Team Rector (designate) for Wisbech with Walsoken

Introduction

 (St Augustine's - just one of 3 congregations)

This is a strategic post overseeing ministry and mission across 3 parishes that serve over 25,000 people. You will be responsible for leading the development of a new team, building a culture that connects the gospel with the lives of local people, energising church, growing younger and more diverse congregations. It is a big job, but you will not be alone.

You will be able to appoint a Team Vicar (or similar) who will share the leadership with you and local SSM clergy, LLMs, churchwardens and other lay leaders. You will have the support of a diocesan central team that is determined to help you succeed. You will have access to a fund for mission that can be used to leverage additional support. You will be expected to become a training incumbent.

To thrive in this post, you will need to be:

• Prayerful and articulate – there is significant desire to communicate the Gospel
• Focussed and resilient – there is a significant workload of pastoral care
• Faithful and gracious – there is significant diversity in the 3 parishes
• Wise and resourceful – there will be more opportunities than you can take alone.

We expect that you will already have significant leadership experience, ideally within parish settings. You will work with, and be able to get the best out of, staff and volunteers, heritage churches, community buildings, civic partners, and other Christian denominations. 

We offer you an excellent home to live in (see Appendix), a stipend of £30,000, annual CMD grant, retreat time, clear HR and supportive leadership. As we await a new Diocesan Bishop, we confidently predict that this post will be sustained and supported going forward. 

The Deanery has been planning the combining of 3 town parishes that cover the heart of Wisbech, including a part of the town, which is administratively in Norfolk, called Walsoken. Wisbech St Peter and Paul, the civic church, and Wisbech St Augustine were held in plurality by the previous incumbent, who retires in June. They have been working together for 5 years. Walsoken has been in vacancy for 6 months. Now is the time to unite the 3 parishes in shared mission to one of the more deprived towns in the diocese. 

You will be Team Rector (designate) until the pastoral scheme is made. You will be building on strong foundations, with parishes that are still learning to work together. The benefice profile will help you understand the strengths and challenges of these parishes. 

Safer Recruitment in the Diocese of Ely

The Diocese of Ely is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees to undertake safeguarding checks and training relevant to their role and to adhere to the Church of England’s safeguarding policies and procedures . Therefore, this position is subject to an enhanced disclosure from the DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service).

(the spacious Vicarage, Wisbech)