FORT WORTH, Texas – Chuck Swindoll emphasized ministerial relationships during a workshop for worship leaders at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Widely known for his radio ministry "Insight for Living," and his books, Swindoll is also senior pastor at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas.

Baptist Press reports he and the executive pastor of worship and music at Stonebriar, Bruce Stevenson, talked about how church leaders can work together.

"Relationships are the foundation," Swindoll said. "Just beyond the relationship with Christ is the relationship with one another."

Swindoll said offenses and difficulties are quickly worked out between himself and Stevenson. Swindoll said his relationship with Stevenson makes a worship style for everyone possible.

"Whenever I disagree with him, I tell him. Whenever I think we may have gotten a little too extreme, I tell him. When I think we need to lighten up on something, I say it, and he is just as free to say to me whatever he needs to say," Swindoll said.

"It is all about that relationship. If you are sitting on pins and needles, you cannot talk like that. You cannot even think like that."

Stevenson and Swindoll emphasized the importance of balance in worship. They acknowledged that many churches face dissension over styles.

"We have centuries of history, which is one of the treasures of the church," Swindoll said. "It just fries me to think that everything is now about 1990 on. How dumb can you get? Nothing I preach is from 1990, but now it's all about 2004."

Stevenson said that incorporating the great hymns of the faith and modern Christian music into worship services helps keep things interesting.

"Chuck has often told me that people come up to him and say, ‘I didn't like what you did this Sunday morning,' and his response is, ‘Well, come back next week because it will be different,'" Stevenson said.

"We will seek to use every means that we can to bring the Word of God to life and to bring worship to life as well."

Swindoll said constant complainers should worship elsewhere and worship leaders should not let a vocal minority shape their services.

Stevenson said worship leaders will be judged for dividing churches by musical preference.

"You cannot let a carping critic or two shape your philosophy," Swindoll said. "We are not here to give you what you want; we are here to provide what you need."

Swindoll encouraged participants to pursue authenticity in worship.

"Bruce never makes me smile, or forces it, or dumb stuff like that. That is all manipulative stuff," Swindoll said.

"Some folks do not come to smile. Their hearts are broken. Their husband left last week or their kid walked out, or they found out she is pregnant or the boy is on drugs. They didn't come to play games – they came to meet with God."