Worship Team Expectations

We are seeking to build a unique culture on the worship team. Every person we add to the team either expands or detracts from that culture.  

Character is the backbone of who we are and crucial in developing culture. Individual character is significant enough that we have asked very talented people to step back from the team rather than suffer through pain. These are the values we expect to see in team members:

• TEACHABILITY. Does the person learn from mistakes? Do they own when they mess up? Do they approach the team with an attitude of coming to learn something no matter their level of competence? Do they know their areas of improvement and allow others to speak into them?

• CHEMISTRY. A good working relationship between team members is critical. Some questions we ask of each other are, "Are people difficult to work with, cranky, know how to communicate effectively with others? Do they emotionally dampen the environment when they show up?" Working well with others includes:
  • DOING CONFLICT WELL. Good chemistry does not mean the absence of conflict. Conflict is normal with people on a team. HOWEVER, how we deal with it matters. Respect and tact are key. How and when we approach another we disagree with is just as important as what we say.
  • ULTIMATUMS ARE A NO-GO. The team is not lead by group consensus. When the worship leader makes a final decision, members can either get on board or not. Those who give ultimatums such as “I am not playing” are not team players, hurt our culture and are removed.
  • CONFLICT AVOIDANCE IS A NO-GO. When conflict occurs, it should be addressed in a timely manner, respectfully and with tact. Conflict avoidance kills team and culture.

• SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT. We do not want just a band. We want a worship team. As a result, we freely and openly discuss spiritual matters to include how God is impacting (or not) our individual lives. We want to NORMALIZE spiritual talk. Others will have different spirituality than you. Some will be more pentecostal while others will be more reserved. That is ok. We are one team with different expressions of spirituality.

We cannot build a team or a worship culture without a commitment.

• BE ON TIME. Be on time, ready to rehearse. Being on time respects everyone’s time. This includes both the weekly rehearsal and Sun Am. If you are unable to be on time or an emergency occurs, please communicate with the worship leader. Do not just fail to show up.

• PCO. Learn, respond to the emails and use PCO. Put in your blockout dates every month. This allows the worship leader to plan and slot songs according to instrumentation. Please RESPOND to the emails the worship leader sends.

• GET THERE ON SUNDAY. Barring an emergency or something out of our control, it is not ok to call out on a Sunday if you are scheduled for that week. Others are depending on you and it places a significant amount of stress onto the team on Sunday AM rehearsal.

• FIELD TRIPS. Occasionally we will take field trips to other churches to see how they do it as well as fellowship. If people are able to work it in their schedule, we want to people to participate to gain fresh insights and improve.

• ALLOWING FOR A UNREHEARSED MOMENT WHILE LEADING WORSHIP. While on the platform, there will be times when the Holy Spirit moves the worship leader to speak or even sing something unscripted. This is ok and we want to allow for those moments. We are not going to be so rigid that we quash it. As a result,
  • KNOW THE HAND AND ARM SIGNALS. If we need to linger, make sure you know the hand and arms signals that indicates moving into an unscripted moment.
  • KNOW WHAT TO DO. If we linger, make sure you know what to do. “Faking it” is perfectly ok.

• AARs. After Action Reviews are when we periodically review what we have done in order to improve. We expect people to participate in AARs as a team and individually.

Production is the flow of the service and the use of AVL in the service. Production is just as important as the musical quality that comes out. Production done well helps people engage in worship. Production done poorly distracts people from worship. As a result, we practice the flow of service, use of AVL, body movement and energy actions as well as the playing our music to ensure we engage and draw people into worship.

• SMOOTHNESS AT REHEARSALS. What we do in the weekday rehearsal is what we are going to do on Sunday. With the exception of an emergency, there should be NO CHANGES at Sun AM rehearsal. Our goal is to make rehearsals as smooth as possible and FUN. Tuesday is where we work out all of the bugs to include AVL production. We expect people to give forth effort on the weekday rehearsal and work out the bugs. Be on time and personally practiced.

• PLATFORM. We do not have a stage. We have a platform. A platform is where we lead and direct the congregation. It is a sacred space and a position of influence and authority. Always remember that we intentionally take the platform to lead others, not “just drift” onto stage. Intentionality communicates.

• THE TEAM LEADS THE CONGREGATION, THE CONGREGATION DOES NOT LEAD THE TEAM. The worship team has the responsibility of leading and positioning the people before the presence of God. If the congregation feels energy-less or disengaged, it is not them. It points to something that needs to be addressed on the worship team.

• WORSHIP. When playing, we expect team members to smile, look happy and WORSHIP! This is why personal practice and smooth rehearsals are so important. If the team is focusing on hitting the right note or the effects of unnecessary stress from a rehearsal, then we are not free to worship on the platform.

• ENERGY THROUGH BODILY MOVEMENT. Your body movement matters and communicates energy, intention, etc. It is just as important as the music you play and is a part of leading. We ask that team members not stand like a "dead-tree" but clap, move and express yourself as is most natural to you.