Position type: Full-year, Part-time approx. 4 hours / week in 2026
Future growth in subsequent years potentially to 6 hours (or more) per week
Salary: Up to $13,000 – 16,000/year (pay will be commensurate with education and experience)
Accountable to: Music Director
The Overriding Purpose
The purpose of Bethany’s music ministry is to proclaim the Gospel and glorify God through:
Celebration: To enhance worship for the congregation contributing to its Spiritual life through leadership in worship ---hymns, liturgy, anthems, and solos both vocal and instrumental.
Education: To enrich the lives of Bethany congregants and the community through music with a variety of musical presentations.
Involvement: To seek to grow the music ministry of Bethany by involving the congregation and identifying opportunities to expand the musical offerings.
Organist Purpose:To serve Bethany Lutheran Church in collaboration with the Senior Pastor and the Music Director to create powerful and meaningful worship experiences, using a variety of musical styles, and enabling the gifts of the congregation.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in music or equivalent church organist experience (5 years minimum).
The Principal Organist should:
Demonstrate proficiency in organ and piano performance.
Practice personal disciplines of the Christian faith and communicate that faith through witness, example, and programming within a Lutheran congregation.
Be a strong leader possessing a passion for traditional worship with a love for Lutheran liturgical and sacred music and hymns in traditional and varied styles.
Have a vision for collaboratively building musical excellence through a comprehensive music ministry.
Have the knowledge and skill to accompany vocalists, choirs (adult and children), and instrumentalists.
Have a demonstrated knowledge of sacred and contemporary music repertoire and the liturgical year, ideally with knowledge of Lutheran worship and liturgy.
Ability to communicate well and in a timely and friendly manner with the Pastor, Music Director, congregational leaders, fellow employees, church choir, music team participants, and members of the congregation.
Possess the attributes of confidentiality, integrity, and honesty.
Have the ability to sit and stand for periods of time appropriate and as required by the Primary Duties and Responsibilities.
Be able to reach, grasp, feel, hear, and see up close and from afar.
Be able to use basic office computer platforms in use at Bethany, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Play music for worship services from the organ (keyboard or piano as appropriate) for:
Advent and Lent midweek; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; Holy Week (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday)
Rehearse with musicians as appropriate to support the forementioned worship experiences.
Serves as the primary accompanist for the Bethany Adult Choir
Four rehearsals and two services per month.
Serve as primary accompanist for other in-worship musical offerings
e.g: soloists, ensembles, etc.
Provide preludes, postludes, offertories, liturgy accompaniment, hymn accompaniment and other appropriate music during worship.
Provide music for weddings and funerals as coordinated with Pastor and compensated by members of the participating family.
Be present for and participate collaboratively in planning meetings with the Music Director, Pastor and other church leaders.
Arrange for qualified substitute organist or pianist when absent for any of the primary duties and responsibilities, with appropriate notice to the Pastor and Music Director.
Awareness of and proficiency in the operation of the musical instrument resources.
Work collaboratively with the Music Director in the routine and episodic maintenance and repair of those musical instrument resources.
Cheerfully execute and carry out other duties and responsibilities as may be necessary from time to time.
Vacations/Time Off
Part-time, non-called staff (12-month employees) are given vacation on the anniversary date based on their length of continuous service with Bethany Lutheran Church, and according to the job title as follows:
Church Music Director and Church Organist/Pianist
Total Years of Service
Vacation Weeks*
After 6 months
1 week**
1-5 years
2 weeks
6 – 10 years
3 weeks
10+ years
4 weeks
* Each week includes one Sunday and is based on normal working hours per week.
**For these positions, vacation weeks do not accumulate from year to year and vacation time not used will not be reimbursed.
Vacation may not be taken on Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter, Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day.
Your Next Step
Please send a cover letter and resumé/CV to BLCLeesburg@gmail.com with the subject line “Organist.” All other questions can be sent to the same email address or you may call the church at 352.787.7275 on weekdays between 9am-1pm.
Our website is https://www.bethanylutheranleesburg.com. Bethany Lutheran Church is a member of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and it is our policy to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified persons and not to illegally discriminate in employment, training, promotion, compensation or other terms and conditions of employment with regard to an individual’s age, race, color, sex, national origin, disability, veteran’s status or any other status protected by law. However, we retain the right to give preference in employment on the basis of religion.