Gospel Choir Director/Pianist (Hartford, Ct)

GOSPEL CHOIR DIRECTOR/PIANIST CONTEXT: Immanuel Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, is a progressive, predominantly white congregation located in the urban center of Hartford, CT. Our motto -- influenced by a deep love of God, following of Jesus, and Gospel imperative -- is “love and work for justice.” As such, we are an open-and-affirming congregation that extends full welcome and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people. In November of 2017, we held an all-church retreat to identify our vision and values. Church leaders and members discussed the ways in which injustice is rooted in racism, and decided to make racial justice the foundation for Immanuel’s ministry. Since then, 24 church leaders have completed a 2.5-day anti-racism training and we have created Immanuel’s Undoing Racism and Criminal Justice Reform Task Forces. We recently received a grant from The Calvin Institute to explore racial justice within worship. PURPOSE: As a part of Immanuel’s larger racial justice initiatives, we are seeking a talented musician/pianist capable of helping us form and direct a gospel choir. The intent of the gospel choir is not merely to entertain, but to: 1) expand the congregation’s understanding and experience of worship, and 2) foster a more cross-cultural, racially diverse worship experience that opens up new ways of praising and encountering God through gospel music. As such, the ideal candidate will see this as a mission and ministry opportunity and not just a job. DESIRED QUALITIES: • Familiarity with a breadth of gospel music styles • Experience directing a gospel choir • Strong teaching ability, and piano proficiency • Punctuality and dependability PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES: 1. Recruit three paid section leads. 2. Establish and lead regularly scheduled rehearsals. 3. Accompany the gospel choir on piano. TIMELINE OF ACTIVITIES: July/August • Recruit choir members • Choir bonding/practice (twice or three times per month?) September • Gospel choir debut at 10:00am Sunday worship service, followed by 2nd hour celebration October and November • Gospel choir participates in 10:00am Sunday Worship service twice a month December • Gospel choir participates in 10:00am Sunday Worship service twice a month o One of those Sundays will be Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration January – April • Gospel choir participates in 10:00am Sunday Worship service three times a month May • Gospel choir participates in 10:00am Sunday Worship service three times a month o One of those Sundays will be a Gospel Choir Celebration Finale • Group Evaluation REPORTS TO: Rev. Isaac Lawson, Associate Pastor Mark Singleton, Director of Music COMPENSATION: $5,000 honorarium (Disbursed monthly over 12 months at approximately $460/month). Start date July 1, 2019, concluding June 30, 2020. Interested candidates should send a resume and short narrative bio to admin@iccucc.org. In subject of email, put “Gospel Choir.”