The purpose of worship arts is to utilize a variety of art forms during corporate gatherings to provide an atmosphere conducive to the working of the Holy Spirit. Believers and unbelievers alike should be provided with an opportunity to hear the powerful truth of God’s Word in a culturally relevant way, and be encouraged to seek, serve, and worship our awesome God.?Ç
First Church worship sees all communications media, including, spoken, written and digital forms, as equally important in sharing God’s love.
Since, in Jesus, God is no longer behind the Temple curtain but out in the street, both sacred and secular music may be appropriate forms of worship.
Be careful to differentiate between philosophy and methodology. One church’s statement:
The purpose of the Worship Arts Ministry is to bring glory to God through the arts and lead the congregation to become free to worship in exhaltation.?Ç
This is a philosophy statement with a nod to methodology (“through the arts”). Try to be more exact.
3. Statements of team organization and structure
Clear-eyed and frank discussion on how the team is to function are important for warding off future conflict. These can be related to individual commitments, meeting details, and even about how the team intends to work together.
Here are some examples about commitment. These may seem unnecessary or even redundant. Chances are, they’ll become valuable later:
Our team agrees to design a worship service for every week.?Ç
Our team agrees to meet on time.
Our team agrees to fully participate.
Our team agrees to remain fully committed to the worship development process through its duration.
Our team is not a committee, which operates without actual hands-on involvement in its decisions, or a task force, which is a for a limited time, but is an ongoing group of people, intimately involved together.
Additional statements on process can only help. For example, a statement about conflict may help to establish an identity of openness:
Our team agrees to address interpersonal and ideological conflicts openly and in attitude of prayer and exhortation, rather than ignore or avoid them.?Ç
While the purpose statement doesn’t need to be treated as a legal document, like a team “pre-nuptial”, the more specific it is upfront, the better the team will be able to focus on creativity and the movement of the Holy Spirit, rather than be bogged down in a mire of confusion.
Pal Gyomai said,
Wrote on August 22, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
Great article, Len And Jason. You point out some very valid issues that are so important to be defined. Keep up the good work.
Dan Norton said,
Wrote on August 22, 2007 @ 2:47 pm
Wow! This should be mandantory readng for every church Worship Ministry participant. Thank you for the insight.
Rev. Randall Scheri said,
Wrote on August 22, 2007 @ 9:44 pm
May I download this article? I would like to form a worship team with my church and would like to have as much “teaching” material for them as possible. Thanks.
Philis Griffin said,
Wrote on February 16, 2009 @ 7:15 pm
This is a timely article. I plan to pass it onto the worship team at our church. We are growing and need to recognize that what was our purpose or method several years ago, maybe be different this year. Thanks for your sound theology and insight.
Carlos H. Sheffield said,
Wrote on February 17, 2009 @ 8:27 pm
I am thoroughly impressed. Just recently, at my church there was a lively debate regarding the worship-style that is presented to the congregation and visitors on a weekly-basis.
This is an 82 yr old afro-centric United Methodist Church that is struggling to stay afloat. Attendance has declined drastically. More and more of the young adults and committed tithers are slowing making their way to either the Baptist or non-denominational affiliates.
The division is ‘Music’. The more contemporary and progressive style of worship in the 21st Century church is absent at my church. ‘Praise and Adoration’ is wonderful but we are not necessarily caught-up in that atmosphere. But we do want to see a more lively service as opposed to one that lulls one to sleep!
It doesn’t help any when you have a minister who is a throwback to a time when hymns and anthems were the norm in the Methodist Church.
It is hard to relate to a church that is turning an blind eye and deaf ear as to what is taking place in today’s church. We have individuals who attend the Holy Boldness Seminars that are geared to strengthening the church in urban areas, and they are relaying the message of how we must make a change in the way we continue to worship in the same — dated,stale,lifeless — manner as our great-grandparents.
Again,I am impressed with the different variations in which a church can worship and only wish that mine would be more receptive to change…even just a smidgen.
Linda K. Ferrell said,
Wrote on February 17, 2009 @ 11:04 pm
Purpose , myself I like on purpose !!!!!
Linda K. Ferrell said,
Wrote on February 17, 2009 @ 11:12 pm
Very well put, I think more church’s should let the church as a Whole . GOD loves me just like you the same,