Westminster Presbyterian Church is seeking a Director of Music Ministry
Friends,
Thank you so much for taking the time to learn a little more about Westminster and our Director of Music Ministry position.
Westminster Presbyterian Church was chartered in the fall of 1963 in southwest Durham. At the church’s first Session meeting, elders made two foundational decisions: 1) As the congregation began to establish a budget, Westminster would always tithe to the community, and 2) Everyone was welcome to attend worship and become a part of our church. That spirit of generosity and welcome is foundational to our culture and continues to inform our present work.
An approximately 800-member congregation that draws an average of over 200 worshipers each week, Westminster is demographically young for the mainline church, with healthy numbers of children and youth. We take pride in our efforts to make Durham a better place:
- We help provide food to our neighbors through Emanuel Food Pantry.
- We advocate for Durham Public Schools alongside Durham CAN (Congregations, Associations, and Neighborhoods).
- We have vibrant ministries with children and families, youth, and adults. We invite you to explore our website for up-to-date information on all Westminster offers.
- We enjoy rich partnerships with La Nueva Jerusalén, the scouting community, and Durham YMCA’s Y Learning after-school literacy program for children, in addition to many other local organizations.
We have recently completed two successful capital campaigns to make sustainable upgrades to our campus and welcome the community in even more ways. These improvements reveal a remarkable balance between nurturing our congregation and our strong commitment to community outreach.
Most importantly, we are a people striving to live out Micah 6:8, “to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.” Our members are thoughtful, engaged, and willing to ask hard questions. They are also quick to encourage, laugh, and offer support.
On February 25, 2024, in worship, we gave thanks to God for the ministry of Monica Rossman, who served as our Director of Music Ministry for 30 years. You can find a link to that service here. Watching this service will give you insight into who we are; we are a church that cherishes our staff and whose love shines through.
Our Music Ministry Staffing Team also commissioned a congregational survey which, along with some in-person listening sessions, will help us bridge the past and future. You can find an executive summary and key findings of the results here. Here is also a document from the dedication of our Reuter Organ in 1987 which gives you particulars about the instrument. We hope to take the historic strengths of our music program and build on them for a new season.
We are looking for a candidate who is willing to listen, love us, and ask questions to help us grow—one who is grounded in tradition but will also help us expand our reach. We are looking for a candidate who sees themselves as an intergenerational educator and advocate. We want someone who feels called to be Westminster’s Director of Music Ministry.
We look forward to welcoming a “fellow traveler,” someone to walk alongside us for a season to see how God might use us. We hope you or someone you know might be willing to join us on “The Way.” We are hopeful for someone with appropriate educational credentials and musical training, as well as experience in a church environment. But, most importantly, we want someone who feels called to share this next phase of the journey with us.
Interested applicants are encouraged to submit a CV and one-paragraph responses to each of the three questions below to personnel@wpcdurham.org. No phone calls, please.
Peace,
The Rev. Dr. Chris Tuttle, Pastor & Head of Staff
Jim Ketch, Chair, Music Ministry Staffing Team
Questions
- What words will you wish to share with the Chancel Choir on the evening of your first rehearsal at Westminster?
- What challenges does the church face today, and how can WPC’s music ministry help address these?
- In our busy times, how can the church create an intergenerational and inclusive music program?
Job Description
Position Title: Director of Music Ministry
Reports To: Pastor/Head of Staff
Status: Full-Time
Salary Range: $65,000-$75,000 (+ benefits)
Job Summary: The Director of Music Ministry leads all aspects of the music ministry at WPC, bringing glory to God through a focus on enhancing community worship and fellowship, providing opportunities for musical experiences and education for congregants of all ages and stages, and promoting spiritual growth through music for the entire community.
Essential Functions:
- Develop and execute a comprehensive vision for a ministry that spreads music throughout the life of the church.
- Foster Christ-centered worship, in partnership with the pastors and Worship Committee, through the planning and leadership of music at all worship services, including organ playing, choral music, hymn selection, and musical education.
- Provide musical, educational, and administrative guidance and volunteer support for all music ensembles and programs that include musical experiences.
- Lead, direct, and educate all music ensembles, including but not limited to the Chancel Choir, handbell choirs, and children’s choirs, supporting a dynamic and connected community of musicians.
- Serve as a member of the WPC ministry team, participating in staff, small group, and individual meetings as needed
- Oversee all music program resources, including managing the program budget, collaborating with communications staff, and maintaining music instruments, equipment, and supplies.
- Collaborate on music for weddings, funerals, and other special services, including playing for or securing musicians to play for these special services.
Core Competencies:
- Deep experience with the congregational, instrumental, and choral music of faith
- A teacher’s heart, with the skill to bring out the spiritual gifts of those with musical interest or skill
- A love of working with congregants of all ages, from children to adults
- Joyful leadership
- Creativity in order to recruit and draw forth the talents of others and to bring variety and balance to musical genres, periods, and moods
- The heart of a pastor, nurturing the spiritual growth of the congregation and caring for members of choral and instrumental ensembles
Paid Time Off: Four weeks of vacation + Two weeks of study leave; sabbatical after seven years
Other Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision eyewear coverage, flexible spending account, 403(b) with matching, professional expense account.