The Pastor/Musical Worship Leader Relationship -- By: Donald P. Ellsworth

Journal: Journal of Ministry and Theology
Volume: JMAT 17:1 (Spring 2013)
Article: The Pastor/Musical Worship Leader Relationship
Author: Donald P. Ellsworth


The Pastor/Musical Worship Leader Relationship

Donald Ellsworth

Professor of Worship Ministries Leadership
Baptist Bible Seminary
Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania

Introduction

Blessed is the church that enjoys a healthy relationship between the senior pastor and the musical worship leader. Note the added word “musical” to the more common title. There are a number of reasons for that addition, but one is based on the fact that real and effective corporate worship can exist without a single note of music being sung or played.

Few, however, would disagree that appropriate music has a long (and biblical) history of significantly enhancing the worship gatherings of the people of God. From the worship responsibilities of the OT priests to those in last Sunday’s services, the most effective worship results would be found in churches where interaction and understanding existed among the “team”: Christ (the highest, truest worship leader), the Holy Spirit (who continues to direct in matters of worship), the musical worship leader (who is spiritually, musically, and theologically qualified), and the senior pastor (who is ultimately responsible at the human level). In many of today’s churches, music can take upwards to 40–50% of a service. It is irresponsible to allow those precious moments to be used carelessly.

Assuming that the church’s worship is its highest priority, the assessment of our effectiveness and practices should be a primary concern. Until recently these concerns typically were not faced by many in the evangelical, free-church tradition. In the seemingly desperate attempt to “catch up,” we have seen multitudes of books, magazine articles, conferences, websites,

blogs, academic programs, worship songs and hymns, and numerous commercial worship aids. Worship has become the buzz word in many places.

All this being true, the purpose of this article is to attempt to deal with none of the above, but to offer thoughts on what may be the most critical matter in successful corporate worship preparation and practice, that of the relationship between the senior preaching pastor and his musical worship leader (MWL). This relationship is critical in maintaining a happy team effort between two people who share the platform every Sunday.

The MWL has in some cases been referred to as the “second preacher.” Some have suggested that the MWL might be the most important theology teacher in the church. Before you disregard that statement, consider the following. Most sermons, after being delivered, are put in the file, rarely to be preached again in that form, in that setting. Sermon outlines and ...

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