Interim Director of Music/Artist In Residence

Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church | January 2027–May 1, 2028

What might happen if a gifted musician had the opportunity to spend a season helping a 

congregation imagine what its music ministry could become?

That's the question we're asking at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church (MVP)

in downtown Washington, DC.

Our current Director of Music is departing soon, and our longtime organist will retire on 

May 1, 2028. Between now and then, we're looking for an exceptional musician and 

worship leader—or a series of musicians—to join us in a season of musical exploration, 

leadership, and growth.

We are open to a single Interim Director of Music serving through May 2028 or to Artists 

in Residence serving for several months at a time. The arrangement can be shaped around 

the musician's gifts, interests, and availability.

What we're hoping for

We want music that helps people encounter God.

Music that is moving and joyful, excellent and engaging, rooted and adventurous.

Music that invites people to sing rather than simply listen.

Music that can draw from gospel and spirituals, classical and traditional music, 

contemporary and global traditions, and that has theological integrity.

We want to strengthen congregational singing, grow an accessible choir, involve more 

people in musical leadership, find creative ways to include children, and discover music 

we haven't yet imagined.

And we want to preserve what is already precious to us: our Wesleyan roots, 

congregational song, choral leadership, organ and piano, and the joy of making music 

together

You might be an organist, pianist, choral director, worship musician, composer, 

conductor, or another kind of musician with strong gifts for congregational worship.

Most importantly, you are:

• An excellent musician, particularly at the keyboard.

• A confident and compelling leader of congregational and choral singing.

• Comfortable moving across musical styles and traditions.

• A gifted teacher, communicator, and collaborator.

• Someone who enjoys finding, encouraging, and developing people's musical gifts.

• A person with strong pastoral and relational instincts.

• Passionate about God, the church, and the connection between music and faith.

• Curious enough to experiment and grounded enough to honor the traditions that 

matter to us.

We are not looking for a performer who happens to work at a church. We are looking for 

someone who understands music as ministry.

All Are Welcome.

No Exceptions.

No matter where you have been or failed to be.

No matter what you’ve done or failed to do.

No matter what you’ve said or failed to say.

No matter who you have loved or failed to love.

YOU ARE BELOVED!

And YOU are abundantly welcome here.

We are young and old, gay and straight, liberal and conservative, housed and unhoused, Methodists and Catholics and “I’m not sure what I am or if it matters”, lifelong churchgoers and people coming to church for the first time, people filled with faith and people who know doubt more than faith, and so many other things. What unites us is a very sincere desire to faithfully share Christ’s love and grace in downtown Washington.

We are also a Reconciling Congregation. We became a reconciling congregation on October 31, 2009 and we passionately believe that all people should be welcomed and included in the full life of the church and are working for change in our denomination when it comes to LGBTQ+ equality.