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Pastors VS. Worship Leaders: Secrets to Working Together

6. Realize they are not your D.J.

Don’t go to them every week with, “Hey man, we need to do this song.” I do that now and then—but it’s more of an every few months thing. He can take or leave it. I trust him with it.

7. Integrate your ministries as much as possible.

At NVC, Peter does much more than pick songs and lead them on Sundays. He’s involved at a lot of different levels in what God does through NVC. I’m not suggesting you add a lot of tasks to their plate. I’m suggesting you involve them in the bloodstream of the church so they will have the same advantages you have in knowing where the church is when they plan. Don’t give them more to do. Give them more access to what’s going on. It will add seasoning and nuance to their planning. It will also help them understand your ministry better.

8. Realize there is stress you cannot see.

For most worship leaders, the most stressful part of their ministry is dealing with the criticism of the congregation and elders. Second is probably dealing with the personalities of divas on their team/band. Let me ask: Which of those two do most preachers get full access to? Neither—though they will often hear the criticism “from above” before the worship leader hears it. I’ve found it helpful to inquire if I sense something is going on—and often there is something going on I couldn’t see.

9. Prepare “together.”

I’ve already mentioned that our worship leader is involved in various facets of the church. One of those is sermon series concept. I reserve the right to go where I feel I must, but creatively, I would highly recommend involving the worship leader in the creative process of planning the message series. Another way we “prepare” together is through music. When the “set list” of songs for Sunday is published, I build a playlist of those songs—and they become sermon preparation music until Sunday. Those songs work their way into my soul as I prepare, and I get better where we are going that week. It helps me better take off and land the plane—but it’s more important as spiritual preparation. As we sing them on Sunday, it grafts the sermon into my soul even further as I prepare to preach. It’s a small, but big thing.

10. Enjoy their ministry.

I love watching talented ministers use their gifts to the glory of God. Enjoy it!

What might you add to this list? Any “amens” to these?

Well, relationships are two-way streets, and there are some things worship leaders can do to help their relationship with their preacher flourish. Here are six.

Please note these are obviously generalizations. Preachers and worship leaders come in all varieties.