Work with us! Below you will find currently open positions at Old South Church in Boston.

Request for Proposals: Ministry Consultant for Congregational Belonging and Engagement 

Old South Church in Boston seeks a Ministry Consultant for Congregational Belonging and Engagement for a unique two-year position designed to facilitate meaningful change within our church community. 

The position combines belonging and engagement consulting, organizational change management, and a spiritual vision for this work in the life of the religious congregations. The consultant will work collaboratively with church leadership, clergy, and our (G)RACE Speaks initiative to move us toward becoming a more inclusive and diverse spiritual community.

You can find the RFP here.

All proposals, inquiries, and search questions should be directed to Old South Church’s Belong Search team: belongsearch@oldsouth.org

Wedding Minister

• Position Type: Per Diem / Contract
• Compensation: $550 per wedding (includes pre-wedding meetings and rehearsal)
• Reports To: Director of Operations
• Location: Old South Church in Boston, Massachusetts

Overview

Old South Church in Boston seeks a compassionate and professional Wedding Minister to join our team in officiating wedding ceremonies, mostly for non-members. The Wedding Minister will ensure that each couple’s ceremony reflects their unique story, beliefs, and values while upholding the church’s standards of excellence and hospitality.

This role requires ordination and registration with the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The ideal candidate will be both pastorally grounded and logistically organized, comfortable working with diverse couples, and able to collaborate effectively with church staff and outside vendors.

We typically have about 20 weddings per year, spread throughout the year. Some months might have 3-4 weddings while others have none.

Primary Responsibilities

Ceremonial Leadership

• Craft personalized ceremonies: Collaborate with couples to design a meaningful and individualized wedding ceremony that honors their story, faith background (or none), and preferences.
• Lead the ceremony: Welcome guests, officiate the proceedings, and officially pronounce the couple married.
• Collaborate with co-officiants: When couples invite an additional officiant, serve as co-officiant. Per church policy, an Old South Minister must be part of every ceremony. Co-officiants may be from a variety of faith traditions and can sometimes be a non-ordained person. The Old South Minister is to function as a welcomer to Old South and should offer to do as much or as little as the co-officiant desires, though there must be one speaking part (like a reading) during the ceremony.
• Honor inclusivity: Lead ceremonies ranging from non-religious to interfaith, creating a space that is welcoming to all backgrounds and traditions.
• Conduct rehearsals: Guide the wedding party through the ceremony during rehearsal to ensure smooth transitions and clear roles. The rehearsals typically take place the evening before the wedding. When a co-officiant is present, they can take over and the Old South wedding minister will take cues from them.

Team Collaboration

• Work with Old South’s Wedding Coordinator on logistics, timing, and processional details.
• Collaborate with Old South’s Musician, who will assist couples with musical selections and provide cues during the ceremony.
• Coordinate with the Sexton, who oversees building access and security during events.
• Maintain a calm, professional, and compassionate presence throughout all interactions.

Legal and Administrative Duties

• Marriage license management: Confirm that the couple’s license is valid under Commonwealth of Massachusetts law, and ensure it is completed and signed correctly.
• File documentation: Return the signed license to the issuing office promptly. Retain copies for both church archives and the Director of Administration.
• Stay compliant: Maintain familiarity with all relevant legal and ecclesiastical requirements for marriage officiation.

Pre-Wedding Coordination

• Work with couples: Begin meetings approximately three months before the wedding date (which may be booked 18–24 months in advance). Conduct 2–3 planning sessions in person or via Zoom. This will help the minister get a feel for what kind of ceremony each specific couple desires.
• Plan the ceremony: Discuss structure, readings, vows, name preferences, and program deadlines. Offer examples and options for vows and ring exchange wording.
• Coordinate logistics: Ensure alignment with the wedding team, musicians, and vendors for seamless ceremony flow.
• Prepare for live-streamed services when applicable: Conduct sound checks and ensure all spoken parts are delivered into a microphone.
• Provide pastoral support: Offer encouragement and reassurance during the planning process, helping couples feel confident and cared for. Provide a calm presence on the wedding day.

Other Details

• Plan to arrive two hours prior to the start of the wedding ceremony.
• Weddings may occasionally be held off-site. Such ceremonies are at the discretion of the minister and compensated privately by the couple.
• Provide at least three months’ notice to the Director of Operations if unable to officiate a scheduled wedding and assist in identifying a suitable replacement.

Compensation and Status

• Rate: $550 per wedding (includes pre-wedding meetings and rehearsal)
• The Wedding Minister is an at-will, contracted service provider and is compensated per wedding.
• While the Minister is expected to officiate most scheduled weddings, the Church recognizes that occasional scheduling conflicts may occur.
• Payment: Included in Old South Church’s regular bi-monthly payroll for staff.

About Old South Church

Old South Church in Boston is a vibrant, progressive congregation of the United Church of Christ. We are committed to hospitality, inclusivity, and excellence in all we do, welcoming people of every background, belief, and tradition.

Old South Church is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, or any other status protected by law.