Re: [Worship] not changing written music

[Doug Cavin <dacavin@yahoo.com>]

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Earl.T.McCullough asked about how to respond to a
letter from a classically trained pianist that thought
contemporizing of hymns improper.

Her is my model for responding to other, especially in
contenious situations. I must admit that I am not the
author. I learned this from a business consultant. If
you learn this skill it will serve you well.

I think one of the best ways to approach this is model
the openness that we seek in others. Don't build up a
wall. Give her the same courtesy you would like if the
shoe wer on the other foot. I would tell her that you
would like to sit down with her and listen to more of
what she has to say. Tell her you'd like to see some
of her research and benefit from her training which
may be different than your own. 

When she arrives at the appointment, tell her that her
questions have sparked in you an interest to study
this question in more detail than you had previously.
Tell her you are not hear to speak but to listen. Tell
her that you are not even sure you have formulated any
response but that you are very willing to listen and
to learn. Let her lay out her case, ask her for her
references to study further. Ask her where she would
draw the lines. Is it OK to use organ accompaniemnt on
the 7 fold chant or "of the Father's Love Begotten"
even though it was originated in a time when
instumental music was not allowed in the church? Ask
her if she has other concerns? Keep it very open and
let her perhaps even get down to some of the
underlying issues. Make sure your questions seek more
to understand her positions and thoughts, the basis of
them and how to apply them. Don't ask anything hard or
critical at this meeting. Do not offer any counter
point or argument for her to re-evaluate her position.


When she is finished, Thank her for sharing with you,
tell her that she has given you alot to think about
and you would like to take some time to reflect upon
her insights before even responding. Tell her how much
you appreciated her voicing her concerns directly to
you. Do not brush her off. 

After you have had time to really reflect you can come
up with some answers that will speak directly to these
points. I think much of the advice you have recieved
here is very sound. And I'm sure after you hear her
out this sounding board will help you a great deal in
formulating a wise respose. You can come up with a
very reasoned response and though you may disagree on
some points, she will know that she has been respected
and she will know where you stand. You may even get to
deal with some of the real issues and not just this
one which is proablbly surface.

I would also add that if this person is a member of
your worship ministry that there may be some issues
you have to deal with. There have been a handful of
times in my ministry that I was forced to trade
someone with superior talent for someone who was
loayal to the vision and whose heart was in the right
place. I have never regreted these decisions. But I
would not do this because you disagree, only if she is
unwilling to respect and support (permission and
support are not the same, I am asking for more than
tolerance here) the direction you are taking and the
ministry and/or if she stirs up trouble behind your
back. I have also learned to work well with many
people when we did not agree about everything but we
could be supportive of the direction of the church and
its overall ministry and vision.

I will be praying for you. I have walk many miles in
the same brand of shoes you have.

Doug

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