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Ten Things the Senior Pastor Can Do to Assist the Worship Leader
The senior pastor is responsible to:
Understand and assume the role of leading the church in worship. If the pastor has an internal conflict concerning his or her role, it may lead to confusion within other leaders and the worshiping body.
Communicate clear worship objectives. These objectives should result in extending the worship experience to all areas of the believer’s life, encompassing the ministry and lifestyle that flows from that ministry.
Share the vision of worship for the church with everyone involved in facilitating worship. A church has both a theology and philosophy of worship. All who influence the worship experience must embrace these truths. While sensitive individuals learn by observation and intuition, this does not replace teaching by the pastor.
Provide freedom through guidelines. Communicate expectations for all service elements including timing, styles of music, when people are to sit or stand, the role of instruments, media, drama, etc. These guidelines do not inhibit the worship leader, but provide a framework of liberty.
Communicate the calendar. Alert your worship leader to upcoming events such as Communion, water baptism, missions emphasis, guest speakers, and other variables that can affect planning and preparation. Also include any special sermon series or focus.
Remove barriers to worship. Barriers may include lack of preparation, poorly prepared facilities or equipment, inadequate lighting, and insufficient or untrained personnel. Functional needs may seem incongruous to worship, but ignored elements can become barriers.
Debrief services. If the team has been made part of the vision and given freedom to lead, they should be able to honestly discuss what went well and what could be done better in the service. Debriefings should be constructive. They often work best after a short period of reflection.
Be genuinely and publicly supportive. It is important for the team to feel they are fulfilling God’s will for their church by following the pastor’s leadership in worship.
Challenge worship leaders to be creative. If part of our overall agenda for worship is to perpetuate a worship lifestyle, then leaders must not remain static in their approach. Encourage creativity in drama, use of technology, the visual arts, and other appropriate genre.
Be sensitive to the church body and to the Holy Spirit. We must acknowledge that we cannot manufacture a sense of God’s presence or the sovereign move of His Spirit. We must handle God’s people carefully, never needlessly jarring them or seeking to manipulate to fulfill our own agenda. The agenda of the Holy Spirit for each worship service is never closed; it emerges as the service progresses. Pastors and worship leaders alike need to maintain vigilant sensitivity.