I am a longtime music minister (cantor, pianist, former director) who has finally left music ministry after many months of frustration. Our pastor currently denies our very competent, talented director the ability to choose appropriate hymns for the choir. He decided that the congregation was tired of hearing the same singers every weekend, and despite not having adequate musical coverage for weekend masses, has made a rule that a singer may only participate musically in one mass. In an attempt to have children’s choirs cover the main mass, the children, who are dependent on parents to bring them, do not consistently show up to provide adequate support. I was not the only competent musician in the shrinking adult choir. I have discussed the situation with the pastor, who says every hymn is his responsibility, and then he complained he has too much to do and no time. I have suggested trusting his director, who he hired himself, and the musicians, who by the way kept the music going for months between director hires (not once, but twice in the past 4 years.) Has anyone else experienced this? What did you do? I am out now because the frustration and stress was affecting my spiritual health, but I still care deeply, and I’m hoping my absence will speak volumes.