Have you ever worked with someone you couldn’t stand?
If so, you probably wouldn’t consider that situation paradise. I’m sure it was character building, but not a place you want to invest yourself, long term.
In the ministry world, there’s probably no more tumultuous relationship than a Lead Pastor and a Worship Pastor. There’s more misunderstanding on both sides of this equation than in any other role in the church. But when these two leaders are in unity, respecting what each other provides, there’s no stopping what God can do.
What the Church Needs
A great starting point is thinking about what churchgoers need.
Think about it. The people of God need the Presence of God. That’s the goal. That’s what’s important. They don’t need a charismatic leader to entertain them, but a discerning pastor who can teach them to spiritually feed themselves in the real world. They don’t need a talented rockstar to provide emotional goosebumps, but a worship pastor who teaches them how to lead themselves in worship.
Sunday morning church can’t just be an escape. It can’t simply be an incubator of fake, emotional hype. The saints of God need to be equipped when they’re diagnosed with cancer. People need a framework for when life brings them to their knees – a theology of suffering that includes all the seasons of life.
A great worship leader helps people worship through the mundane of Monday.
An effective Pastor helps people develop their own relationship with Jesus through the week.
No season of life is exempt from a song of praise. God is worthy. God is good. He gives. He takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Consider this a call to equip the saints, not just entertain them every weekend. If Pastor and Worship Leader can do this, moving in unity together, look out.
But a worship leader’s priorities don’t always reflect the lead pastor. Communication isn’t always strong.
And a Lead Pastor doesn’t always respect their Worship Leader.
5 Ways to Develop a Strong Relationship With Your Team
What I’m calling for today is mutual respect and love. But how does that happen?
1.Communicate – I hate to say it, but it’s an unhealthy trend for Pastor & Worship Pastor to avoid each other – to avoid the hard conversations. These two roles need to communicate every week. I understand the busyness. I understand the grind. But if there’s no relational investment and effort to connect beyond “do this or do that”, the relationship won’t thrive. Guard those one on ones. Make it a priority to connect and communicate openly every week.
2. Seek to Be Stretched – I believe the hallmark of a good leader is to constantly be stretched. Never allow yourself to be set in your ways. A Worship Leader can be stretched to see the weekend experience from the vantage point of a Pastor. Leading people. Loving people. A pastoral approach to music. And a Pastor can learn from their worship leader in terms of creative ideas, musical elements, and staying current. Be open. Take risks.
I like how Steve Jobs said it:
It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.”
3. Focus on People – Most of the time, a Lead Pastor will give credence to your vision if you have a heart for people. Develop others. Reproduce and replace yourself. Church ministry shouldn’t just be an opportunity for you to be used. See it as a platform for expanding the Kingdom through others.
4. Have Fun – Church ministry can oftentimes just be a rough schedule of too many meetings and performance reviews. If that’s all the communication that is happening, no relationship will thrive. But if you’re connecting outside of “church business,” it can be life giving. Lead Pastors – create contexts for you and your team to have fun. Invest in it.
5. Seek God Together – There’s something that happens when you encounter God with someone. With your team. Create space for your staff to encounter God outside of the weekend services. The staff that seeks God together will be well equipped to lead their teams to do the same. They need to see your pursuit of God. They need to feel poured into.
That’s a few to get us started. I’d love to hear from you.
How have you developed a strong relationships with your Lead Pastor? Or with your Worship Leader?
Let’s talk it out in the comments.
[ois skin=”Beyond Sunday 2″]
Tumultuous?
I have to agree that this potential exists. But I do not think that it reaches the “tumultuous” state that often. I base this on personal experience–nearly 40 years of missions, pastoral ministry, leadership in corporate worship, pushing mops, soup kitchens, jail ministries, youth detention, washing dishes and mowing lawns.
I base this on having been in and around nearly every denomination existing.
To your starter-set I add:
1-Biblical orthodoxy.
There was a time when anyone calling themselves a “minister’ or “pastor” had studied and received a formal education/degree in theology. Now that qualifications can include knowing the order of the books in the New Testament, or having led music in a conference, we see how “tumultuous” can happen.
–Watch for how often the scriptures are used in their writing, sermon and song choices. Many people “leading” on a church staff can quote corporate executives, politicians and philosophers but are inept concerning the scriptures.
If one staff minister has a biblical world view and the other has a world world view, watch for the sparks.
2-Biblical Orthopraxy
What I believe and why (orthodoxy) will reveal itself in my practice every time.
–Techniques, Practices and Programs reveal my orthodoxy (biblical beliefs) or lack thereof.
–How I relate to others in ministry and at home tell the truth about my beliefs and where they originate.
The harsh reality today is that the contemporary Evangelical church has morphed into a weakened facsimile of the church. It has become a haven for narcissism and play-time Christianity. It, for the most part, is a retail-Jesus outlet for phony, sensationalism, money market and performance-driven pablum. (See Babylon Bee for the accurate-satirical versions)
These churches avoid the bible as directive for orthopraxy for the same reasons the drug addict avoids it—Don’t want to get off the drugs as substitute for reality. (or money)
Get one biblically-driven person on staff of a church like this and he will not be long for that staff work.
The church isn’t supposed to “hire” its ministers–they are called out and approved by the congregation and Elders as being qualified. “This is why God chose me.” (I Timothy 3) They pass strict and specific requirements while reflecting a calling.
The church isn’t to look for “smart” people. “At first, I was weak and trembling with fear. When I talked with you or preached, I didn’t try to prove anything by sounding wise. I simply let God’s Spirit show his power. That way you would have faith because of God’s power and not because of human wisdom.” I Corinthians 2:3-5
Meanwhile, the world looks on and is not impressed with us or our Jesus.
I have less in common with the pastor I’m serving with now than ever, and I’ve served with a total of nine. However, I’m closer to and am trusted more with this pastor than any of the other eight. The answer for us is time. He cares about worship but “let’s me” do my job. We office across the hall from each other which contributes to our relationship. The big thing, however, is the early Wednesday dinner, before church activities, at the local What a Burger. Not sure how we fell into the habit, but this time almost every activity week allows us to hang out together, talk about church, sports, politics, family or whatever in a relaxed environment while enjoying one of our weekly “cheat meals.”