The church musician has been given a number of titles: Music Director, Music Minister, Worship Leader, Chief Musician, Pastor of Worship, etc. Diva could be added to the list, but let’s assume no one wants that title.
Which title is best? In reality there is probably a lot of crossover. Greg, Henry, and I (authors on this site) all have different titles, and yet we wear similar hats. Generally speaking, our duties fall along the lines of musical and spiritual responsibilities. I would argue that we need to sew these two hats together.
Therefore, “which title is best?” is perhaps not the best question. A better question is, “What does the church need?” The simple answer: musician-pastors and discipling-directors.
Two Caveats
One: First of all, this post is not written to diminish the role of the trained musician. In fact, I would argue we need them more than ever! We need those who play at high levels, are musically and situationally sensitive, have a wide range of skills, are skilled arrangers, are great music librarians, and have killer notation program skills. But, that’s a different post.
Two: In my particular context (Presbyterian Church in America, PCA), several of the titles above can be unordained folks, but Minister and Pastor are generally reserved for the role of Teaching Elder (an ordained pastor).
No Matter Your Title
Certainly, titles matter. However, the church musician role is a mixed one (spiritual and musical). Let’s assume for the moment that the church musician is musically skilled. But, the biblical musician is also keenly aware of spiritual responsibilities. Therefore, I have come to believe the church should be actively hiring those who are prepared to serve as musician-pastors and discipling-directors.
Here’s the rationale: Biblical preachers know that they must preach the whole council of God, even if they don’t particularly want to preach certain passages and folks don’t particularly want to hear it. That’s the calling and it’s good for souls. However, when it comes to worship, we often deal with a heap of pressure (often mistaken for the Spirit) to choose songs and run the service in a way that people want and like. Too often, we simply assume that this is the role – give people what they want. But this is a fer-piece from the pattern we see in the Bible. The Israelites didn’t vote on the style of worship or their leader, and a primary focus was to bring the Word of God to bear. I’m not saying the context of the congregation should not be taken into account, but it’s high time for an older, more Biblical mindset.
The Church Musician Mindset
The church musician (even if someone is not ordain-able) should be ready or trained to think with the lead pastor about the discipleship of the congregation. In other words, they should be thinking biblically about the worship service. This is the basic starting point, the mindset of the church musician. Working closely with the lead pastor, pulling toward the same biblical goals, is the goal.
Detailing all the applications of this principle could easily take up several more paragraphs, but let it suffice to say that the issue is not so much about song choice. Instead, our aim should be to make the worship service support and expound upon, both in content and demeanor, the ministry of the Word. If your primary goal is to implement a genera, style or experience (see this post), go start a band or an orchestra.
Which Hat to Put On
Granted, a smaller church may not have the budget for a second hire, and I’m not saying a hired pianist does not have a role to fill. They often do! However, when it comes to setting the overall direction for worship, churches should begin shouting for more Pastors, Chiefs, and Directors who are both skilled musicians and want to disciple people either in support of or in tandem with the lead Pastor. Seminaries could be actively recruiting musicians graduating from musical schools and conservatories. The elders should consider paying for some theological and pastoral classes for the musician they hire. Ultimately, pastor and musician teams should be the rule rather than the exception.
We have entered an age when the church needs musicians who understand and are focused on the weighty role of discipling souls alongside their lead pastor, particularly through the worship service (not to discount personal relationships). Ultimately, the discipleship of the church is the responsibility of the pastor/session. However, no matter our titles, the good folks in our choirs, as well as the pews, need us to realize that our main task is to highlight the Word of God and that we do on a Sunday morning changes our affections. What are you teaching your congregation to like? We are shaping souls. That should give us pause.
If you are primarily a musician, try on a ‘discipler’s hat.’ If you are a solo pastor, try on a ‘musician’s hat’ by staying involved in every detail of the service planning. One may fit better than another, but wearing two hats should be the new style.