Directing: Learning the Ropes gang. First Rehearsal

Should Christian Artists Work in Church for Free?

I asked this question to an actor sitting across the table from me. I thought she’d have something to say about this. She is a Christian and her sole income is as a free lance dramatist. She’s been doing this work for a few years. It’s hard work. Though she juggles many free lance teaching and performing jobs, she still lives at home, and still lives month to month on meager earnings. Her answer was as I expected. “They will expect me to work for free, and will make me feel guilty if I suggested that it is my livelihood and tell them my fee.”

As an artist myself, I sympathize and identify with her answer. As a pastor’s wife of nearly twenty years, I also have a unique vantage point on this issue.

Churches by definition are volunteer organizations

Most churches run on a shoestring budget. Supported by the offerings of their congregations, most churches have barely enough money to pay a modest salary to an overworked pastor or two. The average church budget rarely can afford much more than the rental or upkeep of their facility, operating expenses and the support a missionary or outreach cause. The Christian who fixes toilets or repairs electrical outlets for their livelihood often volunteers his service to help maintain the church. The teacher, who works six days a week, can often be found on the seventh in Children’s Ministries. The accountants can be found on the church board. The doctors and dentists often treat pastors and missionaries for free and then go to some developing nation on their holiday to pull teeth or offer other healthcare. Romans 12:5-8 says, “We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others. God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well….If your gift is to encourage others, do it!” In light of these verses, what is so special about artists? Why would we even assume it should be different for us?

No one owes us a living

I believe part of the grumblings is from a need to have better boundaries. We also can get a bitter because in choosing art as our career we have such pitiful incomes compared to others. But following art as a career path is a choice, your choice. It should be no surprise that there is little money to be earned in art; in the church or in the marketplace. Throughout the ages, unless an artist has a wealthy benefactor, finances have always been a challenge. It is more realistic to think of your craft as a “calling” than a “career.” There is usually great personal satisfaction and often great freedom in a creative career. There is also ample thanks and praise that come with the job. But cash is not quite as free flowing as the praise! This isn’t any different for church. Though we may like the verse in 1 Timothy 5:18 that says, “Elders who do their work well should be paid well….Those who work deserve their pay!” Here is the reality: When asked to bring your craft to a church, you can assume that they mean for it to be an offering. You may be offered a little white envelope when your service is done. It’s a “love offering.” Though it may be enough to reimburse you for the expenses you incurred on the job, don't do the work with hopes that the contents will pay your rent! So, you need to face reality about your income as an artist and pray from Proverbs 30:8 “Give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.

When asked to bring your craft to a church, you can assume that they mean for it to be an offering. You may be offered a little white envelope when your service is done.

A talented dramatist here once told me that he doesn't serve in his church in the area of drama. He feels that when he is serving in some other capacity, he can't get a bad attitude about doing it for free. However, soon after he told me this, I learned that he was directing a big project at his new church. He felt convicted about helping them with this project and wanted to serve the Lord and his church this way. Later he told me that the church had given him a generous monetary gift which he didn’t ask for or expect.

The key to our practice as artists: follow Jesus

Once you are “discovered” by your church, you will be asked by any one who can use your talent, to serve through your art. You must follow Jesus, and learn to listen to his voice about how, when and where he wants you to give your gift back in worship to him. The church wants and needs the creativity you have to offer. If you are truly talented, you will be asked often to serve. Your gift came from God when he created you, and you are developing it with his hand on your life. Look to him to see how he wants to lead you in using your craft, both in and out of the community of faith. When you do offer your gift as an act of service to him, it needs to be from a full heart of gratitude and never from a sense of obligation. Don’t be bullied by well meaning people who know you’ve got something that they want. Make it between you and the Lord. They’ll wait for your answer, and though they may be disappointed, they’ll respect a firm “no” when you know it’s not the right thing for you to do. I am constantly refining my calling statement, which helps me in making purposeful ministry commitments. (See http://kimberlycreasman.blogspot.com for the draft.) Romans 12:1,2 is a touchstone for me about this, “Give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice…When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?....Let God transform you…then you will know what God wants you to do….”

“When you do offer your gift as an act of service to him, it needs to be from a full heart of gratitude and never from a sense of obligation.”

Nearly all my life I’ve had a strong conviction that my calling is as a theatre artist. Even more specific, my calling has been to discover ways to practice theatre as a means of sharing the Gospel, equipping Christians, or drawing people closer to God in worship. I knew from the start that this was not going to be a lucrative career! My expectation was always that I would make money doing something else on the side while I worked on learning and practicing my craft. Being from Los Angeles, where there are so many out-of-work actors waiting tables, I considered it a privilege that my church allowed me to experiment with my art and gave me a platform to actually showcase it and have an audience who would see it and hopefully be enriched and blessed by it.

The truth of this really was impressed on my one Easter season when I went to see an actor friend in a Community Theatre production. You can find Community Theatres in nearly every city of the United States. People get involved merely for the love of theatre, and the chance to do it. In this particular performance my friend performed with 8 other actors. She gave an outstanding performance of a well crafted show to an audience of only, get this, FIVE people. I, on the other hand, was writing and directing a piece about the verifiable facts of Christ’s resurrection which in a few weeks would be seen by more than 7000. I was so very grateful to God for the platform he’s given me to influence others through the art I love!

Over the years, God has always provided for me; even though my art has rarely been validated by a pay check.

Last year, I worked nearly full time in some capacity of theatre as ministry. I traveled to 4 countries to teach, direct, speak or write. It was great year for me. It was all very fulfilling work. However, I made no contracts before hand, and at the end of the year, my total income was only $500. Well, that plus a few thank you notes and a pair of earrings. In the past, this engendered self-pity. After 100 hours or more on a production, I’d look at the $100 inside a white envelope and thought, “Is this is all I’m worth?” Over the years I’ve have to take these thoughts captive, and put them on the altar of his grace. I have to constantly ask for his heart and mind toward myself and his church. Over the years, God has always provided for me; even though my art has rarely been validated by a pay check. Meditating on Philippians 2:5-8 has given me perspective: “Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross.”

The church I attend here has a policy, for now, to not pay any artists. If money is given to someone leading a workshop or class, it comes from the individuals taking the class and not from the church budget. The church does pay their guest speakers however, and once being far too cheeky, I asked the Creative Arts Pastor, “Why this double standard? In some cases, aren’t guest artists likewise holding forth the Word in worship?” He agreed with the inequity, but he is not the gatekeeper on church policy. For the time being, I’ve settled it for myself in this way: I am very careful about the commitments I make for serving churches, and if I am not sure that I can do it as joyful offering, I suggest making up a contract. I recently told another volunteer drama ministry leader that if they wanted to host their drama training for a group of churches, then I would gladly come do the training for free. If they wanted to have me come teach a small group of their people, we would need to make a contract. She’s getting back to me about it.

I am very careful about the commitments I make for serving churches, and if I am not sure that I can do it as joyful offering, I suggest making up a contract.

If when settling this issue for yourself, you need to start making contracts with churches, Paul McCusker in his book Playwriting: Choices and Challenges gives some great advice. He tells artists to talk about your expectations and convictions up front. Do not commit to anything without knowing where both you and the church stands. It's often awkward, but he says its win-win if you are open and upfront and both sides communicate well at the beginning of the project. You can see this as part of your serving the Lord: communicating with clarity and honesty.

Summing it up with some advice…

Earnestly ask the Lord the path he wants you to take, and don’t give up asking until you know for sure what the answer is. Take every effort to improve yourself in this calling. Follow him and his Word. Learn to be wise about money. And trust him more than anyone you love to take care of you. Whether or not you are paid by a church is not as important as whether you are being obedient to Jesus in practicing the art he’s gifted you in and called you to with an attitude of thanksgiving. Colossians 3:23, 24 says,“Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as you’re your reward….”

Some of you will sense the Lord wants you to use your talent in church as your gift to him, some of you will want to check out sample contracts that other artists use. Some will find that it is a mixture of both. No matter what, keep your attitude about your worth as an artist on the altar before God. If you’re not making a contract to offer professional services, pitch in with your craft and be part of the volunteer organization that is the church. Then you’ll consider it an unexpected ang bao when they offer you a little white envelope.

Scripture quotes are from the New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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