Scot Longyear

In almost nine years of doing this, I’ve had only two (of over 300) people reaudition. The vast majority find other places to serve. Very few of them are willing to submit themselves to the discipline required to improve on those specific things.

This way, if they don’t reaudition, it’s by their own choice, and their (correct) impression is that our worship ministry is a loving place committed to making progress evident to all. ( 1 Tim. 4:151 Timothy 4:15
[15]Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so
that all may see your progress. (ESV)

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Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your heart to include people. We do want to include everyone we think will be able to serve musically in the church. But there are people who aren’t sufficiently gifted or lack the character to serve in that way.

But I think you’re missing the distinction between the church (which everyone who has trusted in Christ’s finished work on their behalf is part of), and other qualities that show where a person should serve in the church.

We don’t just allow anyone to preach God’s Word, because it takes skill, character, calling, and gifting. We don’t allow just anyone to administrate, because it takes skill, character, calling, and gifting. In like manner, we don’t allow just anyone to participate in leading the church in musical congregational worship. Some people are gifted to do it, others aren’t. There are many people who passionately want to serve in ways they aren’t gifted for. 1 Cor. 121 Corinthians 12
[12:1]Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not
want you to be uninformed. [2]You know that when you were
pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were
led. [3]Therefore I want you to understand that no one
speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is
accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the
Holy Spirit.
[4]Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same
Spirit; [5]and there are varieties of service, but the same
Lord; [6]and there are varieties of activities, but it is
the same God who empowers them all in everyone. [7]To each
is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common
good. [8]For to one is given through the Spirit the
utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of
knowledge according to the same Spirit, [9]to another faith
by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one
Spirit, [10]to another the working of miracles, to another
prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between
spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another
the interpretation of tongues. [11]All these are empowered
by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one
individually as he wills.
[12]For just as the body is one and has many members,
and all the members of the body, though many, are one body,
so it is with Christ. [13]For in one Spirit we were all
baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and
all were made to drink of one Spirit.
[14]For the body does not consist of one member but of
many. [15]If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand,
I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any
less a part of the body. [16]And if the ear should say,
"Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,"
that would not make it any less a part of the body. [17]If
the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of
hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the
sense of smell? [18]But as it is, God arranged the members
in the body, each one of them, as he chose. [19]If all were
a single member, where would the body be? [20]As it is,
there are many parts, yet one body.
[21]The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of
you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of
you." [22]On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem
to be weaker are indispensable, [23]and on those parts of
the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater
honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater
modesty, [24]which our more presentable parts do not
require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater
honor to the part that lacked it, [25]that there may be no
division in the body, but that the members may have the
same care for one another. [26]If one member suffers, all
suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice
together.
[27]Now you are the body of Christ and individually
members of it. [28]And God has appointed in the church
first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then
miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating,
and various kinds of tongues. [29]Are all apostles? Are all
prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? [30]Do
all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do
all interpret? [31]But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way. (ESV)

and Romans 12Romans 12
[12:1]I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the
mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living
sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your
spiritual worship. [2]Do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by
testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is
good and acceptable and perfect.
[3]For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among
you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to
think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to
the measure of faith that God has assigned. [4]For as in
one body we have many members, and the members do not all
have the same function, [5]so we, though many, are one body
in Christ, and individually members one of another.
[6]Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to
us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our
faith; [7]if service, in our serving; the one who teaches,
in his teaching; [8]the one who exhorts, in his
exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the
one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy,
with cheerfulness.
[9]Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to
what is good. [10]Love one another with brotherly
affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. [11]Do not
be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
[12]Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant
in prayer. [13]Contribute to the needs of the saints and
seek to show hospitality.
[14]Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not
curse them. [15]Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with
those who weep. [16]Live in harmony with one another. Do
not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise
in your own sight. [17]Repay no one evil for evil, but give
thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. [18]If
possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with
all. [19]Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to
the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I
will repay, says the Lord." [20]To the contrary, "if your
enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him
something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning
coals on his head." [21]Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good. (ESV)

both make it clear that we’re gifted in different ways and we should serve in the places God has given us faith for.

To guard against self-deception we need other people to confirm what we sense is our gifting and calling. That’s why we have “auditions.”

As for the apostles, I’m sure there were others who wanted to be part of the 12. But Jesus didn’t call them.

I’d welcome any more thoughts you have on this.

I just don’t ever want to be put in a position where I have to say “no, you can’t be on our worship team,” after someone goes through an audition and gives their all… And by saying no, you are saying their not enough. Scripturally, not sure how that flies.

And as for Jesus, he never held auditions. He just invited those he wanted into his fold. Imagine people auditioning to be one of the twelve apostles.

Thanks for asking about raising up new leaders.

We start by looking for guys who have godly character, are musically gifted, and are already serving in some leadership capacity, usually in a small group. In some cases someone has joined the church who had led in their previous church.

Each year we offer a Worship Leader Discipleship Group (invite only), which meets for about 13 Saturdays from September through May. The text for the class is Engaging with God by David Peterson. They read a chapter for each time we’re together and write up a page of response to it. During the actual class, one of the guys leads us in song for about 25 minutes, then we take time to evaluate everything - musicianship, content, skill, transitions, countenance, leadership. Those times of evaluation are probably the most effective thing we do to train guys. Everyone learns, especially the person who led. For the remainder of the time together, we discuss what Peterson covered in his chapter.

We then ask guys from that class to lead in various contexts. As often as we’re able we show up when they’re leading and give them feedback. We (Ken and I) also make ourselves available for questions or counsel to these guys. Some times guys will repeat the class one or two times. We never stop learning, do we?

I know there are other means of raising leaders up, but I’d suggest they always involve:

1. theological training
2. character evaluation and growth
3. musical evaluation and training
4. opportunities to lead
5. consistent feedback

Hope that’s helpful. Feel free to follow up.

It’s easy enough, when designing a form to filled out by potential team members, to include space for a short “salvation experience”. I have always then asked, “What, to you, is the importance of worship?” If you get an answer like, “I just love music, you know?” then maybe they aren’t quite ready.

Blessings