Worship Pastor

Worship Pastor (Full-Time)
First Baptist Church Swannanoa

Position Summary

The position of Worship Pastor exists to glorify God by leading the congregation in Christ-centered, biblically faithful worship that supports the church's mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ. This role provides vision, leadership, and oversight for the worship ministry — including music, service planning, and volunteer development — while working closely with the Senior Pastor to ensure worship aligns with the theological convictions and mission of FBC Swannanoa.

Reports To: Senior Pastor, in conjunction with the Personnel Committee

Qualifications

Meets the biblical qualifications for pastoral leadership as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9.
A vital, ongoing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, marked by strong Christian spiritual and moral character.
A clear sense of calling from the Holy Spirit to worship ministry.
Candidates from a Southern Baptist tradition are strongly preferred.
Agreement with the doctrinal statements of FBC Swannanoa as outlined in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.
A servant's heart and genuine desire to lead others in worship through the local church.
Demonstrated integrity, sound judgment, and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
Musical proficiency (vocally and/or instrumentally), with the ability to lead and coach musicians and vocalists.
Bachelor's degree preferred; seminary training or relevant ministry experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.
Prior experience leading a church worship ministry strongly preferred.
Strong leadership, organizational, and relational skills, with the ability to recruit, train, and shepherd volunteer teams.

Key Responsibilities

Worship Leadership

Plan and lead Sunday morning and other services in coordination with the Senior Pastor, ensuring music and service elements support the preaching theme and overall worship experience.
Select music and service elements with theological depth, biblical grounding, and appropriate for corporate worship.
Lead and coordinate worship for special services, including Christmas, Easter, revivals, and other church-wide events.
Plan and prepare service order, song lists, lyrics, and media for weekly rehearsals and services.

Volunteer and Team Development

Recruit, train, schedule, and shepherd volunteer musicians, vocalists, choir members, and audio/visual team members.
Lead regular rehearsals and provide coaching to develop musicianship and spiritual growth among team members.
Build a healthy volunteer pipeline by identifying and mentoring emerging worship leaders, including students.

Administration and Technical Oversight

Oversee the audio/visual and production ministries to ensure consistent, high-quality sound and presentation each week, including for online/livestream services.
Maintain the church's music library, equipment, and worship-related software and resources.
Manage the worship ministry budget.

General

Serve as a member of the pastoral staff and participate in overall church leadership and planning.
Assist in pastoral care as needed (e.g., weddings, funerals, hospital and home visitation).
Collaborate with other ministry staff to align worship with the church's broader mission and calendar.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Pastor.