Job Description
Job DescriptionDescription:
The role entails planning and supervising all preparations and execution of Cathedral worship, including overseeing staff and volunteers such as vergers, acolytes, and support guilds. It involves performing traditional Verger duties in line with Cathedral ceremonial practices, managing the use and maintenance of liturgical property, and ensuring the safekeeping of sacred items. Additionally, the role ensures that worship records and registers are properly maintained and performs various operational and administrative tasks for the worship department.
Duties and Responsibilities:
· Plan and supervise worship preparations and execution: Coordinate all necessary preparations for acts of worship at the Cathedral under the direction of the Canon Precentor.
· Supervises and supports Cathedral services and events.
o Officiates and supports Cathedral daily offices, as needed
o Conducts wedding rehearsals and assists clergy at weddings, funerals, and baptisms or delegates to verger teams
o Supports school communities in planning and execution of school-sponsored events such as chapel services, graduations, concerts, and lectures.
· Participate in services: Engage in worship services in line with the ceremonial practices of the Episcopal Church, the Diocese of Washington, and the Cathedral
· Serve as lead verger for key services: Be present for principal Sunday services, holidays, major feasts (including Christmas and Easter), civic services, and other significant occasions
· In collaboration with Cathedral Verger: Act as the verger for pastoral offices such as weddings, funerals, and baptisms, coordinating logistics and assisting clergy. Lead wedding rehearsals, ensuring participants are fully prepared.
· Supports the Cathedral Verger in the implementation of the Acolyte Program.
· Lead verger for diocesan services: Serve as the verger for diocesan events like ordinations, confirmations, and conventions, providing support during rehearsals and ensuring that all elements of the service are executed according to Cathedral and diocesan protocols.
· Lead verger for school services: Support the verger needs for significant school services, including opening services, Lessons and Carols, and graduations, while assisting with rehearsals.
· Attend planning meetings: Participate in meetings for routine, pastoral, and special services, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.
· Create service documentation: Develop detailed missals, seating charts, and diagrams to guide service participants.
· Lead pre-service briefings: Conduct pre-service meetings to prepare participants and guests, offering clear instructions on roles, movements, and responsibilities.
· Assist in creating clergy/service rota: Collaborate with the Canon Precentor to develop and maintain a rota for clergy and service participants, ensuring proper staffing for daily, weekly, annual, and special services.
· Coordinate liturgical roles: Manage and schedule nave chaplains, weekday Evensong officiants, and assisting clergy, ensuring all services have proper coverage and leadership
· Maintain service records and documentation: Ensure the accuracy and completeness of service registers and other required documentation, such as the Cathedral Parochial Report and EDOW reports, and manage their timely submission
· Oversee worship guilds: Supervise the work of worship guilds, including those responsible for polishing altar vessels and maintaining liturgical textiles. Ensure that altar adornments, linens, and vestments are properly cared for and regularly updated.
· Artistic design: Consult with the Canon Precentor, Dean, and artistic designers on the creation of new altar linens, vestments, and commissioned pieces for special Church feasts or events.
· Ensure security of liturgical items: Oversee the safe-keeping of the Cathedral's altar silver, vestments, linens, and other liturgical appointments, ensuring these sacred items are securely stored and well-maintained.
· Recruit and train vergers: Actively recruit, train, and organize a dedicated team of volunteer vergers, providing ongoing supervision and mentorship.
· Maintain the liturgical calendar: Ensure the Cathedral's liturgical calendar is accurately maintained, attending institution-wide calendar meetings to coordinate service dates and events with other departments.
· Co-chair Easter and Christmas planning: Lead the planning process for major liturgical seasons, particularly Easter and Christmas, coordinating efforts across departments and ensuring that all preparations are in place for these significant celebrations.
· Oversee maintenance of liturgical items: Ensure that all liturgical furniture, plate, ornaments, and vestments are properly maintained, advising the Canon Precentor when repairs or replacements are needed. Keep an updated inventory of these items to ensure accountability and preparedness.
· Assist with budget management: Collaborate with the Canon Precentor to set and maintain the departmental budget, ensuring all anticipated needs and expenditures are accounted for while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
· Facilitate record retrieval: Manage requests for record searches (baptism, marriage, and funeral) by coordinating with the Cathedral Archives to ensure date accuracy and timely responses.
· Serve as department liaison to marketing/communications department.
o work in collaboration with marketing/communications staff on development and placement of worship-related marketing materials
o review draft marketing and communications materials for tone and accuracy
o provide information for Cathedral calendar listings
o review services with MaCom to plan shots and shot locations
o create worship related outreach materials such as prayer cards and educational or prayer booklets
· Plays key role in organizing and managing annual National Acolyte Festival
· Serves as liaison to Matthew Shepard Foundation staff and plays key role organizing annual service.
· Collaborate with other departments: Regularly liaise with a variety of departments including Guest and Event Management, Music, Visitor Experience, Facilities, and Church House (EDOW) to ensure that all worship services and events are well-coordinated and supported.
· Provides pastoral support: In the absence of clergy, offer pastoral care and support to members of the public, helping to address their spiritual or practical needs.
· Ensure security procedures: Maintain awareness of and compliance with the Cathedral’s security procedures and policies, ensuring the safety and security of worship spaces, participants, and sacred items.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Requirements:
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience as a verger in a large church or cathedral. Experience with volunteer coordination is preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Commitment to the Cathedral’s mission and vision.
- Demonstrated administrative and leadership abilities.
- Strong team player; willingness to support and work with others within Worship Department and other Departments, as well as worshippers and volunteers.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; hospitable attitude.
- Knowledge of and interest in the Episcopal Church and its liturgy.
- High level of initiative, attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and ability to perform multiple concurrent tasks.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and database management; ability to maintain an online calendar.
Working Conditions:
- Work on Sundays is to be expected, except when schedule rotations can accommodate a day off.
- This position requires work outside of regular business hours for special services and events, including evenings and weekends.
- The position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, climbing stairs, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending and stooping in the performance of daily activities.
- The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in preparing reports using a computer keyboard.
- The position also requires near and far vision for reading and preparing written reports and other required documents.
- Acute hearing is also required when providing phone assistance.
- The need to lift, drag, push and pull files, reports and other materials weighing up to 25 pounds is also required.
Washington National Cathedral is an equal opportunity employer and strives to create a more diverse and inclusive atmosphere for all. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
We support an inclusive workplace where associates excel based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance.
Washington National Cathedral seeks individuals who are committed to our mission. We appreciate interest from those who will contribute to an atmosphere in which diversity is valued and supported.