In spite of how powerful and meaningful team ministry can be, the task of getting a group of people to interact and perform as a team is a difficult one. Besides the fact that we artists have a propensity to shy away from teams and community, the Evil One does everything he can to disrupt teams. He'll try to sow disunity; he'll try to undermine morale; he'll try to sabotage the cause; he'll try to frustrate plans. Believe me, he'll do everything he can to defeat any and every team that's trying to advance the kingdom of God. So let's begin our study of teams by looking at four things that can kill a team. (93, Heart of the Artist)
1. Selfishness (93, Heart of the Artist)
2. Grumbling and Complaining (93, Heart of the Artist)
3. A competitive Spirit (94, Heart of the Artist)
4. Unresolved Relational Conflict (94, Heart of the Artist)
If we're honest, the four team killing components sting when we read them. The reason? Each of us has contributed to each of the "Deadly Four" and can probably recall a moment when we acted in that way. Since we are all sinful beings in nature, the solution to combating the Deadly Four is to establish, re-establish, or remember our code of ethics. This code of ethics can be written or unwritten, spoken or unspoken (95, Heart of the Artist) as long as it sets up a culture of expectations for how we want our worship team to be.
This leads you into a very tricky assignment. You will need to think and pray about what we can do and are already doing to achieve our best worship team without allowing yourself to be selfish, grumble and complain, have a competitive spirit, and/or bring about unresolved relational conflict. It is important to note that creating a code of ethics is a conversation about creating the best situations and worship culture for the needs of our church, community, and each other. Creating a code of ethics is not about singling out what a person is or is not doing. It is always best to keep Matthew 7:2-5 in mind:
2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Taking heed from Matthew 7:2-5, your reflective assignment is to post about 1) something that you think our team is doing well in meeting our "unspoken" code of ethics and 2) something that you feel we should change/add to our code of ethics.
If you feel uncertain about the message of this post, I truly recommend that you read pages 93-96 in The Heart of the Artist. Rory Noland goes through each of the 4 traits that can kill a team in detail.
What I believe that we are doing well that meets our unspoken code of ethics:
ReplyDeleteI believe that all of us are constantly looking at the music that we are providing the congregation to make sure that it leads everyone into worship.
What I believe that we need to add to our unwritten code of ethics:
I believe that we can become disengaged in worship between songs or when someone is speaking. Since someone in the congregation will always be watching us, we need to make sure that we are completely engaged in worship from the second we stand up front. This means trying to hear things for the first time even though it may be the third service.
What we are doing well:
ReplyDeleteI think that we are all really good about stepping up when something needs to be done. Taking the initiative and not just waiting around for others to get things done.
What we need to work on:
I think that we need to work on "worship" and not "performance". Being truly authentic in our leading the congregation in worship is a must! Letting go of all selfishness and being a doorway to God not a stopper. The congregation knows authenticity or artificiality of the worship team when they see it.
Doing well - we work well with each other working though the dynamic of a song. Everyone gives ideas and everyone works together for the end result.
ReplyDeleteNeed to work on - TIME MANAGEMENT - being prepared before practice starts. Getting set lists out Monday or Tuesday. Individual band members running through parts before practice so they are ready. If there are vocal parts that need to be worked on before hand meeting early but being ready when practice starts. Tech team having set up done and ready to go on time.
This is Larry. I think we have some serious talent in our band and it's an amazing feeling to have high quality people to play and worship with every week. I agree with the time management post. We could be a little snappier getting things done in our practice time. I would like to add that when we aren't staying perfectly on task we're usually having a lot of fun, but I'm willing to compromise. As far as having our parts prepared for practice, we change the way we play these songs too often to really know ahead of time what we are going to do. That doesn't mean that we can't try to have an idea of what we're going to do. But there has to be room for trial and error at practice. Our ability to change with the flow of worship is part of what makes our band so great. I don't really know if any of this has anything to do with a code of ethics or not but I posted something. So there. I would like to say that the praise team is going through a time that could cause a person of questionable ethics to talk, complain, gossip, or use this as an opportunity to elevate themselves. All I have seen is humble loving hearts standing firm together. There's your code of ethics.
ReplyDeleteGood Stuff: Generally I believe the worship team ushers in the Spirit of Worship, whether we as musicians think we "were on" if we technically/musically "hit it" ... I'm not saying this pretentiously, only graciously. Please God, continue to bless this ministry. Even on our best day... our righteousness is as "dirty rags"
ReplyDeleteWhat we need to improve on... So we worship...the incense of worship arises...hopefully to His throne...what is the proof, the evidence that this act of worship is changing lives...do we as musicians play an active roll in continuing to connect with the people? Do we ask the Holy Spirit to give us a burden for a broken heart, a woman who needs encouragement,...somehow are we connecting with to whom we are worshiping with? Are we still part of the WHOLE... not segmented ... we play/sing and then we are done, did our duty...gone?
I think we encourage one another wonderfully. That's one thing I thinks we all excel at. As far as what we could work on, I agree with the time management aspect.
ReplyDeleteI think we are doing great a staying together as "one" body.
ReplyDeleteWhat I think we need to work on (I agree with the time management but since everyone else is saying it Ill choose something else) is not getting wrapped up in "us." For example as singers I know sometime we get upset about other people singing lead on "our" songs (im guilty of this too). We need to stay focused on praising God and not on who is singing what. I have really been trying to remember its souly about God and to sing as though its a private concert to him. When you do this I think the congregation will see our true heart, and we will have true worship.(not fake)
Sarah =)