Richard R. Hammar, “Child Sexual Abuse: Far too many churches are legally vulnerable” Church Law & Tax Report (March-April 2016).

Image: Dmitry Ratushny

Samuel Ogles, “Answering Church Leaders’ Common Questions About Background Checks: Looking more closely at what is needed to effectively screen volunteers and employees who work with minors” Church Law & Tax Report (June 2015).

Tara Beecham, “Screening the Screener: What to Look For in a Background Check Service: Two simple steps to reduce the risk” Church Law & Tax Report (March 2013).

Elizabeth Jackson, “What Do You Do with Volunteers Who Exhibit ‘Gray Area’ Behavior?: Three attorneys explain how churches can respond to concerning situations involving church volunteers” Church Law & Tax Report (November 2016).

Richard J. Mathews, “What I Learned from Advising the Boy Scouts of America During Their Abuse Crisis: An attorney’s advice for organizations on preventing and responding to child sexual abuse” Church Law & Tax Report (August 2016).

I would also like to point you to resources from PneumaReview.com:

Jennifer Cisney, “Healing From the Pain of Sexual Assault” Enrichment (Spring 2009). Reviewed by Mara Lief Crabtree. As appearing in the Spring 2010 issue.

Andrew J. Schmutzer, “A Theology of Sexuality and its Abuse: Creation, Evil, and the Relational Ecosystem, Part 1.” As appearing in the Summer 2013 issue.

Andrew J. Schmutzer, “A Theology of Sexuality and its Abuse: Creation, Evil, and the Relational Ecosystem, Part 2.” As appearing in the Fall 2013 issue.

In Conversation with Andrew Schmutzer, Part 1. As appearing in the Summer 2013 issue. An interview with Andrew Schmutzer about The Long Journey Home: Understanding and Ministering to the Sexually Abused, and part 1 of his chapter, “A Theology of Sexuality and its Abuse: Creation, Evil, and the Relational Ecosystem.”

In Conversation with Andrew Schmutzer, Part 2. As appearing in the Fall 2013 issue. An interview with Andrew Schmutzer about The Long Journey Home: Understanding and Ministering to the Sexually Abused, and part 2 of his chapter, “A Theology of Sexuality and its Abuse: Creation, Evil, and the Relational Ecosystem.”

In Conversation with Andrew Schmutzer, Part 3. As appearing in the Winter 2014 issue. An interview with Andrew Schmutzer about The Long Journey Home: Understanding and Ministering to the Sexually Abused, and part 1 of the chapter, “A Charge for Church Leadership: Speaking Out Against Sexual Abuse and Ministering to Survivors.”

Nancy Nason–Clark and Stephen McMullin, “A Charge for Church Leadership: Speaking Out Against Sexual Abuse and Ministering to Survivors,” Part 1. As appearing in the Winter 2014 issue.

Nancy Nason–Clark and Stephen McMullin, “A Charge for Church Leadership: Speaking Out Against Sexual Abuse and Ministering to Survivors,” Part 2. As appearing in the Spring 2014 issue.

Andrew J. Schmutzer, “A Theology of Sexual Abuse: A Reflection on Creation and Devastation” JETS 51:4 (Dec 2008). Reviewed by Bradford L. McCall. Appearing in the Winter 2010 issue. Editor’s note: As you might gather from the title, this is a review of an article that originally appeared in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. This article became one of the anchor articles for the book, Andrew J. Schmutzer, ed., The Long Journey Home: Understanding and Ministering to the Sexually Abused (Resource Publications, 2011), and was later a featured excerpt in the Summer and Fall 2013 issues (see links above) at PneumaReview.com.

From the Worship Leader series.

I like the “Five Step Discipleship model” I learned from John Wimber:

1. Lead worship with a worship leader in training in attendance.
2. Have that person play alongside you while you lead.
3. Have that person lead while you play alongside him or her.
4. Talk about the worship time afterward.
5. Finish the process by letting them lead alone.

As long as you’re a page ahead of the people you’re leading, you have something to say!

Copyright Stan Myers. Used with permission.

Be committed to building God’s kingdom, not your own. If there’s only one weekly meeting in your church, you might have to share your space! Co-lead with an apprentice. Gradually increase his or her levels of responsibility.

Worship leaders have more authority when their lives match their songs. Outstanding worshippers in the Bible are also noted for their acts of service to God. Furthermore, when the church sees someone who is “going for it” in God’s kingdom they are more willing to follow that person in worship.

At the Anaheim Vineyard, we have a gifted worship leader named Mike Kinnen. Mike spearheaded worship in a local church plant. He had lots of responsibilities that were new to him, like raising up a worship band and worship with a P.A. system. Then, he raised up other worship leaders and left them doing it in his place. I like to work with risk-takers who don’t quit even when the going gets tough.

You can’t lead people that don’t want to follow you. The most fruitful mentoring relationships I’ve have are those in which there is mutual admiration between the two parties. If a person has the skills, experience, knowledge, perspective and character that I admire, I’ll have a reason to pursue them.

The best worship band leaders are good pastors and leaders. Worship team members need to be cared for as people, not just deployed as musicians. If a young leader has a compassionate heart and is a good people person, he or she can be trained to pastor.

Give someone a little responsibility and see how it goes. It is important to determine if the worship trainee is “faithful with the little things.” Even if God speaks to you powerfully about a person’ calling, a proven track record will confirm what god has shown you before you give someone a permanent position.

The Classroom

The basics of worship and worship leading can be taught once or twice a year through a six or eight session course. Worship leaders and take more advance course once they are leading. When they find out what they don’t know, they’re more teachable.!