THE POST

I was having a casual conversation with an acquaintance who stated that she saw no reason for her church to pay copyright fees for the music they used in their weekly services. She said that because of the small size of the church and the fact that they didn't record their services, there was no legal obligation on their part to pay anything to the songwriters for using their songs. I tried in a tactful way to inform her that she was in fact very wrong about the issue. This person became very angry, and because I am not actively collecting copyright fees for songwriters, I let the matter drop. 

After this encounter, I have discovered that my fellow music minister is not in the minority with this mindset. I know of only two churches in my area who pay any sort of copyright fees, and they are considered "smaller" churches by this area's standards. 

I am posting far too early to say that I have done any significant research on this subject, but I want to share some impressions regarding the matter. I am finding that music ministers, pastors, and congregation members respond with a self righteous "why should we pay for worshiping God?" to which I usually respond, "because it is the law." The rest of the people I have spoken to about this issue seem not to care one way or the other. If their church pays, fine, if not, that's fine too. I suppose this would be the post modern young people, but this hasn't been an official survey with demographic breakdowns. 

QUESTIONS

I wonder if this is a topic we should try to present at our music conferences? Would it make people more aware? uncomfortable? convicted? 

THE LAW (Yes, yes, yes, we are set free from this)

The law requires churches to pay copyright fees for having lyrics displayed by slide or transparencies, recording a song service on a church CD, and even keeping a database of songs for your church computer. 

Within our Apostolic/Pentecostal movement, would you say that we abide by the law, make excuses for why we can't, or do we just not care?

Mittelgrund

Robin Johnston, curator of The Center For The Study of Oneness Pentecostalism (a.k.a. my illustrious boss), pointed me to a chapter in a very interesting book, “The Future Of Pentecostalism In The United States” by Eric Patterson. Chapter four, entitled “Music in the Pentecostal Movement,” by Calvin M Johansson, hit directly on some of the conversations carried out on this blog. As time and space do not permit me to share it all, I wanted to present an interesting point or two from this chapter.

“The arts influence as well as reflect the values of a culture. They also influence and reflect the values of religious institutions. Everyone, including believers, has a worldview which regulates artistic choice.” (pg 49) Johansson then sets out to follow the progress of the arts in the Pentecostal movement, dividing them into three categories: Hintergrund – ca. 1900-1945; Mittelgrund – 1945-2000; and Vordergrund – 2000-present. (pg 50)

Because of the aforementioned limits, I wanted to bring up a few points Johansson made in reference to the “Mittelgrund- 1945-2000.” Prior to this period music was chosen on the basis of its functionality. Music during the period 1900-1945 mirrored the popular songs of this time. Johansson shares that most people preferred “low art” – folk songs, ballads, etc. – and so the church “fostered a philosophical attitude of musically accommodating the gospel.” (pg 52-3) I found this very interesting in light of the recent conversations on this blog regarding the hymn/chorus debate, in addition to other arguments on this website which claim hymns to be more “spiritual” than choruses.

On to the Mittlegrund….

Johnansson states that the “strong worshiper participation in congregational singing waned as the years of the Mittelgrund (1945-2000) advanced.” (pg 54) Folks no longer felt free or compelled to simply shout out a musical selection; instead they were chosen by a song leader or worship band. He states that music in the church became less of a congregational effort and shifted more to the “leaders and electronic gadgetry.” (pg 54) This next statement, which I’m still pondering, has troubled me quite a bit: “Going to church became an activity in which one sat back lost in the crowd to watch worship unfold.”

Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), according to Johansson has taken church music by storm. He makes the argument for the “objective Biblical connections” found in hymns, which were left behind for “emotionalistic euphoria” found in CCM. (pg 57) It seemed to me that, after considering that early church music simply resulted from putting religious words to popular music tunes/styles, that we haven’t really changed that much. But then I read this next statement, which again, I’m still pondering: “The music of rock [1950’s] was entertainment music, pure and simple. It had no redeeming qualities of edification or aesthetic enrichment – qualities that the better gospel songs shared in to some degree.” Johansson goes on to argue that when we place lyrics to “a music of rebellion, frivolity, or amusement” we do not change the music’s basic ethos. Entertainment music used in worship transform[s] worship into entertainment.” (pg 57)

And so I wonder....

Having quoted and said all that, I have to wonder if the source of the friction we often feel in our music comes from this supposed shift to entertainment as opposed to spontaneous participation. We all have to admit that our music has become more and more complicated. I’m as guilt as the next person of setting in service at my church or a music conference and focusing on the complexity of the music (the pushes, the syncopation, the progressions, etc.) instead of participating and absorbing the message. I don’t know that this argument will ever be settled – seems it’s been going on since the beginning of our movement. I’ve got a lot to think about here – and the rest Johansson’s chapter to read!

Musings, Shmoozings, and Shots of Novocaine

Hello Friends!

As I've mentioned before, I am a public school employee specializing in primary education in the Exceptional Student Education department of my children's school. I am a part of inclusion interventions for children with all sorts of problems ranging from ADD to Asperger's, Autism and Dyslexia.

It is the most fun I've ever had.

It is the least I've ever been paid.

And now since it is summer I am unemployed for the next two months. I'll be honest: I am not thinking about music...at all. I've explored the local beach, went swimming with my kids at my friend's house who was out of town, hit up Starbucks and GameStop (the latter being my least favorite but I suffer it because I have boys). Did I mention I'm selling my home? So let's just say I'm not writing songs right now unless they involve laundry folding. However, since it is my week I'll just share a few funny things from my life where music is not the focus of the musing, but rather the background noise - the wallpaper if you will.

FUNNY

So as I mentioned I teach little kids with problems how to read. My husband loves my stories, and really they can be quite hilarious. If in fact you are ever in Clearwater and we are sitting around a table at Chili's I will share my "Ground hog's Day" story or the "The Never-End Salutation." Uh, I digress.

So imagine my surprise Sunday morning when while I am leading praise and worship I look down to see a little familiar face standing next to my five-year-old son (who is a permanent fixture at the altar during P&W). So I'm placing....I'm placing....ohmyword!! It's "Jose" from my school! This little boy is the source of many of my funny stories. He is the sweetest little rascal who is, what we who deal daily with Autism call "on the spectrum". He has autism and serious language issues. He is our conundrum, but arguably our favorite conundrum. I've had plenty of conversations with his wonderful family, who happen to live close to our church, but being that I am a county employee I have not had the guts to outright invite them. I have told them where my church is and that I pray for them. I guess they put two and two together and came on over. So there is "Jose" pretty much climbing up the steps to greet me, his face beaming with recognition. I love this kid. So I gently take his hand and give him a quick hug and hand him over to the Sunday School director. I love my job. I love my church. This is a place that can be interrupted for a child without conflict. Kinda like Christ.

In The Chair

I'm terrified of dental work. Once while getting my first root canal I had such a reaction to the epinephrine in the pain medicine they were administering that I had a full on panic attack in the chair.

"IS THIS NORMAL?!" I asked while legs are arms were flailing uncontrollably. The doctor said "yes" while shaking her head No.

Since then I put off getting a crown so long that I had to have an emergency extraction the day before my brother-in-laws wedding. I drove myself an hour to the oral surgeon and then had to sadly refuse the narcotics they gladly offered. After the doctor proceeded to list the negative results pulling a tooth can invoke (did you know you could have a heart attack from this?) I decided upon music therapy along with novocaine.

While they yanked, and drilled, pelted with what felt no less like hammer and chisel, I hummed rather loudly:

I hear the Savior say,

“Thy strength indeed is small;

Child of weakness, watch and pray,

Find in Me thine all in all.”

Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.

As the The Excavator removed his rubber gloves he turned to me and said, "Yes, He did pay it all. More than we could ever afford to repay."

So there you have it devoted Notes readers. I have posted. And now I will go have a sugar-free popcicle. Enjoy your summer! And take time to sing!

Music Ministry

I had an opportunity for ministry recently where I was talking with someone who was going through a struggle. This person has had a difficult time relating to God from a "going to church" or "reading the Bible" kind of perspective, but in the moment, the words of scripture came to me in song. And so I sang. And God touched that person through music.

It is easy for us to overlook the difference music can make in our everyday life. When we think of music ministry we usually look to the worship leader or praise singer or instrumentalists. Or we look to the "special" musical selection. But we need to be aware of the opportunities there are to reach people on an individual level through music.

What about going to a nursing home and playing or singing some old songs? The songs may even be from a Presbyterian or Methodist hymnal, or whatever the majority of residents are. Just a thought.

I've followed with interest the thread on whether we should cater a musical style to reach the youth all the while seeking to retain a balance in our services and ensuring that the hymns are never replaced. Of course I believe it is good to maintain a diversity of musical styles. But how many of our churches have silver-haired worship leaders? In addition to ensuring that the songs we sing were written or made popular within the last ten years, wouldn't it also be good to have at least one of our rotating cadre of worship leaders be one that has had fifty or sixty years' of experience singing Pentecostal music? I have no doubt there are some churches that do, but those seem few and far between.

Lastly, when we talk about the need to incorporate a hymn into our worship services here and there, (at least one per service, if not more) I think it would be good to emphasize the positive qualities of such songs as opposed to viewing it from the perspective of the need to minister to the elder saints. It seems to me the quality and depth of message in most hymnal songs outweighs that of most contemporary worship songs. Granted, some of the songs currently making the rounds skimp less on message than those that were popular a few years back. But we still face a serious shortage of original music trumpeting the distinctives of our Oneness message.