Liturgical Planning
Liturgical Planning involves organizing and coordinating religious services and ceremonies for churches and religious institutions. It's like event planning, but specifically for worship services and religious celebrations. This role involves selecting appropriate music, readings, and prayers that follow the church calendar and religious traditions. People who do this work help ensure that services run smoothly and maintain theological consistency throughout the year. Similar terms include "Worship Planning" or "Service Programming." Think of it as creating a detailed roadmap for religious services that helps clergy and other participants know what happens when, and ensures everything aligns with religious traditions and requirements.
Examples in Resumes
Developed annual Liturgical Planning calendar for 52 weekly services and special celebrations
Coordinated Liturgical Planning for major religious festivals including Easter and Christmas
Led Worship Planning team of 10 volunteers for Sunday services
Created detailed Service Planning guides for substitute clergy and visiting ministers
Typical job title: "Liturgical Planners"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Liturgical Planners
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you handle planning for multiple special services occurring in the same week?
Expected Answer: A senior planner should discuss prioritization, delegation strategies, advance planning methods, and how they coordinate with multiple teams while maintaining theological consistency across all services.
Q: How do you incorporate new worship elements while maintaining traditional practices?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of balancing innovation with tradition, consulting appropriate stakeholders, and ensuring changes align with church doctrine while meeting contemporary needs.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you coordinate with different ministry teams for service planning?
Expected Answer: Should explain communication methods, scheduling practices, and how they ensure all teams (music, altar guild, ushers, etc.) work together effectively.
Q: What process do you use to select music and readings for services?
Expected Answer: Should discuss following the liturgical calendar, considering congregation preferences, and matching selections to sermon themes while maintaining theological appropriateness.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the liturgical calendar and how does it affect service planning?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain the basic church seasons (Advent, Lent, etc.) and how they influence service elements and themes.
Q: How do you prepare service orders/bulletins?
Expected Answer: Should describe basic process of creating service outlines, including standard elements, timing considerations, and proof-reading procedures.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of religious services structure
- Ability to create simple service outlines
- Knowledge of common prayers and readings
- Basic computer skills for document preparation
Mid (2-5 years)
- Coordination of multiple ministry teams
- Seasonal service planning
- Budget management for worship materials
- Training volunteers and assistants
Senior (5+ years)
- Complex multi-service planning
- Leadership of large ministry teams
- Special ceremony coordination
- Strategic worship planning
Red Flags to Watch For
- No knowledge of basic religious calendar or church seasons
- Lack of experience with religious services structure
- Poor communication or organizational skills
- No understanding of religious traditions or protocols
