Worshipers for Hire

August 03, 2005

GRAND RAPIDS — On Saturday night Jim Kendall swivels on his bar stool at the Belly Up Tavern, snuffs out his cigarette and says, “Gotta go, guys. I’m gigging tomorrow.”

The next morning at 10 a.m. Kendall, dressed in ironed Dockers and a Polo shirt, sings with gusto in the third row at Neighborhood Christian Center.

“Praise God!” he shouts, lifting his hands and prompting others to chime in with “amen” and “glory.” His infectious enthusiasm is just what the pastor ordered. Kendall isn’t a Christian, but he and hundreds of other people across the U.S. are getting paid as much as $12 an hour by temp placement agencies to pretend to be exuberant worshipers.

Full article

Posted by pablohart on August 03, 2005 01:30 PM

Comments

At $12/hour for only 2-3 hours per week--is it really worth it to the pretender?? Unbelievable!

Posted by Aunt Boots at August 4, 2005 8:10 AM

It is unbelievable, because the Lark News has tongue-in-cheek articles. Go to the full article and read the rest of their articles.

Posted by Eugene at August 4, 2005 9:32 AM

that's funny, Paul. that site is pretty hilarious, even if it's kinda cruelly-motivated in parts.

but this for-hire thing isn't an all-out joke actually. many of my pastor friends are dealing with the issue of hired choir members. many churches out here on the east coast pay one lead (really good money) per section of the choir to sing. i used to attend a church NYC that had an entire paid choir. one person in that choir was a professing Christ-follower, the rest were "gigging" Broadway hopefuls, just happy to be working. i sat through staff meetings where valid points on many sides were debated. "hey, these people wouldn't be in church if not for us paying them. maybe they're learning something" for example. or conversely, "can the worshiping congregation be spiritually led by someone who does not believe the words she is singing?"

so, the Lark piece is funny, but the paid choir issue is very real in many churches.

Posted by Nathan at August 4, 2005 11:25 AM

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