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Pastor as Song Leader

Who should lead the congregation in its singing? a song leader? the choir? praise team? organist or pianist? In many of our churches, the people sing hymns without the leadership of any of these. In a time when it is increasingly difficult to find and hire capable musicians, the congregation is often left to sing its song on its own.

In many churches, the pastor serves as song leader. There may be a piano and pianist, or not; but having announced the hymn, the pastor, as principal worship leader and presider, also serves as de facto song leader. The truth is, however, that most clergy are not musicians. Their gifts and training are in other areas of worship. But after a pastor has announced the hymn to the people, they look to him or her for when to begin singing, how to sing, how loud, how fast, when to stop singing — even for an appropriate emotional response to the hymn.

Most clergy are not musicians. Most are not strong or gifted singers. Some have, by necessity, learned how to sing the words of hymns boldly as an encouragement to the congregation when there is no real song leader. In most cases, this is a good thing; but in some cases, the results can be at least counterproductive — and perhaps comical. My own pastor in Nashville has a pleasant voice. He clearly loves the hymns and knows many from memory. He relishes the act of hymn singing. His enthusiastic singing of hymns does much to communicate to the congregation that this is an important part of worship that they should participate in, even though our marvelous organist, 100-plus rank pipe organ, and 60-plus voice choir could carry on quite well without the congregation. At the other extreme, one must admire a pastor who, recognizing his or her own inability to sing well or carry a tune, nonetheless strikes out bravely as song leader, recognizing that without someone functioning strongly in that capacity, the people's singing and participation lag.

Some of us musicians — perhaps especially the choir directors and organists who don't usually function as a congregational song leader (as opposed to the mere player of the hymns) prompting and leading the people's singing from a lectern or other prominent position — can take a lesson from these brave pastors. They have recognized the need for a song leader; and some of us musicians, in our overeducated sophistication, may balk at the idea of standing in front of the people, engaging them in eye-to-eye and voice-to-ear contact, while giving some physical direction and encouragement for their singing. It's too low-church. For whatever reason, too many of us cherish our role as choir director or accompanist, but shun the role of congregational song leader and enabler. The longer I am involved in church music and worship, the more I believe that we must give a major amount of our time and effort to the people's song and that our choirs must incorporate in their service and witness to the church the idea that they also must lead and encourage the congregation's singing and worship.

John Wesley may have delighted in leading singing and preaching in his own meetings; but one hundred years later, evangelist Dwight L. Moody had Ira Sankey to serve as a song leader. Their evangelist-musician team model set the pattern to the present time, with Billy Sunday and Homer Rodeheaver, Billy Graham and Al Smith, and later Billy Graham and Cliff Barrows to follow.

I attended a recent large event of mostly pastors. It was held in a magnificent sanctuary with a large pipe organ and a well-trained organist playing for the service. The preacher for the morning was a prominent, well-known African American preacher from New York City. He had selected "He Leadeth Me" for the people to sing following his sermon, but the organist was doing a miserable job of accompanying. The tempo was frantic. The phrasing was unyieldingly the same, with no sensitivity at all to the nuances of the text. He was relishing his exploration of the full tonal capacity of the organ and demonstrating his own improvisational abilities. Before the final stanza, the preacher had had enough. He returned to the pulpit and microphone and commanded the people's attention (and eventually that of the organist, as well). He became the song leader, directing with physical motions and vocal example. There was a sense of relief and satisfaction on the part of the people that, at least on that final stanza, they were able to sing the hymn as it should be sung.

We give major attention to directing vocal choirs, orchestras, handbell groups, and ensembles of all sizes. We know that these choirs, despite the fact that they probably receive regular training and rehearsals, need the guidance, encouragement, and direction of a leader. Why would we assume any the less for the most important choir in worship — the congregation? God bless and enable those pastors who have already recognized this and encourage their people's song week after week. Church musicians: hear the call!

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