5 Relational Keys for Senior Pastors and Worship Leaders
We’ve all heard of “worship wars” in the church. They’re usually about musical styles – those who want contemporary music vs. those that prefer the traditional. They can be contentious and divisive.
But perhaps even more costly to the life of a church are the “worship wars” that often take place between the senior pastor and the worship leader. At times the conflict is all too evident with battle lines clearly drawn:
“Don’t cut into my sermon time by going long on the music.”
“I don’t tell you what to preach. Don’t tell me what songs to sing.”
Sunday mornings become turf wars.
“The first half of the service is my domain!”
“The music is just the warm-up for the sermon. It’s all about the sermon!”
The relationship between the senior pastor and the worship leader is notorious for being frustrating and distrustful on both sides. Maybe it’s a control issue. Maybe it’s simply a clash in personalities – the type A driven leader vs. the laid-back, go-with-the-flow artist. Whatever the reason, perhaps unlike any other relationship on a church staff, this partnership seems to get tested over and over again.
It makes sense. These two individuals are responsible each week to lead people into the presence of God, to worship Him, hear from His Word, and allow it to change our lives. Our enemy, the devil, will do whatever he can to prevent that. And stirring up relational breakdown between the two key voices in the church has proven to be a winning strategy.
Our enemy, the devil, will do whatever he can to prevent God’s people from encountering God in worship. And stirring up relational breakdown between the Senior Pastor and the Worship Leader has proven to be a winning strategy.
Committing to protect, grow, and strengthen the relationship between the senior pastor and the worship leader should be a high priority for both parties. But as senior leader, it should start with you.
Committing to protect, grow, and strengthen the relationship between the senior pastor and the worship leader should be a high priority for both parties. But as senior leader, it should start with you.
I worked with three different worship pastors during my tenure as senior pastor, and I wish I could say I always dealt with these gifted folks with the grace and trust I should have. But looking back, I can see that when I took the time and effort to live by these 5 relational principles, our partnership in ministry was sweeter and more fruitful.
1. Commit to a shared vision for the worship service.
It’s essential that the pastor and worship leader are “on the same page” when it comes to what they want the Sunday morning experience to be.
Is it simply to be a combination of songs, announcements, and sermon where each leader does his/her own thing? Or do you want the elements of your service to fit and flow together in a way that draws people to encounter and respond to the Lord?
Do you share the same opinion about the role and value of music in worship? What about the sermon? Or what about other forms of worship such as scripture reading, prayer, dance, art, community interaction?
Being clear and unified in your vision for your church’s times of gathered worship is essential. Without it, you’ll each be pulling in a different direction.
Being clear and unified in your vision for your church’s times of gathered worship is essential. Without it, the pastor and worship leader will each be pulling in a different direction.
2. Understand your roles and responsibilities.
To my way of thinking, the senior pastor is ultimately responsible for the Sunday morning experience. This entails both direction (theme) and content (elements).
Such responsibility carries the necessary authority. This means that, at the end of the day, the final word is his.
This does not mean, however, that the gifts and abilities of the worship leader should be ignored. He/she brings passion and skill, ideas and creativity to the table which can literally make or break a Sunday morning. A wise senior pastor listens to the voice of the artist.
This authority also does not mean the senior pastor micromanages the service. Once the “destination” has been selected, the “route” to get there needs to be delegated to those who are most gifted at helping folks “make the journey.”
3. Invest in the relationship.
As perhaps no other (with the possible exception of the executive pastor), the relationship between senior pastor and worship leader needs to be on the growing edge.
Trust comes from time spent together. Mutual submission flows out of shared conversations. Partnership emerges as each feels safe with the other.
Encourage often. Praise regularly. Speak the truth in love. Pray together. And play together.
These practices add the lubricant that is so necessary when there’s the potential for friction.
Trust comes from time spent together. Mutual submission flows out of shared conversations. Partnership emerges as each feels safe with the other.
4. Keep short accounts.
When misunderstandings arise – and they will…when disagreements surface – and they will…when feelings are hurt – and that will happen… action needs to be taken as soon as possible.
Admitting wrong, confessing sin, offering forgiveness, and restoring relationship are important for all of God’s people. But when the breakdown is between senior pastor and worship leader, the impact isn’t restricted to just them. It impacts the entire body through the corporate worship experience.
Resist the temptation to “triangulate” – venting your frustration to others. Rather, make a commitment with each other to “not let the sun go down on your anger.”
Resist the temptation to “triangulate” – venting your frustration to others. Rather, make a commitment with each other to “not let the sun go down on your anger.”
5. Cover each other’s back.
The aspect of church life that is most important to congregants is the Sunday morning worship experience. That being the case, it is also the most greatly scrutinized and the most heavily criticized.
Opinions will flow like water. “I sure wish the worship was more…” or “I really would prefer if the sermon was less…”
We can’t keep people from having their opinions. As one friend put it, “Opinions are like elbows. Everyone has their own.”
And, to be sure, there’s a place for honest evaluation and necessary adjustments. At times the worship might well have gone lacking and on occasion, the sermon could have been better.
But for the senior pastor and worship leader, that discussion is theirs to have behind closed doors and beyond listening ears. In public, these two high-profile leaders need to stand arm in arm and shoulder to shoulder.
Evaluation and correction discussions are for the pastor and worship leader to have behind closed doors and beyond listening ears. In public, these two high-profile leaders need to stand arm in arm and shoulder to shoulder.
Worship wars may be a sad part of church life. But when it comes to the senior pastor and worship leader, a truce needs to be declared. Better yet, an olive branch needs to be extended.
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