Leading Hymns: Who's in Charge?

The phone call was not unique. It had come numerous times before in several forms. The caller requests help and answers in resolving a conflict about who has the responsibility for leading congregational singing in the local church -- who's in charge?

Sometimes the conflict is over hymn selection, sometimes tempo or volume, organ or piano or band, accompanist or song leader, microphone or not, hymnals or screen or bulletin, changed or original words . . . the possibilities for conflict are many. This particular call was over a disagreement between the organist and a newly-hired music director who had been told during the interview process that the church wanted a physical song leader to direct the hymns from the lectern. It seems that the organist, a more-than-capable musician, has always made the decisions about tempo, volume, key, cut-offs, entrances, registration, and interpretation, leading all aspects of congregational singing from the organ. He was now having to contend with a song leader with instructions to lead the hymns, and he wanted to know if there was any official position or recommendation of the church on such matters.

The simple answer is that there is no position. There is no instruction or guidance in our Book of Discipline or any official document. Everyone has an opinion and an argument to back it up, but this is a decision left entirely and appropriately to the local church. Paragraph 340.2.a)(1) of the 2008 Book of Discipline gives the following responsibility and duty to the pastor: "To preach the Word of God, lead in worship, read and teach the Scriptures, and engage the people in study and witness." While that provision clearly places worship responsibility broadly with the pastor, it says nothing specifically about song leading.

When the accompanist, director, song leader, and church officials are in conflict over this issue, what should be done? Here's my advice in recommended order:

1. Accompanist and song leader together discuss the problem and seek compromise or resolution.
2. Engage the conflicting parties with the pastor for discussion, compromise, or resolution.
3. Meet separately and/or together with a related church body (Staff-Parish Relations Committee, Worship Committee) for discussion, compromise, or resolution.

Here's what should NOT happen:

1. Do nothing. Let the conflict continue without discussion or resolution.
2. Conflicting parties privately make their case to the choir or church members and recruit support.
3. Allow the conflict to affect congregational singing. This can only result in diminished singing.

Since there is no official position of the church in this particular matter, I'll give my personal opinion, one that has no more or less validity than anyone else's. If the music director was given instructions to physically lead congregational singing, then the accompanist needs to submit to that decision until it is changed. If the accompanist cannot or will not submit, then he or she should resign or be terminated. The pastor must take the leading role, with the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, to resolve the conflict.