As with most choirs/praise teams/groups, leaders suffer with the "attendance" issue. Our former PT leader thought of an attendance policy, and I would just like to share it with you. Any comments, suggestions, etc., would be GREATLY APPRECIATED. If you could change/add anything, what would you add?
Mt. Hermon Praise Team Vocalists
Attendance Standardadopted in part from
http://www.ibc4life.com/templates/System/details.asp?id=21449&PID=311616&Style=adopted in part from
http://humanresources.about.com/od/attendancepolicy/a/attendance_pol_2.htm The Praise Team ministry places high value in rehearsal attendance. In order for the team to succeed and minister at optimum level, rehearsal attendance is a priority. Without regular attendance, the team suffers. While it is expected that members may pursue other passions outside of MHBC, it is also expected that members demonstrate a high sense of value in the area of rehearsal attendance.
The scheduled rehearsal time for the Praise Team is every Saturday morning, 10:00am – 11:30am. In addition, the Praise Team is required to minister during MHBC’s Morning Service, every Sunday at 11am. If there are five Sundays in one calendar month, the Praise Team is not required minister on the fifth Sunday. Any change to this schedule will be told to the Praise Team members by the Praise Team Leader. In order to participate in any given Sunday service, members must be present for at least
three scheduled rehearsals previous to the Sunday in question. The worship leader reserves the right to waive this policy under certain circumstances. For example, in the unlikely event that a
Mount Hermon sponsored engagement (completely overseen by Mount Hermon, exclusively) coincides with the Praise Team’s requirements, any absence will be excused. However, special considerations for excused absences MUST be made in advance. If this is not feasible, it is the duty of the Praise Team Member to speak with the Praise Team Leader as soon as possible regarding their specific situation.
Each member is permitted
one free rehearsal absence per quarter (3 months). Moreover, unexcused absences may be made-up during the six days prior to, or six days following missed rehearsals, not to exceed two rehearsals per week. In order to make-up a rehearsal, the Praise Team member is responsible for setting up a time to meet with the Praise Team Leader and/or Lead Praise Team Musician for the full length of a regularly scheduled rehearsal – 1.5 hours.
In the event that a member of the Praise Team is unable to minister for
three consecutive Sundays due to an inexcusable attendance record, he/she will be asked to take a six-month sabbatical from the team to fully evaluate their continued participation with the Praise Team.
There were debates over what a Mt. Hermon sponsored event is, which led to the following ammendum.
ADDENDUM 4/1/2007Mt. Hermon Praise Team Vocalists
Attendance Standard Additional Explanations
As a gentle reminder, any and all considerations for excused rehearsals MUST be made in advance. Also, please bear in mind that although you set up your makeup rehearsals with me, the overseer of the rehearsal may actually be the lead praise team musician.
Let us further clarify and define what
this attendance policy considers as an
"unlikely event that a Mount Hermon sponsored engagement (completely overseen by Mount Hermon, exclusively) coincides with the Praise Team’s requirement (for reference see: Praise Team Attendance Policy.doc)." An MHBC ministry outing/event
generally is
NOT considered as such an engagement. For example, if the Usher Ministry is holding a bible study for its ushers, or the Kitchen Ministry is sponsoring a fish-fry during praise team rehearsals, or the Puppet Ministry decides to enter into a "battle of the puppets" contest, such events are
not considered "Mt. Hermon Sponsored" for this policy's purpose.
Here is where the line is drawn:
For the purposes of this policy , Mt Hermon Sponsored Events are events that could essentially merit the cancellation of the Praise Team's rehearsal. For example, if
the church were holding her Christmas Eve Service at 10am on Saturday morning, or if there were a funeral for someone at
the church, or if
the church is holding her scheduled annual ministry fair, absences from rehearsal (if rehearsal is not canceled) would be excused. Reoccurring events (i.e. congress meetings, prayer breakfasts, social gatherings) will generally NOT be an excuse for you to not have to make up your rehearsal. Someone allowed to miss one rehearsal per month AND an additional 4 "freebies" per year, will have only a 69% attendance record. We need 100%, family. In fact, 92% is what you get when you use your free passes. We can do better. 1˝ hours is such a small amount of time for such a large responsibility. Either way, one should not assume what is considered excused and what is considered unexcused. Always ask. In addition, 4th Sunday absences due to Children's Church are considered excused. Children's Church is a component of our main worship service, although it is only geared towards one ministry – the children. Children's Bible Study or Breakfast at Burger King on Saturday mornings, however, would be the same scenario as the Usher's Bible Study mentioned in the preceding paragraph.
Let us consider make-up rehearsals as a way to stay on track, not as a way to stay in compliance with a contract or a way to be punished for missing rehearsals...it's not about that...it's about us growing together, as a team.
For further clarification, please see your Praise Team Leader.
God Bless,
J.