What are the responsibilities and job description for the Worship Leader position at Desert Cross Lutheran Church?
About Desert Cross Lutheran Church
Desert Cross Lutheran Church is a growing, two-campus ELCA Lutheran congregation with campuses in Tempe and Gilbert, Arizona. We are committed to creating welcoming, Christ-centered worship that is rooted in Scripture, shaped by Lutheran theology, and expressed through music, prayer, community, and service.
Our Gilbert campus is experiencing meaningful growth, including expanding opportunities for children, youth, and families to participate more fully in worship. We are seeking a gifted and relational Worship Leader who can lead Sunday worship with musical excellence while helping develop the next generation of worship leaders.
Position Summary
The Gilbert Campus Worship Leader provides musical and spiritual leadership for the Sunday morning worship service at Desert Cross Lutheran Church’s Gilbert campus, and serves under the oversight of the Director of Worship & Media Arts, who provides the worship plan and final song selections for the Gilbert campus; this role leads, prepares, rehearses, and develops musicians within that established worship plan. This person leads worship vocally and instrumentally, and helps cultivate congregational participation through a blend of contemporary worship songs, hymns, and elements of Lutheran liturgical music.
Primary Responsibilities
Worship Leadership
• Lead the weekly Sunday morning worship service at the Gilbert campus vocally and instrumentally, preferably from piano.
• Provide prelude music approximately 10-15 minutes before worship begins.
• Lead congregational singing with confidence, warmth, and theological sensitivity.
• Support a worship style that includes contemporary worship music, hymns, Lutheran liturgical elements, and seasonal worship expressions.
• Prepare and lead music for special services as needed, including Christmas Eve, Holy Week, midweek seasonal services, funerals, weddings, and other occasional worship gatherings.
• Work collaboratively with the Director of Worship & Media Arts and pastors to ensure music supports the scripture readings, sermon themes, liturgical season, and overall worship flow.
Youth and Emerging Leader Development
• Identify, encourage, and mentor youth and young adults with musical gifts.
• Create age-appropriate opportunities for students to sing, play instruments, read music, assist with worship, or participate in worship teams.
• Help develop a culture where young people are welcomed, trained, and trusted as worship leaders.
• Collaborate with children’s, youth, and family ministry leaders to integrate youth participation into worship in meaningful and sustainable ways.
• Provide coaching in basic musicianship, worship leadership, microphone technique, stage presence, rehearsal etiquette, and congregational leadership.
• Encourage intergenerational worship by connecting experienced adult musicians with younger musicians.
Music Preparation and Team Coordination
• Communicate clearly with musicians regarding song lists, keys, rehearsal times, service flow, and expectations.
• Rehearse with musicians during the week and, when needed, before worship.
• Recruit, schedule, and support volunteer musicians and vocalists from within the congregation.
• Help build and maintain a healthy, reliable worship team culture.
• Accompany adult and children’s choirs as needed.
Collaboration and Communication
• Maintain regular communication with the Director of Worship & Media Arts, pastors, Gilbert campus leaders, and worship volunteers.
• Communicate scheduling needs, volunteer updates, equipment concerns, and pastoral or worship considerations in a timely manner.
• Represent Desert Cross with professionalism, warmth, and a collaborative spirit.
Worship Technology Support
• Demonstrate basic comfort with worship technology, including microphones, soundboard basics, monitors, and worship presentation needs.
• Communicate with sound and media volunteers to support smooth worship leadership.
• Help create a worship environment where musicians, vocalists, readers, and worship participants can be clearly heard and supported.
• Experience with tools such as WorshipTools Planning, ProPresenter/PowerPoint, in-ear monitors, or digital soundboards is a plus, but not required.
Qualifications
Required
• Strong Christian faith and commitment to leading worship in a church setting.
• High proficiency on piano.
• Ability to lead worship vocally with confidence and warmth.
• Ability to lead both contemporary worship songs and traditional hymns.
• Strong understanding of congregational singing and worship flow.
• Ability to work collaboratively with pastors, staff, volunteers, youth, and families.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Reliable availability for Sunday morning worship and weekly preparation.
• Heart for mentoring youth and developing new worship leaders.
Preferred
• Experience leading worship in a church setting.
• Familiarity with Lutheran theology, liturgy, the church year, and hymnody.
• Experience working with youth musicians, worship teams, choirs, or intergenerational worship.
• Ability to arrange songs for small worship teams or varying instrumentation.
• Basic knowledge of sound systems, microphones, and worship slides.
• Ability to play by chord charts, lead sheets, hymnal notation, and/or written arrangements.
Desired Personal Characteristics
• A worshiper first and musician second.
• Relational, encouraging, and patient with volunteers and young musicians.
• Spiritually mature and theologically thoughtful.
• Comfortable leading from the front while also empowering others.
• Flexible, dependable, and calm under pressure.
• Excited about helping a growing campus build a sustainable worship ministry.
• Passionate about creating worship that is welcoming, excellent, participatory, and Christ-centered.
Schedule and Time Commitment
This is a part-time position (up to 12 hours weekly, depending on the season) requiring Sunday morning availability, weekly preparation, communication with worship staff and musicians, and occasional special services.
• Sunday morning worship leadership and rehearsal.
• Weekly music preparation and communication.
• Occasional midweek rehearsals or youth worship development sessions.
• Seasonal services such as Advent, Christmas Eve, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, weddings, funerals, and special events. Exact weekly hours and compensation will be determined based on experience, availability, and ministry needs.
Compensation
Compensation is commensurate with experience, skill level, and scope of responsibilities.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should submit to the Director of Worship & Media Arts (jvanrossum@desertcross.org):
• Resume or worship ministry experience summary.
• Brief cover letter describing worship leadership background and interest in youth worship development.
• Links to video or audio examples of worship leading, piano/keyboard playing, or vocal leadership, if available.
• References upon request.
Job Site Keywords
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