This post was written by John van de Laar. It is the second part of a two-part post. Read part one here.
The Worship Leader/Curator
The gathered church in South Africa embraces two values – that may at times appear contradictory – when it comes to the leadership of the community and its worship. On the one hand those who are considered God’s appointed leaders – whether prophet, pastor, bishop or other clergy person – are highly respected and strongly influential. The role of the preacher, in particular, is a powerful one and may reach to include choice of hymns and ordering of the liturgy. On the other hand, the community has an important, and protected, contribution to worship as well. Leadership in many communities is shared with lay people, and all the tasks of worship – from preaching, to praying, to Scripture reading, to music – are shared.
In traditional, indigenous African churches, the leader seems to have more influence, while in mainline churches, the clergy have increasingly been encouraged to include and encourage lay folk to participate. In both cases, though, spontaneous prayer or singing that is initiated from the congregation is welcomed and even encouraged. In Pentecostal and independent churches in which the use of spiritual gifts is encouraged, spontaneity and community participation are common, while the planning and leadership of worship is largely done “from the front.” In “emerging-type” communities, like similar groups around the world, shared planning, creativity, facilitation and participation is the norm. Perhaps the one thing that all South African churches have in common is a desire for the community as a whole to “own” and participate in both the planning and the facilitation of worship. Perhaps nowhere is this more clear than in the case of music.
The Music of Worship
South Africa is not just a multi-lingual society. It is also a multi-musical one. Traditionally, though, worship has tended to be split along musical and linguistic lines. The tendency is for those who speak a particular language to worship together, and for those who prefer a particular musical style to worship together. Increasingly, and thankfully, these divisions are becoming harder to maintain. In post-apartheid South Africa, people are more and more finding themselves sharing worship with others from very different backgrounds, with the result that musical styles, liturgical forms and languages are being blended within single communities and even in single worship gatherings. This is difficult to plan for, and almost impossible for a single person to lead, and so teams are often used to ensure that diversity is effectively and respectfully dealt with in worship.
The leadership of music is, again, a place of great diversity in South African worship. In some communities instruments are not used at all (except, perhaps, for percussion and home made instruments, some of which may include bicycle bells, whistles and metal pipes). In others, organists or skilled bands of musicians choose, arrange and lead the music, not unlike churches in other parts of the world. To a large extent the determining factors in these musical decisions are tradition and economic resources.
There are some communities in which music is viewed with some ambivalence, particularly some of the more creative, theologically liberal and “emerging” communities. However, I think it is safe to say that in Africa, worship is almost always expressed primarily through music. It must also be mentioned that the music of worship has always found its way into other areas of South African life. The protest music of the struggle against apartheid was often drawn from communities of faith, and parts of our national anthem were born in the worship of the Church.
The Many Faces of Worship
What is revealed by an examination of worship in South Africa is that we live in a constant dialogue between the individual and the community. This applies to our relationships, our leadership, our music and the use of any other art forms, rituals or symbols that may find their way into worship. The big challenge we face is to honour the diversity of our people, and to give a voice to all who share in our worship communities. One thing we know, though – we will face this challenge and not shrink from it. And we will face it together.
© John van de Laar
Image © iStockphoto
John van de Laar is a Methodist minister and the founder of Sacredise worship consulting, resourcing and publishing ministry. He was born in South Africa and lives today in Cape Town. For over twenty years John has been teaching congregations, worship leaders, and clergy to enter worship as a transforming encounter with God that leads us into lives of justice, grace and compassion. John holds a Masters degree in Theology, is a songwriter, musician, and the author of The Hour That Changes Everything – How Worship Forms Us Into the People God Wants Us to Be. John has been married to Debbie for nearly twenty-five years and they have two sons. Follow him on Twitter @sacredise. Like him on Facebook.
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