Here are some pointers I have learned over the years that I played in a large and excellently lead worship team in Brompton, London.


No drummer is better than a bad drummer
Never distract the congregation with bad drumming or even excellent drumming.
Andy Piercy (of After The Fire fame), our wise worship leader once said to me: 'if the congregation leaves at the end of the service saying that the worship band (or the drummer) was great today then the worship band has failed. If they go home saying that the worship was great then the band has succeeded' ... its a fine line. Worship drummers are not showmen. Do not try that long amazing fill with cross sticking that you have been wood-shedding for weeks. Do not spin your sticks. One stick spin and you know that there are going to be a few people in the congregation that will spend the rest of the service watching you to see if you will do it again.
The church drummer needs to remember the KISS principle. Keep it simple - as simple as it can be without losing groove. If you want to stretch out and express your skill as a drummer then join a progressive jazz band on Saturdays. For Sunday it must be four on the floor or straight rock or simple jazz.
Sometimes a tambourine is enough…or way too much. Just keeping a bass drum pulse throughout a song or tapping the hihat on the beat is sometimes all that is needed (see the ‘right kit below). And if possible NEVER ever give a tambourine to a congregation member. Tambourines are extremely hard to play properly. Many drummers think they can play them but cannot…so an excited congregation member is very unlikely to groove on a tambourine.
When in doubt, drop out. The church drummer must listen with very open ears. If the drums are not working, if there is a chance that what you are doing is in any way removing focus from God then you must fade out and let worship prevail.

The right kit
Most churches will have their own kit. If you are on a rota then tune the kit up and set it up respectfully. Keep everything middle of the road so the next drummer doesnt have to make huge changes. Leave it as you would want to find it.
If the kit is rubbish then bring some of your own bits. Good cymbals, pedal and snare will transform a worn old kit into a musical instrument again.
Sometimes you will be playing your own kit. Do not bring a giant eye-distracting caged 15 piece drum kit. A generic 5 or 4 piece set up with 3 cymbals and some percussion is all you need. Too much more than that and you become the star of the show for some congregation members rather than God. Plus having to set up and tear down a giant kit every Sunday for no pay will soon get tired . Church drumming is a wonderful sacrifice full of thanks giving, but it should be sustainable and not a chore. A reasonable kit will ensure this.

Watching for cues
Every worship leader is different but they are not just singers and guitarists or keyboard players. They are band directors. They have signals and you need to find out what these are. Sometimes its in the voice or in a flick of the head or a kick of the foot. Church drumming is all about dynamics. Sometimes you will be playing at full volume and then need to drop to finger touch in the space of a bar. Many times it will be up to you to direct yourself into these quiet times. I believe the Holy spirit directs the whole band this way and when an automatic mood change occours instantaneously across a large band the effect is miraculous.
Once again, when in doubt drop out. One thing Ive learned is that a talented worship leader by themselves can absolutely rock a song on an acoustic guitar. The drummer is a bonus not a necessity. Much better that you are not there in a loud section than blaringly there on a sudden soft section. Be sensitive.

Be a percussionist in the kids songs.
During the kids praise and worship songs you need to have a sense of humour. Think like a Disney drummer would. The whole kit can be used as sound effects. And why not buy a slide whistle, temple blocks or a ratchet? During songs like: ‘dont build your house on the sandy land I used my kit to sound like a construction site. I sawed my roughened sticks on the rim of the floor tom and it really does sound like wood being sawed. I hit the butt of the stick on the bell but held it there for a second each time and it sounds like an anvil. Its loads of fun and the kids love it. See what you can do.

Sing while you drum
Even without a mic. Remember that you too are worshipping. Get into the worship. Close you eyes if you need to. Dont just be a drummer. You are part of a large group of worshippers and you visible attitude will help lead the congregation from the kit ... or distract them if you are only there to drum.

Commitment
Church drumming is fun and rewarding but it is a commitment. Never let the church down by being late, scruffy, tired or absent. If you are on the rota to play then get to the church before anybody else. Arrive prepared and dedicated to the job.

Versatility, adaptability, courage … in other words: you gotta have faith
Some things can be rehearsed but in church drumming the situation is fluid. There were very few times in all the years that I was a church drummer that we stuck to a song list or even to any predetermined song structure. God moves in mysterious ways and you had better be ready to drum in mysterious ways too. Which is very much why …

Prayer is all important
Before the pre-service rehearsal, before going up to play, between songs and after the service. As a rule of thumb: you really cannot pray enough. Prayer will focus your playing and fill you with the Spirit and faith after all, remember…

Who are you drumming for?
God. His people. And only for yourself in as much as you are one of His people.[/quote]

Jason, Did you play for HTB?

I think you have a few nice pointers, but the article/document as a whole seems like a bunch of rules and regulations that I just don't agree with.

Examples:
Just because you have a large kit doesn't mean you'll come off as or be thought of as the "star of the show". If your playing is distracting, it's distracting; the size of the kit has little to do with sensitivity, musicianship and self-control.

I could go on and on, line by line, but it would literally shred the entire article. Sorry. 

I play with all the Vineyard guys. No official association, but there's always been a wink and a nod friendship with HTB. Delirious, Matt Redman, Graham Kendrick ... Rita Springer ... I think there are others who've worked with Piercy. Todd Hunter's a good friend to us and former AVC big cheese, so we've done Alpha since it started here in the U.S. I think that's what led to sort of a loose association with N.T. Wright, although I can't say Wright has had much impact on Vineyard theology (we're still more in the Wayne Grudem train of thought).

After reading your article and the various posts after it, I'd have to say that I don't know that I agree 100% with the article.  All in all I'd say it seems pretty good and while comprehensive I think there can be room left for a little more creativity on the paet of the drummer than perhaps you are stating.  Now I may just be misreading your total intention but then- maybe not. 
While I am in favor of more freedom than you seem to imply I can say for certain that your article should probably be read by every church drummer.  Actually it should be read, or something similar to it by every praise band or choir member as well.  I think the HEART of the matter you are getting at is Right on the money.  Anything that detracts a congregational member (or praise band participant) from the overall experience of worshipping God is misplaced.  I say this with 2 examples in mind and possibly a third.
1- GOOD:  wathching a lead guitarist (yes this is possible in a prasie band) solo during the bridge of a praise song.  After the worship event I went back stage to speak with him (not the drummer) after the few young guitar players were finished talking with him, the usual questions and comments, I said that I really liked the way he worshipped with his guitar during the solo's.  There was a presence about him as he played and I could tell that his was not a performance for man but rather for his God.  He commented back something about thanks and its nice that someone finally GETS him and what he was about.  Now one could say this is a perfect example of a negative in that so many were focused on him but I really think, that as I was in the congregation worshipping during the "solo" I was moved to total silence, a "be still and know that I am God" thing.

2- POOR:  during a different prasie service and the drummer was playing much in the same manner as Portnoy.  In this case I found myself distracted from singing and focusing on God.
Now the drummer may have had pure intentions, I can't say anything about his motivations and I may have been the one with the weakness as many others around me seemed to be worshipping just fine.  It does get to the heart that IF he hadn't been playing that way I MAY HAVE been more focused.  Is that the drummers fault though... because I am painfully aware of my weaknesses and am easily distracted.  Probably the root cuase was a little of both.

3-  Myself in playing.  I have played both correctly and incorrectly when it comes to motivations.  Sometimes playing is a sacrifice as I may not be in the mood due to some problem and the congregation, as deemed necessary by the worship leader, is in need of the praise band and I am the drummer for that service.  Do I stand down and not play at all- or do I play for the benefit of everyone else?  Perhaps that question can not be answered one way in all circumstances but it goes to the point that I think the most important factor here is the heart of the musician.  Certainly your comments about prayer cannot be overstated and in that regard anyone who hasn't read "Fresh Wind Fresh Fire" would do well to give that book a read. 
I've played very simply at times and at others have felt challenged to try new ideas or play a little more involved fills here and there.  I think in the end we are going to be judged by out hearts intentions WHILE we were playing.  If we keep that as a focus I think we'll do well whether playing basically or with some flair because our hearts will be where God needs them and He'll let you know when it needs to be picked up or toned down. 
I'll end there hoping that I'm getting the heart of my thoughts across properly- but certainly what you have written is good.  Enough so that I'm copying it off to give to my music minister.  We may all never agree 100% but one comment spring boards others and others, etc. and we come to understandings and perhaps a little closer to unity as a band/choir/congregation/community, etc.

Drums can certainly play a role in helping to build energy with hand-clapping, etc., but don't forget about the other percussion sounds that influence mood... some of my favorites include suspended cymbal rolls/creshendos, wind chimes, ghost-notes on snare, X-stick, lightly comping on ride... actually, I think I prefer playing soft worship songs more than high-energy praise ones...

Here's a book that I recommend; you may find it very liberating.

A Heart To Drum by Terl Bryant Founder of Psalm Drummers Available HERE

Okay ... I understand what you are saying now. I should have also taken into account that you prefaced your article that it was your experience with a large church in the UK that you had been playing for an extended period of time.

When I start hearing or reading anything that sounds like a rule or regulation that is not clearly spelled out in scripture, a red flag goes off inside me. There are so many divisions in the world already, some of which we've seen just this week here at the Drummer Cafe (ie. self-taught vs. formal trained) we certainly don't need more, especially in the church. I'm fine with "preferences" but not "law". What I was reading in your article was more law and regulations ... as opposed to suggestions based on observations or the preferences of others.

You might want to consider citing some of your sources or explaining why you say or feel the way you do. If you simply state "don't do ____" or "you should always do ____", it sounds like law. But if you give examples of various situations and how things didn't work out for the best, you can give suggestions to help resolve the problem, conflict, etc.

My experience tells me that what works for one congregation or worship leader doesn't necessarily work for another. You could substitute the word "congregation" or "worship leader" with these "singer", "band leader", "group", "artist", "band" ... or any music style or genre you care to mention ... and the statement would still be true.

As Dr Phil would say, "perception is reality."  One of the toughest things I had to learn as a pilot examiner was that when I asked an applicant a question there were actually three questions.  The one I meant to ask, the one I actually asked, and the one the applicant heard.  It was the same with his answer.  The one he meant to give, the one he gave, and the one I heard.  I believe there are a lot of similarities with what you wrote in your article and what people read.  Sometimes you just have to sit back and evaluate what actually happened and why.  Each Church will have its own personality and what works well in one will not work at all in another. 

Yes.
I think the article is possibly too black & white.
For example, 'never give a tambourine to a congregation member'. That's pretty inflexible and also not very inclusive.
I'm sure God is very forgiving with regards to musical prowess. If it creates a joyous noise to give half a dozen tambos out every week, why make a rule against it?
I'm also all for simple and sympathetic drumming, however I imagine worship (not being a church goer) is inspirational. I notice that when I pull out that big fill at just the right moment, it spurs on my fellow musicians to even greater heights.
A lot of the greatest gospel I've heard has featured virtuoso performances. So when do you graduate from being in the background to being inspirational?