The Clergy/Musician Relationship: "For Better or For Worse?"

The Arrowhead Chapter of the American Guild of Organists

January Jubilee

Saturday, January 25, 2014

First Lutheran Church

Duluth, Minnesota

The Clergy/Musician Relationship: “For Better or For Worse?”

The Rev. Dr. David Tryggestad

Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, Luther College

Master of Fine Arts and Doctor of Musical Arts, University of Iowa

Fulbright Scholar in Organ, Copenhagen, Denmark

Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry, Luther Seminary

Workshop Description:

During the years I served as a full-time church musician, it seemed the first topic of conversation at gatherings of church musicians was how impossible the pastors were to work with. At my very first meeting of clergy after I became a pastor at age 39, the first words out of one of the pastor’s mouth were, “You wouldn’t believe what my organist did this past Sunday!” I have heard pastors refer to their musicians as “the war department”!

Martin Luther declared, “Next to theology, I give music the highest honor.”

This workshop is intent upon offering conversation to help navigate the seemingly perilous territory of clergy/musician relationships, in the hope that the mutual goal from both sides might be the motto that J.S. Bach assigned to many of his sacred compositions: “Soli Deo Gloria!”

Definition of “Church”

“The Church is the assembly of all believers, among whom the Gospel is preached in its purity and the holy sacraments are administered according to the Gospel” (Augsburg Confession, Article VII). The most important thing the Church does is worship!

Introduction to Organist Job Description

Concordia Lutheran Church, Duluth, Minnesota

The Organist attends to the worship life of Concordia Lutheran Church by leading and supporting the congregation in song. Congregational song, like the Psalms after which much song is modeled, is multi-directional: it functions as Word of God, offering grace, instruction, and admonition to the congregation; at the same time it lifts up corporate praise and devotion to God. Congregational song also fosters community within the Body of Christ. Thus the calling of the Organist as leader of the congregational song is a high one.

Some Issues of Potential Concern

·         Singing the liturgy and (especially) the hymns is, for many people, their primary expression of faith and sense of intimacy with God. This is holy ground, indeed! Don’t “get in the way.” Don’t mess with it, except to enrich and enhance with it.

·         Adequate preparation for all musical elements of every worship service

·         Liturgy and hymns critical, priority over solo repertory

·         Beauty, energy, and vitality: every liturgy must exude all three!

·         Accompaniments/registrations appropriate for the music, the size of the congregation, and the acoustic. If you can’t hear the congregation singing, you’re too loud.

·         Sense of “flow” within the liturgy, especially moving from one element to another

·         Tempos appropriate to the music and the lyrics

·         The organist “sings” and “breathes” with the congregation

·         Narrow or broad spectrum of styles: multiple services of varying styles afford more narrow choice of style within individual services

·         Does everything sound the same? The hymns represent a wide variety of styles.

·         Is the style more appropriate to the piano or the organ?

·         Appropriate to the Season of the Church Year and the specific Sunday texts

·         Choral music: appropriate to the make-up and gifts of the singers

·         Hymn accompaniments: do they serve the lyrics or do they call attention to themselves?

·         Modulations in hymns: avoid them!

·         Choral anthem medleys: seldom well written

·         Worship notes about the music published in the worship bulletin

·         Is it evident that the musician cares? About the worship? About the people?

·         The paid or the volunteer church musician: does that change the dynamic?

·         Continuing education: ongoing learning, including worship, hymnody, psalmody, service playing, composition.

·         Accountability (goes both ways)

·         The church musician can “make or break” a worship service. I suspected this to be true when I was a church musician; I know it to be true now that I am a pastor. If the pastor senses that something about the music is not enhancing worship, he or she will be concerned.

·         Bottom line: Does the church musician or the pastor consider the position primarily as a venue (and captive audience) for self-expression or as servant of the congregation and the worship?

Communication

·         The power differential must be acknowledged. The onus is on the pastor to proceed with caution. The pastor is responsible for setting the tone.

·         Frequent (or as needed): Pastors often let staff “run with the ball” with little or no consultation or regular checking in (this is particularly the case when the staff people are competent and accountable). Let the pastor know if you want more feedback than you are getting.

·         Pastors have varying levels of expertise and/or interest in music and liturgy. Those with much knowledge and interest may want an active role in planning; others may leave everything up to the musician/s.

·         A pastor with little or no expertise in worship and music may have legitimate concerns in this vital area of ministry but may not be able to articulate the issues. The musician/s may help facilitate constructive conversation (and become a teacher).

·         Musicians have been known to be sensitive! We take ourselves and our music seriously! (Pastors are not immune!)

·         Mutual respect

·         Clarity of expectations

·         Is the musician familiar with the particular tradition?

·         Location of conversation: Pastor’s study? Organ loft? Neutral ground?

·         Anticipate potential issues in advance, as much as possible

·         In person, as much as possible; telephone next best option

·         Timing: Never on Sunday after worship!

·         Clarity on who makes decisions regarding worship

·         Collaboration on planning and decisions

·         My default communication mode is passive/aggressive! Am I alone? Disastrous!