Dear Members of the Search Committee,
I am writing to express my interest in the Minister of Music position at First Presbyterian Church of Durham. With more than two decades of service in church music ministry within mainline Protestant congregations, my vocation has centered on cultivating music programs that strengthen Reformed worship, nurture faith across generations, and reflect the theological depth and communal life of the church.
First Presbyterian’s longstanding presence in the heart of Durham and its active engagement in the life of the city resonate deeply with me. I am drawn to congregations that honor their history while remaining attentive to the needs, questions, and diversity of their surrounding community. A music ministry situated in such a context has the opportunity not only to support vibrant worship but also to serve as a bridge between church and city. The combination of a strong choral tradition, excellent instruments, and a congregation committed to thoughtful worship provides a compelling setting for faithful and creative leadership.
Throughout my career, I have led adult, youth, and children’s choirs; collaborated with instrumentalists and guest ensembles; overseen handbell programs; and directed major seasonal works and special services. As an organist and choral director, I value music that is liturgically grounded, theologically substantive, and artistically compelling. I seek to cultivate rehearsals that balance excellence with warmth, discipline with joy, and high standards with genuine pastoral care. Congregational song remains central to my philosophy of ministry, and I am passionate about helping assemblies sing with confidence, depth, and understanding.
I am equally committed to building music ministries that are welcoming and multi generational. Ensembles can become communities of belonging and spiritual growth, where people of varied backgrounds and abilities discover shared purpose. Creating pathways for participation, integrating children and youth meaningfully into worship, and honoring a breadth of musical styles are all essential to a healthy and growing program.
In addition to artistic leadership, I bring significant administrative experience, including budgeting, long range planning, volunteer coordination, and collaboration with clergy and staff. I value careful stewardship of instruments and resources, clear communication, and strategic planning that supports both excellence and sustainability. My goal is always to ensure that music ministry serves and strengthens the broader mission of the congregation.
I am energized by music ministries that extend beyond Sunday worship through concerts, educational initiatives, and partnerships that invite the wider community into sacred space. In a vibrant and culturally rich city such as Durham, such engagement can deepen relationships and embody the church’s witness in tangible ways.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I would be honored to offer my experience, leadership, and pastoral heart to First Presbyterian Church of Durham and welcome the opportunity to discuss how my gifts might serve your congregation’s worship and mission.
Grace and peace,
William Clayton Whittington
P.S., my entire family are enthusiastic Durham Bulls fans, so we would feel right at home cheering at the ballpark as well as singing in the sanctuary.
Statement of Faith
& Philosophy of Sacred Music
I am personally Episcopalian by conviction, formed within the Anglican tradition and shaped by its sacramental theology, liturgical rhythm, and historic continuity. At the same time, I recognize and deeply respect the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as a faithful expression of the Reformed tradition. I share many theological and doctrinal convictions with the PC(USA), particularly its emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture, and the centrality of Jesus Christ in Word and Sacrament. I hold deep appreciation for the liturgical practices of the PC(USA) and the thoughtful, ordered approach to worship that reflects its Reformed heritage.
My faith is grounded in the conviction that God’s grace precedes and sustains all things, drawing us continually into deeper communion with Christ and with one another. I believe faith is formed over time through worship, prayer, study, service, and life in Christian community. The Anglican and Reformed traditions both affirm that worship shapes belief and belief shapes worship. In that shared understanding, I find meaningful theological resonance between my Episcopalian identity and Presbyterian practice.
I affirm the PC(USA)’s understanding of Scripture as the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ and the rule of faith and life. Guided by the confessions contained in the Book of Confessions and interpreted within the gathered community under the leading of the Holy Spirit, Scripture stands at the heart of Reformed worship. Music serves the proclamation of the Word. When Scripture is sung, prayed, and proclaimed musically, it dwells richly among the people, forming memory, imagination, and faithful response.
Central to my faith is the belief that worship is the work of the people, an offering of praise and thanksgiving to God. In the Reformed tradition, worship is centered in Word and Sacrament and shaped by theological depth and reverent order. Music in worship is not performance but ministry. It exists to support the liturgy, encourage congregational participation, and deepen engagement with the proclaimed Word. Through hymnody, psalmody, choral offerings, and instrumental leadership, music gives voice to confession, lament, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise.
As a church musician, I understand my vocation to be both artistic and pastoral. Music ministry forms disciples and nurtures community. Choir rehearsals, children’s music programs, and congregational song become spaces of spiritual growth where discipline, beauty, and shared purpose reflect God’s creative order. I seek to cultivate musical environments that are hospitable, prayerful, and marked by mutual respect, trusting that the Holy Spirit works through careful preparation and communal offering.
I respect and value the Presbyterian commitment to shared leadership and ordered ministry. In a connectional church governed by sessions, presbyteries, synods, and the General Assembly, music ministry participates in the wider mission and discernment of the church. I value collaboration with pastors, elders, deacons, staff, and lay leaders, recognizing that leadership in worship is relational and accountable within the covenant community. Clear communication and thoughtful planning allow worship to be both faithful to the Reformed tradition and responsive to the needs of the congregation.
My faith also compels me to affirm the PC(USA)’s commitment to justice, inclusion, and the unity of the body of Christ. The church’s music should reflect the breadth of the global church and the diversity of God’s people. I value historic hymnody, psalm singing, global song, and contemporary expressions that are theologically grounded and liturgically appropriate. Excellence and accessibility belong together in worship, inviting participation across generations and varied experiences of faith.
I affirm the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to bear witness to Jesus Christ in a broken and fearful world. Music participates in that witness both within and beyond the sanctuary. Concerts, educational offerings, and artistic partnerships can serve as expressions of hospitality and outreach, creating space for beauty, reflection, and encounter with God’s presence.
Ultimately, my faith and vocation are inseparable. As an Episcopalian serving within or alongside the Presbyterian tradition, I view my work in church music as a response to God’s grace and a calling to serve Christ’s church with humility, theological integrity, and hope. I seek to lead music ministries that are faithful to Scripture, attentive to the confessions, centered in Word and Sacrament, and devoted to glorifying God while building up the body of Christ.
Media
Below you will find a curated selection of video recordings that represent the breadth of my work in music and ministry. These include examples of choral conducting, handbell direction, contemporary worship leadership, music from the community of Taizé, and Psalm chanting from the United Methodist Hymnal. Many of the organ and hymn-based recordings were created during the COVID-19 pandemic for online worship, and they reflect both the adaptability and the pastoral care required in that unique season of ministry. This media portfolio is offered as a glimpse into the diverse musical language through which I strive to shape meaningful, authentic, and spiritually grounded worship.