Worship Pastor

Position: Worship Pastor

Reports To

The Worship Pastor reports directly to the Lead Pastor.

Job Overview

Full-time salary position, 45-50 hours per week. Compensation package based on experience and training. Worship Pastor will be responsible to direct volunteers and lead the congregation in worship, including all technical and creative arts aspects of the church’s worship. Models and understands the core values of Shawnee Alliance and fits well into the vision, mission, direction, culture and purpose of the church.

Responsibilities and Duties

·        Serve as the primary shepherd of the worship team.

·        Select music that leads the congregation into worship going along with the theme of the message.

·        Recruit, mentor and train volunteers as needed to ensure dynamic worship in all Shawnee Alliance services.

·        Schedule and plan worship times that include emphasis and sacraments such as communion, baptism, child dedication and other special services.

·        Lead weekly rehearsal and devotional with volunteer team.

·        Able to preach engaging, Biblically grounded sermons that further the vision of the church and implement worship objectives throughout the church.

·        Provide for the advancement of team member skillsets through training and feedback.

·        Oversee the creation of sermon slides for the teaching pastor.

·        Oversee the production of videos including announcement, testimony, promotional and sermon bumper videos.

·        Purchase and maintain equipment for the Worship and Tech Teams.

·        Communicate with the pastoral staff on a regular basis to discuss worship themes for services.

·        Use resources of worship ministries (technical and musical) to support other ministries/events within the church.

·        Create both long and short-term plans for the worship ministries that fit the vision of Shawnee Alliance.

·        Maintain church music licenses and subscriptions related to worship arts and service production.

·        Create and oversee yearly worship budget to accomplish all of the above.

·        Assist in benevolent meetings and other pastoral care items.

·        Assist the Lead Pastor as requested.

Education/Experience and Skills

·        BA in religion, worship arts or comparable degree

·        Hold or be able to be licensed within the Christian and Missionary Alliance

·        Minimum of five years’ experience in worship leadership or relevant experience

·        Possess a positive attitude in the church environment

·        Lead and manage a team well

·        Work well with minimal supervision

·        Undergo and pass a background check at the church’s expense and on a recurring basis

Computer systems/software programs used:

·        Microsoft Word/Excel/Email

·        Adobe Creative Suite

·        Planning Center Online

·        ProPresenter

·        Other video and editing software as required for service production

Other Requirements and Expectations:

·        Must align with the doctrinal statement and official positions of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (www.cmalliance.org/statement-of-faith)

Candidate Profile

Shawnee Alliance Church is seeking a worship pastor who excels in shepherding and leading teams, planning and coordinating Sunday morning worship experiences, and who possesses a background in pastoral ministry. While this role includes musical worship leadership, the larger responsibility is the pastoral oversight of the Sunday worship experience including team development, service planning, congregational engagement, and volunteer systems. The ideal candidate will also be able to preach engaging, biblically grounded sermons that further the vision of the church and implement worship objectives throughout the church.

Our Next Worship Pastor

Over the past 30 years our worship pastors have engaged primarily as a pastor who oversees the worship ministries of the church. This is different from a song leader, or worship leader. We believe the ideal candidate will develop leaders within the worship ministry to serve and lead on Sunday morning. Our next worship pastor will be a pastor first.

Reporting Relationship

The pastor reports to and is held accountable by the Lead Pastor.

Why This Role Matters

Shawnee Alliance Church defines the role and purpose of our ministries as much broader than Sunday morning. We have been blessed to extend our influence throughout the community in dynamic ministries, both overseen by the church and through our congregation intentionally deployed in our community. However, Sunday morning is still a critical expression of our faith and mission. Leading others in worship is a sacred responsibility, and one that serves to both further the faith of our congregation and to honor God as we worship Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Our next worship pastor should value:

●    The priesthood of all believers. God has equipped the church with leadership to equip the saints for the work of ministry.

●    Dynamic, Christ-focused worship. Our worship team serves to point our people to Jesus, not to impress with performance.

●    Excellence in all we do. Excellence is first an expression of giving God our best, followed by the result of what God himself creates in and through our worship.

Who This Role is Not For

We want to avoid a bad fit. In that spirit, this role would not be a good fit for:

●    Someone who expects to be at the center of every worship set.

●    Someone uncomfortable with leading change.

●    Someone who avoids difficult conversations or healthy conflict.

●    Someone who would prefer serving as a worship leader rather than a pastor who oversees worship ministry.

Goals and Expectations

First year

●    Establish healthy relationships with the worship team, congregation, and community.

●    Address critical technological and infrastructure needs.

●    Work collaboratively with the Lead Pastor and other teaching pastors to plan, coordinate, and execute Sunday morning worship services.

●    Begin equipping our worship team.

General Responsibilities

●    Oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of Sunday morning worship alongside the Lead Pastor.

●    Oversee all aspects of the Sunday morning worship experience including selecting songs, video elements, announcements, vision casting, and hosting for our contemporary, traditional, and online services.

●    Serve as the primary recruiter, trainer, deployer, discipler, and shepherd for the worship team.

●    Serve alongside the pastoral team in implementing pastoral care for the congregation.

●    Oversee the purchase and maintenance of all equipment needed for worship ministry and audio/visual needs of the church.

●    Support the ministries of the church by coordinating volunteers as needed to assist with audio, visual, and worship.

What Success Looks Like

We will know we found the right worship pastor when:

●    He or she builds strong, trust-based relationships within the worship team, congregation, and community.

●    The Sunday morning worship experience is engaging, participatory, and executed with excellence.

●    New volunteers are discovering their role in ministry, both on stage and behind the scenes.

●    The congregation embraces our hire as a pastor, not simply a song leader.

Theological Alignment

Shawnee Alliance Church is a congregation of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. As such, any pastor of our church should be in agreement with the statement of beliefs and theological position papers available at www.cmalliance.com. Additionally, to be an ideal theological fit the next worship pastor should be aligned in:

●    The priesthood of all believers. God has equipped every one of his children with spiritual gifts to be exercised in worshipful service.

●    The pastor. In accordance with Ephesians 4:11-16, the primary role of the pastor is to equip the saints for the work of ministry.

●    Disciplemaking. The role of the church is to make disciples not simply converts or church attendees.

Cultural Fit

Our church has a culture. We are:

●    Authentic. We expect our pastors to be the same person in the pulpit, on the platform, in staff meeting, and our community.

●    Relational. Our work is in the lives of people. Tasks serve people, not their own ends.

●    Driven. We do not micromanage. Our volunteers and congregation are full of passion and drive; we desire to see the same in our pastors.

Education, Experience and Skills

●    BA in religion, worship arts, or comparable degree

●    5+ years relevant experience

●    Holds or is able to gain ordination within the Christian and Missionary Alliance

●    Positive attitude in a church environment

●    Ability to lead teams

●    Able to work well with minimal supervision

●    Must undergo and pass a background check at the church’s expense and on a recurring basis

●    Familiarity with Planning Center, Microsoft Office and other relevant software

Personal Characteristics

●    Authentic: We desire our pastor to be the same person on and off the stage.

●    Hard working and self-motivated: Our church is full of men and women who work hard, and we want our worship pastor to share this value.

●    Relatable: Our pastor should be able to relate well to our community and church members.