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Spiritual Development Planning Goal #5
2005-2006

1. What is a visionary goal that your unit set? 

To work with the Chapel Band Worship Leaders to theologically and musically evaluate the songs being used in chapel.

2. What information and data did you use to set this goal? 

  • A New Director of Worship Ministries arrived at PLNU in the fall of 2005.  A review of many aspects of worship at PLNU is being conducted in preparation for planning for the future.
  • There has been a desire to broaden and deepen the skills of the worship band leaders.  Part of their formation as leaders is to teach them to assess the theological soundness of songs before they are used in a worship setting. 

3. What actions did you take to try to reach this goal?

  • A list of all of the songs used in worship at PLNU during the 2004-05 academic year was compiled (see Play List and Evaluation Process 2004-05 for the list of songs).
  • The worship band leaders met with the Director of Worship Ministries and over the course of several meetings evaluated the lyrical and musical content of each song.
    • Individual songs were evaluated on the follow basis:
      • Are the words theologically sound?
      • Are there certain lines/words in the song that have a powerful yet perhaps confusing thought?  If so, how could a worship leader provide some insight/context/scripture reference to help engage the mind of the worshipper in the truth of the words?
      • Is the song appropriate musically for the worship setting, in particular is the tune “singable” for the congregation?
        Songs that clearly failed the first test were removed from the play list.  The other tests provided great discussion and encouraged the students to ponder these issues before including a song in a worship time. 
    • The play list was evaluated using the following questions. 
      • Does the song use communal or individualistic language?
      • Is the speaking aboutGod or is it directly addressed to God?
      • Does the song lean more towards praise or petition? 
        After identifying which categories a song fell in the students were encouraged to consider a balance in any given music set.  If a given category had an over abundance of songs, the students evaluated which one were stronger lyrically and musically.  Those were kept on the play list for the year and the others retired.  Also, songs that had been over exposed in the 2004-2005 year were retired for the year. 

4. What progress did you make?

  • The play list has been modified with some songs being removed and others retired.
  • A new protocol has been created for the addition of songs to the play list.  Every several weeks the worship band leaders meet with the Director of Worship Ministries using the criteria described in the answer to question #3 to evaluate new music that has been proposed as additions to the play list.
  • The worship band leaders are gaining skill in evaluating the suitability of music for worship using both theological and musical criteria.

5. What information and data did you use to evaluate your progress?

At the end of the 2005-06 academic year a series of interviews with the worship band leaders will be conducted to assess their growth and to evaluate the process.

Supporting Documentation:

Play List and Evaluation Process 2004-05