In a nutshell, we don't have the right to broadcast copyrighted music or music from copyrighted arrangements without permission from the copyright holder(s). That pretty well covers everything musically that we do in church.

The church could obtain a license to broadcast "live" music, that is played and sung by our orchestra and choir, and have considered doing so. However, it is not an inexpensive proposition and some person(s) will have to help keep up with what we use here, make reports, etc.

Incidentally, at this time there is NO License that allows anyone to use recorded, copyrighted music (including background tracks, music CD's etc.) on their Web site without written permission from the copyright holder, which we might be able to obtain for enough money.

Yes we do.

You know that little note on the bottom of the screen on the last slide of song lyrics? That indicates (and is required to be there) that FBTC pays for a license that entitles us to put those lyrics up on the screen.

However, that license does not entitle us to broadcast the music in any format in any medium, including the Internet.

That requires a special broadcast license which we could purchase if "webcasting" were deemed important enough.

To broadcast without that license is in violation of the copyright laws of the United States of America. From both a personal position and as a de facto representative of FBTC I want my actions to be, as far as possible, above reproach. I trust as members and friends of FBTC you would expect nothing less from me.

My sources of information are CCLI and CCA.

CCLI is Christian Copyright Licensing International. You will see on the last slide of each song there is a CCLI# along with copyright information about the song. That number is issued to dues paying members of CCLI. They are an organization that helps us comply with applicable copyright laws.

By the way, I called CCLI offices and spoke to someone there to be certain I was correctly interpreting what I read. Not only did they confirm that, they also directed me to some information that clarified beyond doubt another question I had.

That question concerned "webcasting" of our live performances. That is music that is performed with our Celebration Orchestra or other instrumentalists providing the accompaniment music.

The answer is that we cannot legally do so without proper licensing.

The other, and most compelling website. I visited is CCA which is the Church Copyright Administration. You may want to look in particular at their faq (Frequently Asked Questions) section which explains how churches typically, albeit unknowingly, violate copyright law.

The are you covered? page answers lots of questions in detail. Read this and you will not have any doubts about what churches may or may not do with music.

Would we like to do it? We surely would. The question is; "Is that judicial use of God's money?" I think it could be, however I think we need to see an increase in traffic. On the other hand, the argument could me made that "If you play them they will come."

What do you think? Let us know.

There are any number of compelling reasons for paying for "God's gifts." We do it all the time. We pay pastors for their gifts. We pay church staff for their gifts. We pay outside contractors for their gifts. Why are songwriters, performers, publishers and so on any different? The answer is, "they're not."

Another way to get an answer to this and other questions about copyrights is to check with the "Copyright Queen" on the CCA site by clicking on the image below.

I encourage you to check it out. You might also want to read this article concerning burning copies of CD's and giving them away.

So, the bottom line is that we need to be faithful to "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's" and do the right thing as we honestly understand what that is. We don't have to like it, we just have to do it because it is the right thing.

I hope that you understand my position. Beyond that, I hope you agree that it is the right thing to do and support my decision to do whatever will bring glory to Jesus as it has been revealed to me.

According to applicable copyright law, we (corporately or individually) are not permitted to make any copies of recorded background music any more than we are allowed to copy music CD's, movies or copyrighted printed material. We are obligated to do what we understand to be the right thing.

And what does the Bible say?

Matthew 22:15-22 (NKJV)

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.
¹⁶ And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.
¹⁷ "Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"
¹⁸ But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?
¹⁹ "Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius.
²⁰ And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?"
²¹ They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
²² When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

I think that could be also be "render unto writers, arrangers, musicians, recording companies et al" the payment to which they are entitled for their efforts.

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