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Thoughts on being Paid for playing Praise Music?

Paid to play in your Christian Praise and Worship Band + more rehearsals

  • Yes: All for it, even the Levites were paid

    Votes: 60 59.4%

  • No: It's our "gift" to the church community

    Votes: 21 20.8%

  • Other

    Votes: 20 19.8%
  • Total voters
    101
#21
I have been playing for my church for over 3 years now and the musicians have always been payed for their services. In fact we all just received raises for 2008 as well as a year end bonus for 2007 (first time thats happened). Playing is my way of praising but it takes a lot of effort and time as a musician to play well and that shows every Sunday. 2 or 3 times a year our MD (keyboardist) is out for vacation or illnes and if we don't get a replacement on keys (we) the musicians more than likely wont play. The choir /praise team still sings accapella but the energy of that service sinks like a stone proving how vital our "music" ministry really is. So, why not accept payment? However, I WILL start giving back 10% as an offering.
 
#23
Personally I wouldn't take money for what I do.
Cycle 2 miles to church with my bass in a bag on my back. Practice for an hour then praise my God for 1.5 hours after that & cycle home (family come by car when service starts). I use the church's rig. They also have a bass but its not fretless :crying:
If I should be paid, then so should the stewards who put the chairs out, the poeple that make the refreshemnts and the guy that tends the grounds etc. and the other 400+ people that do far more than I do.

But that's me and its not a huge investment of time etc. However, if it was taking up a large chunk of my time, I would hope to be paid as it would then be part of my working week, like the pastor or youth leader.
Russell

No cool sig.
 
#24
I just recenty joined a worship band and I don't know whether or not we are being paid (I expect not). But this is for MY church, where I worship and serve as a congregational council member and a Sunday School teacher. It is a small but vibrant urban church, which struggles with it's budget and only meets it by God's grace. I don't expect payment at my home church and freely give my time and talent. However, I played for the Choir for thier special Christmas service and was surprised and grateful to be paid.

If I was approached to play in another church or answered and ad seeking musicians for worship band pay would be part of the discussion. Then I am providing a service and compensation should be discussed. Not that I would expect anyone to break the bank for me, but something for the effort would be expected.

Also, to the person above who says the only person in a church who should be paid is the pastor, I have to disagree. I do agree that "Corporate Church" feel can be a turnoff but you can't expect everything to be done by volunteers. As I said I go to a small church with a small budget, but we pay a Christian Education director, an Organist, a Choir Director, a Secretary a Janitor and so on. Of course these are all part time, and I'm sure none of them are getting rich - but expecting these vital tasks to be taken care of without pay would be very difficult.
 
#25
I used to play at a couple mega churches in Atlanta. My thoughts are this: The preacher gets paid, right? Yes, it's a lot of work, effort etc, etc. I don't expect the money he gets. But I feed my family with music, it's how I live.

Yes, I expect to get paid.
 
#26
I have played at church for a few years now. We don't get paid. If they gave me a stippend of some sort, I would accept it, but it doesn't really bother me that we aren't paid as many "professionals" give of their services to the church.

On the other hand, I do understand the argument that there are bills to be paid and that churches don't expect everything to be free just because it's church.
 
#27
I've done the P&W thing for about 8 plus years now, more on than off. I accepted one small check in that time. I think its completely acceptable, but it has never figured into wether or not I play or my effort.
 
#28
manicbassman said:
technically not so... as income, you would have to declare it and pay tax on it... would you be able to claim that tax back when you donate it to the Church?
Click to expand...

Yes, gifts to charity are deductible AFAIK. I personally do not give to charity, so I am unable to deduct anything.

I had an additional thought / question on this topic. Several responses have mentioned "mega church". As I understand this, this is a church with a VERY large congregation. I expect there is a VERY large income from such a church. Are you completely aware of how the income is being spent? Is it accumulating interest for the church somewhere? You provide a service, you should expect a payment.
 
#29
If I was a professional musician I would look to get paid. I have a day job so volenteering is just fine with me. Like other church service groups all three of our choirs (childrens, adult and contemporaty) are made up of volenteers. Only a few have actual positions with the church and get paid.
 
#30
Chebass88 said:
Yes, gifts to charity are deductible AFAIK. I personally do not give to charity, so I am unable to deduct anything.

I had an additional thought / question on this topic. Several responses have mentioned "mega church". As I understand this, this is a church with a VERY large congregation. I expect there is a VERY large income from such a church. Are you completely aware of how the income is being spent? Is it accumulating interest for the church somewhere? You provide a service, you should expect a payment.
Click to expand...

If you know it is a volenteer position going in you can decline as you wish. We know where the money in our church goes and very little is kept in the church bank account. It goes to upkeep the grounds, saleries and out to ministries like food banks, clothing, homeless shelters etc.

Churches are made of lots of service groups that are all volenteer. If you are only looking for paythen you need to get a job.
 
#31
one thing I think that needs to be mentioned, is that some people (and I am not referring to anyone here) think that they are owed something for playing in their church, when I look at it the other way around. This is not my talent or gift...it is God's talent that has has given me and that I am a steward of. I am responsible for how I use it, and for me to say "God, thank you for this gift, and now I must be payed if you want me use it for you" just doesn't make sense in my home church. Please don't think I am saying everyone needs to play for free...lol...and for those of you who make a living at music as I use to do, it is also your responsibility to provide and earn as your profession. What I am referring to is to ones act of giving and service in their own home church.
 
#32
I get paid to not pay. We all have the donation plate that gets passed around... you know what I am talking about.

I take care of all the adjustments (feedback, mic mixing, instrument mixing, equipment changes, fixing broken things and stuff like that. I am also actively involved in designing the new PA I will be installing. (our church seats 700) I play at both masses, most other activities that we have. My measly monitory donation means nothing in comparison to the services I render. I play and service their systems for free and also chose not to give to the collection plate.

The world balances out and I get free church :smug: I see no problems with what I am doing.

(Also I get to play for about 6 hours a week with acoustic piano:eek:) I love my "job."
 
#34
After reading all the posts here I'm under the impression that all the various Protestant denominations out there are rolling in dough, especially all you Megachurchers out there. I'm the bass player in our local Roman Catholic parish folk group, and I can assure you that, with our financial difficulties, we would never get paid. But it's never been a consideration of mine or of my bandmates, like everyone else in our Parish we happily volunteer our time and energies to doing The Lord's Work, such as teaching CCD, the Food Pantries, ministering to the sick, the church Bazaar in the summer, etc. Our biggest problem right now is that our building is over 100 years old, we had a new roof and gutter system installed last summer at over $100K, and there's plans for major renovations in the coming years costing over $1M. And we're losing parishioners all the time. And my understanding is that it's a problem facing many Catholic parishes everywhere. But we pray a lot for our Parish, we have great faith in God that He will look after us.

So, with that, I play for free, I play for God and my bandmates, I play to inspire people, and I'm loving it!:D
 
#36
I said no, but only because it is my personal preferance. I have nothing against guys being paid to play for church/worship but personally I would choose to play for free. I know of churches who pay their musicians well and because of it maintain a great worship service with great music quality, and I think thats great.
 
#37
Our worship band is all-volunteer, except for our leader, who is a part-time employee in charge of not just leading worship sundays and leading rehearsal on wednesdays, but also in charge of planning, vision, and direction of our contemporary service and musical ministries.

Our choir does have several "section leaders" who are paid for services and rehearsals, but the vast majority are unpaid volunteers.

Personally, my involvement in the band, choir, and as a handbell ringer are part of my tithe, as time and talent are both resources that are given by God.

The only forms of payment I have received and would accept are the church paying my way to certain events, workshops, and retreats. I am our "roadie" for the all-church retreat, and will actually leave early with all of the band's gear to set-up prior to others arriving.
 
#38
I've played for about 9 years in P&W Bands and never got paid for playing in our home church. The agreement we made in the beginning, and everyone in after that point is... we dont get paid at home, and if we get paid for a road gig somewhere else we use the money to get new equipment or repairs on current stuff. Makes it real easy and sets expectations so you can focus on the important stuff - LEADING WORSHIP - not the money!!
 
#39
ShirazBop said:
The same email stated that we would be going to a more regular rehearsal schedule.

Currently, we have been having a once a month rehearsal / corporate prayer session and we do a "run through" of the material early Sunday morning as part of set-up and sound check.
Click to expand...

I haven't been to church in over a decade, so I may not have a valid opinion, as far as this is concerned... I'm a very spiritual person, however, so I figured I'd throw my $0.02 in.

If my (theoretical) church were to take a more proactive stance in "controlling" the band (and I don't mean that in a negative way, just reflecting what the email said), then I would think that they're approaching it as a business.

Dictating rehearsal time indicates, to me, a desire to influence the managerial aspect of the band, and I think that should be reflected in pay. It seems to me that playing for free would be something you could do in your own time, including rehearsal, but if the church is dictating rehearsal times, they should compensate you for the time they're requiring.

Ultimately, though, I suppose you have to take a long introspective look and decide if you're comfortable taking the church's money. Remember, even preachers get paid, and if you look at the band as a job, then you should too. If you feel like you're donating your time, then you should politely refuse.
 
#40
I don't think you need paid to play bass in church. I mean a little money is nice but I don't do it for money. I know some people do but I do it because I believe it's where God has me at.

Now if my church wanted to pay me for playing the bass I wouldn't hesitate to say yes but that's not what I'm there for. That's my part of the body so that's what I do, naturally.

I chose other.
 

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