Worship leader vs. worship pastor

In years past, I have largely ignored the great debate over the terminology used to describe the person responsible for the music ministry in church. As a kid, we just called them "the song leader". It was a volunteer position, typically held by someone with very little musical knowledge or ability, who randomly picked some songs out of the hymnal for us to sing loudly and off-key. Later, as I progressed into music ministry in larger churches, the terms "worship leader", "lead worshipper", "music minister", and "worship pastor" have been used interchangeably.

I have not given much consideration to these descriptions, believing them to all be practically the same thing. However, after recently reading the Worship Leader's article "Worship Leader or Worship Pastor" by Ross Parsley, I have begun to rethink my position. He brought up the point that a worship leader concentrates on musical knowledge, band techniques, and congregational participation. A worship leader is more concerned with musical excellence than with healing hearts. Whereas a worship pastor knows that musical excellence is important, but that "worship is fundamentally a function of the heart, and when a heart is transformed in worship, everything else follows." (great article. Look for it online at www.worshipleader.com)

I began to reflect on all the worship leaders/pastors that I have had the opportunity to work with in the last 24 years or so, and realized that out of all of them, only 3 or 4 could genuinely be called pastors. In the last 15 years, most of the people that I have worked with have been excellent musicians. They have challenged me, encouraged me, and tried to create the best atmosphere possible for worship. They have been friends, and become family. But most of them also stopped short of becoming pastors. They saw music ministry as a stage centered show rather than a way to love people. They did not pastor their musicians, much less even begin to try to pastor their congregations.

However, the worship pastors that I have worked with are the ones that forever changed me. Some of them were not as talented musically as others, but in pastoring their congregations, they helped people find healing and forgiveness. As these pastors ministered outside their comfort zones, God blessed them with great relationships and incredible opportunities. As lives were changed, people became more likely to engage in worship.

So, I think I like the term "worship pastor." Loving people and helping them along on their journey towards Christ leads to great and amazing worship. Excellence in music is certainly important. But, changed lives are of much greater importance than precise dynamics.

Monday Morning Reviews

This week, I am reviewing one of my favorite worship websites, http://www.worshiptogether.com/. One of the things that I enjoy the most is the wide variety of features on this site. I have spent many hours hanging out on this site learning and growing as a worshipper.

Must sees:
One of my favorite quick features is the "new song jukebox." The website posts three or four new songs every week for review. I have discovered several new artists through this feature.

The other feature that I absolutely love is the "new song cafe." Every week, a new video interview with a songwriter is posted. The songwriter discusses the inspiration behind their song, plays the song, and then offers inside tips on playing the song. This is a fast way to learn new songs.

For the serious browser:
When I have free time, I like to check out the complete library of songs on http://www.worshiptogether.com/. There are several hundred songs, complete with lyrics and download information. The library can be searched by topic, genre, and artist.

The website also offers an extensive online community of several thousand worship leaders from around the world. Join the community to chat and access worship blogs.

http://www.worshiptogether.com/ offers a huge variety of resources for worship leaders. Find time to check out this site and add to your favorites.

The Beginning - My Call

For many years, I was content to be a pastor's wife. I found absolute fulfillment in seeking God through that role and serving Him. I tried out many avenues of ministry at different seasons of my life. I never wished for more and never imagined anything different.

Then about four years ago, I began to hear God calling me into ministry. Very specifically - into worship ministry. I long resisted that calling, because I am not vocally gifted to be a worship pastor. I could not see outside that role and that box and so I did not surrender. I did not understand why God would call me differently into ministry. I was already in the ministry. Being a pastor's wife is being called and involved in ministry. What more could God have planned?

As time passed, the call became harder to resist. Music began to overtake my mind, my heart, and my soul. It became an absolute obsession....almost an addiction if you will. No matter how hard I tried, I could not listen long enough, play hard enough, or worship often enough to make the hunger go away. The other extreme was worse. Avoiding music was painful....almost physically so. I reached the point where I thought I would be consumed by the fire in my soul. And I knew that the fire would not be quenched without surrender.

And so, finally, just a couple of weeks ago, I surrendered. "Yes, God....I can't see where you plan to take this...a non-vocalist in worship ministry? Really....couldn't you find somebody more qualified? I teach first grade and play a bit of piano. But okay....you get to be the boss." Then the dots slowly began connecting. (After the surrender, because that's the way God usually works) I love writing almost as much as I love worship. What if God combined the two? Maybe I don't have to be a vocalist after all. Maybe there are other things to do in worship ministry besides lead worship.

My husband has given me his blessing to pursue my call, with a few stipulations. For example, I cannot leave my current job until I am able to provide an equitable salary and benefit package. I honestly am not sure where God is planning to take me on this journey. And so, I am beginning small...with this worship blog. My hope is that in the blogging, I will discover some answers about my calling. I am asking that as you read, pray. Pray that God would open doors and give me great wisdom about where to go from here.