Findings from the Harmony Project: What Church Musicians Need to Thrive

This webinar will present the findings from a study done by Polyphony Music Resources about what church musicians need to thrive in the future. It will provide valuable, qualitative information in the form of major themes and concepts to help church musicians and those who work with them better understand what makes them thrive. Respondents are serving Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian congregations in 13 states and are relatively balanced between early, mid and late-career church musicians. Hear what 100 church musicians said they need to help music ministry succeed long-term.

 
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Doug Haney is the Executive Director of Polyphony Music Resources. After a vocational career of more than 30 years as a church musician, Doug became convinced that church musicians who love hymnody and choral and instrumental music need a community to help them thrive in their work and calling.  And so with the blessing of a group of colleagues from around the country, Polyphony officially became a 501c3 in 2021.

Doug retired from Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas in May 2023 after serving there as minister of music for 19 years. Doug has earned a facilitator certificate in Appreciative Inquiry, a strengths-based, positive approach to leadership development and organizational change. He is a consultant with the Center for Healthy Churches and works with congregations seeking to infuse vitality, quality and vision into their worship and music ministry.
 
Doug came to Wilshire from Providence Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was minister of music. He was previously minister of music at First Baptist Church of Meridian, Mississippi; Hillcrest Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama; and First Baptist Church of Buford, Georgia. He earned the Bachelor of Music degree (1980) from Georgia State University and the Master of Music degree (1983) from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Doug is married to Lori Haney and they have two adult children and four grandsons.

Susan Deal is the Administrative Coordinator for Polyphony Music Resources. Susan moved into this position after serving as the Project Coordinator for The Harmony Project, a Polyphony research initiative that sought to identify ways to help pastoral musicians thrive in ministry. Participating in this project where 100 church musicians were interviewed in two phases (2022 and 2023), opened Susan’s eyes and heart to become more actively involved in the mission of Polyphony, to nurture church musicians in their ministry and in their well-being so they thrive wherever God calls them.

Susan retired from First Baptist Church in Dalton, Georgia in December 2020 after serving there as minister of music for 9 years. Prior to serving in Georgia, Susan was minister of music at College Park Baptist Church in Orlando, Florida for 11 years, and at Mount Hermon Baptist Church in Danville, Virginia for 10 years.

Susan earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree (1980) from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and the Master of Music degree (1983) from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Susan and her husband, Tommy, moved back home to Virginia to be near their children and their families. They are proud grandparents of Thomas Riley (Ragan & Jessica) and twins, Adeline Charlotte and Dorothy Hope (William and Mary Kate).