Director of Contemporary Worship

The Director of Contemporary Worship is responsible for planning, rehearsing, and executing all contemporary worship music, as well as occasional special events.

 

Core Responsibilities

 

1.    Planning:

a.    Work collaboratively with the Pastor and others to select and prepare instrumental and vocal contemporary music for regular and special worship services. Music should be selected with an eye toward supporting the overall message of the service and be theologically acceptable in a UMC church setting.

b.    Communicate positively and proactively with the pastor, staff, and volunteer musicians about music selection, office schedule, time off and other administrative items in order to maintain smooth, cohesive operations.

c.    Select and coordinate contract vocalists and instrumentalists for services and special events as needed. Prepare and sign timecards for guest musicians and staff musicians in a timely fashion.

2.    Rehearsal:

a.    Ensure personal familiarity with all planned music pieces, sufficient to lead without error in rehearsal and performance.

b.    Organize and conduct but Sunday morning warm-ups and other rehearsals 1-2 times per month with worship band volunteers and/or guest musicians, with an eye toward developing skill sets over time and ensuring the highest possible degree of musical quality.

c.    Foster a positive, Spirit-filled musical experience that encourages innovation, collaboration and relationship-building among volunteer and staff musicians. Accept and encourage musicians of varying abilities and engagement levels.

3.    Performance:

a.    Lead worship at the 9:30am contemporary service (Sep-May) and 10am summer service (Jun-Aug). Summer service leadership will be done in cooperation with the Director of Choral Worship and Collaborative Organist/Pianist.

b.    Lead one community-facing event or workshop per month, selected and developed in cooperation with the Pastor and Ministry Council. (In the event more than one special event is planned in a given month, a month with no special events will follow.)

4.    Reporting and Relationship Management

a.    Care for regular reporting of music usage to CCLI as required by license.

b.    Maintain positive working relationships with musicians, technicians, and church staff, fostering and deepening connections with one another and the church community.

5.    General Expectations:

a.    Attend weekly staff meetings (currently Tuesdays at 12PM). Absences should be communicated beforehand with the Pastor.

b.    Send updated information to the Office Administrator and Communications staff about programs and opportunities, and work with Communications staff to develop and share announcements and graphics.

c.    Prepare and submit annual budget requests to the Finance Chair, and monitor expenditures throughout the year to ensure expenses are within means.

d.    Alert Pastor to extended absences or other pastoral care needs within the praise band as appropriate.

Required Abilities/Attributes:

1.    Respectful and enthusiastic about cultivating cultural diversity. Informed about and able to support the needs of LGBTQIA children, youth, and older adults, as well as those with mental health concerns.2.    A deep knowledge of, and appreciation for, choral and instrumental sacred music.

3.    Able to work harmoniously, effectively, and confidently with Pastor(s), staff, and laity, including offering and receiving constructive criticism as needed. Skill in building consensus from diverse opinions and needs is preferred.

4.    Self-starter with strong decision-making skills, able to work with minimal direction while still keeping stakeholders engaged and informed.

Qualifications/Experience:

1.    B.A. required; some graduate training in music preferred.2.    Sufficient overall training and experience in Christian theology and practice to lead children and adults in worship and musical learning.

3.    Experience working with a mixed group of professional and volunteer singers/musicians. Previous leadership experience in contemporary music is required.

4.    Proficiency in vocal leadership, piano, and/or guitar performance is required.