miserable

[SOUNDENG]

Originally Posted by bgpa

Hey Guys,
I need some advice. Prob in swallowing my pride.
For majority of time from 2001 to now I operate sys myself bc we are not a church of a lot of volunteers. I now have a great asst. allowing me to introduce & play drums.
3 years ago we call a new pastor, who up to this point had been a youth pastor. He sets upon making some fundamental changes in our church more along a Rick Warren model. Cool, that's what pastor's do. About 6 mos. ago decision is made that we need a Music Minister. I am excited, we were really @ point of needing 1. Pastor, after apparently some searching, brings in a 21 year old guy from a small town outside Dallas. No music degree or formal training but he plays a mean guitar & can sing. Apparently has worked w/ some small churches in his area. Unique but still cool, church our size isn't going to attract "Chris Tomlin" if you know what I mean.
But this guy comes in swinging a bat Babe Ruth couldn't haul. Right away states he's going to move the speakers to either side of the stage "where they belong." They're in a center cluster advised by engineers bc we're a solid concrete rectangle. Either side of stage will put speakers roughly 8' away from solid walls. That's still to be done. Also he's going to have back walls carpeted. I won't go into that.
Tech/Media Dept. has been stripped of most of it's actual responsibilities. Sound levels are dictated & MM selects all the backgrounds & is now responsible for any new media. I tighten/correct lyrics & put together welcome loop, the grunt work. During service mics are turned off/on, sound "tweaked" & slides advanced. My asst. can handle all that in his sleep.
Now the media take over has only come about this Sunday & I'm in a state of adjusting.
Is it rue that; "all this is handled by MMs in every other church" as stated? Has anything similar happened to any of you? There's no desire to lose us bc it's only the "up front" areas that are taken over. The tedium still has to be done.
I suppose I'm just an old fgey (49) having too hard a time adjusting. I ask for any input. It may be that I just need to eat a huge helping of humble pie. My 1st inclination was; "OK, bye."

HI MISERABLE
Join the band, we all experience that change with a new MM. You have to maintain your job duties and work with his desire if possible. 1. do not relocate speakers. they are acoustically design for a purpose. 2. It is okay to isolate the back wall for the purpose of sound echo,reflection but with the right materials (AURALEX.COM).
3.) Does any changes he wants affect the outcome of the message and the church members if so then they should be reconsidered.

[bgpa]

Hey Mediaguy & others
(BTW- San Angelo is the original home of my family. Cauble's who came in off the ranch)
I've been here reading, praying & considering each post.
There was a meeting w/ myself, MoM & myself where I was allowed to air out some issues but conclusion was this is my new boss, get used to it. The 21 year old was ordained back in his small town church & is now Music and Family Pastor. Considering we have an excellent Youth Minister who graduated seminary & had experience, it's confusing. But I stray. The new MoM (or whatever) has taken over all the media. Song backgrounds etc... I do still get to do the welcome loop & select the countdown. I am in a small town anywhere I've been my church has been the core of my life. I'm still unhappy but only option is smile & go on. The 1 thing that has developed is the guy does have such an arrogant, pushy manner that he's not exactly winning a lot of personal friends. But I stray again.
The Tech position has NEVER been understood in my church. In booth we handle sound, lights, video, assisted listening, recording & duplication. But I'm still considered the "sound guy". Same remark pastor made in our meeting.
I'm still unsure how things are going to play out in the long run but for now I just do the best I can. You know.... "the sound guy".

[WORDpictures]

My heart sinks as I read your comments, Bill. I've met this guy before - he had some major impact upon the direction of my life. My pastor fully supported me though, yet it was still one of the most hurtful experiences of my life since it brought so much contention to the things that mattered most. How could someone with so much "arrogance, anger & attitude" be placed into a ministerial position!!??

(Pray - Memorize Philippians 4:8 - Remember who you are serving - and... pray for your MM)

--Teresa

[MediaGuy]

bgpa -

I've stomped around your parts, as well - used to live in Goliad.

Tech positions are often not highly valued - especially in small churches. The concept of it being a true and important ministry seems only to be grasped by the larger churches that can afford it. It's really shocking to me, too - It seems that the world we're trying to reach revolves around TVs and computers, but the church as a whole still wants to reach them with a lecture.

Be of good cheer - If the guy is truly as abrasive as it sounds, I highly doubt he'll be there long. He'll either be run off, or he'll leave for "another calling" (i.e. - a bigger church).

[shayward]

My heart sinks as I read your comments, Bill. I've met this guy before - he had some major impact upon the direction of my life.

I second that. Just be sure that your attitude and heart stay true in the midst of this.

How could someone with so much "arrogance, anger & attitude" be placed into a ministerial position!!??

I've seen that as well. God even had a reason for King Saul, but I dare say things didn't end well for King Saul.

Show me a person with a servant's heart and I will show you a leader.

Show me a leader's heart and I will show you someone that should be kept as far away from leadership as possible.

[waynehoskins]

Indeed, that doesn't sound good.

As I read more about the hot-shot arrogant and abrasive 21-year-old your church brought on, I have to wonder how anybody thought that wasn't a horrible idea. But it's possible he interviews well or has an impressive resume.

I wonder if taking him out to dinner would even do anything .. if he's as tough to get along with as it sounds, it might not.

Best of luck to you, and I'll continue to pray for you.