by Dr. Ouida W. Harding
In September 2004, I embraced the role of Dean of Seminars and Training for the Music Auxiliary of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. (NBCUSA, Inc.), where I served diligently. In this role, I became a trusted resource and support for many of my colleagues and mentors in gospel ministry across the country. Before entering seminary, I frequently received calls from ministers sharing common concerns, questions, and frustrations, such as:
“Ministers of Music don’t listen to the preacher. I don’t know what a Minister of Music is! I need a complete change in how my music ministry is operating, and I need you to do it. I just need somebody to do the music. My musician can’t read music and won’t stay in the sanctuary when I preach. I need another Minister of Music. Can you find one for me? We have had five Ministers of Music in three years; something’s not right. What do I have to do to get my Minister of Music to understand what I am trying to do in the church? A musician and a Minister of Music is all one and the same thing to me. Some musicians think this is just a gig!”
So, what was the underlying issue?
In many Black Baptist churches, there’s often no clear standard for who can be a ‘Minister of Music.’ Sometimes, simply being able to sing or direct is enough, while in other churches, musical skill on the keyboard is the primary factor.
With deep concern, I’ve frequently observed pastors struggling to distinguish between a true Minister of Music and someone who simply plays the piano or organ during worship. These challenges, familiar to many Black Baptist churches in the New York City Metro area, resonate across the denomination.
As my term as Dean of Seminars and Training for the Music Auxiliary came to a close, I recognized the pressing need to elevate the understanding and expectations of church music leadership within the denomination, particularly in NBCUSA.
In summary, I maintained that in September 2009, the NBCUSA focused on enhancing the Board of Evangelism, Congress of Christian Education, and the Sunday School Publishing Board, yet the Music Auxiliary was overlooked. I saw this as a missed opportunity to address critical issues in music leadership. My summary emphasized that pastors often do not differentiate between the roles of a “musician” and a Minister of Music, with many not fully appreciating that the title, with standards, represents much more than just being a church musician. This realization was the launch for my doctoral studies, because without someone addressing these issues, the challenges of the past are sure to persist.
The Reverend Dr. Ouida W. Harding is a distinguished and visionary leader in music ministry within the Black Baptist denomination, renowned for her radical and revolutionary approach to redefining music ministry leadership. She is a graduate of the R. E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Jacksonville, ( Standards for Music Ministry Leaders), and The Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, focusing on pastor and musician relationships.
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