Try (Tri) Leadership, Part 2

Try (Tri) Leadership

Developing a Workable Model
for Co-Leadership In Worship, Part 2

(read part 1)

So what if you’ve got a good vocalist with a dynamic presence that draws people to worship God, but she can’t lead the band out of a paper bag. That’s OK. This is where the lead musician comes in:

The lead musician works with worship leader to determine form, segues, dynamics and other musical elements of the service. He or she needs to have leadership ability. The lead musicians keeps one eye on the band and the other on the worship leader. In many ministries, the lead musician is called the “music director.” The label doesn’t matter; what does is that the right person is driving the bus.

Don’t confuse the lead musician with the driving instrument. In every song, there is usually a driving instrument. 20 years ago, it was the piano. 10 years ago, the acoustic guitar. Now, you’re more likely to hear the song carried by the electric guitar or the bass and drums (which, if functioning correctly, act as one instrument). In bands with less experienced musicians, the driving instrument will often act as the linchpin. If that instrument drops out, the whole thing comes apart. This is not a good thing – but it’s a subject for another article. If your band is dependent on a linchpin instrumentalist, that person will likely need to serve as the lead musician—but not always.(Btw - don't confuse this negative linchpin metaphor with Seth Godin's Linchpin metaphor. Read it. Twice. Now.)

Currently, I have an instrumentalist that can’t carry the band on his instrument, but he’s a natural leader. Being in a multi-campus church, I can’t rehearse every team. I have found that even in the absence of the campus worship leader, this guy can run the rehearsal. So begin to look at your band members who have leadership ability.

Help your lead musician(s) understand their leadership both on and off stage…

Promptness and preparedness... These two attributes will instill in the team confidence in the lead musician. It also models the kind of behavior expected for the team.

Support for pastor/leaders... Even though I’m the paid worship pastor at my church, I choose to function in a subordinate role of lead musician when one of our vocalists is serving as the worship leader. If he wants to end a song a certain way, add a chorus, insert a scripture, I support him and his vision for the song or that portion of the service.

Development of talents/gifts... The lead musician(s) in a church should be on the lookout for ways to develop the band and other musicians who are emerging. The lead musician should see him/herself as the pastor of the band: shepherd, developer, truth-teller, encourager, etc.

(Concluded in Part 3)