C. We used to have fist-pumper worship leaders who directed by pounding their fists on the pulpit, but they split with our church a few years ago (over worship, I think). Our current guy - full-time/hired/paid - slaps his hand on his leg a lot or on the microphone to keep a beat, but does no real directing in the sense a drum major would a marching band. The way he moves his body keeps everyone on track just fine without the distraction of the sweeping hand motions. I imagine there are so few who are used to following a director that for most, directing is just a distraction and a nuisance, not a benefit.

I belive that song leaders should have some basic understanding of directing and meter. This gives them a confidence in their leadership abilities, and the congregation a focal point in which they themselves gain a confidence.

I find it helpful to a certain degree as far as keeping everyone together, however I am beginning to notice that I prefer singing when people just shut their eyes and worship God together.

I guess I am just torn between the two--is there a happy medium somwhere?

Oh and to answer the original question I would add a 2A
2A. Most of the time (and I am one of the song leaders as we have a rotation currently)

I use hand motions when appropriate. Some songs pretty much lead themselves once you get them started and establish a tempo. With those songs, I minimize the motions. However, if I want to do something special with the song (repeat, slow down, speed up, ritard, tag ending, etc.), I will direct the part of the song that I am wanting to interpret. Also, sometimes I will lightly tap my leg to subtly establish a tempo. On a song that involves rhythmical clapping, I will start out clapping. The type of directing all depends on the music, setting, audience, and what we are trying to do.

If you get the audience's attention, and make the directing easily understandable, even an untrained singer will understand that you are doing something special and will try to follow. The congregations that I have led have learned to follow the director. There is a happy medium between mechanically directing every beat and never letting the church know what you are doing or planning to do.

thanks Jim that was helpful

B. Some of ours do, others don't. I find it helpful when it's done well, distracting when it's not (like if the he isn't really keeping time, just moving his hand, or when he thinks he has to move his hand with each note, rather than the with beat of the song). I use hand patterns when I lead singing, as you know (and this morning I led "Here We Are But Straying Pilgrims" in 2 rather than 4 in order to keep the tempo up).

As a child growing up in our fellowship i learned the all the metrical hand patterns-rememeber"floor,windows,door,ceiling" ha (4/4) .AS attitudes and worship change I now find a balance.I personally approach music dircting with a more of a cheer leader approach. I move about alot and sometimes u wont get to see my hand movements. The other members on my team are being trained to do it properly or not do it at all.Musicans know the value of timing but to the untrained worshipper in the congregation they may not have a clue what those hand movements mean. Worship leades are to help direct people toward worship without claiming the glory for themselves. But Leaders are worshipping too and should not be restricted to standing in one spot and using"official" music conducting rules.I can go on forever on this-it leads to so much other issues....thanks Keith for opening this thread.

I use hand motions B) some of the time.

In our traditional music service, I probably wave the beat pattern about 85% of the time. Partially because it feels weird leading traditional songs without a worship team without leading a beat pattern...

In our contemporary/blended service, I wave a beat pattern to start our traditional songs, and once it's settled in I usually drop my hand. In all other instances, I tend to only give hand motion direction when it feels like the music needs it... if the congregation or worship team starts to feel iffy on the beat/tempo, whenever I need to direct a hold or cut-off or bring everyone in together, or cue an entrance of a voice part.

So basically, any time it's actually musically useful, or in our traditional service. :-)

If it is a quality of performance you are looking for, then yes, you need effective directing. You would never go to a performance in NY for a symphony, musical or opera and see no directing. If you want precision and a strict orderly worship, then strict directing is required. But is that really necessary for truth worship to our Lord?

For worship, I mostly don't even look at the songleader/worship leader because I am worshipping the Lord with my mind and my heart. Most songleaders/praise teams are distracting anyway. If it is a song meant to encourage other Christians then I like to look around and smile at my fellow Christians (including the songleader) to encourage them.