The Forgotten Artists: Acknowledging and Equipping Technical Artists in the Church

My wife Bonnie is a freelance writer and editor, and she recently put together this “How to Develop an Arts Ministry” resource for Christianity Today’s Building Church Leaders website. It includes articles from Nancy Beach, Eugene Peterson, Rory Noland, from a friend and worship leader Steve Smith, and more. It also includes the article below that I wrote. Get a copy for your church’s arts leaders today!

THE FORGOTTEN ARTISTS

Acknowledging and Equipping Technical Artists in the Church

I recently asked my media arts leadership team this question: “Do you consider yourself an artist?” There were almost as many answers as there were people sitting around the table. As writers, graphic designers, web developers, videographers, and marketers, they didn’t feel like they fit the common definition of an artist, but they all identify as creative.

Just like the art they create, artists come in every shape and size both exemplifying and rejecting stereotypes and categorization. Though the word artist often refers to those in the visual or performing arts, it can aptly describe all those who with imagination and exceptional skill create something of value. If our definition of the arts is too small, we may neglect to equip, encourage, and care for many other creatives who are serving in our church—or who could be.

Technical Artists

All artistic endeavors are technical in the sense that one must study the technique of the craft. Painters study for years to understand the intricacies of brush strokes, colors, textures, and form. As technology proliferates, so do the mediums in which we create. The technical or media artists are those who use technology to creatively support worship. These artists understand that a subtle turn of a knob on the sound console can help more people in the congregation connect with Jesus.

But on Sunday mornings while the technical artists adjust gain and compression, shutter and gel lights, white balance cameras, design logos, and update websites, it is the onstage creatives who are usually seen as artists. This common misconception—perhaps because of the scientific side of technology—overlooks the proficiency and creativity of technical artists.

Remembering Technical Artists

So how do we remember technical artists in our worship arts ministry? First, include them in what the ministry is doing. This might seem obvious to you, but it wasn’t always to my church. A couple years ago our Worship Arts Pastor invited all of the tech teams to an end-of-the-year picnic that had previously been for just the music ministry. That simple invitation went a long way in building partnership between all of our arts ministries. You can also include your technical teams in worship arts small groups, fellowship times, and leadership meetings.

Similarly, your tech arts leaders need to be around the table during planning meetings. Not only will they feel more connected to the services that they then have to produce, but they’ll help you imagine new ways to support your ideas and to make sure you attempt things that are realistic.

This is especially true of communications arts. Writers and designers need to be in the room where ideas are coming to life to be able to capture feeling and translate it into art, logos, and descriptions that truly communicate the heart of the message.

Partnering with Technical Artists

Partnerships between leaders and volunteers are key to the integration of tech arts into the worship arts ministry. Just like the preacher and worship leader need to partner together for the sake of the gospel, so do the worship arts leader and the tech arts leader. Because technical artists serve and equip from behind the scenes, they need to have relationships with those on the other side of the microphone, spotlight, or camera lens. Some of the most creatively powerful moments in worship come when technical artists and performing artists collaborate and integrate at a high level. How good and pleasant is it when brothers and sisters work together as one? (Psalm 133:1)

Unfortunately, tension between the onstage arts teams and the tech teams is notorious in the church. In the pressure-packed environment of the pre-service, misunderstanding and lack of communication can derail what the Lord wants to do. Minutes before a worship service, harsh words can cause hurt and disunity. And often they are amplified over the sanctuary speaker system for others to hear—including those visitors who unexpectedly came 20 minutes early and caught the end of the sound check.

Partnerships based on mutual trust and being quick to confess to one another are essential to ministering together with longevity and effectiveness. How can you serve in the house of the Lord if you have not first gone to your brother or sister and reconciled? (I Corinthians 5:20)

When the onstage and tech teams work together, there are such amazing opportunities to bless one another and the entire church. One Sunday, a sound team member decided that he would start bringing service bulletins to our musicians onstage, so that they could focus on preparing for sound check. This simple, thoughtful act of service was a profound symbol of this sound person’s desire to serve the musicians as they serve the congregation. It inspired such affection and partnership between these teams of co-laborers.

In Genesis 1, the creation of the world poured forth from the community of the Trinity, so our creative acts must begin with community. As artists build relationships, they have the opportunity not only to collaborate, but to encourage one another and bear one another’s burdens.

Pastoring Technical Artists

In Luke 10 we read about two sisters, Mary and Martha, who offer their home to Jesus as a base for his teaching ministry. Martha gets overwhelmed with all of the preparations and complains to Jesus that Mary isn’t doing her fair share of the work. Jesus rebukes Martha not for her ministry, but for her bitterness.

This story is a cautionary tale for everyone in ministry, but I think it is especially apt for behind-the-scenes ministries like the technical arts. It is so easy to feel like no one notices or appreciates the sacrifice you are making to technically support a Sunday morning worship service so that a church full of people can sit at Jesus’ feet. Often, the only time someone notices the technical aspects of a service are when something goes wrong. Bitterness, jealousy, and the subsequent burnout are all too common in this ministry area.

Because technical artists often have the spiritual gift of service—why else would they be able to spend the countless hours it takes to create in this field—they think they can go on serving forever without practicing the proper self-care it takes to remain healthy and growing while doing ministry. Technical artists need caring and engaged shepherds who can help them balance their Martha “work time” with their Mary “worship time.” I believe that artists should attend a worship service as often as they support one.

Technical artists have such a vital role in our worship arts ministries. Just like other types of artists, they need leaders who work to understand and affirm their unique and important contributions to the church. It is our role as leaders to equip them to use their gifts for the body and grow more into the image of Jesus.

Trevor McMaken is a pastor at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, IL, where he leads technical arts and communications.

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