
What instruments/equipment are provided by the church? What gear must be personally owned by the musician? This includes big things such as keyboards, drums, amps/amp modelers, and guitars/bass. There are additional smaller items that it’s important to decide if it’s the church which will provide them or whether musicians must purchase them, such as in-ears, drum sticks, ipads, cables, and direct boxes.
Are you using multi-tracks? If you’re planning to, what needs to be purchased? (Ipads, audio interfaces, individual tracks) Do you have someone who can help walk through logistics of both implementing them technologically as well as helping the team adjust?
Resources: For Tracks (Loopcommunity.com , MultiTracks.com, Multitracksforworship.com, smallchurchworship.com)
Audio equipment
Is your sound system capable of producing even, clear, quality sound? Does it operate consistently without issues? Has it been pieced together over the years and has multiple places where failure is likely? If the person who built the system leaves the church, how hard will it be for someone to understand how it works? Does it handle the musical style of your team now or for the desired future? What needs to be upgraded over the next 5 years? What is your backup plan when equipment fails? (“If it ain’t broke, it will be! Be prepared.”)
Do you need to provide training for new volunteers or continued training to help current volunteers improve?
Video equipment
What presentation software are you using? How user-friendly or stable is it? Can it be worked on remotely and by multiple users? Is the software running on a computer fast enough to be able to present without distraction, freezing, or frustration? What is your backup in case of computer failure?
Resources: Proclaim, ProPresenter, Mediashout, WorshipTools
Do you use a screen or a TV, and are they big enough or bright enough to compensate for stage light or ambient daylight? Are the lyrics easily readable, well formatted, and error-free?
This is a big area that can be really overwhelming. Here are some really great YouTube Channels where there is a ton of helpful content for churches and technology.
6. Volunteer scheduling and care
Once you’ve looked at the “why” behind your worship services, you’ve built a planning team, and you’ve invested in resources and equipment, it’s time to look at how you’re going to build your team and care for them.
Who should be involved in the team? How do they get involved?
When you start answering these two questions, there are often values in tension with each other. Do we value excellence over involvement? For example, is it more important that we involve lots of people with passion for worship, or a smaller group comprised of those who are musically gifted and very competent? What is your process for getting people involved? Is there an audition? How often do you hold auditions? What is your low bar for involvement? What resources do you have for helping someone who is not ready but could be? How do you carefully and lovingly explain to someone that this might not be the best fit for them? Do you have a membership requirement or an expectation document that outlines both skill and character? Is there a timeframe someone should be part of the church before they serve? Is there a timeframe once they express interest that they go through before they lead on a Sunday? (For example, come to rehearsal for a certain number of times or months)
How often should people serve?
How many times a month is too much and can cause burnout?
What is your system for scheduling volunteers?
How far out in advance do you schedule people to serve? How do they get that information? (PlanningCenter.com) What is your process for when someone is sick or needs to reschedule?
These first six categories of mapping out your church’s worship ministry are foundational to think through before your team even steps on stage to practice. These categories can either set up a ministry for success or create significant room for misunderstanding, lack of vision, and division. Let’s take a look at the next systems in a healthy worship ministry.
