So what is the difference between a worship leader and a Worship and Arts Pastor (or whatever title is used for yours…)? I think the essential thing to understand is that a ‘worship leader’ is something which every mature Christian is called to be. In one sense, a Worship Leader is the person leading the music and/or directing the service up on stage (whether a full-time, part-time employee, or a volunteer). In another sense, every person on stage is leading the congregation in worship – practically speaking a team of worship leaders.

I’ve heard of churches who plant ‘worship leaders’ in various locations throughout their worship center so that they can encourage/inspire those around them to worship.

I almost tend to think that a worship leader is merely a person who knows how to biblically respond to God and does so. That’s it.

So the difference between a worship leader and a Worship and Arts Pastor? Simply put, a Pastor (any type of pastor), must be a worship leader long before he takes an official staff or ministerial position. In fact, I would propose that every person on the praise team (or up on stage in the sight of the congregation) should be a worship leader in their personal practice.

Every Christian should grow and mature in their walk in such a manner that they can, in effect, lead others – teach others, show others how to – in worship.

In my last post I wrote a little on what I thought about the different titles for the “music guy” at a church. I concluded with a statement referencing the fact that I thought “Pastor” was an appropriate title for the primary worship leader – the Worship and Arts Pastor.

Why, you ask? Simply put, if the individual you have leading the worship in your church is not of sufficient spiritual, moral, and emotional maturity to participate in pastoral level leadership in the church, then he really shouldn’t be leading worship.

That’s a bit extreme, you say. Not really. In fact, I would argue that the Worship Leader has almost the same level of impact upon the doctrine and theology of the congregation as the Senior Pastor (or preaching pastor, as is the case in some churches). The songs he leads them in shapes their theology, the statements he makes about scripture and even the scriptures he chooses also shape and inform their understanding of the Bible and God.

Therefore, the Worship Leader needs to be one who is sound in his doctrine and theology, as well as having a pastoral perspective and practice in his leading of the congregation. Many times, also, he will pastorally minister to those serving directly under him.

This is why it is imperative, in my mind, to never hire or ask someone to lead just because they are talented musically. The need for spiritual maturity grossly outweighs the need for musical talent. It is much better to have a musician of questionable skill but whose doctrine and theology you trust implicitly, than to have a musician of unparalleled skill but who has such slippery theology you’re not quite sure where he comes up with some of his more esoteric declarations. No, the former is much better for the spiritual health of the congregation.

And I think this is where many churches fail their congregation. They only want to hire a musician to lead songs (or a choir, or play the piano), but they do not realize how much they need an individual who will not only choose good songs, but pastorally shepherd the congregation into understanding the theology behind them. They need someone not so much who can sound good on stage, but who can develop the music portion of the service in such a way that it gets people thinking about God and opening their hearts for what the Pastor is going to preach.

Is that asking too much? I think not. In fact, I fear that many times a church decides to hire a Worship Pastor (or just a part-time Worship Leader) to “fix the music” because that must be what is wrong with the church. While there may be a musical issue, my personal opinion is that there is a deeper heart issue going on that needs to be addressed first. But, alas, that issue itself could fill up many pages. I will come back to that later.

next time: Understanding the difference between a worship leader and a Worship and Arts Pastor.