Question: How many folks here are the leader of their Worship Team?

[Nub]

I know that 99% of the folks that frequent this section play on a WT, but I'm curious about how many here have the responsibility of picking & leading the team, choosing the songs, running rehearsals, keeping everybody focused & things running smoothly?

Also, how many folks in your WT ministry? And do you have fixed teams for each service, or do you rotate your people?

My team consists of:

Me- Lead singer, electric guitar, occasional acoustic guitar
2- Bass
1-drums
1- keyboard (sings, too)
3- acoustic guitars
4- singers
4- sound/av

Also, some of the musicians play play more than one instrument, so I can move them around to cover another spot, if needed. To fill in the occasional gaps, though, I really need another drummer, another singer or 2, and a couple more sound guys.

My usual Sunday morning team is:

Me-singer, electric guitar
2 singers
bass
drums
keyboard/singer
acoustic guitar
2 sound/computer

I don't have set teams, but do try to use most of my strongest people on Sunday mornings. I have new players/singers do Wed nights for a while, as its more intimate & less stressful. I try to rotate everybody, though, so that they all have time to relax & come to church with their families. Wed nights are more flexible, usually with a smaller team/less instruments.

[tjalla]

Our church has 7 services a weekend across 3 campuses with 10 teams. I think 250-300 people in the whole team including choir. Fixed teams for each service, each on a fortnight rotation. we are what you'd call a 'big' church (though not by some standards).

I've just recently take a rostered break from Worship Lead, Team Lead (aka MD) and sole elec guitarist on one of the teams, which I'd be in for ~4 years. A privilege, and quite a challenging one at that.

Now I'm reshuffled to another team on melody/tenor BVs and 2nd electric. A change is as good as a holiday, and its great shifting into 'support' mode, and my heads up attention priority is directed at the WL, TL other BVs and 1st guitarist.

Typical onstage lineup.
Drums
Bass
Keys
Acoustic gtr (sometimes 2 if the WL also plays)
2x elec gtr
Melody, alto & tenor BVs - usually 4 or 5 singers onstage.
FOH operator
FB operator (recently gone with in-ear monitors)

Most teams have an even spread of capable players so no one team is stronger than the next, though Sun AM services get the more experienced/senior WL and TL.

[SamClemons]

My daughter and I jointly lead the worship service every other week. I usually play bass, sometimes guitar, she plays guitar. We occasionally add a number of other instruments. I usually pick all the songs with input from my daughter and other folks.

We also play extensively at other larger events and I also do sound for events.

[74 Deluxe]

Hmm... Pastor picks the tunes and sings female lead. I own the PA and run the board, play rhythm guitar, and sing male lead. We have a drummer, a pianist, elec keyboards, bass player and another guitarist who plays some leads... We all play our own parts, and band practice is very democratic, open to discussion. I suppose I'm the unofficial leader, but the Pastor does pick the music, we all submit new songs to learn. We all read parts of the service at different times. Although I usually do the voluntary during communion, sometimes others play instead. When we play together outside of church, its just Crossfire, not my band or their band.
I understand "Worship Team" is the current term but it just sounds funny to me. In trying to be all inclusive, it seems to be exclusive of everyone else there in church singing with us and worshiping God. If you show up and bring your guitar or your tuba you'd be welcome to join in too.

[Nub]

Thanks for responding, guys... I always enjoy hearing what others are doing in their churches!

Tjalla: I'd call that a big church! I know what you mean about being in "support" mode; my last church home was big for our area (not as big as your church, though), and I mostly played electric & harmony vocals... it was nice to just be able to play my guitar & experiment with my pedals. Sometimes I miss it! My old church was 3 services x 1000+, and the current church is 2 services x 250... while I miss the roomy stage & fantastic sound system of the large church, I find that I really love the intimacy of the small one.

SamClemons: There are few things better in life than being able to play worship music with your kids! Over the past few years, my son has played guitar, bass, & sung with me, and I've always enjoyed it (sometimes more than he has! ). A couple of years ago, he picked up the drums, so he's now the drummer for our WT. I'm also blessed to have my wife play keyboards & sing on the team.

74 Deluxe: It sounds like you stay pretty busy in your church! I guess I use the term "worship team" because it's not just the band... it's also the sound guys and the computer & a/v folks. Sure, everybody in the congregation takes part, we don't exclude anybody (not even tuba players ), but the WT is considered a leadership role, with greater responsibility & accountability.

[Robbied_216]

I oversee the children's worship ministry at one of our campus'. The church is about 25,000 across all campus, and I have about 80 volunteers in my team. About 8 or so of these are key volunteers that make weekends happen. I'm not so hands on, and more "big picture" I guess some would say. I'm also one of the main MD's and guitarists in the team.

I love it. Been doing it as a volunteer for about 3 years now. :)

[hotraman]

I am fortunate to oversee the music at my church ( aka Worship/Facilities)
I oversee 5 bands for our two campuses.
Each band is responsible for development of their musicians ( musically and spiritually)
We meet to discuss and choose new songs to introduce ( I have the final approval)
I lead my band about 2x in a 5 week rotation and play pedal steel guitar in one of the other bands.