Released from Contract (i.e. Fired from the Worship Team).

[GuitarGuy43113]

We had a thread not too long ago that was started by a fellow TDPRI member who was replaced on his worship team by another musician. The situation is always a bummer, but is an unfortunate part of life as a musician. Usually, these situations can teach us something about being a better person/christian/musician.

Well yesterday was my turn, I received a call from my (now former) worship leader that he had a new guitarist lined up to take over my spot on the team and that I needed to hand over my keys and ID by close of business this Wednesday. This was totally out of the blue and unexpected. This past Sunday was an excellent service and no one in the band said anything to make me think there was a problem (although they must have played with the new guy during an audition at some point and knew he would be replacing me soon). To say I was shocked is an understatement.

When I prompted for a reason the WL assured me the only reason was the new guy is just a little better muscian and can "play faster than you". The new guy also has a degree in music performance (I do not) and the church leadership just felt he would be a good upgrade to the team. The WL made a point to say I had done nothing wrong and was very helpful during my tenure and that I was very appreciated, but no longer needed.

After I recovered from the initial shock, I wished the WL all the best, said the keys and ID are in the mail, hung up and told my wife what happened. This was a second job for me, entailing 15+ hours per week with a small but helpful salary. I had also assumed a few other duties with the worship department to help out wherever I could.

Word got around and by yesterday evening I already had two emails from friends who attend another church wanting me to talk to their WL (see my other thread for that fiasco). I love playing for churches (and ultimately a higher authority) and I will recover and find a new place to serve, although I think my next position will not be paid as that brings its own problems (at least for me).

So I wanted to post for everyone to see that it can happen to anyone in the hopes it won't sting as much for the next person who comes here and posts on TDPRI because they were just replaced in their own band.

 

[Special Tom]

Sorry to hear this but know with God's help you will rebound. So far I've never been in that situation, partly because I want to retire from playing but there is no one who will step up and commit. Our church has about 1000 members and at least 600 come every Sunday. You would think someone would make an effort.

 

[rhoydotp]

GuitarGuy43113, I can empathize with you in some way. While I was not officially released, a change in vision/leadership has put the use of guitars to very minimal use. I felt that we are just being put in the scheduled rotation to keep us "in the loop" since the songs we are playing are not something you would need a guitar to be in. I have personally asked to be removed from the list of guitar players just to make it easier for both parties.

As for what happened to you, I find that that it contradicts what is being thought from the pulpit regarding servitude and using your gifts for the church. But that is just me, maybe still being bitter about it

 

[mrboson]

Sorry man. This is wrong on so many levels. Churches do have the right to let someone go "at will." But I can think of no reason why performance ability and skill level alone are valid reasons to "upgrade" a position in the Church. Maybe that is how it works on a TV show's live band or in the studio with session players. But a praise and worship band? Sure skill level is an important factor, but it should not even be the most important factor.

What the heck was the WL thinking? What message does that send to the remaining members? This is the WL saying to his team, "You are all expendable. You can be (and will be) replaced the moment I find someone better than you, or who fits my image of the worship band."

Good luck, and I am sure you will land somewhere better.

 

[CapnCrunch]

Every time, without exception, that I've seen, or heard of, these types of actions being taken by leaders in a church, it is an indicator of serious maturity, and/or sin, issues within the leadership. "You will know them by their fruit". Test the fruit, and you cannot be deceived. When leaders cast people off without regard for their effort, without regard for their service, and most importantly without regard for their HEART, it is a sign.

It's a sign of a leadership that is walking in their flesh and not by the Spirit. Even if the OP was living in the midst of sin, this is not the way it should be addressed. If God called him to this ministry, then the leadership should not lightly dismiss him. Again, it comes down to where they are walking, in the flesh, or in the spirit. The fruit will tell you. Actions which destroy fellowship are never of the spirit. Sometimes leaders have to make tough decisions, and have to confront people, maybe even remove them from a ministry or fellowship, but in these cases the person has already destroyed fellowship and the goal of the leaders should always be to restore fellowship by application of discipline. A leader walking in the spirit will never remove someone, and thereby injure fellowship, for the fleshly reason of making the band a little more technically proficient.

 

[studio]

Every time, without exception, that I've seen, or heard of, these types of actions being taken by leaders in a church, it is an indicator of serious maturity, and/or sin, issues within the leadership. "You will know them by their fruit". Test the fruit, and you cannot be deceived. When leaders cast people off without regard for their effort, without regard for their service, and most importantly without regard for their HEART, it is a sign.

It's a sign of a leadership that is walking in their flesh and not by the Spirit. Even if the OP was living in the midst of sin, this is not the way it should be addressed. If God called him to this ministry, then the leadership should not lightly dismiss him. Again, it comes down to where they are walking, in the flesh, or in the spirit. The fruit will tell you. Actions which destroy fellowship are never of the spirit. Sometimes leaders have to make tough decisions, and have to confront people, maybe even remove them from a ministry or fellowship, but in these cases the person has already destroyed fellowship and the goal of the leaders should always be to restore fellowship by application of discipline. A leader walking in the spirit will never remove someone, and thereby injure fellowship, for the fleshly reason of making the band a little more technically proficient.

Yup.

That not only hold true with worship bands, but in all
areas of musicianship. Secular bands have the same issues
and leaders are defined not by their degrees hanging on the wall
but by how willing people are going to follow them.

I held a band together for 15 years!
Probably 5 to 7 years longer than it should.

So yeah, keeping fellowship above technical
skill is important. even if you were the worst
guitarist ever, I would dress you up like Santana
and have you sustain one note on que, point
your index finger in the air and turn you into
a sanctuary icon!

See how easy that was?

Have some fun with music and trust me, I've
had some sour feelings about bands lately,
but God is my provider and sustainer so,
I just betcha something is just around the corner.

For me and you!

 

[985plowboy]

Bad deal. I guess since you were paid, they looked at it only as a business decision.
I wouldn't want to be in a place like that anyway.
For now, volunteer at a church where your time and talents will be appreciated. Volunteers aren't asked to put in 15+ hrs./week.
Pick up a part time job elsewhere to make up the ends until the right position comes available.

 

[bawdyli'lmonkey]

so not cool! It kinda goes along with an entry I'm working on for my blog.

Play faster? like shred, or acclimate to key changes and sight transposing type stuff? sounds ridiculous.

In a perfect world (my definition of perfect) there would be a church equivalent of better business bureau and restaurant health inspector that would alert us to which churches to avoid due this kind of Wall Street-meets-Hollywood leadership.

I bet you're salt and pepper while new guy is a firey red head, an the youngin's love spicy instead of well seasoned.

 

[CapnCrunch]

Guitar Guy,

Did you only play as a paid musician, or did you and your family attend this church as your home church as well?

Either way, just telling you "you're no longer needed on the team", after they had hired someone new, is a punk move. The WL was probably tasked with overseeing the transition, and was too scared of conflict to come and communicate with you early.

If you are also an attender of this church, then that is even worse, because it clearly shows that the leadership is not concerned with fellowship, which is one of their most important functions.

 

[GuitarGuy43113]

Play faster? like shred, ....

Exactly, we were already covering numerous Lincoln Brewster tunes and I was easily covering the parts without issue. But anything faster than Lincoln is beyond my current abilities.

But honestly, faster than Lincoln is getting into Yngwie Malmsteen territory, and were I able to pull that kind of speed on demand, I wouldn't be a part time musician.

I never practiced "faster" than Lincoln's material because I never saw the need for it in a worship setting.

 

[GuitarGuy43113]

Guitar Guy,

Did you only play as a paid musician, or did you and your family attend this church as your home church as well?

Both.

Back Story: I used to play at the church I grew up in (I am early 30's now). The band was a bunch of old timers who had been playing at this church for 20+ years, and me. I learned a lot, it was an all volunteer situation, and as a band member I saw the church grow from 350 to 800+ over the six years I was a musician.

About two years ago there was a leadership change and the new worship leader decided to go with a younger image (he himself was a younger guy). So he recruited a bunch of college aged musicians and removed all of the older volunteers from the band, including myself. The focus of the band became about cutting the next album and getting recognition from the big names "in the business".

The quality of the worship went south, the new band wasn't as tight as the old band, it was painful to watch from the congregation, the new guitar player was actually not as good as I was and he was now getting paid to stand up there and look cool (he always had a cool fedora to match his guitar strap for the week), feelings were hurt, in the end my wife and I decided that was no longer the church for us.

A few weeks later I got a call from my most recent church (the one that just fired me). They had no electric guitarists and needed one. Additionally, they were still trying to figure out how to make a band work together and had a few growing pains and they thought I might be a good fit with my previous experience. So I was brought in as a hired musician and band leader. Turns out the musicians they had were excellent, they just didn't know how to work together,but our skill levels were roughly the same so I found it easy to work with them.

Since my wife and I were looking for a new home, we just assimilated into the new church family. The two denominations were very similar and the beleifs/doctrine were practically the same, so it was a non issue.

Ironically, we are looking again.

I just realized, Slash was fired from every band he ever played in, so I am like the Slash of christian music, I have been fired by every church I have played at.

 

[bawdyli'lmonkey]

I just realized, Slash was fired from every band he ever played in, so I am like the Slash of christian music, I have been fired by every church I have played at.

HAHA! me too... but that's only one, so not as impressive.

 

[henram36]

I feel bad for your situation man. There is most certainly something better waiting for you out there. Your attitude and heart are most commendable. I'm sure you'll land in a great situation.

 

[mikeiscool42]

Very sorry to hear of your situation, but as many others have said God has a plan for all of us and I'm sure you'll find another praise band to join.

 

[fabricator]

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I've noticed a certain pragmatism that seems to be prevalent in a lot of churches these days, where the focus is the end result (usually growing the size of their congregation) and a lot of unnecessary attention is put into image (not godly image, I'm referring to a "cool" image).

When the leadership of a church starts running it like a business, or when they start focusing on image rather than character, they've lost focus on their mission (and their calling).

Keep looking, there are still many wonderful churches out there (who can use good musicians) and remember that God is in control of your situation. Maybe He's using this situation to grow your character? Every time I've gone through a rough patch like that, there was always something better waiting on the other side.

 

[JohnnyDev]

I never practiced "faster" than Lincoln's material because I never saw the need for it in a worship setting.

Exactly - there is no compulsory need for it. The extent to which the music team is able to serve members of a congregation in their worship should have nothing to do with the speed of a guitar player.

 

[studio]

Exactly - there is no compulsory need for it. The extent to which the music team is able to serve members of a congregation in their worship should have nothing to do with the speed of a guitar player.

The above statement is wisdom.

Has it come to your attention that God
could use you more effectively by sitting
your butt down in an empty pew (or seat)
and use you more readily that way?

maybe it's not about you or your playing,
but the hotshot guitarist and the WL might
think it is.

God does not make stupid moves. He sees you
playing guitar. He sees your concern and your
projected loneliness not being able to perform.

Can you imagine a preacher without a pulpit?
How does God remedy that?

It's like Hendrix without a loud amp.

Somebody mentioned Malmsteen?
I laughed with my inner voice!

Maybe it's time to have a little more fun time with
your wife? I would. Sunday morns and rehearsal nights.
Do some things as a team together.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Faster than Lincoln Brewster?

<shudder>

I write my own solos to fill in those spots.

As fun as solos are, they're places in the music where the congregation isn't singing. One of my leaders cut out all the solos. I'd do little color between phrases for fun.

Faster than Lincoln Brewster? Really?

 

[babalooga]

Tomorrow I turn 62 and I keep waiting for the WL to cut me loose. I keep getting the impression he would like to get some one much younger and hip looking than a dumpy old man like me. Problem is, every time we get some young guy or girl started they drop out after a short while for one reason or another. I think when the youngsters realize it takes a lot of time and sacrifice, they lose interest. OP, I feel bad for you man. Just remember, when one door closes another one opens, I'm sure God has something planned for you.

 

[Wound3rd]

GuitarGuy, I feel ya. I guess sometimes I just don't understand churches. I played drums for many years in the orchestra at my last church, 8000 members. (Previous to that for about 10 years when there were no musical opportunities I taught pre-school Sunday School. toddlers, diapers, etc.) I was expected to rotate with possibly the worst drummer I have ever heard. Every other week he got to play. At Christmas, Easter, July 4th, etc. we did mega-productions and I would literally alternate songs with him. I went back to school to get my master's for 3 years so I had to step down. When I was available again, they never allowed me to rotate with the new whiz kid they brought in. Now, if he wanted to lay out 7 out of 10 weeks, fine I could "fill in" but no "rotation" as I had been forced to live with. He was "the" drummer whenever he wanted to be.

We moved on to another church for the last 4 years where I played guitar in the contemporary service every Sunday. I worked my vacations around it. I was the only one who came prepared, no music stand, hours of solo practice. Around Easter this year the WL felt compelled to tell me the young guy playing in the 2 blended services wanted to play "more." Okay he's doing 2, I'm doing 1.....where does the "more" come from? (Back story, GF left him and he is throwing himself into music. Previous to that, very unreliable. 1 year removed from college.) Then the WL felt compelled to tell me "if only we didn't have the same people up here every week, people in the congregation would come forward to join the team." So I'm left feeling like I'm just majorly in everybody's way at this point. They did a schedule for May and while I was on it every week, everyone else got shifted around to accommodate new guy. We had a rather seamless, well-oiled group that was going to turn into the "whosoever will may play" band. The WL. a monster guitarist, was reduced to acoustic or standing there with a mic. We had a fine acoustic player who also wanted to play more that was forced to sit out in order to move everyone else around. I had at first said I would go to every other week and free-lance on the off weeks. Understand, this is my only musical outlet and what I consider my ministry. I'm 56 and nearing the end of my playing days so I want to make hay while the sun shines so to speak. (I should add that my wife was serving every week on the tech team and she was also unceremoniously bumped to every other week for a new person. This was something we did together and she was very hurt by that.) After seeing that schedule I decided to just step aside and take some time off. I wasn't going to get into a fight over playing in the band. It made me feel horrible that in order for me to play someone else wasn't getting to do what he wanted to do. That was all I had intended, just take some time off and maybe free-lance some. Within 3 weeks I was playing regularly at a smaller church whose guitarist, almost at that very moment, had a sort of breakdown and needed to quit. Coincidence? The pastor is an old friend (and he is also the drummer) and I had played there previously. We fell right in together and it has been great ever since. Very likely we will move our membership there. Much more laid-back and my wife and I get to sit together for the service and go to a complete Sunday School class together instead of me always having to leave early. After all this time away, I've had about 1 obligatory e-mail from our Sunday School teacher and 1 Facebook message saying "we miss your playing." That's it. Not a word from the team, the WL, just nothing. So again, I don't understand. I didn't "quit." There was no rancor. I just said I'm taking some time off now after 4 years since you have someone else to fill the role now.

I'm very self-critical but in listening to our DVD's....well, darn it, it sounded really good. The new guy is a good guitarist but I was too. He was playing 2 services, I was doing 1. I don't understand the need for churches to constantly want to bring new people in without seeming to care about the ones that have been there all along. I have no problem saying "Thanks for your willingness to play. We have someone in that position right now who is doing very well and wants to be there. Would you please consider continuing with the other 2 services for now, filling in when our regular guy is out and sooner rather than later, he will probably step down and then you can have it. Or if you really want to serve do as he did....we have openings for pre-school teachers." But they are afraid they'll lose some new person at the expense of an older person. (Except in my drumming gig of course. They asked me to play and told me the other guy had to go. Then they never asked him to step down and I just went along with it.) And those people just waiting in the congregation to come forward and join the team? They haven't materialized. I wouldn't ask anyone to do any differently than I have done. Ask if there are any openings. If yes, great. If not, find other opportunities to serve. Wait for your time to come. I waited 40 years to play guitar in a contemporary service. Talk about wandering in the wilderness.....sheesh. And for goodness' sake, don't try to barge in and take someone else's gig. I don't think it was very respectful for a young guy to basically come in and ask to take my place. When you are invited to a feast, don't come in and sit at the head of the table. You may be asked to go sit at the end. Come in and sit at the end first and you may later be asked to come sit at the head. I've read that somewhere.........