Praise and Worship Ministry Guidelines 

Rev 1.1 Mar2021

These are the guidelines that support our commitment to excellence and service to God through Praise and Worship. 

1. To serve on the Worship Team 

• You must have accepted Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior. (John 1:12, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”) 
• Also, if you have not been baptized as a believer in Jesus Christ, we strongly encourage you to follow through on this act of obedience and public witness of Christ. (Acts 10:47-48, “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ...”) 
• You must be a member or have signified intent to become a member of Sowers for Christ Ministries (SCM) and abide by the doctrines and covenant. 

2. Musical or Technical Ability 

As a Worship Team instrumentalist or vocalist, you need to be skilled enough to follow a service which is “led by the Spirit of God.” We don’t want to limit what God will do simply because we can’t handle it musically. You must be comfortable being seen and heard as you contribute to leading worship. Consider the following basic abilities: 

Instrumentalists need to be able to: 

• Play well with others 
• Learn new material 
quickly 
• Demonstrate suitable 
ability on an instrument 
• Play from sheet music, chord, sheets or by ear 

Vocalist need to be able to: 

• Sing well with others 
• Learn new material quickly

• Demonstrate suitable range, blendability and accurate pitch

• Sing from sheet music, chord sheet or by ear 

3. Ongoing Guidelines for Worship Team Involvement 

This is a ministry where others look to our lives and behavior as examples. Everyone standing in front has a part in leading worship, and is therefore responsibly accountable for their actions in doing so. In addition to the qualifying characteristics mentioned above, consider the following guidelines for ongoing involvement with the Worship Team (1 Cor. 4:2, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”) 

The worship leader must demonstrate a leader quality. He / She must be set apart and must pursue excellence in their actions and obedience to church leadership as well as government policies. An ongoing violation of church policy or government policy or having an ongoing undesirable behavior prohibits a member to be a worship leader. 

a. Musical and Technical Excellence 

Recognize that God isn’t looking for perfection, but excellence. Our Worship Team will pursue God’s best through excellence in everything we do. We still strive to honor Him through a “whatever it takes” work ethic as in 1Cor. 9:24-27 “...Run in such a way as to get the prize...” 

We need to work at our music and technical abilities to become the very best we can be. (Col. 3:23-24 says, “Whatever we do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men...”). This can mean a great deal of individual practice as well as with the team. Keep in mind that the team will only be as proficient as the individuals that make it up. 

Additionally, you will not be able to participate in the Sunday praise and worship part if you cannot make the Saturday afternoon/evening practice unless arrangements have been made beforehand. 

b. Song Selection and Use of Vocalists/Instrumentalists 

The process of selecting songs is based on what will best support the Pastor’s/Speaker’s message and what will bring the greatest Worship experience, participation, interaction, and community. 

The Worship Leader can consult with the Pastor/Speaker and the Service Leader for the monthly theme or a topic for a specific Sunday service. 

In the event that the Worship Leader is not available on Sunday due to unavoidable circumstance/emergency case, one of the backup vocalist will readily fill in the gap. 

Schedules are as follows:
Saturday—afternoon/early evening practice Sunday—9:30-10:00am instrument and vocal sound check 

c. Additional Commitments: 

• Probationary period – There will be a minimum of a 4- week probationary period during which the individual will attend practice sessions but will not play or sing with the team on Sundays. Probationary period will be at the discretion of the Worship Head as to when the individual will begin singing or playing in the services. 
• Weekly practice sessions – All team members are required to attend the weekly practice sessions. Musicians and singers are required to be at church for practice and sound check early Sunday morning. 
• Other functions – The team will be expected to lead worship for seminars and other special retreats and meetings if needed. 
• Commitment to being spiritually prepared to minister – Our spiritual preparation has a direct effect on our effectiveness as a worship and music ministry team. We need to come ready not only to sing and play music but to worship the King and minister to His people. 
• Commitment to musical expertise – We need to work at our instrumental and/or vocal ability to become the very best we can be. This means a great deal of individual practice (maybe even lessons) as well as playing with the team. Keep in mind that the team will only be as musically proficient as the individuals that make it up. 
• Commitment to growing spiritually – This too is as important on an individual basis as it is with the team. As a leadership ministry, we need to be committed to maturing in Christ. 
• Commitment to “flowing” with the team – More than individual expertise, our musical goal needs to be the ability to “flow” with the team. We need to look at our team as not just a collection of separate musicians/vocalists but as a single unit with a single purpose. Our heart attitude should not be to shine forth our own technical/vocal skill but to use that skill to enhance the team as a whole.