Part Time Priest in Charge of Toxteth St Bede with St Clement (Interim)

Overview

We are looking for a two-year intentional part-time interim priest to prepare this inner-city church for a future new shape of ministry. This will include working with deanery and diocesan colleagues to evaluate existing and alternative revitalisation proposals, and working with the church to develop their plans to dispose of one of the two churches, by way of sale, lease or planting opportunity. This post needs someone who is skilled at change management and negotiating with a variety of different stakeholders. It involves being fully committed to the Liverpool Diocese's Fit for Mission strategy, as the Toxteth & Wavertree deanery is at an advanced stage of becoming part of Cohort 2. 

Closing Date:  Sunday 21st July

Interview Date: Tuesday 13th August

For more information please contact: The Revd Canon Robert Clack, Associate Archdeacon of Liverpool

Email: robert.clack@liverpool.anglican.org

Introduction

The parish of St Bede with St Clement is situated on the outskirts of the city within easy reach of many amenities and with good transport to major railways, motorways and airports.

Some of the key challenges of this post include preparing the parish to sell or dispose of one of the two church buildings, developing a good working relationship with the congregation and the local community, and leading the congregation in engaging with revitalisation proposals. You will need to have a vision and desire to grow the present congregation and hold an inclusive and open-minded approach to ministry and mission in this diverse area. 

There are a very wide range of churches and traditions contained within the deanery, and a committed and supportive attitude within the clergy Chapter provides a great support.

Main Responsibilities

• Being able to lead the congregation in engaging with alternative revitalisation opportunities, building their capacity and appetite for change, and exploring options for future use of the two church buildings. 
• Being committed to collaborative team-working within the wider deanery/Fit for Mission project.
• Leading this inclusive evangelical parish into growth.
• Maintaining a sensitivity to the local diverse population.
• Developing and encouraging children’s ministry.

As well as your local responsibilities, as a leader in the Diocese of Liverpool you will be expected to:

• Authentically advocate diocesan strategy, specifically Fit for Mission
• Nurture existing leaders and identify new ones
• Identify and commission teams
• Build and lead a leadership team
• Create a positive culture of accountability
• Establish connections between worshipping communities
• Attend to the financial health of your worshipping communities

The Ideal Candidate

• An experience of facilitating change
• The courage to show clear leadership
• An encouraging and inclusive manner
• An enthusiasm for inner-city ministry
• A pastoral heart

About us

Being part of the Clergy Team in Liverpool Diocese

For many years we have been working to achieve growth in our diocese. We have used different ways to express this but the aim and direction of travel has remained the same – consistent with the whole of the Church of England. We have articulated a vision for this growth by saying
 

          we are asking God for a bigger church so that we can make a bigger difference: 

                              more people knowing Jesus and more justice in the world.

In our diocesan vision we have identified four priority areas for our work in mission in this season:

Introducing people to God through Jesus Christ

Deepening discipleship, especially by means of our Rule of Life

Developing Christian leaders in every place

Working for justice

Like everyone entering a new role in the Diocese, you will accept the priority of these areas, and will measure your ministry by effectiveness in these areas. You will be supported and expected to be accountable (through the Ministerial Development Review as well as through regular meetings with your colleagues) for how they are being implemented within your area of responsibility.

In common with all clergy in the diocese, you will work together with others to:

1. Establish a culture of invitation in evangelism within the local church.
2. Start new worshipping communities and maintain existing healthy worshipping communities that are accessible to all.
3. Establish a culture in the local church of expecting a deepening of discipleship and putting into practice the 6 disciplines of the Diocesan Rule of Life. 
4. Develop prayerfully a strategy for mission and church growth and aligning it with the Diocesan strategy Fit for Mission.
5. Identify, train, release and support new Christian leaders and teams.
6. Encourage vocations by identifying the gifts of others and assisting people to seek God’s calling for their lives.
7. Develop the distinctive ministry of the local Church within the wider context of the Diocese, Deanery and local ecumenical setting by establishing and maintaining good collaborative working relationships with clergy and lay colleagues.
8. Lead your congregations both to pray for justice in the Church and the world and to recognize how, working with others, your congregations can work for more justice in the Church, your local communities, and the world.
9. Ensure that safeguarding, financial and other governance disciplines are followed.