[rodgersorgan] Organist Duties and Salary


I am the co-organist at an ELCA Lutheran Church; fairly small. We have a six
rank Moller and are planning on adding a digital organ (read that an Allen
or Rodgers). So far I have been the full time organist since December. The
other organist has developed a condition on her thumb and wrist and can't
play. So she has stepped aside so we can hire another co-organist. This
scheme is set up so that the organists alternate months, and we try to be
flexible. Because of this, we are paid by how many services we play, much
like substitutes. I receive $50 for choir rehearsal, $150 for two Sunday
services, and $100 for funerals. So far, no weddings, but I would hope for
$125-$150 for a wedding. The church tries to follow the guidelines of the
AGO, and surveys from San Diego and Los Angeles. I feel that I am fairly
compensated. I do not have a college degree in music, but do have many
credits of undergraduate music courses, and earned the AGO Service Playing
Certificate. If there were someone in area who could tutor the Colleague
(CAGO) I would most likely study for that. I have a very good working
relationship with both the pastor and the director or music. The reason we
went to the co-organist plan is pretty obvious: we don't want to be tied
down for 52 weeks a year. It keeps the spouses happy, too. Fran Meyers

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