Music Mission Statement – The music ministry of Freedom Baptist Church is designed to honor and glorify God, and edify the believer.  The music used during the services is to prepare the hearts for the preaching of God’s Word.  

Who – Only those who meet the following qualifications will participate in the music ministry.

Qualifications

1.  Must be a member of Freedom Baptist Church and attend services faithfully.  A non-member may be appointed by the Pastor during special events.  For example, special events would include visiting sister churches, missionary teams/families, evangelist teams/families, college teams, and other similar special events.

2.  Must strictly adhere to the church’s policy concerning separation from the world.

3.  Must be loyal to the entire program of Freedom Baptist Church.

4.  Must be approved by the pastor.

Positions and Responsibilities

Music Director- The music director is responsible for the oversight of the entire music program.  His responsibilities include the following:  selecting the songs for each service, directing the congregational singing, directing the choir, writing the special music schedule, approving all musicians and special music, enforcement of policies and procedures, buying music and supplies for the music ministry, submitting the music budget to the pastor.  The music director is responsible and accountable to the pastor.

Pianist/Organist- The responsibilities of the pianist/organist include preparing and playing a prelude, accompanying during congregational singing, playing during the invitation, playing a postlude, and accompanying special music when requested.  The pianist/organist is responsible and accountable to the music director.

Choir Members– The responsibilities of the choir members are to be on time for all practices and services and follow the music director’s instructions and direction.  Choir members are responsible and accountable to the music director.

 Special Music Participants- The special music participants shall pick their music, have it approved, select an accompanist, and start practicing the music a minimum of two weeks prior to their scheduled date. Special music participants are responsible and accountable to the music director.

Conduct - Our behavior must be above reproach. 

-          All musicians should dress with utmost modesty. 

·         Men should be well groomed (hair off the ears and collar, beard and moustache well trimmed). This also includes wearing dress pants, shined shoes, and shirt and tie.

·         Ladies should wear dresses or skirts (minimum length at least to the bottom of the knee), and blouses (not sleeveless or having low-necklines being measured by two finger widths from collarbone) being conscious of maintaining modesty.

-          All musicians should abstain from all worldly behavior such as wrong music, wrong television shows, and destructive conversation.  Worldly music includes Rock and Roll, Hip Hop, Country, R&B, Heavy Metal, and any style that combines worldly music with Christian lyrics.  We must be an example to the believers (I Timothy 4:12).

How – We will seek to accomplish the music ministry mission by observing the following policies.

Guidelines and Procedures:

1.  All musicians who are playing during the congregational hymns must follow the director (this includes the piano, organ, and any orchestra members that are playing).

2.  Choir members must follow the director and be in the position that the director wants them in within a minute after the prelude starting.

3.  All people who want to be involved in special music must audition in front of the music director before they will be put on the special music schedule.

4.  All people doing special music must have their music and accompanist picked out and the music approved by the music director no later than 2 weeks prior to the week they are scheduled to sing or play an instrument.

5.  Do not make changes to the music schedule yourself, go through the music director. If you are tardy for a service that you are scheduled for special music and have not informed the music director, he will reschedule you for a later time. (Please try to let the music director know)

6.  All pianists and/or organists will need to have preludes and postludes for the services for which they are scheduled.

7.  The prelude must be familiar hymns.

8.  No photocopies of music may be used unless you or the church owns the rights to make such copies. 

9.  Music used in weddings, funerals, and all authorized meetings must be approved by the music director.