SCHAD Houston, Texas
After several years leading full-time
parish music ministry and earning a master’s in liturgical studies from the University of Notre Dame, Stephen Schad decided to pivot. He took a full-time development position in higher education and tapped into a role as principal organist at a local parish, where he plays four liturgies per weekend. Today Stephen is executive director of communications at the University of Houston and serves as the chair of NPM’s Finance and Development National Committee.
It was easy to let go of a full-time Church role. I was certainly ready to make the change. I felt that full- time ministry was draining me and starting to impact
STEPHEN
my faith. I found refreshment in building a career in another field and keeping my hand in music ministry.
It was harder to actually let go of all the responsibility. I had enjoyed many of the things I did in my full-time ministry. To suddenly not have these responsibilities was such a strange feeling. Tey were engrained in me!
What got me through it was the great relationship I had with the director of liturgy and music at my new parish. Although I was not in charge by any means, we worked so collaboratively together.
To stay connected to what mattered to me, I got more involved in NPM. I also made sure music ministry remained a priority in my life, even though it was taking a different form.
Along the way, I realized sometimes you just have to move on. Tat doesn’t mean the call to ministry isn’t still there within you, it just means there’s something else out there that will give you fulfillment and a community that is waiting for you to serve them in a way you might not expect.
Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
worship.calvin.edu
recent publications
for the study and renewal of worship
gia publications, 2019
wipf and stock, 2019
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