Dance Ministry Ethics #1: Leaving After Ministry
October 26 – 30, 2009 is Dance Ministry Ethics Week here on Paneh’s site. Each day a new topic will be featured for discussion. The scenarios presented are based on real events however no actual names will be used.
The first topic for discussion is ministries that leave a service after their "turn" on program. Whenever I sponsor an event, it is disheartening to see invited dance and/or mime ministries leave immediately after their selection. When accepting an engagement to minister in dance, is it too much to ask for ministries to stay for the entire program? Should an invitee consider the length of the entire service when considering whether or not accept an engagement? Is asking the guests to stay for the entire service too much?
There have been occasions where invitees have asked to be moved to a particular spot on program because they are either coming from or going to another engagement. This lets me know their intention is not to stay for the duration of the event. I understand circumstances may come up after a commitment has been made and appreciate the communication and compromise. However, I don’t understand accepting multiple engagements on the same day, or worse…leaving for no apparent reason at all.
On one hand:
Invited guests should stay for the entire service. You never know when their will be a shift in the program and the hosts or organizers may need you to minister again. Ministry means to serve and that should extend to the entire service.
On one other hand:
There are only so many hours in a day! If a ministry’s schedule is demanding, sometimes the only way to support various services is to only attend in part.
Personally, when accepting an invitation I do everything possible to make sure my schedule allows me to stay for the duration of the service. There have been occassions, especially with the children & teen dance ministries that they are not able to stay for the entire duration. During those instances, I make sure the host knows before confirming the invite to ensure this is acceptable and also try to position ourselves near the exit so we can leave without creating a distraction.
It’s your turn!
Is it OK to leave before the end of a service as an invited guest?
If you host events, how would you feel about guests leaving? Would it bother you?
Leave your comments and participate in the poll below
Posted by Lakita Fane
Lakita Fane serves as the founder of Paneh Praise Dance & Mime Ministry. Find out more about her or follow her on Twitter (@Paneh).
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i voted “No”, but my comment is, that there are some programs that go on long after the allotted time, making it necessary for us to leave. i had to leave an event because the stated time was 8:00-11:30. however, one of the speakers decided to emotionally vent and took a looooong time to get his point across, and others followed suit, putting the schedule behind. at 11:15 the main speaker hadn’t gone up YET, and there were still other things slated on the program. it became very draining! i had to be somewhere at 1:00. so…i left, but let them know that i had a prior comittment at 1:00, and also left a voice mail for the person in charge. it is always appropriate to remain for the entire event so it does not appear to be all about “you” but sometimes an event can go on and on and on… like this post
I voted “no” as well – but am very sensitive to looooooong services. Especially since our dance ministry includes young people who are not of driving age and rely on their parents for transportation.
I’ve come across a “laziness” (lack of a better way of describing this) among some event organizers who overpack the program, thereby causing many to simply wait it out – all night long. Whenever they are approached on this issue, they simply use the line that we should all let “they Holy Ghost have his way…”
While I agree with being in the spirit – I also have to face many irate parents when their children are held up all night!
So – I try to get as much information and really understand what the expectations are of the group prior to confirming an event. If events are held on school nights (when school is in session) – I may request that our team be allowed to dance and also let the organizer know that some of us may have to leave prior to the end of the program because of work/school. I also paint a real picture to the parents regarding the event and the expectation that we have (as well as any time issues that may come up).
You both have brought out a great point. Assuming the event stays reasonably on schedule, then I think we both agree that the best thing to do is stay for the entire service.
When events run beyond the scheduled time, then you have to make a judgment call.
I also work with youth and when I kept them out late on school nights I heard about it! I try to do better now
Plenty of people lurking (that is reading, but not commenting)….would love to hear your thoughts!
Lakita
I voted “NO” to leaving after you have ministered at a program. It is interersting how some ministries (who are in it for their own gratification) do what they do and Always leave right after. It shows no respect for the program or the following ministries. Unless arrangements have been made before the program began, to me, there really is no excuse for leaving before the program is over. Someone may want to be a blessing to you after the program and you missed it because you left for some aparent reason. I know what it is to be tired and think that you don’t have the energy or time to stay until the end but None of us Know like Jesus Knows what it means to Stay Until It Is Finished! That is the spirit that many of us are lacking. The unsaved see it and will enter into ministry with the mindset of I don’t have to do it 100%; 99.9 is good enough like every body else. It is better not to take an engagement than to take it and become a distraction which by the standards of man will never be forgotten. Stay Until It is Finished; It’s like being commmited to the work of the Lord (yet many of us can’t even commit to that).
I actually have a question to pose in this situation. Our ministries have begun to offer mine presentations with the facial makeup. I would like to have some insight on this topic: Do you feel that it is proper to allow your group to clean their faces right after a presentation? We have several youth that have sensitive skin (and younger participants that complain of the nature of the makeup as well, which crosses over into parental issues). Could this also be considered “leaving”, even though you are still at the event? Otherwise, I have no question….IT IS disrespectful to leave early (especially without another engagement). I recently had to ask for forgiveness for leaving early from our church anniversary high day, due to another appointment. However, I found one of the pastoral wife’s before I left and explained the situation surrounding my leaving (we should be accountable, decent, and in order). So I pray for all of us that we grow in respect of the Lord, his temples, and his time.
@Alexa – Good points! Not only may someone be a blessing to you…but the Lord may use you to be a blessing to someone else. Never know if you’re gone!
@Jason – AWESOME question!!! Really something to think about. I have my thoughts but I want to wait and see what others have to say. I’ll be back with my reply.
“Ooooooh!!! This is one of my pet peeves in ministry. I absolutely hate it when dancers leave after they have “ministered”…ugh! After all, we are dance/flag/mime MINISTERS, not performers. We are supposed to be there to minister the presence of God and enjoy His nearness. How can you do that when you leave? (However, I think some services are a bit long, but I always stay anyway:-)”
@Dawn – It is one of my pet peeves too. As an event host it is troubling when invitees leave without reason.
@Jason – I want to address your question about Mime Ministers leaving to remove make-up. I also minister through mime and work with youth who mime.
The purpose of the make-up is to DRAW ATTENTION to the facial expressions. This works well during the presentation, but have found that afterwards it can be a distraction. For this reason, whenever I am going to ministry through mime or the youth, I have them put their make-up on and position themselves in the back of the church or someplace where there is the least amount of visibility while still in the service.
Because it is an “attention grabber”, my practice has been to remove the make-up at the next available opportunity. In other words, I don’t run out as soon as the song is over, but I position myself to slip out discreetly, remove the make-up ONLY as quickly as possible* and return to the service.
Personally, I do not consider that leaving as long as you return to the event as expeditiously as possible. You are still there to support the remainder of the service.
Oh, regarding the sensitive skin…one of the parents recommended a calming cream. Apply a thin layer before the white foundation. We did this last week and there were less complaints of irritation.
What do others think?
* Shameless plug
— I have professional mime kits that can be ordered from my other site (http://www.mimeministry.net – still a work in progress). This make-up remover takes off 99% of the white foundation in seconds!
This is a huge, huge pet peeve of mine as well. I have told my team repeatedly that when we are called upon to minister at an event, we are called to be “a part” of the entire ministry effort. We pray together not just that we do well with our presentation but that we find our spot on the wall and do our part to contirubute to the over all effort that is taking place. In essence, let our ministry fit within the overall context so we are collectively effective. I believe and have told my team that if they don’t feel they can stay for the event, please don’t sign on to go because “we” are not that important. On the flip I have to agree with some of the above comments because yes there have been times when we have had no choice but to leave. Occassionally some ministries don’t take into consideration the age of the participants when they have event gears towards the youth. Our 6-9 year old mimers don’t need to be at a program that ends after 11pm…especially on a school night. I believe the rule of thumb should be to plan to participate in the full engagement unless there are extenuating circumstances.
This is so interesting I have noticed many ministries do their thing and leave I have been guilty from time to time but this will allow me to focus not just on us but the entire ministry before us. Great information.
Just why do we minister in praise dance in the first place?
Many of us probably say it is to praise and bless God, or to help usher His Presence into a place or help someone to understand His Love and Word better.
But when we really understand what it is to “minister” — ‘to attend to the wants and needs of others,’ according to WordNet — do we accomplish ministry if we do a ‘dance-and-run’ at various events?
And while I know circumstances might prevent us from always staying until a program’s end — such as the time I helped chaperone a younger group of girls who ministered much later into the night than the adults involved had anticipated, with some of them scheduled to attend a sleepover birthday party that same night — we should make those times the exception rather than the rule. (Incidentally, some of that same group, now much older, were prepped and did minister at a church an hour away two Sundays ago, this after attending a full morning and day at their own church and not arriving back home until 6 that evening. Meanwhile, they all stayed alert and engaged while the minister preached and the rest of the program continued, causing the host pastor to comment positively on their mature behavior.)
Also, as dance-ministers, we should consider who it is that God might want us to truly’ touch,’ really minister to in that environment. I was reminded this morning that our ultimate job is still to ‘witness’ for Him and grow His Kingdom here on earth — period.
If we’re already gone, the person assigned to our closer-up ministry might just still be waiting . . . ‘
@James: That is a great mentality…it is an entire ministry effort. And you’re right…”we” are not that important…I think its good that you try to get full commitment in advance
@Daviette: Thank you for your honesty! I think we’ve all been there at some point. This caused me to take a closer look at my punctuality for services where I am NOT “on program”…we are ministers 24/7 and should be ready to serve and support.
@His Hem Ministry: Thank you for bringing out the definition of ministry!
So it seems the consensus is to stay unless circumstances are preventing it. So my question is…why is this such a problem? Shifting the focus from the invitees to the organizer temporarily….should the event organizer:
1. Express the expectation for ministries to stay before confirming
2. Provide an estimated duration of service
And should the invitees accept invitations if they KNOW they can only attend in part?
The pupose of our dance is to lead people to worship the Lord. If you must leave than leave. However; always remember your purpose. When we “dance” the “ministry” continues after the “dance” is over. After we dance someone, might want to get saved, someone else will be healed,a someone else give and receive a phrophetic word, and much more. If you leave you might miss all of what God’s wants to do.
@Lakita – write the vision and make it plain. Maybe a little of both 1 and 2. Just like in a marriage, if one spouse doesn’t share what is expected or desired, then the other spouse operates off their own expectations or what they think the other will “accept” (sermon for another day LOL). I think we are all privy to seeing music ministries jet after their presentations so since we are in the same category, “why can’t we” is the attitude of many. As we raise the bar, we need to begin to speak out what we expect and hopefully it will change the status quo. This blog is an example of someone taking a stand to speak to challenges in ministry and dealing with them to effect the whole for good. I think that is the only way change will ever occur. Now I don’t believe oour communication should be negative, but a gentle reminder of what we are looking for (ie. We would hope that after your presentation you would continue in service to support and witness what the other ministries have prepared so you can receive ministry after you have poured out before the King)
I feel that both suggestions would be helpful for the event coordinators to give. Participants would then be able to make quality decisions about being able to be involved (it is like a marriage – props to Mr. Douglas for the image)! I pray that ALL of our comments raise the bar and get us to think about how the participants and coordinators can come together and create events that praise the Lord in the fullest (like the Equipping the Saints Conference…SHAMELESS PLUG, can’t wait ’til 2010!!!!!!!!)!
Very good question. It has never crossed my mind to leave right after we minister. When our Pastor preaches at another church and he requests the dance ministry to minister, it usually happnes right before he preaches so I suppose that is why I personally have not thought about this when asked to minister at other churches. Nonetheless, if a ministry has other engagements, family obligations, etc. I believe the right course of action should be to alert the host and make your exit at the least obtrusive time in the service. Otherwise, stay and be blessed!
I think if you are an invited guest, upon accepting the engagement you should make it known whether or not you will be able to stay for the duration of the program. Also it depends on the nature of the program as well. But to simply "disappear" after a program blocks a blessing. Often times just like people in the congregation may want to talk to a speaker or Pastor after a service / event etc. they may want to speak with a praise dance minister to give a testimony or to let you know how they were moved or to inquire about the ministry itself. It's a blessing to be a blessing….I am new to the site… but I simply had to comment on this one.
@StephNIE:
First of all….welcome to the site! I hope you'll find the information here helpful and you'll return and visit us again.
You bring up a good point about blocking your blessing…we just never know how the Lord will move throughout the service or whose heart we've touched that may want to share their testimony…it may be an opportunity to further minister to someone. Excellent point!
@Irma: I agree with your course of action!
@Jason – I'm laughing at your "shameless plug"…haha!
I agree that if you are there to minister to people through mime or dance, the individual or group should stay to be ministered to as well. The team members should alway get there early to greet the host and express your gratitude, this way if you do have to leave they won't feel like you just skipped out. However under circumstances members of the groups can not always stay. It like when your invited to a party, maybe you go for a few hours than you have to leave, no harm done. The team leader should already know the situation with each member, so it not a surprise. Now that i'm thinking about it, I've seen special guest ministers or pastor leave after their sermon, they don't alway stay til the end of the conference or benadiction. Is that ok? The reality is people have lives outside of the ministry, but they still want to participate during the events.
So should you removed your team member if they are faithful to the ministry, go to outside event to minister, but can't alway stay?
God's evening!
It appears that this is something that all movement ministries and or groups have dealt with one way or another. I use the word groups because…let's keep it real…everyone who presents to gospel music are not in it to glorify God and edify the people, some are there for self-gratification. This separates the ministries or ministers from the performers…the entertainers! As ministers we are called to serve, our service does not stop after we have given our presentation. A minister is always on watch…we are Watchmen and as so we should always be ready and available for the shifting of the Holy Spirit. I agree with Deacon James, if you do not have intentions of staying for the entire service or least until after the alter call, which is when you may need to minister to someone who was touched by what the heard and saw, then why are you attending the service? Our intentions should be to minister to and be ministered to. This is to Tiaa–with regard to having lives outside of ministry…if this is going to conflict with the ministry's schedule to minister then I would suggest that the member decline to participate at that particular service…everyone does not have to make every "praise party". Use wisdom…knowing and doing what is right.
Blessings in abun"Dance"!