Description
South Congregational Church, “South Church”, is a congregation that claps. That moves. That sings from many places and carries many stories into one room on Sunday morning. We ground ourselves into a loving God who calls us, through Jesus Christ, to love and affirm all God’s children.
We are a vibrant, multicultural, LGBTQ+ celebrating community in the heart of Springfield, Massachusetts, and we are looking for a Music Minister who is ready to be part of something that is alive.
This is a role for someone who wants to build a ministry, one that runs deeper than Sunday morning, wider than the sanctuary, and out into the neighborhood.
Who We Are
South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, was founded in 1842. We are Open and Affirming (ONA) since 2000, politically engaged, theologically curious, and deeply committed to love, justice, and community. Our congregation is increasingly multi-racial and multicultural, representing a wide range of faith backgrounds and life experiences. There is no single nostalgia in the room; we come from many traditions of worship music, and that is something we celebrate.
We know Jesus in a spectrum of ways. Some among us were raised in Pentecostal churches, others in the Roman Catholic Church. Others have no church experience before coming to South Church. Alongside lifelong Congregationalists, we have people who’ve brought an array of Protestant traditions with them. These differences enrich us. To us, they reflect the infinite number of ways in which God moves.
Our worship is spiritual, expressive and joyful. It is also intentional. Over the past two decades, we have evolved from an organ-centered, Mainline church music tradition toward a piano-centered approach that draws out the voices of the congregation. We draw from a wide and expansive repertoire: traditional hymns, global and multicultural music, contemporary and original song. We invite guest musicians. We have a pop-up choir. We are not finished becoming who we are, and we are excited about that.
We have inherited a large building that we maintain and share as a community hub for a number of local non-profit organizations.
You can experience our Sunday worship on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@southchurch5144
The Music Ministry We Are Building
We are shifting this position from "Director of Music" to "Music Minister" deliberately. This person will not simply direct a program but will be an individual who ministers through music to create belonging, to facilitate the coming together of people who might not otherwise find each other and to bring the neighborhood in.
Sunday worship is the anchor. Beyond that, we are casting a wide and dreamy net. We imagine possibilities like:
A soul/spirit community choir, open to congregation and neighborhood alike
Music programming for children and youth
Concert series and special music events beyond Sunday mornings
Congregation-based music education and faith formation through song
Partnerships with area musicians and community organizations
We do not have all of this mapped out. That is part of the invitation. The Music Minister will be a creative partner in discerning what becomes possible.
Springfield and the Pioneer Valley
Springfield sits in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, a region with a rich musical and cultural life, a network of colleges and universities, and a diverse, creative community. We think there is a lot here for the right person, and we would be glad to talk about what life in this area might look like.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary: $80,000 – $95,000, commensurate with experience
Fully benefitted position
4 weeks paid vacation
To Learn More or Apply
An application for the Music Minister position is considered complete with the following:
Resume
Cover Letter
Examples of the candidate’s body of work in community
Three references to be called
Submit questions and applications to Rev. Lindsey Peterson by email at pastor@sococh.org.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and traditions who feel called to this kind of music ministry. South Church is an equal opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive community. A CORI check is required for employment.
Requirements
The Person We Are Seeking
We are looking for a musician and minister for whom music, soul, community, and love are all woven together. This is a role that calls for artistic leadership, pastoral sensitivity, and genuine collaboration — a person on a genuine faith journey, who sees music not just as a performance art but as a form of spiritual communication and community-building.
More specifically, we are seeking:
A skilled keyboard player; South is home to a 3-manual Austin organ and three grand pianos
A person comfortable and enthusiastic in a multicultural, multiracial community, who sees people as people
A creative and strategic thinker who can imagine a vision and work toward it
A connector and bridge builder: within the congregation, with area musicians, with the neighborhood
A music minister who works closely with the Pastor and lay leaders
A teacher at heart, curious about drawing out the musical gifts of congregation members
Open to a wide range of musical styles and traditions
A strong vocalist and/or choral conducting experience is a significant plus as is A Bachelor of Music. Interest in nurturing the musical voices of children and youth is warmly welcomed.
