Cutting/Letting go team members

[worshiptheKing]

I am struggling with something. I have been working with an inherited team for almost 2 years. We have only added one new singer since I took over. Some of the vocalists are just not meant to be on a worship team. Their heart is is the right place, I love them as people, but they are compromising the music. I know, at the heart of worship, its not about the music. But really, we want to do things with excellence.
Question: How do you approach asking someone to step away from a ministry?
Another thing is that I know these people well enough that not matter what I do it will not be received well. Feelings will be hurt and yes a grudge will be there.


I did a search and didn't find anything. If there si a similar thread point me to it.

[fmckinnon]

Oh, I don't envy your situation at all. Been there, done that. I'd rather run away and hide, haha!

Seriously, it's a very sensitive issue. Do so with a LOT of prayer. The approach that you take has to be in their best interest. In other words, you have to help them realize that ultimately, maybe their role as one of the main singers isn't the best place for THEIR gifting, and you'd like to help them find where they would be more fulfilled in serving.

Speak with your leadership prior to, and really pray - because these type of moves are always sensitive.

[milepost13]

Our church believes that each member of our body has been created and gifted to do something (ministry) as good as or better than anyone else in our church body and that only when a person is doing that thing will he/she truly find their purpose in the body. As leaders, it's our responsibility to help people find that ministry(s) that God has purposed for each of our members.

When people know that you're looking out for their best interests (not just looking to kick them off the team), they are much more open to the idea of trying out another ministry.

Nate

[Smitty]

Ouch...like Fred, been there, done that...it's not going to be easy...pray a lot.
When I had the same situation come up, I had just done a saturday workshop for the team. What mitigated the pain and hurt feelings somewhat was that the TEAM decided to "take it to the next level", when they decided that the ability to sing harmony was going to be the STANDARD, and not the exception, for team vocalists.

My prayers are with you.

Smitty

[centerpointeworshipper]

I actually just did this very thing 2 wks ago...and they left the church and now i do not have even one vocalist. I dont say that to be discouraging because it had to be done. The way I see it is, they make the choice to be offended or not. You cant make them be offended or cause them to be offended. You should do what you and your pastor see is best for the team. If they leave the church then they werent that committed to the vision anyway. I know that sounds really harsh..im in a weird place right now.

[worshiptheKing]

I am almost sure of the response I will get from the people in question, completely offended. I hope I am wrong. I have been planning a workshop for the team as a whole. I may present the vision for the upcoming year along with a higher set of expectations and really ask each member to evaluate where they fit into that vision and expectation and whether they can realistically expect to be successful.

One reason I think it needs to be addressed is practice time alone. Practices notoriously run long when these people are present, others notoriously do not practice, one admittedly doesn't even listen to CD's of new music when I get them out. It frustrates me and others on the team who are more committed. After hearing Dave Ramsey's "imcompetence breeds contempt" lecture at Catalyst this has been weighing very heavily. Man that was a great lecture!!

[NLoomis]

Great responses so far, to which I would add...

Give your folks the chance to get better, if you think they can. If they truly cannot improve enough in a reasonable amount of time, you have the unenviable task of encouraging them to find another ministry where they'd be a better fit. Yikes. But try everything else you know how to do prior to that. Otherwise...

If they are singers, which is where (in my experience) the biggest likelihood for subpar musicianship is, consider:

http://www.vocalartistry.com/

Or bring in a vocal coach.

Also, I'm not saying this is the case, but conisider whether your expectations are realistic. In the past when I've had trouble with the band's sound, its because I tried to do too much too soon with amateurs. My first church's band just wasn't ready for Tommy Walker quite yet. Expecting your volunteers to contribute 15 hours a week to the cause may be more than they feel they are able. If you consider the average rehearsal, sound check, practice time, and service(s) your team may already be donating 10 or more hours per week. At our church, it can be 15+.

I know this will sound really obvious, but pray for spiritual guidance. Then, when you've prayed, go and actually ask someone for guidance. Get spiritual guidance from your pastor or other mature leader and then get guidance from the best worship leader you know who knows you and a little about your situation.

Since this is ultimately a leadership issue, I have to ask, how long have you been the leader there? Here's what I did:
I was a good decade younger than anyone on the team and had been the staff worship leader for about 6 months and was having exactly the problems you're talking about. People didn't practice, come prepared, show up on time, etc. I didn't have the buy-in to address it without conflict, so I went to the most influential person on the team one-on-one. I laid out the case for why the team needed to practice etc. and asked for her help, explaining that I felt the team looked to her for leadership. She agreed to help and together we were able to improve the preparedness in the team. It increased my leadership there as well, since she began to see me as a thoughtful, mature person (I fooled her).

When you do your workshop, consider hiring someone from outside your church to lead it, even if you write every word they say. You can lend them credibility and set them up as an expert in a way you could never do for yourself. "A prophet has no honor in his own land."

Nathan

[Smitty]

I really wish you weren't on the other side of the country from me. This type of workshop is exactly what I do! If you need any help with materials, or just need to bounce some ideas off someone...let me know.

Smitty

[garyhodges]

Like Smitty, my wife and I specialize in doing worship workshops. In fact, we'll be moving to Ireland, hopefully in 2009, to continue the work we've already started over there. But for now we are willing to do workshops anywhere (especially if your church is interested in taking on some new missionaries!).

If you want to consider it, drop me an email (garyandbeth@gmail.com).

Or, if you pay Fred enough -- he'll do anything for money!

[gisbuxfan]

Thank you for all the responses on this thread. I too am going through a very similar situation in our church. We are a volunteer lead worship ministry. We have 6 leaders all with different styles. Unfortunately, they all have different philosphies on music and excellence. It's become very difficult to manage the different styles and at last I think we may have come to the point of starting from scratch and rebuild the whole worship team from the ground up. I realize when this is done it must be done with the highest sense of sensitivity and compassion, and I understand while in the rebuilding process to do it right and not rebuild it to what it is currently. So, again, thank you for the stories and suggestions!

nick