WORSHIP TEAM HANDBOOK

OVERALL MISSION & VISION

  • Church Mission
    • METRO Church exists to exalt Jesus and equip disciples.
  • Church Vision
    • METRO Church desires to be a community that celebrates the presence of Jesus, demonstrates the love of Jesus, educates the disciples of Jesus, and communicates the words of Jesus.

WELCOME TO THE WORSHIP TEAM

Hello worship team! We just wanted to take this opportunity to welcome you all to the worship team. We are beyond excited and thrilled to work with you.  And overall so humbled and thankful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving us the opportunity to lead our congregation into worship. 
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth”  - John 4:23 - 24
Our worship team aims to operate by LIFE
Loving Jesus And His People
Integrity Is How We lead
Family Unites Us
Encouragement Strengthens Us

HOW WILL PEOPLE DESCRIBE METRO WORSHIP?

How will people describe METRO Worship?
WE ARE...
  • Loving Jesus And His People
  • Integrity Is How We lead
  • Family Unites Us
  • Encouragement Strengthens Us
  • Led by the Holy Spirit 
  • Centered on the Gospel
  • Focused on Every Generation
  • Rooted Culturally but Serving Relevantly 
  • Bound by Honor and Love for One Another 
  • Shaped and Known by Local Community 
  • Determined to Bring Excellence not Perfection
  • Convinced of Future Breakthrough

BEHAVIOR AND CONDUCT EXPECTATIONS

Alcohol/Substance Abuse

“One of the primary benefits of our liberty in Christ is freedom from the domination of negative forces (John 8:32, 36; Romans 6:14; 8:2). We are counseled not to put ourselves under bondage again (Galatians 5:1). Therefore, Christians are encouraged to abstain completely from all alcoholic beverages and other habit-forming and mood-altering chemical substances, as well as to refrain from the use of tobacco in any form, marijuana, and all other addictive substances. Additionally, they should avoid any activities (such as gambling or gluttony) that defile the body as the temple of God or dominate and enslave the spirit, which has been made free in Christ (Proverbs 20:1; 23:20-35; Isaiah 28:7; 1 Corinthians 3:17; 5:11; 6:10; 2 Corinthians 7:1; James 1:21).” -- COG Minutes
If the things mentioned above are areas you struggle with, there is grace and space provided for you to recover and be reinstitute into the worship team. 

  • Our aim is not to shame anyone into confession. Please be forthcoming about any of the aforementioned issues in your life.
  • This guideline is not meant to be used as a weapon against anyone. We are not asking you to police this instruction, but to care about your own behavior.

Wardrobe and Appearance   

We encourage everyone to approach their role in worship with care and intentionality, which includes attention to personal grooming and attire. When attending church services, please present yourself in a way that reflects the importance of the role you play in leading worship.
  • Respectful Appearance: Please choose clothing that is respectful and appropriate for a church setting. Avoid styles that may be distracting or draw undue attention.
  • Modest Choices: Modesty in appearance helps create an environment where the focus remains on worship. Tailored clothing is great, but be mindful that your attire isn’t too tight or too loose, as this could impact your ability to lead effectively.
We want to also take our dress code to a level of professionalism that suits our level of talent. Therefore, please consider the following as you get dressed for the stage:
  • Men: We ask that you wear shirts with collars or, if opting for a plain T-shirt, please layer it with a jacket. Cultural attire is welcome and appreciated. Avoid clothing that is overly distressed, excessively tight, or too loose. Ensure your outfit allows you to move freely and worship comfortably.
  • Women: Please choose modest outfits, whether Indian or Western attire. Avoid clothing that is overly distressed, too tight, or too loose. We also ask that you cover your head with a shawl while on stage. Your outfit should enable you to move and worship freely.
We certainly do not want to restrict your personal style or aesthetic, but we aim to operate with a posture of humility, honor, and professionalism. 
If you have a question about your outfit, please speak to Pr. Reuben Philip (for men) or Jency James (for women) and they will help guide you. 

We will always extend grace in this area, and if needed, we can provide an alternative garment or accessory to help align your attire with our Sunday morning platform standards.

  • Our aim is to support, not shame, anyone. This guideline is not meant to be enforced harshly or used against anyone. We're not asking you to police others but to take care of your own appearance.
  • If you find any of these areas challenging, know that there is grace and space for you to recover and be fully reintegrated into the worship team. We're here to help each other grow in this area."

Non-Sunday AM Wardrobe
  • While the dress code for non-Sunday AM events is not as stringent as our Sunday morning platform attire, we still uphold the principle of modesty. As stated in the COG Minutes, 
  • “We will demonstrate the scriptural principle of modesty by appearing and dressing in a manner that will enhance our Christian testimony and will avoid pride, elaborateness, or sensuality.”
For Non-Sunday Events on Livestream:
  • When participating in livestreamed events, we ask that you continue to dress modestly, as our appearance reflects our values and commitment to our faith.
If there are any specific concerns, we will address them on a case-by-case basis, working with individuals to ensure everyone is comfortable and appropriately attired.

Sexual Purity

Our commitment to sexual purity is essential to maintaining the integrity of our team and ministry. The following guidelines outline the steps for addressing specific issues:
  • Lustful Thoughts: If you struggle with lustful thoughts, confession and focused discipleship are encouraged to help you find healing and growth.
  • Pornography: If pornography is an area of struggle, confession and focused discipleship are needed, similar to the approach taken with lustful thoughts.
  • Premarital Sex: In cases of premarital sex, we ask for confession, followed by a discussed period of removal from the team to allow time for focused discipleship and/or counseling. Restitution to the team is also an important part of this process.
  • Homosexuality: We follow the COG position paper on this matter. Confession is necessary, and the steps for addressing it are similar to those for premarital sex, including focused discipleship and counseling.
“The literature we read, the programs we watch and the music we listen to profoundly affect the way we feel, think and behave. It is imperative, then, that the Christian read, watch and listen to those things which inspire, instruct and challenge a higher plane of living. Therefore, literature, programs and music which are worldly in content or pornographic in nature must be avoided. A Christian is not to attend (or watch on television) movies or theatrical performances of a demoralizing nature (Romans 13:14; Philippians 4:8).” -- COG Minutes
We are committed to showing grace and providing the space needed for recovery and reintegration into the worship team.

  • Our goal is not to shame anyone, so please feel free to be open about any of these issues in your life. This guideline is meant to support, not to be used against anyone. We are not asking anyone to enforce these guidelines on others, but rather to take responsibility for their own behavior.

Language and Profanity

  • Our speech should reflect our commitment to glorifying God. Please avoid using profanity when speaking to others at church or within the team. This standard extends to all areas of life, including recreational and sports activities, as well as online interactions. Let us strive to maintain respectful and uplifting language in all contexts.
Grace will be extended for moments of weakness, but please make an effort to apologize if such language occurs publicly. Using profanity towards others is not appropriate for Christian leaders.
  • This guideline is meant to support, not to be used against anyone. We are not asking anyone to enforce this on others, but to be mindful of their own behavior.

Social Media

  • Social media provides a valuable platform for sharing your experiences, but it also comes with the potential for misunderstanding. As a member of this team, be mindful that your posts may be seen by those who don’t fully understand our mission or values.
  • People can be significantly influenced by social media, so please consider this when posting. We encourage you to share positive updates about what God is doing in your life, His messages, and anything that could uplift and encourage others who are observing our community.
To effectively represent METRO Church and our leadership, please follow these guidelines:
  • Avoid Alcohol-Related Content: Do not post pictures or content related to alcohol, even if you are not personally involved. This includes posts about parties and similar events.
  • Ensure Appropriate Clothing: When posting pictures of yourself or others, ensure everyone is appropriately clothed. Avoid images that could be seen as sexual or provocative, as you cannot control who is viewing your content and how it may be interpreted.
  • Maintain Respectful Language: Refrain from using curse words, crude or sexual language, or sharing songs with violent or profane content, even in jest. Such language does not align with our community values.
  • Avoid Politically Charged Content: Steer clear of posts that degrade others, attack a political party, or spark unnecessary disputes. For guidance, refer to (2 Timothy 2:23 and Titus 3:9.)
If any posts challenge the standards and values of our community, you will be asked to remove them.
  • This guideline is meant to support and uphold our values, not to be used against anyone. We are not asking anyone to enforce this on others, but to be mindful of their own behavior.

Team Conflicts

  • Conflicts between team members or with the Worship Pastor will be handled according to the Matthew 18 model. If conflicts cannot be resolved or reconciled through initial steps, they will be escalated as needed.
While grace will be extended to every member, you may be asked to step off the worship team temporarily if healing, resolution, and restitution are required. The Worship Pastor will determine when it is appropriate for you to return to the team.

  • Most conflicts will be addressed privately to avoid unnecessary shame. However, if actions have been taken publicly, appropriate steps will be taken to resolve the issues with the necessary level of openness.

DEPARTMENT PROTOCOLS


Questions and Concerns
For any questions or urgent matters, please reach out to the Worship Pastor. Scheduling, procedural, and protocol inquiries can be directed to the Worship administrator Jency James. Any serious issues should be communicated to and handled by the Pastoral staff.
Process to Join the Worship Team
If you’re interested in joining the worship team, please contact the Worship Pastor. Current team members are encouraged to actively recruit potential new members.
Anyone interested in joining the worship team should consider serving in other church capacities and must be part of a LifeGroup. (Is this still accurate?)
The steps to join the worship team include:
  • Completing the Metro Worship application.
  • Submitting a video audition or participating in an in-person audition with the Worship Pastor and other experienced musicians/vocalists.
  • Completing the Spiritual Discipleship coursework.
Personal Practice Disciplines
  • Practice songs individually and ensure you know the music before attending “Rehearsal.”
  • Vocalists should memorize lyrics and parts of each song prior to “Rehearsal.”
  • “Rehearsal” is a time to bring together what has already been practiced individually.
  • Music Directors and Worship Leaders should collaborate to create arrangements and chord charts in advance.
  • Musicians should prepare sounds and patches before the rehearsal.
Rehearsal Etiquette

Confirming your availability for Sunday AM services includes a commitment to the scheduled rehearsal times, which will be set by the Worship Pastor, Worship Leader, and/or Music Director for that week. Do not accept the PCO invite if you cannot attend the rehearsal.
  • Arrive on time for rehearsals. If you need to set up or prepare, arrive 30 minutes before rehearsal begins.
  • Band members are expected to be attentive and follow the directions given by the Worship Leader and Music Director.
  • Musicians should avoid playing their instruments (“noodling”) when instructions are being given between songs during rehearsal. This ensures productivity and saves time. Remember, “Say No to NOODLING!”
  • If unforeseen circumstances prevent you from attending or being on time for rehearsal, inform the Worship Leader and Music Director as soon as possible.
Planning Center Expectations
  • Services are scheduled one month in advance.
  • Members should promptly respond to Planning Center requests at least two weeks before their scheduled service.
  • Please update your blockout dates so Worship Leaders are aware of your availability.
  • If you decline a request, include a reason for your decision.
  • Declining the week of your scheduled service is not permitted. If something unexpected arises, it is your responsibility to inform your Worship Leader and arrange a replacement.

WORSHIP TEAM COVENANT

By signing below, I agree that I have read and understood all of the requirements
listed in this Worship Team Handbook, and I will do my best to uphold everything in
this document.