Your thoughts please

I found this on a local churches web site. What are your thoughts?


?

I understand, and would be an advocate for "auditions" for a church worship team. Ultimately, the larger the church the more it would be advisable IMO. I remember years ago sitting on front of a gentleman at church that couldn't carry a tune if you handed it to him in a bucket. I loved that he sang at the top of his lungs, but at the same time it was highly distracting because literally every note was off key.

Do I think that he shouldn't have participated in the worship service? Absolutely not

Do I think that same man should be given a microphone? Absolutely not.

I attend a smaller church (about 150) so our worship leader knows just about everyone in the church, but in a larger church that is not possible and not everyone who claims to be able to sing really can and not everyone who claims to be able to play an instrument can play it well.

Years ago I went to a larger church (about 5,000 spread across 5 services) that actually had multiple fellowship groups for musicians specifically for the purpose of finding great musicians, but also for raising up additional great musicians.

No one really minds
That Anita sings off key
We got her mic turned down
We're doing all right

The Deacons wanted mellow
For the offering
But let us crank it up
On Sunday night

- Tim Hawkins

I had a few other things I wanted to say here, but oncefallen already said them all, so I don't have anything left to say.

I'm without words as well. @Oncefallen is a hard act to follow.

Ooooooh...

Oncefallen takes all my good points before I can make a post.

cinder takes all my good points before I can make a post.

Has anybody ever seen cinder and Oncefallen in the same room? Hmm...

Yup, if you say so cind... er, Oncefallen, if you say so. Uh huh. Yup.

[STALKER] Based on a certain user's IP history, I can confidently claim that I have never been within 1300 miles of said user[/STALKER]

Well gee, you got me there. I don't have security clearance to check that fact (don't want it either) so I'll have to take your word for it.

And our meetup was even further from your stomping grounds, so even if forum records go back that far it wouldn't help my conspiracy theory at all.

Feh. I'll go find another weird hill to die on.

Okay, so... That was a derail.

Back to the topic at hand: I feel sorry for anybody who has to hold those audtions. You get a lot of egos with some singers, and the egos would naturally be attracted to auditions.

Where ego could be a good thing in most music-based endeavors, it just KILLS praise. And the rough part is the egos that don't show up until after the auditions are over. You get a lot of people with singed pride when they don't get the solos they were expecting. And if the church is large enough to need to hold auditions, the poor director will probably get blindsided multiple times during the first few months after the auditions.

Ah, I remember my grandma was one that sang with gusto but her voice was not one that would or should ever be on stage.

I've tried to ask my friend, who is in charge of our worship teams, if the church would start a children's choir or worship team but they aren't interested. I cant help but think they're not interested because they're too caught up in sounding perfect or "performing" than desiring real worship.

There is a way to read this that makes it kind of bad, actually. And a way to read it that makes it totally reasonable. People so far seem to read it as the reasonable version, as I did at first as well. But what if the auditions are for anyone that shows up? It does not specify church members only, rather it says "everyone". Reading it in that manner I would say it doesn't look good for the church.

When I first joined my current congregation, and wanted to join the music team, I had to attend an audition. I understand that was standard practice prior to my joining, but it was abandoned soon after. We do generally welcome anyone, but the team leader (staff member) assesses each candidate's ability and motivation. From there, the person is assigned to one of three teams and coached/mentored while being a full part of the team.

The invitation to audition file was taken as a whole page - screen save - and adjusted via photoshop. It is part of a full page web site screen of a certain church.

I have to question the value of things like worship leaders and auditions. For one it puts them up on a stage and makes them a little better "worshippers" than the others. Just because they have a good voice, can play an instrument, or get the audience excited it doesn't mean they're worshipping. I know of one congregation in particular that prides itself on their "great" worship team; I'm sure there are many more like it. I know people who have gotten their feelings hurt when they auditioned and were rejected; eventually they left the congregation. I believe church congregations should be a place where the weakest members are given greater honor, as the scriptures say. Auditioning for things creates a spirit of competition which has no place in Christ's body.

Oh, I dunno... Seems a church big enough to require auditions would almost certainly be big enough to have a page of requirements for choir members. Must be a member of the church in good standing, must wear clothing on stage that is not provocative, must have a prayer life, whatever that particular church deems necessary. If there are that many people in a church that they need auditions, surely SOMEONE in the group has thought of that by now.

When we were about thirteen, our Sunday School class went caroling. It wasn't my first trip with them, but it was my last. My thirteen year old musician cousin (piano master and superb vocalist), while we were singing "Away in a Manger", turned to me and put her finger over her lips, and said "you're ruining the melody!" So much for "make a joyful noise". It was a harsh, but valuable lesson. I put a lid on my bucket, and learned to enjoy listening to music.

If you have someone who believes he can sing, but can't, hand him a microphone, and record him singing his favorite song. Sit with him in the sanctuary and play his song for him. Ask him what he thinks.

I agree. There is absolutely no New Testament basis for this kind of "showmanship".

Many are no doubt sincere, but the whole idea is that the entire congregation join together in all worship. Add to that the loud music, and what we have is "entertainment". Then do away with biblically sound hymns and songs of praise, and what are you left with? Some churches even pay individuals come and sing for them.

I believe these modern trends were meant to attract crowds, but church worship is really for believers. Visitors are always welcome, but the church has no business modifying things to make them more appealing to those who simply need to hear the Gospel.

Seems reasonable to me, but I'm a musician. 😆