JAM@St.James’ Enabler - St Philip’s Dorridge with St James’ Bentley Heath
25th November 2024
Role Description
Flourish
The Flourish network of worshipping communities in schools/FE colleges offers the Church of England the opportunity for a significant step change in our engagement with children, young people and their families. By connecting strategically through our largest network of relationships through our presence in education, we have the opportunity to imagine thousands of new, younger and more diverse disciples. This vision requires a paradigm shift – seeking to build worshipping communities in schools/college rather than seeing them as education settings as a potential gateway to encourage people to move solely towards Sunday attendance. It requires new structures, leaders, resources, training, all of which will be released through Dioceses catching the vision for this systemic change and building it into their long-term strategic vision.
This is a bold vision to deepen the church’s mission in education through the development of a large network of worshipping communities in schools/FE. These Flourish communities will connect us with thousands of young people and their families who presently do not attend church of any denomination.
Flourish worshipping communities will be underpinned by these five core principles:
1. Young people’s voices are instinctively at the centre of all leadership decision-making and implementation.
2. Clearly articulated and shared purpose to grow a younger and more diverse community of Christian disciples.
3. Strategic leadership partnership between school/college and at least one church community (with appropriate long-term governance and resource commitment).
4. Intergenerational faith development experiences involving children and their families of all ages.
5. Worship that is fully integrated into the regular rhythms, practices, structures and resources of the school/college’s vision for flourishing of children and adults.
The PCC of St Philip’s Dorridge with St James’ Bentley Heath have a stated mission priority to be a Church that prefers the needs of the Under 25s. We are partnering with Flourish to plant and grow worshipping and witnessing Christian Communities in schools. The aim of the project is to increase the number of children and young people who are regularly worshipping in church.
Overview of the Enabler Role:
We are looking for someone with the right passion, gifts, and skills to help grow a new worshipping community contextually for our school and community. This will be with the support of a team from our church family to replant the Church at St James’ Bentley Heath as the Church for the School, and working in partnership with St Philip’s Church, Dorridge and Bentley Heath School.
They will enable and coordinate the mission and ministry, worship and outreach of JAM@St.James’ for the children, families, and wider community of Bentley Heath School. They will help people of all ages encounter Jesus, encouraging them to grow as disciples in new and relevant ways. A significant part of this new work is to enable and resource children and young people to shape and lead this new worshipping community from the outset.
Primary Responsibilities:
1. Plant and grow JAM@St.James’ as a flourishing worshipping community for the School and its community.
2. Enable intergenerational worship experiences that aim to grow all as disciples of Jesus.
3. Work collaboratively and in strong partnership with key leaders in the church and school, and develop great relationships with key stakeholders in the wider community.
4. Identify and support children and young people to play a visible and active role in the intergenerational leadership of JAM@St.James.
5. Gather and recruit a team (Missional Community) to be at the heart of JAM@St.James praying for, serving, and delivering the vision.
6. Engage with children, their families, and other members of the wider School community and their networks, to reach out to them, and encourage and equip them to grow in Christian faith and discipleship.
7. Encourage JAM@St.James to be a Church that is easily accessible and welcoming to children, young people, and their families.
8. Work with the team members who lead and serve in TotStop, our weekly Bentley Heath Parent and Toddler Group, and develop relationships with those attending.
9. Actively care, nurture, and grow discipleship in the lives of our children and families, the school, and its community.
10. As the lead ambassador for JAM@St.James’ to regularly promote and inspire others about the work with the wider church family and the School and its community.
11. Follow and promote the policies and procedures of St Philip’s Dorridge with St James’ Bentley Heath PCC Safeguarding.
Other Responsibilities:
1. Attend a weekly staff meeting including prayer and planning, and work collaboratively with the Clergy, Under 25s Minister, the Church Wardens and PCC, the Parish Office Staff Team, and other Ministry Leads in delivering the vision and mission of the whole Church.
2. Actively engage with regular line management, one-to-one supervision, and be committed to your personal continued professional and ministry development, including attending training events.
All the above responsibilities will be reviewed regularly from the start of the post.
Person Specification:
Essential:
* Demonstrable love of Christ with an infectious Christian faith.
* Experience of working with children in a Primary School setting.
* Experience of growing and leading a new work.
* Experience of building and leading teams of volunteers.
* Experience of recruiting and supporting new volunteers.
* Experience of initiating and overseeing new work delivered by a team.
* A strategic thinker who can deploy teams and individuals in a way that maximises what can be achieved.
* A team player, with good self-awareness and both ability and enthusiasm to reflect self-critically with colleagues.
* Empathy, commitment and proven ability to grow healthy relationships with a wide diversity of people.
* Good verbal and written skills and able to communicate effectively in a variety of contexts.
* Confident communicating with a number of varied stakeholders in a project who may have differing expectations.
* A commitment to uphold current safeguarding legislation and best practice.
* Supportive of the Church of England and a willingness to work within its frameworks.
* There is an occupational requirement for the postholder to be a practising Christian.
Desirable:
* A recognised qualification in teaching, or youth work, or children’s work.
* Experience of leading missional activity.
* Experience of ministry with children and their families.
* Experience of working with or in schools.
* Experience of working with others to bring about culture change.
* Confidence in using technology and social media.
The PCC of St Philip’s Dorridge with St James’ Bentley Heath is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where all can be themselves. We offer a range of inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and other services to our staff teams. The PCC of St Philip’s Dorridge with St James’ Bentley Heath is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders are expected to share this commitment.
Terms and Conditions:
* Part-Time 17.5 hours per week for a fixed-term until July 2026 (subject to funding) flexible working proposals may be considered.
* Salary £15,300PA.
* Pension.
* Holidays 20 days per annum, plus 8 Bank Holidays pro rata.
* The posts are subject to a DBS disclosure and satisfactory references.
* The employer is St Philip’s Dorridge with St James’ Bentley Heath PCC.
* Reports to the Vicar.
Closing date for applications: Wednesday 8th January 2025
Interviews to be held week commencing 20th January 2025.
Find out more:
To arrange an informal conversation with the Vicar - Duncan Hill-Brown please email duncan@stphilipsandstjames.org
To request an application form, please contact The Dorridge and Bentley Heath Parish Office parish.office@stphilipsandstjames.org.
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