Yesterday there was a meeting to discuss the future of Higher Ground, the church band I used to play guitar and sing with years ago, and nowadays am an infrequently-called-upon sub. Recently the director of the group decided to simplify his life and better meet the demands of his day job by resigning from the band at the end of July. Also, the church has created a new position of worship coordinator, an overarching responsibility spanning all three (soon to be four) weekend services, including the musical elements.
These situations are uneasy ones for dedicated band members, some of whom are experiencing their third change in director. Each change in director brings changes in style as well. What level of musicianship, leadership, prayerfulness will result? How organized, how flexible, what type of music, how empowering? Worship coordinator Isaac Gaff is new to the church and while he had met several of the musicians, still had several unknowns in front of him as he began to lead the meeting.
From missteps in leadership of my own, I've come to a philosophy that new leaders ought to spend lots of time listening before proposing any personal ideas. Isaac made a good impression by starting the meeting with open-ended questions about the group's questions, and he received each one calm confidence. He made little reference to his own role beyond a humble vow to help us get through it, which by default would seem to have him becoming the new/interim director in August. He suggested another meeting in a month, encouraging the group to reflect on how often they'd like to play and how the band might be modeled to ensure health rather than burnout.
As an outsider yet a fan, it was a promising visit from someone who came across as far to the non-micromanagement end of the spectrum... my favorite place. And for all the nervousness of the members present, they were in good spirits by the end, which is a heartening place to see old friends.
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