This post will be only a beginning in what I intend as an on-going discussion of the status of the church musician in America. As the days and weeks and months go on I intend to flesh out certain proposals for an improvement in the status and treatment of church musicians.
Church musicians are doubtless some of the most underpaid professionals in America. There are many reasons for this. Chief among them are two: 1) There is a history of giving one's time to the church with no charge. This spills over into the field of church music. 2) Many if not most church musicians contain no degree in music and skill levels vary widely.
With this kind of history plus the doctrine of separation of church and state which prevents many fair labor laws from being applied in religious institutions, it is not hard to see how church musicians are under-compensated and have such poor benefit packages (if any).
With the coming to be of a new administration in Washington I believe it is time to apply a new philosophy to the plight of the local church musician. Accordingly, I propose the following:
1. There needs to be a formal section within the American Federation of Musicians devoted to church music. This is due to the special nature of the field. Alternatively, a special church musicians union could be established. Such a section or union could develop new programs of support for the church musician and could effect collective bargaining agreements within every city. Such a section or union could begin to develop minimum standards for the church musician in the areas of musical and theological training.
2. To continue: A church musicians department could, through force of numbers, begin to exert a positive influence on the hiring of church musicians in an area. Lists of cooperating churches could be built up and promulgated. Churches would be assured of musicians with at least a minimal level of training, particularly in the area of theology, an area of training deficient in nearly every school of music in America. Churches would also have access to affordable means of continuing education.
3. These musicians' leagues, sections, or unions could get their funding from dues and possibly foundation support. It can be considered whether the churches themselves could contribute directly or whether it would be best to disallow this.
4. Normal job benefits could be paid to the church musician through this union of church musicians in the event the church is unable to pay. Eventually, the government should provide for such benefits as is now done in virtually every western European country.
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As will be seen, the suggestions above all relate to a new union of musicians. Serious thought must be given to whether the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), affiliated as it is with the AFL-CIO, is the best vehicle. Unfortunately, at the present time there is no existing musicians' league or guild outside of the AFM which has sufficient clout to protect the interests of both church musicians and the religious institutions for which they work.
Much more can be said about this subject. But clearly, if ever there was a time for major change, what with all the on-going job insecurity, it is now. Responsible comments are most welcome.
(c) 2009 by The Concerned Church Musician
Church musicians are doubtless some of the most underpaid professionals in America. There are many reasons for this. Chief among them are two: 1) There is a history of giving one's time to the church with no charge. This spills over into the field of church music. 2) Many if not most church musicians contain no degree in music and skill levels vary widely.
With this kind of history plus the doctrine of separation of church and state which prevents many fair labor laws from being applied in religious institutions, it is not hard to see how church musicians are under-compensated and have such poor benefit packages (if any).
With the coming to be of a new administration in Washington I believe it is time to apply a new philosophy to the plight of the local church musician. Accordingly, I propose the following:
1. There needs to be a formal section within the American Federation of Musicians devoted to church music. This is due to the special nature of the field. Alternatively, a special church musicians union could be established. Such a section or union could develop new programs of support for the church musician and could effect collective bargaining agreements within every city. Such a section or union could begin to develop minimum standards for the church musician in the areas of musical and theological training.
2. To continue: A church musicians department could, through force of numbers, begin to exert a positive influence on the hiring of church musicians in an area. Lists of cooperating churches could be built up and promulgated. Churches would be assured of musicians with at least a minimal level of training, particularly in the area of theology, an area of training deficient in nearly every school of music in America. Churches would also have access to affordable means of continuing education.
3. These musicians' leagues, sections, or unions could get their funding from dues and possibly foundation support. It can be considered whether the churches themselves could contribute directly or whether it would be best to disallow this.
4. Normal job benefits could be paid to the church musician through this union of church musicians in the event the church is unable to pay. Eventually, the government should provide for such benefits as is now done in virtually every western European country.
**************
As will be seen, the suggestions above all relate to a new union of musicians. Serious thought must be given to whether the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), affiliated as it is with the AFL-CIO, is the best vehicle. Unfortunately, at the present time there is no existing musicians' league or guild outside of the AFM which has sufficient clout to protect the interests of both church musicians and the religious institutions for which they work.
Much more can be said about this subject. But clearly, if ever there was a time for major change, what with all the on-going job insecurity, it is now. Responsible comments are most welcome.
(c) 2009 by The Concerned Church Musician
