Developing an Effective Worship Ministry in the Local Church
Tom Kraeuter

Guidelines for Worship Teams:

1. Probationary period – There will ordinarily be a minimum of a six week probationary period during which the individual will attend practice sessions but will not play or sing with the team on Saturdays or Sundays. After such time it will be at the discretion of the Worship Pastor as to when the individual will begin singing or playing in the services.

2. Weekly practice sessions – All team members are required to attend the weekly practice sessions. Musicians and singers are required to be in the auditorium for scheduled rehearsals prior to the services for rehearsal and sound checks. If you are not able to make a rehearsal or be there for the worship service you need to contact the Worship Pastor and inform him. If you cannot make the mid-week rehearsal you will not be able to participate on the following Sunday with us. Because we are always introducing new music it is important that you are at the rehearsal prior to that weekend.

3. Other functions – The team will be expected to lead worship for seminars and other special retreats and meetings if needed.

4. Commitment to being spiritually prepared to minister – Our spiritual preparation has a direct effect on our effectiveness as a worship and music ministry team. We need to come ready not only to sing and play music but to worship the King and minister to His people.

5. Commitment to musical expertise – We need to work at our instrumental and / or vocal ability to become the very best we can be. This means a great deal of individual practice (maybe even lessons) as well as playing with the team. Keep in mind that the team will only be as musically proficient as the individuals that make it up.

6. Commitment to growing spiritually – This too is as important on an individual basis as it is with the team. As a leadership ministry, we need to be committed to maturing in Christ.

7. Commitment to “flowing” with the team – More than individual expertise, our musical goal needs to be the ability to “flow” with the team. We need to look at our team as not just a collection of separate musicians but as a single unit with a single purpose. Our heart attitude should not be to shine forth our own technical skill but to use that skill to enhance the team as a whole.

8. Commitment to being a witness outside of church walls – Should at any time during your involvement in the music ministry and / or worship team you feel that your personal life is not reflecting what we are about or what Christ would have, that you voluntarily step down so that His name and work would not be publicly mocked.
The above article, Developing an Effective Worship Ministry in the Local Church was written by Tom Kraeuters. The article was excerpted from �Developing an Effective Worship Ministry By Tom Kraeuter. Zondervan, 2005. Page 89.

The material is copyrighted and should not be reprinted under any other name or author. However, this material may be freely used for personal study or research purposes.

This article may not be written by an Apostolic author, but it contains many excellent principles and concepts that can be adapted to most churches. As the old saying goes, Eat the meat. Throw away the bones.