I have been pondering this for a while... might as well see if I can get some discussion started :)

I sing with the Praise Team at my church.  To me it is about ministry and not just about music.  I've sung with secular groups as a performer but to me, church is a very different matter: I have folks who keep me accountable in always making sure that my heart is right and my songs are for the Lord and my gift is used to bring Him glory.

So, this being said.  I know some folks who are NOT Christian and yet lead up music in Churches (some are LGBTQ and some Heterosexual allies).  And I know Heterosexual allies who are musicians for open and affirming LGBTQ Churches.

I feel conflicted about this.  On the one hand... there are not that many LGBTQ Christian musicians I guess... But I have issues with this.  I don't think it should be about a paycheck.  I have a hard time reconciling that and I was wondering how other Musicians for Jesus feel about this issue.

Well I for one agree.  I personally don't understand how someone can create any type of art if they don't believe it themselves.  Something about it will just ring untrue.  I grew up singing classically and it's common and in some places expected that you get a "church gig".  I've actually had a couple of these gigs and while I've sang with consumate musicians, I knew that they weren't Christians. Some have even been atheists. I have to say though that in those situations while I COULD have stayed on with a paycheck, I had to leave.  The Spirit of God wasn't there.  There was no power and sadly the music was not used as a form of worship for most of the congregation.  The sat and spectated.  I wholly believe that the purpose of music in the church should be to usher EVERYONE into a spirit of worship.  I think God should have no choice but to show up because of all the praises that are going up.  That's gospel music at it's best.  People think it's a genre. "Ohhhh yes that's the happy-clappy music". But I think gospel music is any genre that is inviting the presence of the Lord in.  It's about the heart of worship.  The anointing starts at the head and comes down.  If the head of the music department (whether the style be liturgical or contemporary) isn't a believer, the anointing won't flow.  The music will not be anointed and God won't show up.  That's how we get dead services every Sunday.  It's such a shame too. There's nothing like dwelling in the presence of God under the anointing of GREAT worship music.  I think your spirit is conflicting you for a reason. It's not right.  It's sooo much more than a paycheck.

PS. There are FAR more gay and lesbian musicians in the church than most would like to admit.  Now OUT church musicians...that's a different matter entirely.