Worship Leader Guide
This guide helps worship leaders and music coordinators manage their church’s song library, create setlists, and organize worship teams effectively.
The Worship module is also known as “Ministry Hub” in some parts of the platform. Both terms refer to the same set of features.
Understanding the Worship Module
The Worship module provides tools for:
- Managing your church’s song library with ChordPro support
- Creating and organizing setlists for services
- Assigning songs to specific singers with preferred keys
- Transposing songs to different keys
- Tracking song resources (YouTube, Spotify links)
Managing Your Song Library
Adding a New Song
Navigate to Songs
Click on “Songs” in the Worship section of the navigation menu.
Click 'Add Song'
Select the “Add Song” button in the top right corner.
Enter basic information
Fill in the song title, artist name, and category (worship, hymn, etc.).
Set musical details
Choose the original key, tempo (BPM), time signature (4/4, 3/4, etc.), and BPM type (fast/slow).
Add song content
Enter the lyrics and chords using ChordPro format in the content editor. Use the section buttons (Intro, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Outro) to structure your song.
Add multimedia links
Include YouTube and Spotify URLs if available for reference.
Assign singers (optional)
Add singer assignments with their preferred keys for this song.
Save the song
Click “Save” to add the song to your library.
Use the preview panel to see how your ChordPro formatting will appear before saving.
[Intro]
[Verse]
Am F
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
C G
That saved a wretch like me
[Chorus]
F C
How great is our God
G Am
Sing with me, how great is our God
- Chord names in brackets
[] or above lyrics indicate chord changes
- Section markers like
[Verse], [Chorus], [Bridge] organize the song
- Spacing between chord letters and lyrics shows timing
MinistryHub’s ChordPro engine supports automatic transposition, so you only need to enter songs in their original key.
Editing Existing Songs
Leaders and Pastors:
Find the song
Use the search bar or filters to locate the song you want to edit.
Open song details
Click on the song to view its full details.
Click 'Edit'
Your changes will be applied immediately to the song library.
Make your changes
Update any information, including lyrics, chords, or metadata.
Save changes
Click “Save” to update the song for everyone in your church.
Find the song
Locate the song you want to suggest edits for.
Open the editor
Click on the song and then “Edit” or “Suggest Changes”.
Make your proposed changes
Edit the song information as needed.
Submit for approval
Click “Save” - your changes will be sent to a leader for review rather than applied immediately.
Wait for approval
A leader will review and approve your changes before they go live.
Members cannot directly edit songs to maintain quality control. All member edits require leader approval through the moderation system.
Reviewing Pending Song Edits
If you’re a leader and members have proposed changes:
Go to Pending Approvals
Navigate to the “Pending Approvals” section in the Worship module.
Review each proposal
See the original song and the proposed changes side by side.
Approve or reject
Accept changes to apply them to the song, or reject them with optional feedback.
Finding and Filtering Songs
Using Search and Filters
Use the search bar
Type song title or artist name to quickly find specific songs.
Open advanced filters
Click the filter icon to access additional filtering options.
Filter by key
Select a specific musical key to find songs in that key.
Filter by type
Choose “Fast” or “Slow” to find songs by tempo category.
Filter by singer
Select a singer’s name to see only songs assigned to them with their preferred keys.
When filtering by singer, the song list will show each song in that person’s preferred key, making it easy to create personalized setlists.
Using the Quick Preview
On desktop, click any song in the table to open a quick preview sidebar:
- View chords in different formats (American, Spanish, Roman numerals, or lyrics-only)
- Transpose the song up or down to test different keys
- Adjust font size for readability
- Click “Open” to see full song details
Transposing Songs
Transpose any song to a different key:
Open a song
Navigate to the song detail view or quick preview.
Use transpose controls
Click the ”+” and ”-” buttons next to the key display.
View updated chords
All chords automatically update to the new key.
- American (Am): Shows chords like C, D, Em, F#
- Spanish (LA): Shows chords like Do, Re, Mi, Fa#
- Roman (IV): Shows chords as scale degrees (I, ii, iii, IV)
- Lyrics (TXT): Hides all chords, showing only lyrics
Transposition in the preview doesn’t change the stored song - it only affects your current view.
Assigning Songs to Singers
Track which singers prefer which keys for specific songs:
Edit a song
Open the song editor for the song you want to assign.
Go to Singer Assignments section
This is located in the editor sidebar.
Click 'Add Assignment'
A new assignment row will appear.
Select the singer
Choose from your church’s registered singers/members.
Set their preferred key
Choose the key this singer prefers for this song.
Save the song
The assignment is saved with the song.
Use singer assignments to quickly see which keys work best for your vocalists when planning services.
Creating and Managing Setlists
Creating a New Setlist
Navigate to Playlists
Click on “Playlists” or “Setlists” in the Worship section.
Click 'Create Playlist'
Start a new setlist for an upcoming service.
Enter setlist details
Give it a name (e.g., “Sunday Worship - March 10”) and select any special flags (like Santa Cena/Communion).
Save the setlist
The empty setlist is created and ready for songs.
Adding Songs to a Setlist
Open the setlist
Click on the setlist you want to edit.
Click 'Add Song'
A song selection interface will appear.
Select the song
Choose from your church’s song library.
Set the key
Choose which key this song will be played in for this service.
Repeat for additional songs
Continue adding songs in the order they’ll be performed.
Organizing Setlist Order
View your setlist
Open the setlist with all songs added.
Drag to reorder
Use drag-and-drop to arrange songs in performance order.
Remove songs if needed
Click the delete icon next to any song to remove it from the setlist.
Create setlists several days before the service to give your team time to prepare and practice.
Working with the Service Calendar
Schedule and view upcoming worship services:
Go to Calendar
Navigate to the Calendar or Reunions section in the Worship module.
View scheduled services
See upcoming services in list or monthly grid view.
Create a new service
Click “Add Service” or “New Meeting” to schedule a worship service.
Set service details
Enter date, time, service type, and attach the appropriate setlist.
Assign team members
Indicate which musicians, singers, and technical team members are scheduled.
Adding YouTube Links
Copy the YouTube URL
Go to YouTube and copy the full URL of the reference video.
Edit the song
Open the song editor in MinistryHub.
Paste in YouTube field
Add the URL in the YouTube Link field under Multimedia.
Save the song
The YouTube link will be available to anyone viewing the song.
Adding Spotify Links
Get the Spotify URL
Open Spotify and copy the song’s share link.
Edit the song
Open the song editor.
Paste in Spotify field
Add the URL in the Spotify Link field.
Save the song
Team members can click the link to listen to the reference track.
Multimedia links are reference materials only - they don’t embed players directly in MinistryHub.
Multi-Church Worship Management
If you lead worship at multiple locations:
Switching Church Context
Click the church selector
Located in the top navigation bar.
Choose the church
Select which congregation’s song library you want to work with.
Work in that context
All songs, setlists, and settings will be specific to the selected church.
Master administrators can create “global” songs that appear in all churches’ libraries, useful for multi-site congregations that share repertoire.
Best Practices for Worship Leaders
Song Library Organization
- Use consistent naming: Keep song titles formatted the same way
- Tag tempo types accurately: Mark songs as fast/slow to help with service flow planning
- Keep chords accurate: Verify chord charts before saving
- Add multimedia references: Help team members learn new songs faster
Setlist Planning
- Plan ahead: Create setlists at least one week before the service
- Balance tempo: Alternate between fast and slow songs for good flow
- Consider vocalists: Choose keys that work for your singers
- Communicate changes: Notify team members immediately if setlists change
Team Coordination
- Review pending edits regularly: Don’t let member suggestions sit unapproved
- Assign songs thoughtfully: Match songs to singers’ vocal ranges
- Use the calendar: Keep your team informed of upcoming service dates
Troubleshooting Common Issues
”I can’t edit a song directly”
- Check your role - only Leaders and Pastors can edit directly
- Members must submit edits for approval
”Chords aren’t transposing correctly”
- Verify chords are in proper ChordPro format
- Ensure spaces between chord names and lyrics are correct
- Check for typos in chord names
”Singer filter shows no songs”
- Confirm that singer has been assigned to specific songs
- Check that singer assignments include preferred keys
If songs appear in the wrong church’s library, verify you have the correct church selected in the church selector.
Next Steps
Explore related guides:
MinistryHub is designed to make worship preparation smoother and more collaborative. If you have questions or need help, reach out to your church administrator or check the support resources in your Settings.