Our church is described as one church, meeting in several locations. Things have been growing at an organic pace over some years and the overall vision and culture of the church seems to be good. However, over time, as different congregations do, things start being done differently because different individual run different parts of each congregation.
One congregation has been pushing in a certain direction over the last few years. Wanting expensive equipment, giving older equipment to other congregations. They told some long-time music worship people 'their services are no longer required'. When the management committee declined their requests for expensive equipment, they crowdfunded to get it themselves as they were told they had the freedom to do.
Recently it has been flagged that we need to have a music worship policy to integrate the various congregations and their policies, particularly because of the departure of this congregation from the others in their approach, which is of growing concern.
I feel some regret over this and feel this is a growing cloud that may well become a bigger problem. I was once part of that congregation and fell foul of some of its attitude just prior to the current leader's implementations. The attitude seems to be somewhat similar however. I was keen not to deal with that congregation, say it was their problem and not mine. But if there is going to be a church-wide revision of things music worship, then it is no longer something I can just let be. In fact this could change the policies of every congregation and we just got out of a hole ourselves thanks to a good leader with the right head on her shoulders. Maybe I shouldn't have let it be those years ago, but I had reconciled with the predecessor of the current leader with whom I had the issue.
My question, after such a preamble, is this. How can this issue be prevented from becoming a bigger issue and be resolved the best? I feel now that it was a mistake to let this congregation and this leader go as far as they were allowed as it represents a culture that is not in our main church culture.
I feel this leader has been seduced by the Hillsong phenomenon - introducing high production values, making the music worship a wall of sound that impresses but does not give substance. Yes, I acknowledge it has forced the church at large to become more adaptable in mindset and that is something, but it has also opened the church up to the danger of thinking like the world, where it is about being a good musician over being a worshipful community.
I have been part of such worship teams and seen some of just how bad the culture can be. Ungodly lives hidden behind great musical ability. People being picked that can play by ear and be very skilled but whose inner lives are ugly. Excluding and looking down on those who have the heart to worship but not yet the ability, preventing them from ministry in music worship. Emphasis on looking good, expensive tech, not community and every person encouraged to be expressive in worship.
I can see this could go bad if not treated rightly. But what is the wise and godly way of dealing with this storm cloud? Would welcome any thoughts on the situation.
One congregation has been pushing in a certain direction over the last few years. Wanting expensive equipment, giving older equipment to other congregations. They told some long-time music worship people 'their services are no longer required'. When the management committee declined their requests for expensive equipment, they crowdfunded to get it themselves as they were told they had the freedom to do.
Recently it has been flagged that we need to have a music worship policy to integrate the various congregations and their policies, particularly because of the departure of this congregation from the others in their approach, which is of growing concern.
I feel some regret over this and feel this is a growing cloud that may well become a bigger problem. I was once part of that congregation and fell foul of some of its attitude just prior to the current leader's implementations. The attitude seems to be somewhat similar however. I was keen not to deal with that congregation, say it was their problem and not mine. But if there is going to be a church-wide revision of things music worship, then it is no longer something I can just let be. In fact this could change the policies of every congregation and we just got out of a hole ourselves thanks to a good leader with the right head on her shoulders. Maybe I shouldn't have let it be those years ago, but I had reconciled with the predecessor of the current leader with whom I had the issue.
My question, after such a preamble, is this. How can this issue be prevented from becoming a bigger issue and be resolved the best? I feel now that it was a mistake to let this congregation and this leader go as far as they were allowed as it represents a culture that is not in our main church culture.
I feel this leader has been seduced by the Hillsong phenomenon - introducing high production values, making the music worship a wall of sound that impresses but does not give substance. Yes, I acknowledge it has forced the church at large to become more adaptable in mindset and that is something, but it has also opened the church up to the danger of thinking like the world, where it is about being a good musician over being a worshipful community.
I have been part of such worship teams and seen some of just how bad the culture can be. Ungodly lives hidden behind great musical ability. People being picked that can play by ear and be very skilled but whose inner lives are ugly. Excluding and looking down on those who have the heart to worship but not yet the ability, preventing them from ministry in music worship. Emphasis on looking good, expensive tech, not community and every person encouraged to be expressive in worship.
I can see this could go bad if not treated rightly. But what is the wise and godly way of dealing with this storm cloud? Would welcome any thoughts on the situation.