You can read the other posts on this HERE, HERE and HERE. Like I’ve said…I am NOT a worship leader, but I feel like there are some things that can make a great one. These are coming from the perspective of the senior pastor. Let me say this too. These are ALL things that I see in Adam, which is why I noticed them.
#4 Submission to the Senior Pastor. The senior pastor needs to give freedom, but the worship leader needs to remember who leads the church. I am convinced that the worship leader will have NO PROBLEM submitting to the senior pastor, if they feel like the senior pastor trusts, supports and gives them some freedom. Pastors, if your worship leader isn’t submitting, it may be because of the way you’re leading. Just saying!
While Adam has creative freedom and song selection freedom, there are times he has to submit. I know it probably hasn’t always been easy for him. There have been Sundays I’ve asked him to cut songs short because I need to preach longer. That probably sucks for the worship leader, but EVERY time I’ve asked him, he does it. I hope that’s some reflection on the way I’ve led by allowing him freedom.
There are weeks when he’s had an entire worship set done and I ask for a specific song to be added, AND HE DOES IT! I know that I’ve asked him to sing songs that he would probably NEVER pick. Guess what? You probably never knew as an attender because he sang it like it was his favorite. THAT will make a GREAT worship leader. If you’re not willing to sumbit to the authority of your senior pastor you shouldn’t be on the platform leading worship because you DO NOT have the heart of God.
I think it’s funny that some people have made comments to me about worship. Whether it’s volume, style, song selection, whatever. Like Adam is just running willy nilly with worship. I support what Adam is doing 100%…BECAUSE HE’S SUBMISSIVE TO THE WAY I WANT WORSHIP AT ELEMENT! Adam wouldn’t lead worship in a way I wouldn’t approve, that’s part of what makes him great.
If a worship leader wants to be great they have got to submit to their senior pastor. If you can’t do that, YOU NEED TO LEAVE! Adam and I meet every week to discuss sermon themes so he knows how to select songs that set up my message. Adam ALWAYS runs the song sets by me, knowing that even though he has freedom, he wants to make sure he’s in submission to my leading. I’ve heard of pastor and worship leader nightmares. We just don’t have that at Element. I give him freedom, he leads with excellence and in submission.
Learning to lead,
Jeff
