About PAM

The Organization

The Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM) is a national organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for people who are involved in the areas of worship, music, and the arts. Choir directors, organists, Christian educators, clergy, and lay people will find PAM to be a valuable resource for creative worship planning. PAM is not just for Presbyterians. Other denominations find our resources, conferences, and publications helpful in their work for the church.

The PAM Mission Statement

The Presbyterian Association of Musicians is committed to strengthening and enriching worship, the very heart of the church’s life and ministry. PAM welcomes musicians, pastors, educators and lay people who love and serve the Triune God and share this commitment. PAM strives to educate and empower its members and to form faithful disciples in the Presbyterian Church, USA through music, liturgy and the arts.

(adopted July 2009)

PAM Code of Ethics

From the booklet; Guidelines for the Employment of Church Musicians in Presbyterian Churches

The Work of PAM

• Conferences on Worship and Music
  There are four weeks of PAM conferences during the summer months of June and July. PAM also sponsors affiliated conferences through its grant program. Adult participants in the Conferences on Worship and Music automatically become PAM members for one year.
• Job Postings (formerly known as the Referral Service)
  An ever changing list of churches and their job openings for church musicians.
• Seed Money Grants
  These grants are available to help underwrite events which promote quality worship and music.
• Publications
  Call to Worship
  Both scholarly and practical, Call to Worship is a quarterly journal recognized for its outstanding quality and depth in topics related to worship and music. The first volume each year (mailed in August) contains valuable lectionary aids for the entire year.
• PAM Newsletter
  The newsletter that offers information of national and regional interest to the membership. (published three times per year)
• PAM Resource booklets
  Small booklets that are packed with valuable resource information for church musicians and search committees. The booklet titles include:
  Guidelines for the Employment of Church Musicians in Presbyterian Churches
  Professional Conduct in Adversity: A Guide for Musicians
  Suggested Resources in Church Music and Related Fields
  Wedding and Funeral Music
• Certification
  PAM awards certification to church musicians at three levels, all recognized in the denomination's Book of Order. These levels of certification include:
  Certified Church Musician
  Certified Associate Church Musician
  Certified Colleague in Church Music
• Online Forum
  PAM has created a place where PAM members can have an open online forum. This group is for you (PAM members) to share thoughts and ideas regading church music, music events, what your church is doing, how to better serve God in music ministry, etc. Since your membership needs to be active in order to join the online group, when you request to join please include your full name and address in the comments of your request so that we can verify your membership status.

For PAM members

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