Date Posted: 4/7/2025
Arlington Heights UMC, Fort Worth, TX
Job Description
Arlington Heights United Methodist Church (4200 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, Texas 76116) is seeking a Director of our Chancel Choir. AHUMC is a vibrant faith community in the heart of the cultural district of Fort Worth. Our Chancel Choir provides leadership for our traditional Sanctuary services (8:30 and 11:00 Sundays), special worship services, and secular music performances (i.e. Pops Concert, Dinner Theatre). Interested applicants should send resume and cover letter to Karen Van Eaton, SPR Chair by April 25, 2025: [email protected].
A pdf of Job Description can be found here.
Reports to: Senior Pastor
Hours: Flexible schedule includes: Weekly staff meeting on Tuesday mornings (10 - noon); choir rehearsal Wednesday evenings (7:00 - 8:30 p.m.); Sunday morning worship (Sanctuary worship at 8:30 and 11:00); special music events; all-church events. The Chancel Choir Director is responsible for managing additional time needed for preparation, which will vary week-to-week.
Physical Requirements: Must be able to walk up and down stairs
Salary Range: $23,400 - $27,500
Job Summary:
The Chancel Choir Director serves as the Director of the Chancel Choir for Sunday morning worship and special events. They serve as a member of the AHUMC Program Staff, which occasionally involves attendance and participation in events that are not music-related.
Core Duties:
- Plan anthem(s) for traditional worship each Sunday.
- Serve as a spiritual leader for the Chancel Choir, encouraging an environment of care and spiritual fellowship
- Conduct choir rehearsals
- Recruit new members to help grow our choir
- Plan and coordinate special musical events:
- Special seasons/days of the church, i.e. Advent, Lent, All Saints
- “Fun” choir concerts, i.e. Dinner Theater, Patriotic Concert, Pops Concert
- Special Advent performance, i.e. Messiah
- Utilize extensive music library and borrow or purchase anthems, as needed
- Responsibly manage and spend Budget and Designated Music Funds
- Budgeted amounts include: Guest Musicians: $8,000; Robe Cleaning: $500
- Designated funds include: Music Ministry Fund, Concert Fund, Guest Musician Fund
- Currently, $6841 is available in these funds (combined).
- Work with Choir Officers to plan events and provide broader leadership of the Chancel Choir.
- Work with other Music Department staff (Organist, Handbell Director, and Children’s Choir Director) to coordinate music performances at AHUMC
- Support musical events (other than Chancel Choir performances) at AHUMC, including attendance at events
- Interact with Communications Director to ensure that music events are promoted; work with program staff to ensure that hospitality is provided for music events at AHUMC
- Seek & encourage opportunities for the music ministries of AHUMC to represent the congregation by performing in the community
- Serve as a member of the AHUMC Program Staff:
- Participate in all-church events (i.e. Lord’s Acre, Chili Cook-off, Fellowship Meals, etc.)
- Attend Discipleship Council meetings as a staff member of the Council, including giving a report when requested
Core Competencies Required:
Personal Competencies:
Creativity and Innovation: Generates new ideas; makes new connections among existing ideas to create fresh approaches; takes acceptable risks in pursuit of innovation; learns from mistakes; has good judgment about which creative ideas and suggestions will work.
Ethics and Values: Honors the core values and beliefs of the church in his/her choice of behaviors; consistently embodies appropriate behavioral choices in both stressful and non stressful situations; practices the behaviors he/she advocates to others.
Influencing Others: Encourages others to cooperate, participate, provide resources or make decisions, in service to the work at hand; uses verbal and nonverbal skills to communicate respect for others, and to generate energy, passion and commitment to an idea; creates an environment that others want to participate in.
Verbal and Written Communication: Is able to deliver a message clearly, articulately and with appropriate emotion in a variety of settings; demonstrates communication styles appropriate to the situation at hand; adjusts the message, without losing the essence of the message, depending upon the circumstance and the listener; provides accurate and timely communication to convey details that need to be shared.
Interpersonal Skills: Establishes good working relationships with all others who are relevant to the completion of work; works well with people at all levels of the congregation; builds appropriate rapport; considers the impact of his/her actions on others; uses diplomacy and tact; is approachable; avoids communication triangles.
Organizational Competencies:
Team Orientation: demonstrates interest, skill and success in team environments; promotes group goals ahead of personal agendas; steps up to offer self as a resource to other members of the team; understands and supports the importance of teamwork; shares credit for success with others, takes responsibility for his or her part in team failures.
Project Management: Identifies the key objectives and scope of a proposed project; garners needed resources and project support, develops a realistic and thorough plan for achieving key objectives, keeps team members briefed on progress, implements action plans, communicates progress, identifies and resolves barriers and problems
Time Management: Effectively prioritizes tasks and responsibilities to maximize efficiency and meet deadlines; balances multiple projects while maintaining quality and attention to detail; anticipates potential scheduling conflicts and adjusts plans as needed; uses time wisely to ensure productivity and achieve goals.
Supervisory Competencies
Motivating Others: Creates a climate in which people want to do their best; can motivate employees, volunteers and members; empowers others; invites shared input and decision making; makes each individual feel that his/her work is important.
Team-building: Blends people into teams when appropriate; leads the team successfully through difficulties and challenges, including conflict, diversity and inclusion issues within the team; creates strong morale and spirit in his/her team; shares wins and successes; defines success in terms of the whole team; creates a feeling of belonging and pride in the team.
Hospitality/Accessibility: Generates a sense of hospitality and or accessibility by his or her very presence; communicates a sense of availability, warmth, openness and approachability; fosters natural connections between members of the congregation and with visitors; supports a culture of welcoming and connection in the life of the congregation.
Pastoral/Program Competencies
Spiritual Leadership: Cultivates a supportive and caring community that nurtures spiritual growth and fellowship; leads with compassion, offering encouragement and pastoral care to individuals; fosters an environment where faith is expressed through music and relationships; recognizes and responds to the spiritual and emotional needs of others, offering guidance and support; collaborates with pastoral staff to ensure holistic care for the community.
Stewardship: Promotes stewardship as a principle that guides both individual and congregational life; encourages generosity in the sharing of time, talent and finances; promotes a culture of abundance; supports leadership in the development of a comprehensive stewardship program.
How to Apply
Please send cover letter and resume by April 25, 2025 to Karen Van Eaton, SPR Chair: [email protected].
Contact Email: [email protected]
Contact Phone: 817.737.3161