Of Converts, Choirs and Misguided Bishops

[Requiem]

I am often asked to accompany choirs and vocalists for sacrament meetings and firesides in the DC area. For the past two weeks, I worked with a phenomenal ward choir that meets in Alexandria to prepare a special number for a Mission President's homecoming held yesterday. Three weeks ago, the choir director and I received permission from the first counselor (bishop was on vacation) to perform a Mack Wilberg arrangement of the negro spiritual, "Deep River", at this special sacrament meeting. This is the same arrangement performed on Sunday mornings and recorded by the Tabernacle Choir.

What makes this particular choir extraordinary is that the director and nine of the members are African American converts. The director is well qualified - she has a degree in choral conducting and is known for her ability to produce award winning choirs from inner-city high schools. This ward choir is well known in the area and sings often at regional and stake meetings.

After two weeks of rehearsing, the choir was well prepared (talk about a terrific bass section!) and looking forward to performing this highly spiritual number. Yesterday as we were rehearsing in the chapel, the bishop walks in, interrupts the song, and asks to speak to the director and myself.

We went into the bishop's office and he summarily told us this number was not appropriate, we were not to perform it, and instead he wanted us to sing "Come Come Ye Saints" with no rehearsal. He pointed to the handbook on his desk and informed us that "only hymns from the book are acceptable". Being a part-time musician, I politely reminded him there was a published letter from the First Presidency that clarified the policy to include performing "appropriate" music outside the hymn book (which is terribly outdated). He glared at me and essentially dismissed us.

Long story short, the choir director and I walked back into the chapel in tears and she announced the change. After a moment of painful silence, the entire choir quietly stood and left the chapel. None returned for sacrament meeting. I accompanied a dull hymn as a rest song. After the meeting, the MP's wife asked about the choir. I told her what transpired, and she simply replied: "the bishop was wrong".

Last evening the choir director called me at home and calmly said she could no longer serve and was questioning her membership. She went on to make a great point: the church converts African Americans and other members from diverse cultures, yet expects them to abandon their deep seated cultural practices to become "white shirted clones". She believes that mainstream Mormons have no understanding how hurtful and difficult this is. She (and I) believe there is not a "true" or correct culture and the church must be more tolerant if they are to maintain any semblance of continuity among ethnic converts.

The scriptures are clear that music represents "the purest form of worship". In one display of arrogance and unrighteous dominion, this bishop alienated an entire segment of his ward. The AA choir members and their families will never return, but he can be happy with the delusion that "he is right".

Am I wrong to be so upset? Whatever happened to "gentleness, meekness and love unfeined"? What value did the church bring to the lives of these people?