Music Ministry
Fifth Street Baptist Church
Worship Team Ministry
Criteria and Guidelines
It’s about the Heart AND the Art!
Anyone interested in serving on the worship team at 5th Street Baptist will first be asked to read the criteria and guidelines below to understand clearly what is expected in this arena of ministry.
Criteria and Guidelines
Statement of Purpose: The worship team exists to edify and encourage the body of Christ within this church (1Cor 12:28). Our goal is to praise and worship God, not just in
services but with our lives so that ‘the words of our mouth and the meditations of our
heart’ are acceptable to the Lord (Ps 19:14). Within a service, the goal is to bring the
congregation into the presence of God (2Ch 7:1,2; 1Pet 2:5) and set the stage for the
preaching of the Word of God with the ultimate goal of changing lives into the image of
Christ (Rom 12:1,2; 2Cor 3:18). Music is a tool for achieving this purpose.
Worship Team Criteria
The following are a list of criteria indicating the preferred qualifications for a member of
the worship team in this church.
1. Committed member of this church - Music ministry is not the right of the talented
but the privilege of the committed and faithful. We do not use “hired guns”. We are open
to receiving special music on occasion from those outside the church but the regular,
ongoing, upfront nature of this ministry requires a strong commitment to the people and
leadership of this church.
2. Worshipper – This team is as much about the heart as it is the art. To qualify for the
worship team, one’s heart must be given to worship. Every member, musicians and
singers alike, must have a love not just for performance but for praise and adoration of
the Lord.
3. Spiritual maturity – Spiritual and emotional maturity are necessary for worship team
to function effectively. We’re all at different stages of the journey but members of
5th Street Baptist’s worship team are expected to be growing consistently in their walk with Christ and their capacity to function biblically as a team.
4. Musical expertise - The musicians and vocalists 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. - Note that the standard of musical proficiency required may vary as the church grows. An audition will provide the music ministry leadership with the opportunity to evaluate your level of musical expertise, and how it may be used as part of the music ministry here at Fifth Street Baptist Church.
5. Time commitment - Practice sessions, preparation before each service and ministry
are mandatory. In addition, there may be seminars, special retreats, and seasonal events- The worship ministry requires a fairly large time commitment.
6. Support of family - It is important that the individual’s immediate family members
are willing to accept the necessary time commitment and be a support to the individual.
7. Ability to flow with the team - Some people are very gifted musicians and/or
vocalists, but for one reason or another (vocal range, musical style, relational capacity,
etc.) they have trouble flowing with the team. These individuals are highly encouraged to share their musical gifts in other ways (small group worship, musical specials, etc) with the body. Musical proficiency does not automatically make someone a top candidate for the worship team. The Senior Pastor, in cooperation with the Worship Team Leader reserve the right to the final decision concerning entry into the worship ministry at this church.
Worship Team Guidelines
The 5th Street Baptist Worship Team is entirely a volunteer ministry.
This list explains the process of joining the ministry and what is expected of the people
once they are a part of the church worship ministry team.
1. Application Submitted Prior to Audition
2. Preliminary Interview completed on night of Audition
3. Audition (A spot may or may not be available for you currently on the team)
4. Probationary period –
If you are called back there will ordinarily (exceptions at the discretion of the Team Leader) be a two month probationary period during which the individual will attend practice sessions but will not play/sing with the team during services. The purpose of this directive is to ascertain who is genuinely interested in helping lead worship for the glory of God, and who wishes to be in the team for other reasons. In addition, this period allows time for the individual and the rest of the team to gel musically.
5. Weekly practice sessions - All team members are required to attend the weekly
practice sessions. Whenever team members are scheduled to minister at a service, they are required to be in attendance. There may be exceptions to this requirement on occasion when necessary but not habitually.
6. Other functions - The team will be expected to lead worship for special events at
5th Street Baptist, as well as any opportunities to minister around the community at outreach events (March for Jesus, Bayview Park festivals, etc.)
7. Commitment to being spiritually prepared to minister - Our spiritual preparation
has a direct effect on our effectiveness as a 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. The essential element in this ministry (or any other for that matter) is our relationship with the Lord. Without a consistent and growing relationship with the Lord, the worship team will not be effective regardless of musical proficiency!
8. 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.
9. 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
Jesus. Stagnant spiritual lives means a stagnant worship team. Encourage and challenge one another.
10. 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 and singers but as a single unit with a single purpose. Our heart attitude should not be to shine our own technical skill but to use that skill to enhance the team as a whole. Worship ministry is a team effort and requires humility in relationship and the ability to listen to and respond to one another in a Christ-like manner.
11. Dress standard - It is expected that members of the worship team will present
themselves at services in a manner both glorifying to God and acceptable to the human
eye considering that they are in an ‘up-front’ ministry. We need to stay away from
distracting dress and anything that draws attention away from our focus on the Father.
12. Punctuality – Bottom line, keeping the team waiting is rude. Accurate timekeeping
will assist the goals of the worship team. Team members who continually disregard
starting times for rehearsals or services can expect a grace filled conversation with the
Team leader. If it is not possible to make a rehearsal or service on time, please notify the Team Leader in advance.
5th Street Baptist Worship Team Application
Name: ________________________________________________________
E-mail Address: _________________________________________________
Phone Numbers
HOME: _____________ CELL: ______________
WORK:____________________
Have you ever served on a worship team before?
____Yes_____No
In what capacity?_________________________________________
Please place a check next to the items that apply to your gifts and
talent:
__ Sing Solo __ Lead Singer __Backup/Harmony __Chorus
__ Play Guitar __Electric Guitar __ Base Guitar
__Piano/Keyboard __Drums __ Other__________________
Please write briefly below the role you believe you could play in this
ministry and a snapshot of where you are currently in your walk with
Christ.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
I have read the Fifth Street Baptist Church Music Ministry Guidelines and understand their importance in providing music which is God-honoring and will provide the best opportunity possible for congregants to enter into worship.
________________________________________ ___________
signature date
Next Step:
Turn this application in to Dave Parker. An audition/ and interview will be scheduled in the near future.
Thank you for taking this first step in exploring the possibilities of
serving in 5th Street Baptist’s music ministry!
