The Offices of Worship (Part 3 of 3)

We have defined and discussed worship musicians and worship singers in the first two segments. In this third part, we will be looking at the role of worship pastor, and how it ties into the worship department. Worship pastor is an often-used term, but what exactly does it mean? I’ve been a worship pastor for a number of years now, and I must confess – even I’m not sure all of the time. Today, however, I’ll try to give you the best definition I can.

The Worship Pastor

A worship pastor is one who leads in worship or song, and also, to some extent, helps pastor those he or she leads.

Ok, it sounds simple, right? But sometimes we miss it at the foundation level. The bible refers to the position or office of pastor as someone who cares for the church in the same manner a shepherd cares for his flock. To tend, feed (in a teaching sense of the word), oversee, etc. A worship pastor not only leads in worship (he may write and sing and many other things that worship leaders and worship musicians often do), but he does so with the flock or congregation in mind. There are many practical illustrations of this. For example, a worship pastor is careful not to lead several new songs in a single service. A worship pastor recognizes that when the congregation is not familiar with a song it is difficult for them to concentrate on the actual act of worship. Of course at the same time the worship pastor should balance challenging the congregation and use fresh music as a vehicle to usher in an atmosphere of worship. Another example is key choice. Of course we all want to sound good! And we most certainly should do everything to the level of highest excellence possible! But when it comes to choose a key, a worship pastor thinks about the musical ability of the congregation. In other words, a Worship Pastor does things in a way the congregation can receive – a way that is comfortable enough for them to enter in without feeling inferior. We must take into account that we are leading. We must make the worship service relevant if we hope to lead the people we pastor to experience God in a real way.

Understanding the Task

The task of a worship pastor is quite often the unknown or nebulous part of the definition. Ask most worship pastors what their job requirements are, and you’ll get a laundry list of responsibilities. I’ve had responsibilities from cleaning toilets to handling electrical problems to installing the office computer network; but, as a worship pastor I learned (I’d like to say I always knew, but I learned it over the course of years) servant hood is the basis for everything in the Kingdom of God! If I cannot worship God with a toilet brush and a screwdriver on Thursday, can I effectively worship him with a microphone and a piano on Sunday?

The primary responsibility of a worship pastor is to help usher people into the presence of God. Notice I said help, because you can’t take someone where they don’t want to go. Too often we get too much credit when God moves in a service and too much blame when He doesn’t. The truth of the matter is this. The task of the worship pastor is to plan as if everything depended on us, and pray as if it all depended on God. When we begin to understand the enormous privilege we have to be entrusted with leading a congregation week after week into God’s presence, and (hopefully) seeing them grow, we can begin to grow into our role as worship pastors.

The Challenge

Ok, so what is the bottom line in all of this? As a leader, it is our responsibility to know the congregation which we lead. We must understand the makeup of the congregation in order to lead them. Anyone with musical giftings can lead singing; some who are skilled in leading can lead in worship; however, only those who have the heart of a shepherd can pastor in worship. As worship pastors we can do no less than lead, nurture, and feed those with whom we are entrusted.