Over the past couple months at church we have been making the switch from one worship leader to another. The original one decided last summer that he was ready to give up the reins of leadership to someone else (but still be active with the band). After a seven month search the church finally hired a new worship leader.
I have had some issues with how it was all handled. I think my church’s administration is sorely lacking in certain areas (notably, how they hire people and their lack of communication about how they hire people). Because of this, I admit I have had a lot of animosity over the past 3-4 months since the new guy started sitting in. I won’t go into details here, but it culminated a few weeks ago when I walked into the Sunday morning service and spent the first 30 minutes trying to harness my raging, seething anger and only calmed down once the sermon began. So needless to say I didn’t enjoy church that morning.
I’ve been working on that anger, and have for the most part let it go. It took a while, but I got there eventually. A few weeks ago the announcement came that the church was going to have everyone audition to be a part of the band. Including current members of said band. Resentment crept in, and I couldn’t help but think that the new guy was behind it all. Alas, he wasn’t – all three campuses of our church are auditioning in what will become an annual process.
On Monday I signed up for a slot to audition for a keyboard position. And today I emailed the handler to let her know I was cancelling the appointment. I’ve decided not to re-up for the band. My heart isn’t in it anymore. I LOVED playing with the band up until about 4 months ago. Since that time I’ve only played 3 times (as opposed to every other week for the 12 months prior to that – and sometimes even several weeks in a row), and only one of those times was with the new guy. I’m playing this Sunday, and that’ll be it for me. I plan on telling the new leader tomorrow night at rehearsal that it’s my last time.
Since I signed up on Monday for the audition I’ve agonized over it. And it’s not that I think I’ll do badly – I’m a competent piano player and singer. I find nice harmonies and can handle just about anything that has been thrown at me thus far. But I think that God is leading me in another direction, and it doesn’t involve the main worship band anymore. I just don’t get EXCITED about the new phase of the band, and think it’s best that I leave.
So I’m no longer with the band. At least, not for the next 12 months.
Just hope God isn’t leading you into sleeping in late and maybe he’s pointing you in the direction of the kids ministry which really needs people. Give it a prayer.
*lol* Denis – I’m not doing childcare. You keep talking about it, and I have no interest.
FWIW, our worship leader requires audition to be part of the team and I think it’s a good idea. To have all audition now as part of the transition seems fair, too. That said, if they’re requiring a re-up audition once you’re already on the team then that makes no sense.
They are making everyone re-up – including those currently on the team. They are doing it under the guise of “this gives EVERYONE a chance to participate – including new people!” but I still find it slightly suspect.
But I don’t have to worry about it anymore since I won’t be with the band for the next 12 months!