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The range of differences in worship is continually broadening. Consistency in worship practices within a denomination is no longer the norm; therefore more care must be taken in choosing a pastor with whom you will share a similar philosophy of worship. When discussing worship with the potential pastor, it will most likely be necessary to talk very specifically about particular music, readings, and methods of communion in order to be sure that you are using the same terms to describe the worship that you prefer. Sometimes we use terms such as traditional, contemporary, and blended to discuss worship and find out later that what we thought someone else was saying was not what he or she was saying at all. All of these terms are ambiguous. In addition, be careful to discuss methods of accompanying congregational singing. For instance, two congregations may sing ninety percent hymn-based music. While one congregation uses organ to accompany its congregational singing, the other uses guitars and percussion. These two churches may sing identical texts and tunes, but their worship will be very different in its style and impact.

Professional Expectations

The pastor will have professional expectations both for himself and for you. Perhaps the best way to analyze this is to observe the pastor's own expectations of herself. If her work expectations are very high, she will most likely have high expectations of you. People who are highly motivated tend to expect the people with whom they work to be similarly motivated. People who take a more laidback approach to work tend to enjoy the company of those who view life similarly. If the pastor is highly motivated and you aren't, then the match will not likely be good.

Personal Security

Although difficult to discern in initial meetings, you must attempt to discover how secure the pastor is as a person. This knowledge will strongly impact your working relationship. If the pastor is not a secure person, then you may be easily perceived as a threat to him/her. Since music leadership is public and your role is highly visible, your role easily can be threatening for someone who needs unrealistic affirmation from others in order to feel secure. These issues will impact your ability to do pastoral ministry without being intimidating to the pastor, your ability to express yourself openly concerning the overall work of the church, and your ability to work independently in the music ministry.

Supervisory Style

In most cases, the pastor is the immediate supervisor for the minister of music. You must respect and work well within her supervisory style to create a productive relationship. If the pastor wants to be aware of everything you do and you are very independent, you will view his style as non-trusting or intrusive. If you have difficulty being internally motivated and the pastor doesn't want to supervise you, but expects you to get your work done independently, the relationship will be undesirable for both of you. You will be wise to explain your working style and your expectations of supervision up-front so that there are no future surprises. A question such as "How do you see your role in supervising the work of the minister of music?" can be an important discussion starter. You may eventually make a statement such as "I am committed to team work; however, I am highly motivated and appreciate the opportunity to work independently. In the past I've sometimes had difficulty responding positively when I've perceived that my work was being too carefully scrutinized." While this may seem bold, it may divert potential problems in the future.

Relationship to Family and Others

The pastor's relationship with his family and with others will give rich insights into his relationship with you and to his expectations of your relationships with others. As you talk with the pastor, does she talk about spouse and family? Do you have evidence that she is committed to her spouse and family?

As you observe the pastor relating to other staff and to church members, does he treat them respectfully? Does he say good things about them even when they're not present? Do you sense a strong value for the input of others? Consider your honest answer to the following: Does the pastor love the church and staff, and is she committed to being their personal pastor? If the answers to any of the questions in this section are suspect, exercise caution and seek to gain more information.