Since living in western North Carolina I have had the pleasure of experiencing shape note singing  — a two-centuries-old method used to teach the singing of four-part harmony. In the
Asheville area, we sing from The Christian Harmony, a hymnal that includes songs preserved and passed on by William Walker and his contemporaries. Some of the tunes are joyful, some mournful; all have texts expressing theology deeply rooted in Biblical text and life experience. 

The all day singings start at 10 a.m., break for “dinner on the grounds,” and continue until 3 in the afternoon. Usually there is little conversation except during lunch. People have come to sing — to hear the tunes and the harmonies blend. That cannot happen without everyone’s presence and participation.
 
The singers are divided into four parts and the four parts sit in a square all facing the center with one person standing in the middle leading. The leader chooses the tune, pitches the tune and sets the tempo using a down/up beat. Many people take turns leading — some very experienced at leading, others stepping out timidly to try something new. At each “singing” an “arranger” takes charge of the flow of the event, identifying and announcing the sequence of leaders, one of which may be the arranger.
 
“There’s an art to arranging,” said a shape-note singing authority. He spoke of how important it is to call on enough experienced leaders so that the singing moves along. However, the arranger also wants to give inexperienced leaders an opportunity to lead, so they are called on early enough to have a chance to lead a tune they know. The arranger may say, “Chris, you’re up next, followed by Susan and then Mary.” Susan and then Mary start deciding what tune they will lead so that there is no lag time. The arranger keeps things moving by keeping track of who’s leading and of what songs are sung. 
 
The expert went on to describe it to me this way: “The arranger works to achieve a balance without being too authoritative... If everyone goes off in his or her own direction, it can get chaotic. If one person tries to exercise too much control, it can get stultified.” (His word. I had to look it up: rendered useless or ineffectual, inconsistent). The arranging has a dynamic quality about it — there has to be give and take. The process is creative and cooperative. And, from what I’ve experienced about shape-note singing, there are no soloists. The singing doesn’t happen unless everyone is equally contributing.
 
When asked about my role on the Alliance staff, I have grown to see myself with this team of leaders as the “arranger.” Carol, Susan, Mary and Chris have amazing skills! I’ll be working to arrange the flow and expression of those gifts so that each one is leading out of places where they are called and gifted — and assigned! The task appears challenging, yet an opportunity to fully live into the model for staffing embraced by the Alliance more than two years ago.
 
I also see my role with the Alliance as one that reflects one I’ve filled the almost 30 years
I’ve been in ministry: the role of the pastor. Today’s word for the team may be a word of comfort, tomorrow’s a word of challenge, and the next day’s a word of optimism and hope. 

As the arranger I invite your prayerful support as we live into this model of team leadership, and I invite you to volunteer to lend a hand as we seek to respond to the continuing call of God in a rapidly changing world. Raise your voices with ours together in ancient open harmonies singing music that flows  — the music that is the Alliance.