Aims:
- To be a Christian based rock-gospel choir incorporating other performing arts.
- To create a choir where people can build friendships, draw out hidden abilities and be accepted for who and what they are.
- To develop this concept throughout student institutions of further education worldwide.
Values:
- Everyone in Revelation has an equal role to play and is loved and accepted as such.
- Performances/concerts are a means to an end, not an end in themselves.
- There are no pre-requisites to joining Revelation.
- Revelation is run by the group for the group.
- Freedom of choice is respected at all times.
- We are all beautiful human people loved by God and each other.
Rev Scripture
Colossians 3 v 12-14:
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
1. What are the Aims and Values?
The Aims and Values are the basic principles that govern Rev. Every rule, every Rev choir and every event is designed to uphold the Aims and Values, as seen above.
2. What does Christian-based mean?
It means our fundamental principles are based on Christian values, most notably “love”. We sing gospel songs about God being awesome alongside secular songs and we always make sure space and time are available for prayer and discussions of Christianity at rehearsals and events.
3. So I have to be a Christian to join?
Not at all. You don’t have to meet any requirements before you join Rev. As long as you don’t mind singing some songs about God and you don’t try to dismiss the people who are there because of their faith, you’ll be fine. We’ll never make you participate in prayer or other religious activities if you don’t want to, but there are plenty of chances to learn more about Christianity if you’re interested.
4. Does that mean that “Christian-based” isn’t important and there’s nothing special for me in Rev as a Christian?
Absolutely not. As previously mentioned, we sing plenty of songs about God and there’s time set aside for prayer at both rehearsals and national events. We tend to rehearse in churches or chaplaincies as well. It’s a great opportunity to talk to people of different denominations of Christianity as well as people of other faiths or no faith. All the Aims and Values are built on one piece of scripture: Colossians 3 v 12-14 and that underpins everything that the choir does.
5. What does “incorporating other performing arts” mean?
It means we run what we call “splinter groups” in both individual choirs and national events, dependent on the level of interest from members. These can include (but are not limited to):
- Band.
- Dance.
- Drama.
- Sign-language.
- Tech (sound and lighting equipment etc.).
- Concert decoration.
- Studying (yes, studying. When we have a week away, we make sure there’s enough time for our student members to keep up with university work).
By taking part in a splinter group as well choir rehearsals, you can learn about other performing arts. As always, ability and experience don’t matter; it’s about having another chance to try something new. Splinter groups often have the option of putting on their own act during a concert.
6. What does “draw out hidden abilities” mean?
It means that everyone has something to contribute to Rev, even if they don’t realise it. Part of the reason we encourage people of all abilities to join and run splinter groups alongside the main choir is to give lots of different people opportunities to shine. While there’s always space for musicians and other performers, we also need people who are good at logistics and administration, who have a head for figures, who can produce publicity materials, who can help decorate concert venues, who can feed sixty people for a week on a limited budget, who can encourage others to achieve their best or who can otherwise contribute to the vast number of things that need to be done for Rev to achieve its aims. Maybe you’ve even got a skill that we haven’t thought of but that could help the choir. Everyone has a part to play and we want to find out what you’re good at.
7. Does “at student institutes of high education” mean you have to be at university to join?
No. Rev’s primary focus is always going to be on its student members and all the choirs are based in universities, but that doesn’t mean they are limited to those environments. If you’re near a Rev, then just go along. If a friend of yours is in Rev and suggests you go to an event, give it a try. There are a lot of people who graduate from university but still aren’t ready to leave Rev and end up staying for another ten years. As always, there are no prerequisites for joining Revelation.
8. “Concerts are a means to an end and not an end in themselves”? Huh?
The reason we like putting on concerts is because they give us a chance to show all the things we have learned over the course of a term or event. All the arranging, teaching, conducting, singing, splinter groups and production, whether it’s big or small, deserves to be celebrated. Our main focus isn’t about putting on the concert; it’s about learning all the things that allow us to put it on. Even if there is no concert, Revvers have still achieved something and this is just one possible way for them to show that. This also means there’s no reason to get overly stressed when putting on a performance – if something goes wrong, it’s not the end of the world, it’s just part of the experience.
9. What does “no pre-requisites to joining Revelation” mean?
It means we absolutely do not care what your background is. Musician or not, Christian or not, whatever gender, race or sexuality you are, if you are disabled (physically or mentally), whatever level of education you have achieved, your financial situation, whatever your political beliefs or any other identity that you affiliate yourself with. We don’t hold auditions, we don’t expect anything of you, we just want you to be able to turn up and enjoy Rev whatever your situation. If you need extra support, we’ll do whatever we can to provide it. The only exception to this is under-eighteens – it’s not that we don’t like you, but to safeguard minors we don’t allow anyone who isn’t yet eighteen at rehearsals or events (unless you’re a seventeen year old university student abiding by university policy, or you’re there briefly with a legal guardian who takes full responsibility for you).
10. What about “Revelation is run by the group for the group”? What does that mean?
This means that everyone gets a say in how Rev is run. We have Forum several times a year, when anyone from any choir is welcome to attend alongside the national team to give their opinions on how Rev is being organised and where it is going next. Committees for individual choirs are elected by their choir, positions on the national team involve applications before votes by representatives of all the choirs, even event locations can be voted on. When we have an event, everyone gets the opportunity to apply for a job. This way, everyone is included and we can make sure all decisions are in the best interests of all our members.