Phil,

I'm not sure I understand, but I'll try to make a stab at an answer.

1) Paid choral singers are only a problem if they think this status gives them special privileges (what many call a "prima donna".
2) Volunteers can (sometimes) be the bane of a choirmaster's existence: if they don't know what they're doing, but can't be persuaded to learn and improve or leave.
3) I can't think of a good reason to have some parts sung only by the choir, and the other parts "open" to the congregation. Chant allows the congregation to sing, but doesn't compel them. Cantors who stand up in front of a congregation and direct them when to sing do a dis-service to the properly understood concept of the worship of God. Organists can do this by changing registration. Polyphonic Masses should be sung by the choir alone, but entered into by attentive listening by the faithful.

I won't follow you on Twitter, but thank you for the invitation.

1 Corinthians 9:14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

Proclamation through music.


1 Timothy 5:18 and Luke 10:7 also say that the laborer deserves his wages.


God's ok with it.

If it's a small chamber choir of 12-15 singers (which would be my ideal church choir were I ever to start one) that have high sight-reading and singing ability like Tenebrae, Polyphony or the Sixteen, then paid, maybe.