Mission Community Leader role (as part of the post of Priest in Charge of Holme Eden and Wetheral)
The County Context
Cumbria is a large and diverse county in which urban, industrial, market towns, villages, farms and remote, scattered hamlets form distinct and overlapping communities. The Diocese of Carlisle (which is coterminous with the county of Cumbria), has been pro-active in seeking to respond to national trends in church life by the formation of around 40 Mission Communities across the county to respond to the challenges and opportunities we face. Some churches and chapels, albeit, tentatively, are starting to discover new purpose and imagination in ministry while others struggle to see a viable future. However, this context has served to focus attention on exploring (and re-discovering) other exciting and innovative models of church life, ministry (lay and ordained, full and part time as well as self-supporting) and mission. The church in Cumbria is stepping up to the challenge to re-imagine what it means to be the church in the world.
The Ecumenical Context
Cumbria is an ecumenical county. The foundation thinking and principles on which Mission Communities are becoming the essential unit of church life can be found on the Carlisle Diocesan (www.carlislediocese.org.uk/our-vision.html) Essential to the formation of Mission Communities is the shared vision of the Anglican, Methodist, URC and Salvation Army churches and congregations across Cumbria. From its earliest days this work has sought to bring different traditions together with a shared purpose.
The emphasis in Cumbria has now shifted significantly and very deliberately to mission, ministry and outreach. GOD FOR ALL is the Ecumenical Vision for Cumbria that everyone in this county, resident and visiting, might have the opportunity to consider the reality of God and Gods purpose for their lives. It is an outrageous, ambitious, daunting aspiration, one that drives us to prayer, imagination and action. The denominational leaders across Cumbria have committed to doing all we can to make this mission a reality. It is bold and beyond us, but we believe it is what the gospel calls us to. See the God for All website www.godforall.org.uk for more information around the thinking, vision and strategy for this mission.
The Brampton West Mission Community
The Mission Community lies to the West of Brampton (nr Carlisle) and comprises a small number of Anglican, Methodist and URC churches and/or presence. The Mission Community comprises the villages of Scotby, Cumwhinton, Cotehill, Wetheral, Holme Eden and Warwick Bridge. There are around 6 churches and chapels in the MC area.
Supported by another 2 stipendiary colleagues (Methodist colleague covers a wider area), full time children and families worker, NSM, Readers, retired ministers and a range of very able and equipped lay people the fledgling Mission Community is poised to move to a point where it can formally launch and then be commissioned.
The MC is now ready to be formed and galvanised for its primary task of shared mission for the future.
The MC leaders role will work closely with the Rev Isaac Lawrence (Scotby) to develop leadership, vision, consultation, collaboration, strategizing and then outworking plans with colleagues.
The work of MC leader is in conjunction with the post of Priest in charge of Holme Eden and Wetheral.
This is a significant leadership post in the diocese.
Brampton West Mission Community Leader: Role profile
To lead and develop the fledgling Brampton West Mission Community in line with the aims and objectives of God for All
To develop a sense of teamwork across churches to support the work of the MC
To consult widely on the future mission and ministry needs of the community and how this might be resourced
To consider with lay and ordained colleagues opportunities for missional cooperation across the MC and develop a Mission Action Plan
To support and develop the ministry of lay people (in conjunction with Cumbria Christian Learning the ministerial support department)
To develop relational and governance structures for the MC in accordance with diocesan policies
To develop good working relationships within the MC
To promote ecumenical relationships within the MC
Brampton West Mission Community Leader: Person profile
Be committed to the God for All manifesto approach and its outworking.
Passionate and inspirational about people discovering more of God and Gods purpose for their lives.
An organised and strategic thinker who is able to build and develop teams and relationships
Willing and able to relate to, value and work with all traditions in the Church of England and other denominations.
Someone who seeks to foster mission in all contexts
A good grasp of the cultures, aspirations and values of rural people who are not part of church, and how the gospel and Christian community might connect with them
A good communicator with a prayerful and pastoral heart.
N.B. WHEN APPLYING FOR THE POST YOUR ANSWERS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO ADDRESSING THE ROLE AND PERSON SPECIFICATION AS SET OUT IN THIS DOCUMENT AND THAT IN THE PARISH PROFILE. SUCCESUL CANDIDATES WILL BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THE ABILITY TO BE EFFECTIVE IN BOTH ASPECTS OF THIS POST. THANK YOU
Appointment Process for the Mission Community Leader and Priest in Charge post
Expressions of interest and opportunities for conversation are welcome. They should be addressed to the Archdeacon of Carlisle, The Venerable Lee Townend [email protected] 07458 016925. He will be happy to deal with general enquiries about the post. Requests for an application form can be made to him or accessed from the diocesan web site.
Closing date for applications noon on 20th November 2017. Applications will be acknowledged by email. Shortlisting will take place on 21st November 2017. Interviews for short listed candidates will be held on 6th December 2017. We envisage that the person appointed will take up post as soon as possible.
Eden Churches
Benefice Profile
Benefice Harvest Supper 2017
Contents
Introduction3
Parish/village descriptions4
Benefice6
Churches6
Other Churches & Denominations8
Community8
People10
Current pattern11
Church Organisations12
The Rectory15
Person Profile16
Accounts17
Introduction
We:
Are made up of two separate parishes, St Paul's Holme Eden and Holy Trinity Wetheral with Warwick, each with its own Church Wardens and PCC who work closely together to help spread Gods word within our community.
In a beautiful locality
With well cared for buildings
With supportive congregations
With a full time, young, enthusiastic Children and Families Worker (CFW) and a supportive ministry team
Are involved in a wide range of parish, benefice, community and ecumenical activities.
Our needs
We have a dedicated but aging congregation. We need a leader who recognises the tenets of Christian faith, is well informed by scripture and who can inspire and motivate the existing congregations in our churches, leading us to spread the word of God to others within our community in line with the Diocesan vision of bringing God for All. We believe it is important to do this by building relationships within the community and through those relationships seeking to bring God for All by both traditional and innovative ways.
We recognise our congregations have fewer young families than we would like and that we are not particularly successful in drawing families into Sunday worship. Our opportunities are primarily improving pastoral care and attracting new people into the church.
Our priorities for the future are
Mission Action Plan priorities for Wetheral:
To make the church a more visible and active presence in our community, growing and developing local links and to spread the Gospel by being known for the quality of our pastoral care and our welcome.
Creating a Christian family, mature in faith, outward looking and confident in sharing the Gospel, effective in serving the purposes of God and able to support itself financially while providing for future growth.
Mission Action Plan priority for Holme Eden:
To reach out to new members of our local community, bring them to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and welcome them into our worshipping congregation.
Setting
If you want to be a part of the warm hearted 21st century community which is Holme Eden and Wetheral with Warwick, while enjoying the beautiful Eden valley, then Cumbria may be calling you. We might loosely be described as rural but you will not be isolated as we do link with churches in our deanery and the neighbouring deanery of Carlisle. There is also the opportunity to recharge your spiritual batteries at the annual Keswick Convention and at the Living Word event in Carlisle. If you enjoy the outdoors then the Lake district and Solway coast are available for your leisure time with Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh only a short train ride away. The two parishes in the benefice are located in a beautiful area of North Cumbria along the river Eden.
Parish/village descriptions
Holme Eden
This parish covers 6 villages with a population of approximately 1,750, although Warwick Bridge, Corby Hill and Little Corby are somewhat merged together and make up the main centre of population. The villages of Heads Nook, Broadwath and Burnrigg are more spread out. There is a strong fa
