Children & Families Minister
St Mary’s, Goldington, Bedford
Our Church Vision
To grow together as a worshipping church family,
to know Jesus better and to find new ways to express our faith within our local community
Context
St Mary’s is an Anglican church that has a tradition of connecting with local families. It is situated in a large residential area of east Bedford minutes from beautiful countryside. The parish has a variety of nationalities, backgrounds, and mixed income families. The church has been rebuilding children’s work over the last 4 years with an established Messy Church of around 30 children regularly attending each month, a Diddy Disciples group of 5-10 children attending each Sunday and a Family Praise service which is increasingly attracting younger families to worship. The parish has 2 primary schools very nearby, one of which our Vicar is a governor at, having a good relationship with the Headteacher and RE lead.
At St Mary’s we believe that children and young people are vital members of the Body of Christ, fully alive to God and gifted by God. We therefore aim to create opportunities for our children and young families, to meet with God within our worshipping community. You would be joining us at a very exciting time in the life of the church and would have the opportunity to help shape our future children and families ministry.
Job Role
To help new & existing children & families feel at home within St Mary’s worshipping family (relationship) and to grow in their own faith with Christ (discipleship) alongside our volunteer children’s work team.
What St Mary’s offers:
- a team of children’s work volunteers with an existing facilitator of our Messy Church. Our volunteers so far consist of at least 2 parent helpers and a wider team of 8.
- a well-established monthly Messy Church, and weekly termtime Diddy Disciples Sunday group. A good link with our closest primary school and yearly school tours of the Church building. Recent assemblies have been very well received.
- an opportunity to work with a wider team of lay ministers & clergy who facilitate our Family Praise monthly service.
- regular supervision with the Vicar, Revd. Simon Dommett.
- a historic, warm and well-maintained church building with a separate large Church hall, Wi-Fi and well managed premises with storage.
- an office space, desk, a grant towards a laptop, printing, landline, internet access for the successful candidate. Arts, crafts and “Diddy Disciples” leaders’ material.
We recognise that each individual will bring their own experiences and gifts, as well as areas for development, and there is flexibility in structuring the role to reflect this.
The specific role responsibilities will be agreed with the successful candidate prior to commencement and could include a selection of the following:
- Nurture good relationships & discipleship with children and families (Ongoing)
- Lead & develop our “Diddy Disciples” Sunday morning group organising volunteers, preparing, and sharing resources, helping to recruit and train new volunteers. (Weekly)
- Set-up, lead and manage a non-faith based Drop-in Club for local children (Weekly)
- Sharing and shaping the leading and planning of our Family Praise Service. (Monthly)
- Support Messy Church (Monthly)
- Maintaining contact with core and attached families through email and WhatsApp. (Ongoing)
- Help to design publicity material to promote events on social and print media. (Ongoing)
- Ensure completion of policies and procedures: safeguarding, H&S and risk assessments
Depending on the skills and gifts of the successful candidate other aspects may include:
- Maintaining contact with our families and following up after Baptisms.
- Work with the Incumbent to offer support for occasional work in schools.
- Engaging with other local children’s workers, youth workers and the Diocesan staff
- Family-focused events, and other outreach activities and social events e.g. parenting/families discipleship classes, where appropriate
The Person, Skills & Values
- Be a relational, prayerful, and approachable committed Christian within a team setting
- Skilled and creative in providing children & families work which is faith-based and culturally relevant to the current generation
- Be an advocate for the work and be able to pass on the vision and values of the children & families work to volunteers, parents, and the wider church community
- Leadership & communication skills
- Competent in all basic administrative tasks including necessary IT skills
Terms and Conditions
The detailed terms and conditions will be contained in the post holder’s Contract of Employment; however, it is a Genuine Occupational Requirement that the person appointed is a committed practising Christian. The Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) Regulations 2003 Section 7.2 applies to this post.
Annual paid holiday entitlement is 28 working days per annum pro rata plus statutory bank holidays. Leave should be arranged in advance with the Vicar. The line manager for the role will be the Vicar, Revd. Simon Dommett. The rate of pay for 21-24 hours at is £13,000 - £15,000 per annum (depending on experience), paid monthly by BACS. Remuneration will be reviewed annually in January in line with Clergy Stipend Uplift. Overtime is not normally available.
The Children and Families’ Minister has desk space in the Church Office of St Mary’s Church, MK41 0AN. Working hours are flexible but must include Sunday Mornings, plus a fixed day in term time, occasional Saturdays, some Sunday afternoons and occasional evenings. The Children and Families’ Minister is a member of the Ministry Team and may be required occasionally to attend some other evening or weekend meetings.
Upon successful interview, appointment will be subject to enhanced DBS clearance, references and compliance with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.
For an informal discussion about this post, you may like to speak to the Vicar 01234 351920; the.revd.simon@gmail.com or come and visit us on a Sunday morning.
St Mary Goldington
