By Laura Stephens Reed

Recently, the leaders of a church I was coaching told me that it takes 17-20 people to make their worship service happen on a Sunday morning. They related this with a sense of awe and pride, because their congregation’s worship is truly the work of the people.

That got me thinking about all of the roles in worship leadership. Some are more obvious than others, but all of them are important.

Out front:

Preacher/proclaimer. This person teaches us how to look for God at work in the world, interprets scripture, helps us apply it to our lives and gives us the charge to live our faith beyond the church walls.

Musicians. Many people connect most deeply with God through the medium of music. Those who sing or play instruments, then, are essential in both setting the tone for worship and offering us a means to encounter the Divine.

Pray-ers. Sometimes our gratitude or our worry is so deep that we don’t have words. Those who pray on our behalf or who invite us into responsive liturgies help us shape what we want – what we need – to say to God.

Children’s message leader. This person helps the youngest among us to find their footing in worship by simplifying the scripture or sermon for the day into developmentally-appropriate themes and letting us all know what to be paying attention to throughout the worship service.

Scripture readers. Readers can make the Bible come alive for hearers, reminding us of its power and its constant ability to speak to us in new ways.

Testimony sharers. Whether testifiers are speaking about why they give money to the church, how participation in a particular ministry has changed their lives or how God has powerfully moved in their stories, they are providing a window into how God works in, around and through each of us.

Ushers/greeters. These people are one of the first lines of hospitality, making sure that newcomers feel welcome and informed and that those with impairments are able to be comfortable and to participate in worship.

Acolytes. Whether children or adults, acolytes carry the light, reminding us that Jesus is both present with us and that he goes before us out into the world. We, too, can then claim our jobs as bearers of that light through our lives.

Behind the scenes:

Communion preparers/servers. Preparers ensure that the Lord’s table is set, and servers hand us the tangible reminders that Christ has done a great work for us and continues to do a great work in us.

Children’s worship material preparers. Some churches offer worship bags while others distribute children’s bulletins. Just like the children’s message leader, those preparing these materials help our youngest members connect more fully with what is happening in worship.

Altar decorator. Whether there is a flower arrangement or an altar design that aligns with a scriptural theme, the visual signals to us that something beautiful and important is happening in the worship space.

Audiovisual team. Without these technicians, we don’t hear – much less participate in – the music, prayers or proclamation. If the church uses slides rather than bulletins, the congregation depends on the A/V team in order to stay engaged with the order of worship.

Online worship facilitators. If a person joins worship online but no one acknowledges their presence, were they even there? (They certainly aren’t connecting to community.) Churches often have designated hosts who welcome people as they enter the online space and maybe even engage with them throughout the service.

Custodial staff/maintenance workers/facility managers. Those who lovingly tend to the cleanliness and functionality of buildings and grounds are crucial to a sense of welcome, which is in turn important in helping us all settle into worship.

Bulletin/slide designers. These people provide the guides that allow everyone in worship to participate more fully. No one likes to feel lost! Bulletins and slides are also essential because they announce additional ways that we can get connected to the congregation and its mission.

Website/social media/publicity manager. People can’t attend worship that they don’t even know about. Those that keep the church website and social media up to date provide those crucial details.

Nursery staff. Some parents choose to keep their babies and toddlers with them in worship. Great! Others want to be able to focus fully on worship. Great! You can only do the latter, though, if you know your child is in a safe and loving environment.

Coffee hour hosts. As important as worship is, community is essential to living out what we just heard about during the service. Coffee hour hosts provide a space and a reason for us to connect.

Although this is a lengthy list, you might have other roles to add based on your particular context.

I offer you this list with a few hopes. First, I hope it breeds in all of us a sense of gratitude for those who do the good work named above.

Second, this list can help us audit our own roster of worship leaders. Are there some roles we have overlooked?

Third, explaining the importance of each role could help those churches who need a few more hands for worship leadership inspire people to step into those ministries.

And finally, the description of each role could provide the basis for training those who take up the mantle. If this is the aim of this particular role, what will allow you to fulfill it?

Worship is a primary way in which people get to know your church and connect with God. That means it’s important that it is planned thoughtfully and that the leadership of it is distributed well to those who are gifted and committed.

Laura Stephens-Reed is a clergy and congregational coach based in Alabama. She has been credentialed as a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation and as a Certified Mentor Coach, and she sits on the faculty of two coach training schools. She has also been trained as a Congregational Consultant and an Intentional Interim Minister by the Center for Congregational Health.