Diocese of Worcester Director of Ordinands & Vocation

Application pack

Welcome to the Diocese

Bishop John: “Thank you for showing interest

in this post. I believe it to be a one full of potential at a creative

moment in a diocese where exciting things are happening.”

It is exciting because

we are developing creative new patterns of ministry in these changing times: though there are fewer stipendiary clergy than in the recent past there are now more people offering licensed and authorised lay ministry than ever before;

we are implementing, after much reflection and consultation, an imaginative ‘Kingdom People’ vision which seeks to envision our people in their core task of proclaiming the Kingdom;

differences in ‘churchmanship’ are not divisive in a diocese which has a genuine ‘family feel’ to it;

we have a dynamic and mission minded Bishop’s Staff team committed to working with lay and ordained colleagues throughout the Diocese to join in God’s mission;

We want to appoint as Director of Ordinands & Vocation someone who will

share our passion for a generous and hospitable Church, rooted in the scriptures, open to the Spirit, steeped in prayer and worship, with a heart for mission;

celebrate the calling of all the baptised and be utterly committed to fostering Christian vocation of every kind, within and without the Church;

inspire God’s people to fulfil their vocation;

be an effective and proven team leader and team player, ready to collaborate with others in all aspects of ministry;

care deeply about her/his own continuing vocation and be passionate about encouraging others in theirs;

bring skills and passion in areas we have not yet imagined.

It follows, of course, that the Director of Ordinands and Vocation will need to be a person of faith, imagination and resilience with a vision for the future of the Church and

its ministry in this time of change. S/he will need a deep faith, a passion for mission, strategic mind, an instinct for collaborative work and a love for people.

Such a person will find this post stimulating and fruitful and will be happy in a diocese

where we are wanting to play our part more effectively with God’s mission, for the sake of the Kingdom and the gospel.

Role and responsibilities

The Director of Ordinands and Vocation is accountable to the Bishop of Worcester. S/he works closely with the Bishop of Dudley, who acts as the Sponsoring Bishop for the Diocese, and the Director of Ministry and Discipleship who leads the Ministry and Discipleship Team, of which s/he is a member.

This post is a crucial one in fitting the Church for God’s mission in the Diocese of Worcester at this point in its history. The Bishop of Worcester has spoken about the need for stipendiary clergy to become more episcopal, in the sense of exercising oversight, in order that the people of God might be enabled to recover their priesthood, in the sense that St Peter refers to in his first epistle.

The Director of Ordinands and Vocation is the person who, with the Director of Ministry and Discipleship, will be charged with discerning and fostering vocations to enable this to happen whilst, at the same time, engaging in creative and imaginative thinking with him about future patterns of ministry in the diocese. The area which needs particular attention is the fostering of Christian vocation of all kinds, within and without the Church.

Vocations To foster Christian vocation of every kind, within and

without the Church.

To proactively encourage the exploration of vocations and to be a role model for those considering ordained ministry and its importance to the Church’s mission.

To develop a team of people to act as Vocations Champions to develop initiatives for encouraging vocations to ordained, licensed and authorised ministry as well as wider Christian vocation.

In common with the Church of England as a whole, we are particularly concerned to foster vocations among young people and in BME communities and this should be a priority.

To preach and teach about vocation in the parishes of the Diocese, particularly on Sundays.

Key Responsibilities The Director will work closely with the Bishop and his staff team to develop the ministry of all in the diocese, ordained and lay, so that the Kingdom may be effectively proclaimed in the context of the Kingdom People Vision to which we are committed (Page 7)

The Director will contribute to the formation of ministry policy and the provision of CME with the Director of Ministry and Discipleship within the Ministry and Discipleship Team.

The wider brief of the Director is in the discernment and fostering of vocation to all kinds of ministry, lay and ordained. As part of this responsibility, the Director has the specific brief of the assessment and discernment of potential ordinands in advising on their sponsorship for selection and of the nurture and development of ordinands from first enquiry through to the end of the first four years of ordained ministry.

Exciting proposals are emerging from the House of Bishops for the reform of discernment & training for ordination. The new Director will have responsibility for implementing these proposals.

Discernment To work with the Associate Directors of Ordinands to oversee and maintain the quality of the process of discernment for ordination candidates, in particular to:

Arrange for the interview and assessment of potential candidates;

Ensure that candidates and their families are properly advised and supported during the formal processes of discernment;

Provide advice to the Bishop of Dudley for decision about the sponsorship of individual candidates;

Prepare papers for submission to Ministry Division prior to national Bishops’ Advisory Panels (BAPs);

Take responsibility for faculty applications under Canon C4 (processing of applications currently undertaken by an assistant bishop);

Liaise with clergy and PCCs regarding NSM candidates and, in the case of MSEs, with their employer;

Oversee administrative work supporting the discernment process, including ensuring that DBS checks are made, right to work in the UK checks including any necessary Visa / Immigration procedures have been met, and all aspects of candidates’ Statements of Financial Position are resolved;

Ensure “aftercare” for candidates who are not recommended by BAPs;

Maintain good contact with Ministry Division and the DDO network over professional issues and sharing of good practice;

Keep under review the discernment process & the work of those who participate in it. With others train and support the diocesan panel of Vocations Advisers;

Oversee the process of transfer for ordained NSM clergy who wish to offer for stipendiary ministry;

Participate, when requested, in the discernment & selection process for candidates who feel called to Church Army & the religious life.

Role and responsibilities cont.

Initial Ministerial Development (IMD) To oversee the ministerial development of ordinands and curates through the whole period of Initial Ministerial Education Development, and in particular to:

Advise ordinands on programmes for their ministerial education, in liaison with theological courses and colleges;

Maintain contact with ordinands and their families during training.

Liaise regularly with theological courses and colleges;

Working with the Diocesan Secretary, ensure grant arrangements for ordinands in residential training;

Advise the Bishop’s Staff about prospective placements and liaise with ordinands and prospective trainers in fixing approved curacy placements;

Liaise with the Diocesan Surveyor about the provision of houses for stipendiary curates in training to ensure that houses are available when needed and also that houses are not retained unnecessarily (the diocesan policy is that curates are placed to best suit their training and houses are acquired accordingly);

Develop, oversee and manage the agreed budget for and the programme of ministerial education & induction for curates after ordination and during the first four years of ordained ministry;

Liaise with those responsible for Continuing Ministerial Education (CME) in the diocese;

Ensure that a Curacy Training Agreement is established and monitored.

Act as a mentor for curates and trainers during the span of IMD;

Arrange initial and review meetings with trainers and provide them with ongoing training and support;

Arrange and oversee the process of ministry evaluation assessment and reports for curates in their first four years and report on their progress to the Bishop of Dudley;

Assist curates in the discernment of the timing and nature of their next posts.

General

Attend meetings of the Ministry and Discipleship Team;

Liaise with those responsible for lay training, particularly the Director of Reader Training;

In particular with regard to IMD programmes, have regard to diocesan priorities in consultation with the Bishop and Director of Ministry and Discipleship;

Manage the ordination services and retreat arrangements in consultation with the Bishop and his staff and the Cathedral;

Attend relevant national conferences or consultations arranged by Ministry Division of the Archbishops Council or other bodies or organisations;

Meet with the West Midlands regional colleagues holding the same or similar responsibilities within the region for mutual support, discussion and sharing of good practice;

Keep colleagues informed of important developments in thinking about the above areas within the wider church;

Attend diocesan gatherings of clergy;

Offer availability to preach on vocation in churches in the diocese and visit those churches where curates will be and are serving;

Comply with safeguarding policy and procedures;

Comply with data protection legislation & apply a high level of confidentiality and security to information provided about enquirers, candidates, curates and clergy. (the Director’s work falls within the Bishop of Worcester’s DPA registration) Ensure that all files are transferred to the Bishop’s Office at the end of each curate’s IMD;

Undertake such other duties as are required to fulfil the main purposes of the job.

In addition the Bishop will discover with the new

Director particular areas of ministry in which she/

he would like to be involved.

Person Specification

The person appointed will be:

a priest of deep faith and prayer, with a desire to grow in personal holiness;

able to contribute at a senior and strategic level to the development and promotion of diocesan policies and practice generally and specifically in the work of training and Christian discipleship;

have five or more years experience in stipendiary ordained ministry;

able to hold the Bishop’s licence to undertake a preaching and sacramental ministry in the diocese. (These constitute Genuine Occupational Requirements under the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9 Part 1 meaning that the successful applicant will be an Anglican clerk in holy orders.)

empathetic and committed to the Kingdom People process and vision;

theologically literate, able to communicate the faith in a lively way, with a heart for mission;

able to inspire, nurture and encourage and have credibility with both clergy and lay people;

deeply committed to the principles of collaborative ministry and to work happily in a team;

someone who shows resilience in the face of demanding and sometimes isolated situations;

someone who is willing and able to relate to and value all traditions in the Church of England;

someone of good self-awareness and emotional intelligence, with broad understanding and sympathy and good communication skills, able to handle greatly varying expectations of the role;

a person of commitment who is able to maintain a good work/life balance;

able to work effectively with rural deans, lay chairs, parish clergy;

appreciative of the voluntary and vocational nature of those who engage in the Church’s mission;

prepared and willing to work outside normal office hours, including evenings and week-ends as necessary.

able to deal effectively and thoroughly with paperwork processes that form a large part of the discernment and assessment processes.

sensitive to the vulnerabilities of those exploring vocation or embarking on new ministry but, at the same time, able to challenge and confront areas of concern when necessary.

Gen

eral

Person Specification cont.

The priest will:

show authority, credibility and an open, accessible leadership style, which develops the gifts and potential of others;

be a good and powerful teacher and preacher, able to produce material which is rich in content, intelligent, and sensitive to a wide variety of settings and needs;

have experience in training, mentoring, coaching, mediation or other forms of support;

possess a solid understanding of the challenges of ministry today;

The priest appointed will have experience of:

varied ministry, desirably with a track record of enabling the Church’s mission according to the identified priorities of the diocese;

encouraging and fostering vocations;

a creative engagement with emerging patterns of worship in the Church;

team development and broader consultation and collaboration.

The priest appointed will be able to:

think and write effectively and to plan strategically;

implement plans, motivate others and manage change;

demonstrate high quality pastoral concern and care for others;

acquire a detailed knowledge and understanding of ecclesiastical and other law relating to ministry;

understand ordinands’ financial arrangements including grants;

have a satisfactory outcome of an application for a DBS enhanced plus check;

travel regularly, widely and flexibly in both the rural and the urban parts of the diocese. A current driving licence is essential unless suitable alternative arrangements can be made.

The priest appointed will:

enjoy working in collegial relationships, learning and sharing;

be an effective team leader and manager, and chair of meetings;

be organised and efficient;

be competent with IT;

deal efficiently with planning, (basic) budgetary tasks;

handle their own administrative tasks (the Ministry & Discipleship Team Administrator will provide support on event organisation but not general secretarial support.);

delegate effectively;

be prompt and consistent in delivery;

possess a well-developed capacity to see wood for trees.

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The Diocese of Worcester

The Diocese of Worcester consists of Worcestershire and the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley together with a few parishes in Wolverhampton, Sandwell and northern Gloucestershire. The population of the diocese is approximately 880,000 (Split between 566,500 in Worcestershire and 313,500 in Dudley). There are 172 parishes, 280 churches and 100 Church Schools and we have partnership links with the dioceses of Peru, Morogoro in Tanzania and Magdeburg in Germany. In 2015, the Diocesan Board of Finance has a budget of £8 million.

In 2010, a 2020 Vision Group was set up by Bishop's Council to try to discern what God's future vision might be for the Anglican Church in Worcestershire and Dudley. Discussion in this group identified that our churches should be places where the Kingdom is our core conversation and where the Kingdom values set out by Bishop John of love, compassion, justice and freedom are evident. Following research undertaken in 2012 into what churches were already doing and what factors helped or hindered them in their activities, a Kingdom People vision has been set out. This is a vision for a Church which enables its people to be:

Deeply rooted in prayer and study of the scriptures

Renewed and transformed by regular worship

Equipped to witness to the gospel of love, compassion, justice and freedom

Dedicated to helping children, young people and young adults to belong and be nurtured in faith

Devoted to growing deeply in discipleship, offering our time and talents and money to God

Resourced and released to minister to others

Ready to engage with and serve our community

Committed to making our buildings fit for purpose as a spiritual and community resource.

The Kingdom People initiative aims to be a gift to the parishes and not an additional burden. It aims to provide a framework in which churches might flourish and grow rather than impose a blueprint of how every church should look. It has been promoted to parishes from Autumn 2013. This includes the temporary employment of a Kingdom People Development Officer to encourage parishes to take up the “gift” and identify and train a network of volunteer facilitators to help them discern God’s way forward.

Education In the Diocese of Worcester we are committed to work in schools and tertiary education. The diocesan area includes three Local Authorities, Worcestershire, Dudley and Sandwell. There are 97 Primary Church Schools in the Diocese and three Secondary Schools. The Diocese also offers programmes and resources to all schools in the area. There are a growing number of schools becoming Academies in which the Worcester Diocesan Academies Trust is developing a key role in that process. The Director of Ordinands and Vocation will be expected to work closely with the Director of Education to ensure joined up thinking between our parishes and schools in matters pertaining to ministry and discipleship. The Children and Youth Officers deliver some of their work in school or college contexts.

Ministry There is a broad range of Churchmanship within the Diocese of Worcester. The Diocese has around 120 full-time stipendiary clergy, plus around 40 Non-stipendiary and Ministers in Secular Employment. We are also blessed with a large number of retired clergy, who continue to provide ministry to parishes across our diocese. There is an extensive lay ministry in the diocese with 180 Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) and a large number of Authorised Lay Ministers, who have completed a year’s training course in areas such as worship, children’s and youth work, evangelism and parish administration.

Key Relationships

Bishops Bishop of Worcester: John Inge Bishop of Dudley: Graham Usher

Ministry & Discipleship Team

Director of Ministry & Discipleship:

Jonathan Kimber (from April 2015)

Associate Directors of Ordinands:

Alex Vaccaro & Anthea Elston (voluntary roles)

Warden of Readers: Sheila Banyard

(voluntary role)

Director of Reader Training:

Doug Chaplin (voluntary role)

Children’s Officer: Emma Pettifer

Youth Officer: Simon Hill

Mission Development Officers:

Doug Chaplin & Phillip Jones

Administrator – Sue Gromski

Other information

Terms & Conditions – a brief outline The Director of Ordinands and Vocation Discernment’s office is in the Diocesan Office in the city centre of Worcester. Remuneration will be at the same rate as the stipend of an incumbent (£24,720 in 2015/16) together with a provided house or housing allowance. The post is eligible for membership of the Church of England Funded Pension Scheme which is non-contributory on the part of the postholder. A car loan scheme is available. The postholder will be an employee of the Worcester Diocesan Board of Finance Limited.

Appointment process Expressions of interest are welcome. They should be addressed to The HR Administrator The Old Palace Deansway Worcester WR1 2JE The HR Administrator will be happy to deal with general enquiries about the post (hradmin@cofe-worcester.org.uk ) and requests for an application form which should be returned by noon on Monday 16 February. When completing it please bear in mind what we are looking for and try to give evidence for the things you say about yourself and your work. Tell us something about your motives and priorities in ministry, and explain what you feel you would bring to this post. If potential applicants wish, for a wider discussion about mission and ministry in the diocese, the HR Administrator will be happy to put them in touch with members of the Bishop’s Staff not involved in the appointment process. Applications will be acknowledged by email. Shortlisting will take place on 2 March. An opportunity to meet prospective colleagues and interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held on 24/25 March. Candidates will be asked to give a ten minute presentation on ‘The future shape of the Church’s ministry’ and a five minutes homily on the readings of the day. We envisage that the person appointed will take up post towards the end of June 2015.

Ethos Statement

The ethos of the Diocese of Worcester is as part of the Church of England within which those who hold licence as ministers are required to affirm their loyalty to the following declaration of inheritance of faith as their inspiration and guidance under God in bringing the grace and truth of Christ to this generation and making him known to those in their care. “The Church of England is part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church worshipping the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It professes the faith uniquely revealed in the Holy Scriptures and set forth in the catholic creeds, which faith the Church is called upon to proclaim afresh in each generation. Led by the Holy Spirit, it has borne witness to Christian truth in its historic formularies, the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer and the Ordering of Bishops, Priests and Deacons.”

In the Diocese of Worcester we have adopted the “Kingdom People Vision”, for us to be:

Deeply rooted in prayer and study of the scriptures

Renewed and transformed by regular worship

Equipped to witness to the gospel of love, compassion, justice and freedom

Dedicated to helping children, young people and young adults to belong and be nurtured in faith

Devoted to growing deeply in discipleship, offering our time and talents and money to God

Resourced and released to minister to others

Ready to engage with and serve our community

Committed to making our buildings fit for purpose as a spiritual and community resource.

as the outworking of our ethos.

The Worcester Diocesan Board of Finance Limited is a company limited by guarantee

and registered in England (No. 271752) Registered Office at The Old Palace,

Deansway, Worcester, WR1 2JE. The Board is a Registered Charity No. 247778.