Month: October 2016

West Highland Centre of Mission: A Priest in Charge/Ordained Lead Evangelist

Come and lead this exciting partnership between the Scottish Episcopal Church and Church Army.  Rooted in one of the most beautiful places in Scotland, this project will build up the life and presence of the six church communities in this area, including Appin, Glencoe and Kinlochleven. With the existing ministry teams and the help of a Pioneer Evangelist, who you will help recruit, you will:

  • Confidently lead and develop the existing church communities of the Scottish Episcopal Church pastorally and liturgically;

  • Establish the Church Army Centre of Mission

  • Grow and resource the inherited Church Community to meet the needs of those who do not currently attend church

  • Create new mission and evangelism opportunities of all kinds throughout the region

The work will be enabled by the Diocesan “Vision for Mission” process and Church Army’s “DARE” strategy:

◦Doing evangelism ◦Advocating evangelism ◦Resourcing evangelism ◦Enabling evangelism

You will be an ordained Anglican priest (or be ordained in a church in full communion with the SEC) with a proven track record in team building and evangelism. You will be enthusiastic and energetic with a passion to see people find faith in Christ.

Fully supported by the Diocese and Church Army, the right Priest/Ordained Evangelist will help the church in the West Highlands work towards a sustainable vision for mission and church growth. 

Centre Manager for The Well at Kibworth

An exciting opportunity has arisen for Christian service in a village community. The Well at Kibworth in Leicestershire requires a Centre Manager to start in January 2017. This is a paid position of 20 flexible hours per week over 5 working days.

The Well is a Christian outreach centre and registered charity with a coffee shop, a prayer room, and a used clothing shop. It is the home of several groups who meet there.

The Manager is responsible for the day to day running of The Well, overseeing the volunteers who work there and coordinating the groups. It is hoped that the person appointed will continue to develop the vision of The Well and our service in the community

  • Do you have a strong Christian faith and a desire to explore new ways of ministry?

  • Are you able to support, encourage and manage a team of volunteers?

  • Are you practical and efficient as well as passionate and empathetic?

  • If the answers are yes, then this may be the place for you.

Wolverhampton Pioneer Ministries – Pioneer Minister/Team Leader

Wolverhampton Pioneer Ministries is a vibrant discipleship movement working with young adults with a history of growth based in the centre of Wolverhampton seeking to worship fully, love all and serve the city. Working in a variety of city centres contexts, including offering chaplaincy, we are keen to use our collective creativity to see God's kingdom come. We are looking for a visionary leader who is passionate about discipleship and mission with a heart for reaching marginalised unchurch young adults and enabling young adults to reach their potential.

The initial appointment of this full-time post will be for 3 years and may be extended subject to securing funding. Wolverhampton Pioneer Ministries is a partnership between the Anglican and Methodist Churches.

Salary: £22,500 per annum.

https://drw8.wordpress.com/2016/10/09/were-looking-for-a-new-team-leader-starting-may-2017/

Training Pioneers at Church Mission Society

This year has seen a record number of students enrol for the Church Mission Society’s pioneer training programme, which commences this month.

The course designed by pioneers, for pioneers, was created to equip Christians for ground-breaking, transformational and sustainable mission, both in the UK and around the world. A total of 28 students were inducted into the programme yesterday to train as mission pioneers, mission ordinands and lay pioneers, representing a significant increase on previous years.

Jonny Baker, Church Mission Society’s director of mission education and leader of its pioneer training programme described this year’s intake as “a fabulous endorsement, not only in the quality of the training that Church Mission Society provides” but also “a recognition of the effectiveness of pioneering as an authentic route to mission”.

The current year’s intake of pioneers represents an eclectic mix of people including Will, who is developing mission community house on a new housing estate, Anita who leads a town centre chaplaincy team and Idina, who runs Servants, a mission community in Southall and is now beginning training for ordination as a pioneer minister. 

While some students, such as Tracey, who works with children and families in a semi-rural town, have projects up and running, others such as Jo, who is considering how to blend mission and business on a Derbyshire housing estate, are still at the exploratory stage. Also among this year's students is Nick, who ran a 'pantomime church' for 11 years and has now set up an arts centre and hosts a comedy night at his church.

The course, which began in 2010, has seen a steady increase in numbers since then, reflecting a surge in popularity for pioneer ministry. The Pioneer Mission Leadership Training course now offers a full suite of academic options for pioneers, including training for lay and ordained pioneer ministry and an MA study option. The Church Mission Society course has been recognised by the Church of England as a training route for ordination but while the course is Anglican in flavour, it is infused with a broad spectrum of traditions, theology and experience.

Luke Larner, who is preparing to commence his second year on the Theology, Mission and Ministry course, explained how the pioneer training course had changed his outlook: “The course felt like a homecoming as I was rubbing shoulders with other Christians who spoke my language and had experienced the same struggles I had. I found treasure in places I would never have looked before, in the ancient teachings of the church, confirming that others have travelled this journey of the pioneering mission before.”

(Many thanks to the Church Mission Society for this article)