REMINDERS FROM SERVING AS AN INTERIM

  Sunday I completed a one year interim at Crievewood Baptist Church in Nashville.  I followed the solid ministry of David Guy, who served the church through various difficult stages of its life.  David’s life continues to reflect his sense of calling as minister.  He is serving in hospice chaplaincy in Nashville, and continues to take advantage of opportunities to minister through music.  David’s work at Crievewood will continue to pay dividends for years to come.

 

When taking on an interim position, I prayerfully consider the needs of a church in its worship expression as assessed by first talking with the former music minister, the pastor, and those involved in the worship music ministry.  I also seek out various congregational leaders who offer input.  Of course the more I attend and lead worship on Sundays I begin to get a sense of where the church is in its worship life, though outward expressions can be somewhat deceiving.  I feel my calling as interim is to bridge from one ministry to another, providing both some stability and a transition toward whatever the direction for the future might seem to be.  Ministry seems to happen along the way.  Sometimes there is need for healing, sometimes need for change, sometimes need for renewal of purpose.  I seek to be diligent in seeking out and serving these needs as the Lord conveys.

 

As the Crievewood interim comes to an end, I have been reminded of certain realities that I think exist in all worship music leaders ministries.  These are especially pronounced in an interim because whatever transition is to occur is likely in a relatively short period of time (one year in the case of Crievewood).  I would like to simply point out a few for your consideration:

 

• The worship minister’s ministry is always secondary to the pastor
• Understanding the pastor’s direction and staying in sync with his vision is sometimes the most difficult part of serving the church
• New music for worship is best assimilated over time – multiple repetitions
• The congregation’s singing will likely reflect the leader – music minister and the choir
• Sundays just keep coming no matter how prepared you are or are not
• Inspiration does not just happen on cue
• Daily worship is the best fuel for a worship minister
• Music ministries are made up of real people with real needs and hurts and conflicting schedules and varying priorities
• I cannot make people engage in worship as participants, but can only encourage and seek to facilitate
• Assessment of musical quality is best done when I am listening
• Assessment of congregational participation in singing is best done when I am listening
• It can be misleading to equate decibel level and/or visible facial expressions or body posture with worship

 

One of the benefits of serving as an interim worship music minister from time to time is that it places me closer to the position in which you serve and live who hold those positions permanently.  Though I served in local church worship ministry for twenty-six years prior to coming to TBC, these periods of reminders are helpful as to today’s unique challenges through changing culture in and outside the churches.