Worship and Media or Worship vs. Media

I’m a worship leader at a local church, and like many in this same position- in smaller churches, also direct the media element. I am also an A/V designer and integrator for Houses of Worship in the Central Florida area. I work with many different churches; small churches, large churches, and many different denominations. I am blessed to see what I’ve seen and interact with many different church leaders on a weekly basis. But there is a common trait I see with most churches, not all, but many; The disconnect between the Worship (or music ministry), and the Tech (or media ministry). This disconnect can take on many forms. Whether its conflict, lack of ministering to team members, or an overall difference in opinion on the mission of the two departments.

For example; A church I was contracting for had a Worship Pastor, and they also had a Media Director. These two individuals had great ideas on how to grow their church, and how the weekly worship experience should take place. Unfortunately, the two ideas were very different, which led to conflict between the two leaders and the volunteers in each of their departments. They had become a team divided. Notice how I used the word team. In todays church, these two work hand-in-hand. Worship needs Media, Media needs Worship. Without Media, how would the congregation experience the worship service? No lightning cues, no audio, no song lyrics to follow on the projection screens. Likewise without the Worship ministry, there wouldn’t be much for the Media team to help enhance.

These teams should be in one accord. This phrase, “one accord”, is mentioned many times in the Book of Acts in the development of the early church. The early church knew of the importance of being united to carry out the mission God had set before them. This is a necessity in today’s local church body. The body of Christ only functions when all parts are working in one accord. This most certainly applies to Worship & Media.

Let me share just a few things to help you unite these two areas;

First; for the church that these responsibilities are to one individual.

1. Devote prayer time to praying over both areas or departments, and the volunteers or staff that serve within them.
2. Devote equal preparation for both; Don’t spend less time coming up with fresh ideas for videos, lighting cues, or set designs, then you do picking new praise and worship songs.
3. Invest into volunteers equally. This can be hard if you are driven in one direction more than the other. All of your team members need investment and discipleship. You have the privilege to be a pastor to all of those who serve alongside of you.

Second; for the church that these responsibilities are shared amongst multiple leaders.

1. Devote prayer time to praying over both areas or departments, and the volunteers or staff that serve within them.- (this doesn’t change, prayer is a vital key in your ministry).
2. Make sure your personal mission lines up with the mission of the church and your leadership. Hebrews 13:17
3. Make sure you are on the same page with fellow leadership; How worship services- or events, should feel, look, smell…..You get the idea.
4. Devote time to the other leaders; Bible studies, planning meetings, fellowship time. If you can, help with weekly responsibilities or preparations- (stage setup, set building, printing chord charts)
5. Don’t consider the ministry or department you lead to be important than anyone else’s.