<p>How would you characterize being a member of a youth praise band at church? EC or service?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>EC. But it doesn’t really matter a whole lot how you classify it.</p>
<p>It’s an EC.</p>
<p>DD’s HS allowed it to be a service for the service hours credit. It was combined with some teaching, though, so it was a little more than just participating.</p>
<p>I don’t see any element of service in a band- regardless of where it is done. Not all church related activites are service related- most fall under the social activites spectrum. Our public school district allowed church group secular activites such as fixing up houses as a service activity but did not allow teaching religion for good reasons. One is doing something for someone else, the other just promoting one’s beliefs- a self interest, not a benefit in secular eyes.</p>
<p>Remember- doing something through a religious organization does not not make it different than when not connected to a religion. Think of churches as social clubs and you can differentiate activities. Does the activity help others in a way there’s no connection to the group? Anything promoting the religious beliefs or well being of the group members is self centered and not a service. Something done for others regardless of their reilious affiliation, and not trying to convert, is service. Therefore the food pantry sponsored by the church can offer service opportunities. </p>
<p>Son’s NHS service hours could be more broad than the ones required for HS graduation from his public HS. He and other HS atheists played for a couple or so orchestra performances at a local church- first to get NHS service hours, then they got paid. He had to sit through the sermon- which he totally disagreed with. Tells you why a church can be considered a social club- hiring musicians for a Christmas/Eastertime/July 4th performance… String music has nothing to do with religion- regardless of what the composer was thinking. And they had the gall to send him a letter offering him a DVD of the performance at a $20 cost.</p>
<p>Hoggirl,</p>
<p>My son has listed his worship leading on his music resume but also as community service and as an EC, depending on what it is (He plays violin in the main worship, he leads youth worship with guitar and singing, he leads a team for children’s worship on guitar and voice, he’s played his violin at nursing homes with other youth, he’s played classical music for special occasions, and he sang in an acappela choir for several churches). He and other youths have gone to nursing homes, served meals to the homeless, filled backpacks for families in Mexico, and yes, played music for the community. Our church serves the community and the kids serve the community. They also serve those on the congregation, many who are a part of the community; some are Christians, some are not.</p>
<p>I imagine you will get a lot of replies from those who are hostile to religion so please don’t let that discourage you. You could ask potential colleges that question. My son and I will be talking with someone who is a former admissions officer. I can ask that question and PM you next week after we speak with him.</p>
<p>I also wanted to add that it would be good to have other service even if it’s related to music. My son teaches violin to groups of disadvantaged children. He’ll also be teaching at our local library since our neighborhood has many poor and single parent households.</p>
<p>sbjdorlo - yes, I would love to know what you find out. My ds also does a variety of things with his music. Thank you for the heads-up about receiving replies from those hostile to religion. I am new here and didn’t think to anticipate that. I thought it was a straight forward question.</p>
<p>@wis75 - thanks for the tips on differentiation.</p>