I am in the process of pursuing a career in music ministry. Admittedly it is a unique adventure and can be gratifying and frustrating at the same time. There is a bit of excitement when a church actually chooses to respond to your resume whether it is positive or negative. It's always nice to know that there are still some organizations out there willing to take the time to tell you you're not what they are looking for. It is frustrating to send out resumes and not hear anything back. I would expect that behavior in the public, corporate side of the job search; it is disheartening when it is coming (or not coming) from churches. The amount of time I have spent looking through ministry websites for positions labeled 'worship pastor' 'music director', 'worship arts director', 'worship leader', etc...sometimes seems fruitless. Not because there aren't any positions out there but rather trying to decipher what they are "really" looking for becomes a bit of a game.
What I have discovered is that a church listed as Evangelical, Community, Baptist, and a handful of others falls into the category of "we want an established guy who plays the guitar and loves God to keep our church relevant". This is especially true if they are north of the Mason Dixon Line. Churches in these same categories that are on the West Coast are looking for "an established guy who plays the guitar, loves Jesus, and is comfortable with diverse communities while still maintaining to keep the church as relevant as it was when it started up seven years ago." Move this category to the East Coast and they are not afraid to embrace a bit of their heritage and explore ways to respect the worship traditions that have already been formed and take the time to seek out ways to breathe new life into their worshiping community.
Churches listed as Presbyterian, Methodist, or Episcopalian have a tendency to have a different focus whether they are located in Florida, or Nebraska. I find that the typical postings seen from this group are more focused towards a 'classically trained' individual. Not only do they look for a different musical skill set, they are more direct on what they are looking for as a minister. Either they are looking strictly for a musician (pianist, organist, choir director), or they become more detailed and essentially describe a pastor who uses music as a tool.
One of the aspects I find even more intriguing about this venture is that the second group while being more definitive in their position descriptions for a worship minister or pastor, are also more likely to hire a woman in a pastoral role. It is a bit of a complex for me as someone who considers myself on the conservative evangelical side of the fence to be a woman that isn't really accepted in a tradition she is familiar with (even if they say it doesn't matter, it does in their world).
I do realize that this may be a bit of a generalization in the world of "worship pastors" but there is some truth to it. If you've looked at a handful of what is out there you will realize that it is the reality. Big picture for someone like me boils down to three strikes in my own game: being single, being female, being evangelical. They don't add up to a career in ministry. What they do add up to is the perfect volunteer that any church would love to have around because you are capable, skilled, willing, and a Godly woman. If those three strikes are only foul balls in someone else's game, I'd like to know how you're managing to stay on the field.
