Triad’s search for a new contemporary worship leader is expected to begin later this month and conclude in spring 2016.

Lead Pastor Rob Decker first broke the news Sept. 20 during Sunday worship services, explaining that current worship leader Jared Hoots requested the change to be able to focus more on his primary passions — leading Triad’s Radiate high school student ministry group, and his growing family.

Hoots, who had held both roles since joining Triad’s ministry staff in May 2012, said Decker told him after he was hired to let him know if the load ever became too great, and he began that discussion about a year and half ago. Once the church was past its Not Without You capital campaign, Hoots said the church was in the position financially to move forward and find a replacement.

“I just feel like at this point in my life, I want to spend more time with my family and to do that, I needed to do one thing well, rather than two things mediocre,” Hoots said. “My big passion is discipling teenagers. That’s where I spend the majority of my time during the week. In reality, both ministries need someone in charge who is able to shepherd the people under their care.

“I have not been able to shepherd the members of Triad Worship Band as well as I would like,” he added. “Bringing someone in who can focus the majority of their time on praise and worship will not only help the band grow spiritually, but it will also improve the flow and focus of our worship service each week.”

Tim Gerber, executive pastor for children and ministries, is providing administrative oversight in a search process he and Hoots are co-leading, with Hoots handling the day-to-day details based on his experience leading the worship team for Triad’s contemporary service.

Gerber said the names of the other search committee members will be shared once confirmed by Decker and the other members of Triad’s Executive Leadership Team.

“I see Jared as more of the ‘day to day’ leader of the search team, who, with his success over the past few years in this role, has a finger on the pulse of who I believe we need to replace him in this capacity,” Gerber said. “I’m glad to provide administrative support so the team continues to do all it needs to do and has all it needs in this search process.

“We will most likely approach this new position as we have others in the past,” he said. “The search team would consist of 8 to 9 members (several who are currently involved in the contemporary worship process, Jared, myself, and two or three members of our current personnel team).”

According to the job description for the position, Triad is looking for someone with a “clear testimony of personal faith in Jesus Christ and a growing relationship with Him” as well as at least five years of experience as a contemporary worship leader. That includes skill singing and playing an instrument, serving in a church with multiple worship services, and successfully recruiting and building a team leading worship, vocalists, and musicians. The ability to arrange music for multiple instruments and at least a bachelor’s degree in music (but master’s degree preferred) also are among the qualifications.

As with other positions in Triad’s leadership model, the contemporary worship leader will have responsibility over a secondary area to be identified at hiring. A new area for Hoots will be identified once the contemporary worship leader position is filled.

“The next leader needs to have a passion for the Lord, first and foremost,” Hoot says. “In my experience, when I lead from a heart that is overflowing from my personal relationship and experience with God, it feels almost contagious. I believe it's also vital to have a heart to serve the senior pastor, understanding that he sets the direction for each worship service as he feels led by the Lord. A worship leader needs to be efficient vocally and instrumentally as well — not only in their own capacity, but also when it comes to directing the other members of the band and the ensemble.

“It's also important to be able to effectively lead and develop people. There must be a good balance of decision making and diplomacy. You don't want a leader who runs people off, but you also don't want a leader who lets everything go.”

Since Triad moved to a two-service format with contemporary and traditional services and Hoots became the contemporary worship band leader, contemporary service attendance has grown rapidly. It’s now Triad’s largest service. Including the ensemble singer and audio/visual specialists, Triad’s Worship Band team numbers nearly 75 people.

Hoots considers success recruiting and growing the team, developing a worship music set around the sermon theme, and using Bible passages at various points throughout the service among the ways the contemporary worship ministry has moved forward in recent years.

The new leader, he says, can now take the group to the next level.

“Being a worship leader is more than just leading songs from week to week,” Hoots says. “The worship leader needs to have a shepherd/pastor's heart. The rhythm of worship is revelation and response. God reveals Himself to us through His Word and we respond to His Word in obedience. The worship leader needs to be able to plan a worship service that fits this pattern. This takes a lot of preparation, not just musically, but theologically as well. The worship leader not only needs to master the art of music, but they need to master the study of Scripture as well and play a pastoral role in the lives of the team. Someone in a full-time position would be healthier for the team spiritually in the long run. I’m excited to see where the new person takes the ministry and how they tap the many talents we’ve been so obviously blessed with.

“Stepping down as the worship leader doesn’t mean that I will never lead songs on Sunday morning,” Hoots said. “I still plan to be a part of the Triad Worship Band in some way but just in a lesser role.”