Biting Off More Than You Can Chew: Rethinking Large Worship Teams

A growing trend in small to medium sized churches, from congregations of 100 to 1000 members, is assembling worship teams with 9 to 12 (or more) background vocalists—many of whom can also serve as lead vocalists—alongside 6 to 10 instrumentalists. While the intent is often to involve more people and create a dynamic worship experience, this approach presents significant challenges that can outweigh its benefits, particularly for volunteer-based teams.

Challenges of Oversized Worship Teams

1. Lack of Rotation Leads to Burnout

When a worship team is disproportionately large compared to the church’s membership, the same volunteers often serve multiple times a week. This not only leads to exhaustion but also takes away their opportunities to simply sit in the congregation, listen, and respond to the message. Over time, this imbalance can weaken their personal relationship with God, turning service into routine rather than worship.

2. Production Complexity

More vocalists and musicians mean a greater demand for microphones, monitor mixes, and audio operators to manage the mix effectively creating issues with clarity in sound. Additionally, larger teams require expanded lighting, video production, and stage management, increasing the burden on tech volunteers and resources. Touring groups very rarely have even half the size of a this size church team operate with professional engineers and a full staff dedicated to ensuring every detail is executed flawlessly. They have roles such as FOH engineers, monitor engineers (sometimes multiple with bigger teams), stage managers, instrument techs, and dedicated tech support, which are often unavailable in a church setting where volunteers are juggling multiple responsibilities. Without these additional positions, churches with large worship teams may struggle to achieve a polished and cohesive sound.

3. Difficulty Maintaining Excellence

A larger team introduces a wide range of skill levels, making it difficult to uphold musical excellence. Often, in large worship teams, the overall standard declines as expectations for practice and preparation diminish. This shift in culture not only compromises the quality of worship offered to God but also affects the congregation’s worship experience. Without accountability, future volunteers may adopt a more casual approach, further reducing the team’s overall quality. (Colossians 3:23, Psalms 33:3)

4. Financial Considerations

Equipping a larger team comes with significant financial and logistical challenges. More vocalists and musicians require additional microphones, in-ear monitors, stands, lighting, video cameras, and other technical equipment. For churches with limited budgets, this can divert resources away from other important ministry needs.

A Case for a More Intentional Approach

Rather than defaulting to an oversized team, churches may benefit from a more strategic approach—one that prioritizes a consistent core team with intentional rotations. A smaller, well-trained team fosters stronger musical chemistry, simplifies production needs, and allows for a culture of excellence and development. Ultimately, this leads to a more effective worship experience for both the team and the congregation.

If there was one phrase to sum it up, quality over quantity.

Mark Carlberg

02/24/2025