Personal Spirituality

• Your own faith will shape your ministry as a worship pastor.Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
  
  Developing your own personal spirituality is the first step in preparing to be a worship pastor. Churches do not want to hire someone who is just looking for a job. They want someone who has a sense of call to lead God's people in worship. A worship pastor, first and foremost, should be a person of faith.
  
  

Theological Education

• Seminary offers an opportunity to encounter others preparing for ministry.Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
  
  A worship pastor needs to be grounded in the theological tradition of her church. You should take foundational courses in systematic theology, church history, Biblical studies, Christian ethics and pastoral theology. You also need to understand your church's main emphasis, whether it is holiness, the sacraments, social justice or evangelism. Learn what role public worship plays in your church's fulfillment of its mission. Many seminaries offer programs specifically geared to worship pastor education.
  
  

Music

• A guitar is a portable musical resource that lets you lead worship anywhere.Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
  
  Music is an essential part of lively and inspiring worship. The worship pastor is often responsible for choosing congregational songs and choir anthems as well as directing the choir or band. Learn to play at least one musical instrument well enough so that you can lead congregational singing if necessary. Take courses in hymnody, song composition and choral direction. Learn how to locate new songs or hymns that fit your church's theology and worship style. Study more widely than your own musical preference, exploring traditional, contemporary and multicultural sources.
  
  

Volunteer Management

• Learn to use tact and enthusiasm in managing worship volunteers.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Most of the people you work with as a worship pastor will be volunteers. These are church members who freely give of their time and talent to help lead worship. As worship pastor, you will be responsible for recruiting, training, organizing and supporting worship volunteers, which might include singers, instrumentalists, readers, children's worship leaders, lay communion ministers, prayer leaders and lay preachers. Your job might also include chairing the worship committee or other teams that have particular responsibilities related to worship.
  
  

Pastoral Understanding

• Be aware of the multicultural nature of many congregations.Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
  
  Worship planning should rise out of a pastoral understanding of the role that public worship plays in people's lives. Seek education which is pastorally focused so that you will understand how worship supports and helps people in many different life circumstances, such as a recent death, the birth of a baby, job loss, family conflict or starting college. Appreciate how worship is experienced differently by long-time church members and newcomers, and by those who are devout and those who are seekers. Think intergenerationally, and plan worship which will speak to people of all ages.