The following is an excerpt from “Leading Artists,” one of the articles in Developing an Arts Ministry, a new resource now available on BuildingChurchLeaders.com.
Some time ago a pastor from a nearby church called me for advice. He had just fired two of his worship leaders due to sexual misconduct. One was having an affair with a married woman on the worship team and the other, it was discovered, had a secret addiction to pornography. The pastor and I discussed strategies for dealing with the aftermath of the scandals, prayed together, and promised to stay in touch. However, his last words, before we hung up the phone, were very revealing. He said with a bit of frustration, “I don’t know the first thing about leading artists.”
Now I wouldn’t necessarily blame the pastor for his worship leaders’ immoral behavior. However, the messy ordeal uncovered a weakness this pastor perceived in his own leadership. By his own admission, he didn’t know how to lead artists.
Since then I’ve heard dozens of pastors admit that trying to lead their more artistically minded staff members and volunteers leaves them baffled and befuddled. Another pastor once told me that he stays clear of those “artsy types.” “They’re kinda off in their own little world anyway,” he added. What did he mean about those “artsy” types? And why did he make being an artist sound so creepy?
It’s Not Easy Leading Artists
I’ll be the first to admit that leading artists is not easy. Artists are a little different (and I can get away with saying that because I’m a musician). Artists think differently; we’re creative, we offer fresh perspectives, we like to color outside the lines. We’re also sensitive and passionate. Those are all strengths, but they can also be weaknesses. Sometimes we get so far outside the box that we end up, in the words of my pastor friend, “in our own little world.” Sometimes we can be overly sensitive or controlled too much by emotions.
Though it can be challenging to lead artists, it is important that they be led well. Today, God is unleashing the arts in churches all over the world. Artists are bringing freshness and creativity to worship services and communicating in powerful ways that the spoken word can’t. More than any other time in church history, worship today is led by teams of artists—people who sing, play, write, dance, do drama, create visual art, run sound, do lighting, and make videos.
I’ve led artists for over thirty years and I agree that those of us with artistic temperaments are different, but I believe it’s a good kind of different. In fact, I believe God has a special place in his heart for artists. David was a warrior, a king, and a world leader, but he was also a musician, dancer, and songwriter–someone whom God referred to as “a man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22). God was referring to one of us “artsy types” when he said that.
For more on leading artists, check out Developing an Arts Ministry.
