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Dealing With Tech Arts Burnout, Part 1

December 31, 2008 By 9 Comments

burn-3I could have just as easily named this post “Tech Arts staff – Make time for Worship!”, because burnout happens a lot less when we spend time in corporate worship – away from the knobs, sliders and buttons.

Oh, I’ve heard it before: “I can worship while I’m serving in tech.” I’m sure you can, because I do, too. But that worship isn’t the same as being out of the sight line of the tech gear! When you can totally focus on your own worship of God, then and only then will you be able to recharge, refresh and – here’s the bonus – force the church leadership to replicate you!

“But I’m paid to be there! It’s my job to run (insert job here)!” Having been on staff at three mega churches, I know all about this one. Sure, the responsibility to ensure everything is technically ready for the weekend is your job. But to physically be the only person capable of performing a job? I’ve got news for you – that’s NOT your job exclusively!! I don’t care what role you have in tech, if you’re not spending time out of the booth, you’re not leading a balanced worship life. Period.

“We’re a small/medium/large church and this job requires special skills. I can’t just leave it up to a volunteer!” In some churches, the equipment is so advanced that the training can require months and months of experience to get it right. I get that. So use contract labor! Outsource so that others can do the super-tech jobs when you’re not there. “We can’t afford that!” Bull crap. Your church leadership can’t afford NOT to give you a break, nor can they expect you to Biblically be in obedience unless you have time off for worship.

What happens if you get sick? Or get hit by a car? Or die? Would the church service flop without you? If the answer is ‘yes’, then your church is playing with fire! Force the issue, talk with your leadership and explain how dangerous it is to rely on just on person. It’s not smart, it burns staff and volunteers out and most of all, it’s not Biblical.

So how much time off should you take? That depends on you, but I’ll tell you something I’ve observed in my work with hundreds of techies: If it’s not once a month – minimally – then you’re going to end up with burnout. Guaranteed. Don’t believe me? Just look around and see who isn’t there that used to be heavily involved. Burnout is everywhere and to avoid dealing with it is irresponsible. Do yourself a favor – and do the right thing – by sitting down with your church leadership ASAP and gently show them how you want to ensure that tech runs smooth and people are able to worship. Any good leader will agree with you and help you to make the change a reality. If they won’t – and no excuse will do – then you need to find a new church.

That’s it for today. Later I’ll deal with how to help those about to deal with burnout, those already dealing with burnout and how to work through it.

What are your experiences and thoughts? Share so we can all learn together!

My name is Anthony D. Coppedge. I’m a follower of Jesus and my job is helping ministries leverage technology to effectively communicate the Gospel.  I’m passionate about this, so that makes me a Technology Evangelist.  I attend and volunteer at Gateway Church in Southlake, TX and love it in every way!

Related posts:

  1. Dealing With Tech Arts Burnout, Part 2
  2. Confessions of a Tech Director
  3. Tools For Worship Arts Ministry
  4. Practical Tips: Overcoming Burnout
  5. Dealing With Conflict

Filed Under: Media & Tech, Recent Articles, Worship Leadership
  • Ryan V (TWC Hickeroa

    Hey, I just realized, you're at the same church as Kari Jobe! Sweet! Can't wait for her new album…

  • Ryan V

    Great article and so true! Even when you’re worshipping as part of the team in any position (player, singer, or tech) there are so many things you must pay attention to that there’s always a detraction (on some level) from the true corporate worship experience.

    I play guitar on our praise team and a little while back I was learning rhythm electric (coming from an accoustic only background.) I made the comment one sunday to the team leader that I was really able to worship because the set we played didn’t have much electric in it and I was able to just stand with a clear mind not worrying about playing for about 90% of the set. As a result, I actually got benched for a couple weeks! The leader basically said I needed to spend some time in real, undistracted worship. And let me say…they were right!

    Sometimes we need to remind ourselves what it’s like to really be on the “other side” of the worship experience. When we step back into the technical, playing, or singing role, it’s that much richer as a result.

  • Hilary W

    I noticed how you mentioned a couple of times in this article that not having time off is “not Biblical”. Would you be able to provide some scripture references?

  • http://anthonycoppedge.com/blogs Anthony Coppedge

    Hilary,

    I’d be delighted to!

    A sabbath is generally a weekly day of rest and/or time of worship that is observed in any of several faiths. The term derives from the Hebrew shabbat, “to cease”, which was first used in the Biblical account of the seventh day of Creation. Observation and remembrance of the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments (#4). If you’re not resting by “working” every weekend (and you’re not replacing that rest with another day), then you’re breaking a commandment. Not to get legalistic here, but if God commands rest, it’s important.

    You have to be intentional about following God’s order (not the chaos of it’s-all-up-to-me”) with a plan. Nehemiah created systems. The wall was divided into manageable sections with clearly defined tasks: some were stationed as watchmen, others as soldier and others provided food. Workers hauled off debris as it accumulated. Everyone understood his or her part, and the wall went up without it being reliant by Nehemiah.

    Jesus Himself retreated away from the busyness of ministry. What better example than that?

    To make the assumption that one person must be there – no matter what – is foolish (what, you don’t need a Sabbath?), prideful (is it His church or yours?) and dangerous (if you’re out of commission and are the only person capable of doing the job, then you’re the failure point for an entire service).

    Clearly, God has a better way than for us to try and be spiritual “Lone Rangers”.

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  • http://saint-paulscliftonville.com/HTML/index.htm ascu75akadon

    We run on an four week rota and it proves hard sometimes to be able to get away from life church and sound desk I have just got in from sound desk and it was still there having not been at church at all on sunday because I had family events to be at so our church can do it

  • Mike Porter

    I agree with the sentiment.

    I don’t think I agree with the frequency. For part-time and especially volunteer church Tech Arts people, then I do absolutely agree, becuase they are giving up 1/2 of their weekend to the church, and odds are pretty good the other half is taken up by errands and lawns and so on.

    However, full time, paid tech people get other days off. There is something to be said for being *able* to take time off once a month, versus actually taking the day off. If you are able to take the day off, then there isn’t that same pressure of “what if…” all the time. I know its a subtle distinction, but I think it is an important one. When I have been in churches (as a part timer) where I *could* take a week off here or there without feeling guilty about it, it was much less stressful, even when there “working”, than in those situations, even in a much smaller church, where I felt like I *had* to be there becuase I was the only one who could really do the job.

    Scripture also commands a sabbath year every 7th year, and a “year of jubilee” every 7th 7. I think it is perfectly in keeping with that principle to say every 7th week, instead of necessarily once a month.