Pastor as Overseer of Worship Music

Most people would typically understand and agree that one of the pastor’s main responsibilities is the weekly preaching and teaching from the pulpit. Further, most would agree that the pastor is the overseer of the doctrine that is taught in the church, although it is most likely within the bounds of the confession or doctrinal statements already laid out by the church.

Though preaching is likely focal point of the pastor’s ministry, let us not deduce the office of pastor (or elder) to his being merely a preacher. (Although the term “merely a preacher” may be a bit of an oxymoron. Preaching the mysteries of Christ as revealed in the written Word of God is no “mere” task). Read More

Even in Continuing Anglican and Episcopal churches in which the role of the pastor as overseer of worship music is clearly delineated by church canon and by Prayer Book rubric, some pastors may, for various reasons, neglect this responsibility to the detriment of the worship of the church. In Anglican worship the selection of music for the service often requires liturgical and pastoral judgments that only a individual trained in liturgics and pastoral ministry is equipped to make. Ideally an Anglican pastor should receive training in the area of worship music as well as in these two areas so he can also make informed musical judgments in collaboration with whoever is the music minister of the church.