Description
Now Hiring – Director of Worship and Music
The Tabernacle Presbyterian Church (Tab) in Indianapolis is now seeking a full-time Director of Worship and Music to lead a vibrant, Christcentered worship life rooted in musical excellence and artistic creativity. This role oversees all traditional, contemporary, jazz, and specialevent music; directs choirs, soloists, instrumentalists, and interns; collaborates closely with pastors; and nurtures a worship culture that blends historic sacred music with innovative artistic expression.
Tab offers exceptional musical resources—including a Casavant organ, Steinway grand piano, Reiger tracker organ, handbells, and a strong choral program supported by paid section leaders. The Director of Worship and Music will guide worship planning, direct ensembles, coordinate special services, mentor interns, support weddings and funerals, and partner with our Media Ministry for livestream and broadcast projects.
We are seeking a gifted musician with strong organ/piano skills, choral and instrumental conducting experience, broad stylistic fluency, excellent organizational and interpersonal strengths, and a deep commitment to Christ.
Join a church with a rich sacredmusic legacy, a thriving urban mission, and a passion for worship that inspires and transforms!
If you would like to apply, please send a resume and cover letter to Mark John at beaconmark@gmail.com.
TABERNACLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Job Description and Background Info
JOB TITLE Director of Worship and Music
STATUS: Full-time, Exempt/Salaried
REPORTING TO: Senior Pastor/Head of Staff
SUPERVISING: Soloists/Selection Leaders, Volunteers, Contemporary Service Worship Leaders, Music Interns
REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS:
Strong personal commitment to faith in Jesus Christ
Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in music; prefer Master’s Degree in music; minimum of 5 years’ experience
Appreciation of church worship and music programming
Excellent musicianship including: organ and piano playing skills; vocals, orchestral, ensemble and especially choral conducting; leading handbell groups; ability to read chord charts to support contemporary worship musicians
Broad understanding of different music styles and their effective employment within a Christian church community to facilitate worship and congregational spiritual growth
An understanding of the use of worship and music and how it rises out of the history of the church
Excellent organizational capabilities and strong communication and inter-personal skills to enable effective leadership and interactions with church members and staff, ensemble members and outside entities
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
Position Summary: Tab’s Director of Worship and Music (DWM) shall model the Christ-centered values of the church while effectively planning, leading, coordinating, and administering all aspects of the Worship, Music and Arts Ministry of Tabernacle Presbyterian Church. The responsibilities cover all related activities for programming and directing the musical needs of ministry and worship to facilitate the growth and spiritual enlivening of the congregation and ministry participants.
Build relationships with those in the greater community through the use of music and arts, create an avenue of faith building through music and arts within the broader community
Actively and creatively employ music and the arts as a means of enhancing our worship and communication with God.
Administer the annual worship and music budgets and oversee spending in accordance with church budgetary requirements.
WORSHIP SERVICES
Communicate/coordinate with the Pastors regarding the Sunday Morning and special worship services
Help plan content for and participate in worship services as needed
Direct, rehearse and coordinate with all choirs, soloists, section leaders, instrumentalists, specialists and oversee volunteers or guests participating in the worship service
Rehearse/practice all service music to be performed for Sunday mornings and/or special services
Support planning and communications related to special events on the church calendar and to the regular worship services
Assist with preparing and proofreading bulletins, promotional materials, coordinating Minute for Missions segments in services, supervise changing of paraments and hymn boards
OTHER EVENTS/RESPONSIBILITIES
Participate in weekly staff meetings for input, communication, and building strong staff relations
Supervise and assist Contemporary Service Worship Leader and team as needed
Help plan and direct church special events (including Tab Jams) for special worship services and events/conferences– playing as needed or securing qualified musicians, worship leaders or clinicians
Coordinate use of building and schedulable resources for special events, weddings, funerals, etc.
Weddings and funerals special requirements
§ Meet with families as needed for wedding and funeral arrangements
§ Playing/performing music for services as needed
§ Oversee and coordinate staff and volunteers needed for weddings, funerals, visitations and services
§ In all music for such events, Tab’s DWM shall review and approve musical selections to be performed so that they are all in accordance with the church’s wedding and funeral policies
Collaborate/coordinate production for special live streams, programs or channel recordings, TV or special programs or other media efforts with the Media Ministries Director and selecting and managing any guest musicians for productions
Structure and supervise Tab’s use of Music Interns
Encourage those with special talents to use their gifts in ministry and service of the church
Pray for the Music Ministry, the worship services, its participants, and those attending
ADMINISTRATION
Serve as support staff member (non-voting liaison) to the Worship, Music and Arts Committee
§ Coordinate with committee chair on agenda, minutes and follow-up with committee work
Oversee upkeep of all musical instruments
Maintain computer records of all music library information
Secure substitutes for all services that the DWM is unable to play and train them in the management of the specific services needed
Contract all special musicians as needed
Submit payroll for paid soloists/section leaders and guest musicians
Prepare, monitor, and abide by annual budget for Worship, Music and Arts Committee with the guidance of the committee, including overseeing the Designated Music Fund
Order new solo, choral, and handbell music and maintain records of solos, anthems and other special music presented
§ Secure needed licensing in order to be compliant with copyright laws
Facilitate special requests for flowers and related designated donations, communion preparation, and supervise acquisition of needed materials, (e.g.) candles, liquid wax and wicks
BACKGROUND ON TAB
Tabernacle Presbyterian Church (Tab) has a rich history of Sacred Music in Indianapolis for inspiring Christ centered worship. Tab supports excellent musicianship across many types of performances: classical musicians, with a few annual events for orchestra or smaller ensembles; contemporary worship music; Jazz music for worship; as well as traditional service music that features special instruments of our own like our stunning Casavant organ in the Sanctuary, 17 stop Reiger tracker organ in McKee Chapel, a Steinway L grand piano in the Sanctuary, a distinctive 5 octave set of Malmark handbells and choirchimes and a lovely 2 manual Flemish harpsichord built by David Jensen. The congregation enjoys both contemporary and traditional services as well as blended services in both our incredible main Sanctuary and the beautiful McKee Chapel.
Tab’s choral program is supported through the annual budget by regular funding for participation from paid soloists (generally collegiate or master’s level) supporting our Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass sections. The Contemporary/Jazz worship leadership and musicians are also funded annually.
We regularly have an Organ Intern from a local university that assists with the many services where organ supports choir, congregational singing or solo organ pieces. The intern also has a wide range of additional opportunities, including conducting and learning the logistics of church music administration.
Our media ministry history includes many years of broadcast programming and supports a Director of Meida Ministries to support our worship services and streaming.
Beyond music and worship, Tab’s long-term urban and metropolitan mission commitments include: a youth recreation program that takes over a thousand youth each year through many well-organized sports programs at our beautiful facilities; a broad based tutoring program, participation in the startup and ongoing support of a classical school (The Oaks Academy); startup help and ongoing support for a neighborhood health clinic (Raphael Health Center); and three summer TabJams music festival events annually for neighborhood outreach through great music performances.
Find Tab online at:
Tabpres.org
YouTube: Youtube.com/@tabindy
Facebook: Facebook.com/tabpres
Requirements
REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS:
Strong personal commitment to faith in Jesus Christ
Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in music; prefer Master’s Degree in music; minimum of 5 years’ experience
Appreciation of church worship and music programming
Excellent musicianship including: organ and piano playing skills; vocals, orchestral, ensemble and especially choral conducting; leading handbell groups; ability to read chord charts to support contemporary worship musicians
Broad understanding of different music styles and their effective employment within a Christian church community to facilitate worship and congregational spiritual growth
An understanding of the use of worship and music and how it rises out of the history of the church
Excellent organizational capabilities and strong communication and inter-personal skills to enable effective leadership and interactions with church members and staff, ensemble members and outside entities
