New Worship Leader Position
Have you seen this ad?
WANTED: Worship and Creative Arts Leader
First Church is looking for a dynamic person to take their worship to the next level. This person must have a deep, spiritual mature walk with Christ that adheres to our doctrines, must provide charismatic up front leadership for guiding others in worship, and they must be really great with a guitar. Further, this person must have organizational and administrative gifts to lead, develop and coordinate volunteers in the worship ministry, and have the ability to clearly communicate vision for worship to staff/clergy/lay leadership.He/she must be abreast of the latest in contemporary worship, able to produce professional quality videos and graphics, maintain a current technical expertise and knowledge for use of media in worship, and lead forward with research and implementation of new technologies for ministry. Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, video editing, motion graphics, html, php and social networking assumed. Further, this person must oversee the web presence for the church, and be able to help church create a brand identity for the new contemporary worship service that will appeal to the unchurched and barely churched in our community. Seminary degree preferred, 5+ years experience in worship leadership and media ministry. Ideally this leader is under 30. Starting salary commiserate with experience, beginning at $25,000.
Seriously. That’s what most churches do, isn’t it? Take about 4-5 people and try to cram them into one mythical person who is going to save their hides? One day maybe churches will realize the value of these qualities as separate ministries, and the necessity of equipping a team of people to accomplish the task of growing a vital, dynamic worship ministry. In the meantime, we’ll stay on the lookout for WorshipMaster.
Lori said,
Wrote on August 11, 2009 @ 2:04 pm
$25K, seriously?!?! I think our church pays close to double that for our music minister, and he just does music, not 8 million other things too.
Osborn4 said,
Wrote on August 11, 2009 @ 2:48 pm
I wonder what size church this was for. 5 years experience as a tech minister and a media minister and web designer for $25k (or more if your experience warrants it).
Don’t muzzle the ox and don’t burn out your pastors/staff.
Jamie146 said,
Wrote on August 11, 2009 @ 6:15 pm
People with these qualifications do exist (I’m one of them) and some might even do it for $25K (again, me; I’m currently receiving about $24K for the same position). However, I agree it is unwise for a church to put these kinds of demands and expectations on one person. If the church is too small, or unwilling, to pay a reasonable salary for this position (easily three times what is being offered), then their focus is on the wrong things. They should not be focused on developing a media ministry, they should be focused on developing disciples. When the church grows to a sufficient size, they will discover that there are those in the congregation who are able and willing to do these sorts of things – to use their talents for service to God. One reason churches today struggle to be effective in their communities is impatience and an ambition that is not part of God’s calling. This church may need to grow internally and spiritually much more before they are able to do the sorts of things this position oversees.
BTW, the reason it works in my church is that I know I am called by God to do exactly what I’m doing; I was not recruited or even asked. And in addition, my goal is not to develop an outstanding music and media ministry; it’s to develop people. When (if) I leave, there will be others to take my place – not merely to do the jobs I do, but the ministry of making disciples of Christ.
dheacock said,
Wrote on August 13, 2009 @ 2:48 pm
I can definitely “commiserate (sic)” with this experience
Although this is almost certainly a fake ad, exaggerated for effect (and I’m guessing the substitution of “commiserate” for “commensurate” was intentional), this is so close to my actual job description and responsibilities (and compensation) that it’s sort of spooky. I serve a church with a weekend attendance of 700-800; I lead worship at two of our three worship services (I’m the contemporary leader, but we have a traditional service as well); I manage the Web site, the church management system, the church network, and I am director of media as well, with responsibility for overseeing video production, sanctuary projection, sound techs and still photography. I am also the staff IT guy, supporting staff workstations, printers, and Internet connectivity for four pastors and four support staff.
Oh, yeah, and this is a part-time (25 hrs/week) position. I’m not kidding.
But lest you get the wrong impression, there are about 20 volunteers who help out with various parts of what I do, and were it not for them…well, I don’t like to think about that
–DH
The MO Guys said,
Wrote on August 13, 2009 @ 3:17 pm
DHeacock,
Yes this ad is a fake ad that is not that far removed from actual expectations we encounter at many churches… apparently like yours.