Choir Confidential

Chapter 1: Spiritual Leadership Be a Shepherd of their Flock We began this chapter with a qualification distinctive to a director of Christian choirs and end with another unique trait. A church choir director, whether paid or volunteer, ideally serves in a pastoral capacity. Based on the biblical metaphor of Christ the Good Shepherd and his followers, the sheep, the choir is a flock in need of a local shepherd. Ideally a church choir director will care for the “singing sheep” with a pastor’s heart. Before considering the role of the choir shepherd, it may be helpful to look at the well-known traits of sheep. Sheep are generally known as followers, fearful, seekers of light, possess aggressive tendencies, and are resistant to change. With a reputation of not being very intelligent, they are quick learners with good memories. Again, these are generalizations of sheep. Be assured, I have had many choir members more intelligent than me! I have enjoyed shepherding many singing sheep through the years. And, while most have been harmless lambs, there have been occasions when I have encountered each of these wooly characteristics. The sheep/shepherd metaphor goes all the way back to the Old Testament. Proverbs 27:23-27 admonishes shepherds to know well the condition of their flocks, to give attention to their herds. The word condition means to know “the faces of” the flock. When I think of knowing the face of someone - really knowing them - such knowledge consists of learning features that makes them unique. It moves beyond the color of their skin to the shape and color of their eyes, the pitch of their nose, the wonder of their smile, and perhaps the contrastive appearance when they cry. Knowing the singers in a choir means being able to identify some of the unique qualities of their personage. The aloof choir director who is more interested in themselves, or the making of music, will not be the shepherd their singing flock needs. Giving careful attention means “to set your heart to” - to know and care for the people in the choir. The larger the choir the more challenging it is for one person to shepherd them. This is why the heart of the shepherd must be reproduced in lay leadership so that a shepherding spirit permeates throughout the choir. Group shepherding can be as formal as dividing the choir into small groups with assigned caregivers or as informal as spontaneous moments in rehearsal. Personally, I feel the former is more likely to produce real shepherding experiences with a choir. In addition to the mandate given to shepherds, Proverbs 27:23-27 also identifies how caring shepherds will benefit from proper shepherding. The lambs will provide (clothing) for the shepherd. The application here, I sense, is that a well-cared for choir will provide all that their director needs. As verse 27 says, “there will be enough.” David was a great king, perhaps the greatest as a warrior, musician, and, most importantly, as a man after God’s own heart. Did he lead like a warrior, an artist, or like a shepherd? After all, he was all three. Psalm 78:52 gives this insight: “(Then) he led out his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.” God cares about how his people are led. The book of Jeremiah presents a case study on this subject: • “The shepherds of my people have lost their senses. They no longer seek wisdom from the LORD. Therefore, they fail completely, and their flocks are scattered” Jeremiah 10:21 ESV. • “And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding” Jeremiah 3:15 ESV. • “‘Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!’ declares the LORD” Jeremiah 23:1 ESV. When I read about sheep scattering because of bad shepherding, I translate that to choir members leaving because of bad pastoring. People can literally get destroyed (Jeremiah 23:1) emotionally and spiritually from poor shepherding. The solution is to seek wisdom from the LORD (Jeremiah 10:21) and to have the heart of God to know and understand the people (Jeremiah 3:15). Finally, we learn from Jesus regarding his desired priority for spiritual leaders from his conservation with Peter recorded in John 21:15-17. Twice, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him with agape (entirely selfless love). Each time Peter responds positively, “Yes, Lord, you know that I phileo (brotherly love) you.” First, Jesus instructs Peter to “feed my lambs.” The second time, Jesus responds, “Tend to my sheep.” In the third exchange, Jesus changes from agape to phileo love in his questioning of Peter's affection toward him. Again, Peter responds affirmatively followed by Jesus reinforcing his command: “Feed my sheep.” I have heard it explained why it is believed Jesus used agape two times, then phileo, while Peter consistently used phileo love. Perhaps the reason is as simple as Jesus linking the two; stating that the ideal brotherly love is entirely selfless love. The application is for the church choir director is clear. Jesus wants his choirmasters to shepherd their singing flock well.