Here's What I Think

To answer my brother's question, when there is cymbal noise coming back in the feed from the pastor's lapel mic there is only one clear solution in my mind, though I could be wrong. I would immagine that you have several stage wedges (monitors) set up so that the performers can hear clearly on stage. I would first make sure that the pastor's vocals are not going through the monitor as too hot of a signal. He doesn't need much monitor feed because it is just his voice on stage and monitors are, again, generally set up so that the performer(s) can hear what he and/or everyone else on stage is doing clearly, though I suppose it is fun for speakers to hear their voices booming through amplification. Reguardless, make sure to turn down the levels on the monitor. Also, and what is probably the key problem, is how many monitors you are feeding the vocal through. There should be a monitor right next to the drum kit, if this is so, make sure that this monitor is not getting ANY feed through it from the vocal. The sound coming through that monitor will cause the cymbals and snare spring to resonate and it could get pretty messy depending on the volume and consistancy of the sound. Finally, if I remember correctly, and assuming that we are referring to CBC's set up, the drums are set off stage to the direct front. This COULD cause some sticky situations to arise from the mains (front of house speakers). If your drum wedge is not getting any feed from vocals, depending on the relationship of where the drums are set up to where the mains are aimed, you might still get the same resonating effect on the cymbals. If you still get problems when the drum monitor is muted, I would try repositioning the drums, possibly pushing them back a bit if that is possible. My guess would be, however, that you are getting most of your rattle from the high hat being that the two metal pieces are almost touching and with any slight air disturbance they might contact and cause a disturbance. Considering that, also make sure that the drum kit isn't sitting near an airconditioning vent, though if my memory serves me right, I don't think they are.

Long to short: turn speaker's voice feed through monitors down, turn drum monitor off, still a problem, reposition drums in relationship to mains. I will ask someone with a little bit more knowledge than I if that is close to a solution.