Description

Flexibility in Staffing Structure

Perry Methodist Church recognizes that exceptional candidates may bring differing strengths in organ performance, choral leadership, worship planning, administration, and music ministry leadership.

While the church ideally seeks a candidate capable of serving in the full scope of this role, the church is open to creative staffing structures — including the possibility of separate Organist and Director of Worship & Music Ministries positions — should the right candidates emerge through the search process.

Worship Planning & Leadership

• Collaborate with the Senior Pastor and church staff in planning weekly worship services and seasonal worship experiences.
• Plan and implement worship services for two identical Sunday morning traditional worship services.
• Select hymns, anthems, and worship music that support the theological and pastoral direction of worship.
• Lead and support congregational singing through organ, piano, choir, and instrumental leadership.
• Provide organ and/or piano accompaniment for Sunday worship services, funerals, weddings, memorial services, and other special worship events.
• Coordinate worship-related sound, technology, and livestream needs with staff and volunteers.

Choral & Instrumental Leadership

• Plan repertoire and conduct regular rehearsals for:
  
  • Sanctuary Choir
  • J.O.Y. Choir (Just Older Youth)
  • Sanctuary Bells Handbell Choir
• Recruit, train, and encourage volunteer singers and instrumentalists.
• Supervise choir officers, coordinators, accompanists, and volunteers connected to vocal and handbell ministries.
• Coordinate and contract guest instrumentalists and orchestral musicians for seasonal worship services and special events.
• Oversee the church’s handbell ministry, including participation in festivals and continuing development of the program.
• Encourage opportunities for choirs and musicians to participate in outreach ministries, community events, and special performances.

Music Ministry Leadership & Administration

• Provide overall leadership and administration for a comprehensive worship and music ministry program.
• Establish music ministry goals, organization, scheduling, and leadership development.
• Supervise music staff, accompanists, instrumentalists, and guest musicians.
• Administer and oversee the Music Ministry budget.
• Meet weekly and monthly deadlines for worship planning materials, newsletters, reports, and publications.
• Organize and maintain the church’s music library, including vocal, instrumental, and handbell repertoire.
• Oversee the care, maintenance, tuning, and upkeep of musical instruments, including pianos, organ, and handbells.
• Coordinate choir robes, stoles, handbell equipment, and related music ministry materials.

Professional Development

• Participate in continuing education opportunities related to church music, worship leadership, sacred music, organ performance, and choral conducting.
• Maintain appropriate memberships and engagement with professional organizations related to sacred music and worship leadership.

Worship Philosophy & Ministry Culture

Perry Methodist Church values worship that is spiritually alive, deeply congregational, Christ-centered, and rooted in the rich traditions of Christian worship.

The church highly values:

• strong congregational singing,
• choir and choral leadership,
• hymnody and sacred choral literature,
• organ and piano accompaniment,
• guest instrumentalists,
• theological depth,
• and worship that engages both heart and mind.

Music ministry is understood not primarily as performance, but as ministry — helping create worship environments that are reverent, joyful, participatory, spiritually expectant, and centered on Jesus Christ.

The church seeks a leader who understands that musical excellence should serve worship rather than overshadow it.

Requirements

Qualifications

Required

• Demonstrated Christian faith and commitment to the mission and ministry of the local church.
• Strong proficiency in organ performance and congregational accompaniment.
• Experience directing choirs and leading church music ministries.
• Strong organizational, relational, and leadership skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with church staff, volunteers, and congregation members.
• Strong communication and administrative abilities.
• Bachelor’s degree in Music, Sacred Music, Organ Performance, Choral Conducting, or related field, or equivalent experience.

Preferred

• Graduate degree in music or sacred music.
• Experience leading traditional worship ministries in larger church settings.
• Familiarity with worship technology, livestream coordination, and worship production needs.
• Experience working with volunteer-based church music programs.