Jason Hatley, Pastor of Worship Arts at The Journey Church in NYC with Nelson Searcy is our guest blogger this week:

Yesterday I began this guest-blogging series by talking the importance of the relationship between the Pastor and the Worship Pastor in planning life-transforming worship services.  In fact, I believe that it is the most important relationship in the church.

What I’ve found in my ministry and in the coaching and training of worship leaders around the country, is that there is an interesting paradox in this relationship.  Here’s the idea…

•    The most important relationship in the worship planning process is the Pastor / Worship Pastor relationship.

•    The greatest tension in the worship planning process tends to be in the Pastor / Worship Pastor relationship.

It stands to reason then that one of the major reasons why many churches struggle in designing relevant, creative, God-honoring, life-transforming worship services every week is the relationship (or lack there of) between the pastor and the worship pastor.

Most of the time, the problem is in the area or communication, though it may be any number of things.  Whatever the problem, an ineffective Pastor/ Worship Pastor relationship leads to:

•    Frustration
•    Poor worship services
•    Misplaced expectations
•    Lack of clarity about the vision
•    Damaged trust
•    Loss of friendship

Just to name a few.

So what are a Pastor and Worship Pastor to do?

That’s what tomorrow’s post will focus on.  But before then, I have some homework for you.

Take 5-10 minutes and write down on a sheet of paper the number of interactions that you have with your pastor or worship pastor every week.  What is the general point of your interactions?  Are there scheduled meetings to discuss worship planning?  If so, what do you bring to those meetings, and what does the other person bring?  What is working and what is not working in your worship planning process right now?

Answering and discussing these questions will help you understand your role in the process, and most importantly, how the other person sees their role as well.

Jason Hatley

PS:  Check out the Free Webinar I am doing for Worship Leaders on Thursday, October 30.  Learn how to overcome the Top 3 challenges that every worship leader faces in this 2-hour event, visit  www.WorshipLeaderInsights.com/events for more info.

While you are there, be sure to sign-up for my free monthly newsletter!

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About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.