surviving the quagmire of church/personalities/music/standards

[Mirabilis]

Let's share some stories about churches; how they operate; how they treat musicians, especially
SUBSTITUTE organists.

For a number of years I served as the substitute organist of first choice. This church was quite
a distance from my home and I had to spend lots of time and energy getting to and from the church
on practice days (usually Saturdays) and Sundays.

My honorarium was barely adequate for an organist that lived three to eight miles from the church;
I lived twenty-two miles from the church and not once was that honorarium raised to an amount
adequate, let alone generous.

I raised this issue more than once and never received any response. The "vibrations" in this particular church were very unfortunate. A volatile atmosphere prevailed and this contributed to a very bad lack of coordination and a general sense of no direction, purpose, etc.

I finally had to say that I was no longer available to "sub" at this church.

What stories can other readers of this forum contribute on this topic?

I'm looking forward to hearing from readers.

[Menschenstimme]

While I have never experienced anything quite this:

"The vibrations in this particular church were very unfortunate. A volatile atmosphere prevailed and this contributed to a very bad lack of coordination and a general sense of no direction, purpose, etc."

I must admit that I have days when I fear that at my own parish the inmates have taken over the asylum.

On a bad day I want to quote a line from the original Star Trek series episode "Errand of Mercy" where one character says: "The mere presence of beings such as yourselves is intensely painful to us."

[jbird604]

I am fortunate in my present church to be appreciated beyond all expectations, and I thank God for that every day! These folks have apparently had a string of previous musicians who were arrogant and rude, and probably incompetent as well, so they just love my wife and me to death and pay us more than I think we can possibly be worth!

That glorious thought aside, I do know how painful it is to be unappreciated and treated like a disposable something (I probably should say "diaper" because that might give a clue as to what they sometimes "dump" on you). There are unfortunately too many churches with those bad vibrations, those power struggles, people with some agenda, preachers who are out to build their own little empire, and in places like that you are likely to get burned.

Our last situation started out as a small country church with some of the world's sweetest people. We found acceptance and love in great measure. But other churches in the area had troubles and people began moving to our church in droves. The church prospered, or at least it expanded. Our solid music program was a definite drawing card, and most of the incoming folks treated us well. But trouble-makers also came along who wanted to "improve" the church and bring in some music that would "grow" the church. They managed to call a pastor who also wanted to "grow" the church above all else. You can guess the outcome, a big growth spurt followed by deep conflict, a huge fight, feelings hurt, the good people all leaving, and we were left with a congregation, the majority of which apparently didn't care whether we stayed or not. We soon left and would never go back even though a few friends are still members there.

Sometimes our troubles are of our own making, I know, and sometimes it just happens. It's sometimes painful, but if we move on and wait patiently we may be surprised by a wondrous new opportunity, as was our experience.

I think you did the right thing to become "unavailable" to that trouble-filled church. There are places to play where folks will love and respect you and find spiritual food in what you offer them.