I am a college age student, and member of a church choir. The people in our choir all know how to sing parts, however, our organist is 93 years old, and has long surpassed her retirement time. It seems none of the younger adults and students want to sing in our choir, because of our director/organist, and our music program is slowly, but surely declining. What can I do to encourage the church elders to go to her and ask her to retire. Is it wrong to do that???? I am an organist myself, and she is so greedy with her position, that she never even lets me play for an occasional hymn. However, our congregation has the financial means to hire a professional organist, and only 2 years ago bought a brand new very nice digital/electric organ, and there is so much that it can do. Is it wrong for us to want this??? many of the other choir members/congregants feel the same way??? Has anyone else experienced a similar situation???
2007-03-21 02:08:35 · 5 answers · asked by mbmale21 1 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
We are not a rock and roll church, we use hymns and classical music, and i would love to take this position, however i mean our congregation has the financial means to hire a "REAL" professional. We have so much potential to keep alive the traditional music of the church and make it appealing to the younger generation and to worship the Lord. Its just a very sad situation
2007-03-21 02:42:57 · update #1
you need to compromise. you can't just kick out the old and bring in the new. you can lose a lot of the elderly church goers if you do that. everyone needs to sit down and talk things through. bring up all your concerns. how many services does your church have? maybe you can suggest to split the services. you can play at the services that the younger people will most likely attend and your elderly organist can play for the services that the older folks will most likely attend. it's not fair to just get rid of her. everyone needs to come to an agreement. don't go over her head because you don't want to hurt her feelings that's not right. the elders, the organist, you and anyone else who support you should all sit down and talk.
2007-03-21 02:34:33 · answer #1 · answered by lilpinay 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's not wrong to want some change in this situation. Granted, it can be a difficult dilemma to fix depending on how many contacts your current organist has. It's sad, but sometimes even church members can put themselves in cliques and ignore everyone else's needs.
What you need to bring to light to your elders is the fact that they might loose a vital part of their congregation - the college age/young adult group. Not to say that the elderly aren't welcomed! But, obviously, the music program is suffering and needs some long-overdue transformations.
Before you go and make your concerns known, please keep the matter in serious prayer. I can see that you would love to step up and take your organist's place, but it just might not be the right time. You need to let God direct you.
And God hates cliques. The church is supposed to be a united front. Who knows? Maybe until you bring it up, your elders wouldn't have noticed what a deficit in loosing the younger congregation/choir members would be. You could be the one to turn things around!
I really feel for you. I've been in churches like this myself and it's so sad! Especially for the unchurched looking in. Best of luck to you!
Cheers!! :)
2007-03-21 02:14:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know just how you feel. You should have the pastor talk to her about sharing the duties of playing that way she can enjoy the sermon and you get some time in on the organ. At my church the only time I get to play is when I'm asked to by the pastor due to complaints that they are tired of hearing the praise songs we have to suffer through each week. The older people want to hear me play as they enjoy hearing the king of instruments.
2007-03-23 07:20:16 · answer #3 · answered by pccay2002 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get up a partition with your choir members and congegants, take it to your Pastor or Minister and let him decide...(He is supposed to be confidential and tactful and you all rely on him to do whats best for his flock)...I am not religious but I do know my music and that new organ is going to waste..all its features should be used to keep it functioning properly...besides that, you should be keeping up with the times in music whether outside church or within it......good luck, I hope you get it sorted soon and keep up with your music....
2007-03-21 02:16:33 · answer #4 · answered by ozzy chik... 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its time to say bye, bye to her.......your church must be boring!
2007-03-21 02:15:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋