Practical Music Ministry

Serving God Through Sight, Sound, and Song

Striving to Grow: Overcoming Obstacles in Music Ministry (part 4 – Breaking Assumptions)

Are assumptions holding back your worship team?

Our last post we talked about being able to fully worship by sending our technical mind on autopilot. In the fourth post in our series, Striving to Grow, we’re going to discuss Breaking Assumptions.

Being a part of the music industry outside of the music ministry, I can tell you that nothing is left to chance or up for interpretation. People go out of their way to make sure they know exactly what they are expected to do and exactly what they’ll get in return. The ones that don’t know end up with a lot of headaches and heartache. Contracts, in the business world, ensure that each party is aware of his/her expectations. Rarely do I do any dealings that don’t involve a contract before I begin work.

Many people shy away from contracts, as they are often viewed as shady and purposely misleading. While many people word contracts to where they can only be read by a lawyer, not all of contracts have to be that way. They can just be a basic outline or explanation of each members function that is agreed to by signature. Don’t look at contracts as demeaning, or as if someone doesn’t trust you. Matthew 5:33-37 and James 5:12 stress the importance of keeping your word, but, unfortunately, peoples’ words or handshakes don’t always hold the same meaning that they used to, even in the church. So, contracts just remove all room for assumptions and doubt as to each person’s responsibilities.

In the music biz, bands have inter-member agreements, which state each member’s stake in the band, the decision making process, commitment obligations, what happens when a member leaves, etc. Worship bands should consider having those same types of agreements. Here are some of the issues that can be addressed within a contract:

The vision, purpose, and mission of the ministry. This can just be a basic description of how the ministry’s philosophy and function, so that each member has a clear picture of what he/she is entering into.
Decision making and leadership. Clearly define who is in charge of leading the band and making decisions. Do you function as a democracy with majority vote? Is there a band leader in charge of making decisions? Who serves as tie breaker in event of an equal vote? How should ideas be presented to the group? How much time is dedicated to the idea and decision making process? Answering these questions leaves no room for assumptions with team members.
Image and conduct. Groups have a certain image to uphold, even more so when dealing with a worship team. Each team member is a reflection of the parent ministry, both inside the church and outside the church’s walls. Don’t just specify how team members are supposed to behave, but identify specific conduct that is unbecoming of your team members. Leave nothing to up to interpretation or assumption. Then, make sure to let members know what the consequence is for unbecoming conduct.
Commitment obligations. Team members need to know what their time commitment will be up front. Let them know your weekly schedule of service and rehearsal times. Then address other potential questions and issues. For instance, if a member misses rehearsal, does he/she still get to participate for the service? How many rehearsals/services can a member miss in a row? Is there a such thing as an excused/unexcused absense or extenuating circumstance?
Contribution. This applies to obvious issues like whether a member is required to supply his/her own equipment for rehearsals and services, or if the church will supply adequate gear. But, it could also deal with issues like a member’s contribution of talents. What happens if a member falls behind the rest of the group in terms of musicianship, thus bringing down the overall quality of the group? What if a member is consistently unprepared? Identify your expectations and the consequences for not meeting them.
Royalty or revenue split. Does performance revenue get equally split amongst band members? Does a percentage come off the top to go back into the ministry account/fund? How are royalties split for copyrights if a band writes its own music? Does the technical crew get an equal portion split of performance revenue or a flat fee? Especially when it comes to money, be extremely clear.
Member exits. Identify what happens when a band member resigns or is fired. Is there a buy-out required of the ministry if the member has invested finances, equipment, or intellectual property? Conversely, if the ministry invested finances or equipment for (or on behalf of) the member, is there a buy-out required on the part of the member? Is there an “open door” if the member wishes to return in the future? Is the member entitled to a portion of future sales from merchandise he/she helped to create? Unfortunately, even in the Christian music world, lawsuits happen. These questions will help to protect your ministry.

These are some of the most common and detrimental issues that a band or ministry team must settle. By having members sign an agreement upon entering a group, there is little room for excuses when it comes to problem areas. The members know what the ministry expects and what happens when those expectations are not met. Although it’s never easy to “let someone go” from a group, it’s more justified when they’ve signed an agreement. The important thing is to stand behind your convictions and your contract!

Does your band, group, or ministry have a contract or agreement? Are there any points on yours that weren’t covered? Comment and let us know!

See other posts in the series Striving to Grow: Overcoming Obstacles in Music Ministry