I would rather delegate the news to someone else and then have them drink raw eggs for me too.  Actually neither one would bother me.

I would rather ask a Worship Team member to step down than drink raw eggs. I just don’t like Eggs. Actually there is always another route: Suggest voice lessons. But if you “audition” your members first this shouldn’t be a problem.

How about neither. Here is how you get rid of the off-key singer...and future off-key singers. Implement annual re-auditions. That’s right, everyone on the team has to re-audition every year. You say, “There is no guarantee you will be on the team after the first year...our cause is to important for us not to each work hard at this all the time,” yada yada.

Then, when you determine you have a bad singer, or a good singer who has bad chemistry with the rest of the team--you only have a few months until their 1-year audition when you can gracefully let them exit!

By the way...if it is a singer with a bad attitude, don’t wait. Talk to them, give them 1 chance to shape up, then boot them.

I once had to tell the worship leader he couldn’t sing a solo because he hadn’t:
1.  practiced,
2.  informed any of the other principles that he was going to sing, and
3.  the service had been modified to accommodate other critical reasons in the church life.
He went to the Deacons they caved, he left, the church grew. Overall a good experience.

Having to build a new program, sometimes you have to take who ever volunteers, (within reason, of course) and you’re glad to get them. However, sooner or later it becomes necessary to let certain individuals know their skills have not progressed with the development of the rest of the team.  You appreciate their service, but it might be time to take a look at other ministry opportunities.

Drinking raw eggs? Yuck! I like mine cooked. Plus, you still have to face the situation, even after the eggs have had their ‘effect’ on you.

I think it’s sad that anyone would say they don’t mind off-key singers on a worship team.  That’s the attitude that causes most of the world (and a lot of Christians) to see Christian music and worship music as a joke.  God gave us music, and we have in a lot of cases done a really pathetic job of honoring that gift, because we’re not willing to work as hard at what we do as the rest of the world is.  If anything, we should be leading the rest of the world in this area, but instead we choose to follow.  And usually we follow so far behind that it’s laughable.  Just my two cents (I’m a worship leader).

wow.  i wasn’t really excecting to have mud slung at me so early today.  good thing i missed my shower this morning…

my point was simply that i find that many churches, in order to let people “serve” and “feel a part of something” have a tendency to allow people to be a part of worship teams when maybe those people should be encouraged to find their gifting elsewhere. 

i have never, and will never, believe that allowing one person to feel useful is more improtant than the quality of worship we offer to our Lord and that we invite our congregations to be a part of.  i’m sorry if you feel i “lack discernment,” but i’ve seen too many really talented people walk away from using their gifts for God, because they feel that worship music is a joke.  it’s one thing if you have no other options that to use less talented players/singers.  i’ve been there.  but my point is that we should strive to be as excellent as possible with what we have to work with, and we should never have an attitude of brushing these things under the rug, or saying. “well. it’s not about how good it is...this is church, not a rock concert.” well, here’s a thought...if we’re going to model our worship after the music of the world (not saying this is good or bad, but it’s a fact for many churches), is it okay for the world to care more about what they do than for us to care about what we do?  i’ve heard too many people with that attitude, and i feel like it does an injustice to the gift that God has given us.  You wouldn’t want your pastor to just allow anyone to walk up onstage and give the message would you?  i feel like what we do is just as important.  people remember the words to their favorite worship songs long after they’ve forgotten the message from that day.  don’t you think we should do everything we can to honor the responsibility that implies?

oh the joy of politics…

church politics are one of my biggest peeves...of all places to have to worry about those issues…

I tried the former and it did not go so well. The worship singer ended splitting and destroying the church. I will take a glass of raw eggs any day of the week.

Richard, your situatiion reminds me that we have to make sure our singers know the reason we sing is to lead the congregation in worship of our magnificent God and Savior, Jesus. It’s too bad that your singer was more concerned with her position on the praise team and not her function. 

I often pray that that our team be invisible in order that the Savior be seen. That helps everyone stay on track. It’s also a good attitude to convey to new people coming on to the team.  Getting talented people is not as hard as getting talented people who are looking to grow in their faith and spiritual maturity.

As worship leaders, we have to constantly be on guard that we keep our focus on loving the Lord, and not making an idol of the music we use to give Him praise.  Though it can be loads of fun and we can enjoy the music, it must never be allowed to take precedence.  How are we doing on that front?  Any one having struggles in that area?  Be honest, now.

thanks peter.  i’m glad someone got where i was headed with that.

Interesting question since last week I’d much rather confront over the root canal (not that I’ve ever had a root canal, but I’ve heard enough stories).  On the other hand, even with my penchant for confrontation, this week I’d go for the raw eggs any day.  I think this is because some people are SO sensitive about their voices (in my experience...especially the ones that can’t sing!) So, pass the chicken fetuses please!  Yummm Yummmm!