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| A Team Approach to Your Music Ministry |  | The task of organizing your music ministry has several benefits - some obvious, others more subtle. The involvement of people is vital to achieving many of these benefits. To that end, here are some ministry-enhancing ideas that can help you be more efficient in your leadership and a better steward of your time and gifts.
First of all, effective ministry nearly always involves more than one person. When Moses' father-in-law visited him and saw the enormous work he was shouldering (Exodus 18), he said, "What you are doing is not good ... The work is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone." What resulted was a group of others who helped in the day-to-day tasks of managing a large group of people and helping settle disputes. Who among us couldn't use a little extra assistance from those we serve with? Further, when we help others get involved in specific tasks relating to the music ministry, we help them develop a sense of "ownership" and pride in what we're doing. Also, we allow them to exercise their gifts and abilities.
A great place to start is by selecting a slate of officers for your choir. These may be elected or recruited, but they should all have a clear understanding of their role, a willingness to fulfill it, and a "big picture" concept of the entire music ministry and that of the church. The following is a listing of suggested officer positions and their duties:
President - Conducts all choir business and moderates announcement period during rehearsal; serves as chair of choir officers; uses working knowledge of music to assist director as needed; serves as recruitment chair; represents choir for other church committees.
Vice President - Oversees recording of attendance for rehearsals and worship services; maintains up-to-date roster;
greets and obtains information from new members; oversees any other membership related committees or functions.
Secretary/Treasurer - Records minutes of officer meetings; collects offerings and disperses choir funds; is
responsible for "expressions" such as cards, flowers or gifts in the event of weddings, births or deaths.
Social Chair - Plans and oversees all social functions, parties and rehearsal retreats.
Librarian - Oversees cataloging of music; ensures that music is distributed for rehearsal and collected after performance.
Robing Officer(s) - Assigns robes, music, and folders to new members; works closely with Vice President and Librarian to ensure organization and effectiveness of procedures.
For the purpose of nurturing your choir members, you may wish to organize fellowship teams. These are simply smaller groups within the choir who keep track of each other and report concerns and joys among their team members to the President and Director. Each team should be led by a person who is a caring, compassionate, mother hen type. A nice touch would be to ask each team to periodically host an after-rehearsal fellowship time with snacks.
Effective communication is another major element in good organization. Consider providing the choir with a current directory of members complete with addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, family members, hobbies and occupations. Sometimes, it's surprising how little we know about each other outside the choir room.
A choir handbook can be an informative source of information, especially for new members. This may contain a listing of officer duties, some general guidelines for membership, a yearly calendar of events and dates, any technical information singers should be aware of, and an uplifting greeting from the Director. If possible, a word from your Pastor would be a bonus.
A choir newsletter is another valuable source of announcements and inspiration for the choir. It could be published monthly or quarterly and even be compiled and edited by one of the choir members who has a flair for journalism and a good computer! In the newsletter, the President and Director should each write a column that encourages and uplifts the choir. After that, adapt it to the particular needs of the choir. Included might be interviews, an anthem and music schedule, birthdays, prayer requests, general interest items, and a catchy name for the whole thing. Above all else, try your best to make the newsletter "happy mail" for those who receive it.
Finally, remember that all the planning and organization in the world mean nothing if God's blessing is not on it. The Director has a responsibility to diligently pray for this ministry and to do his or her part to set the wheels in motion once God's will has been discerned. You are encouraged to bathe in prayer everything from the selection of music, to the choice of soloists to the delegation of ministry-related tasks. Then watch what happens as the Body of Christ works in beautiful harmony!
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Kansas City, MO 64141 | | | This Easy 2 Excel Communiqué article appeared in the Conductor's Tool Box section of the Autumn 2003 issue. |
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