ST MARY REDCLIFFE CHURCH

ST MARY REDCLIFFE & TEMPLE SCHOOL

THE DIOCESE OF BRISTOL

POST OF PARISH MISSIONER 0.5/CHAPLAIN TO SMRT 0.5

This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in the development of two centres of excellence: a parish church and a voluntary aided secondary school. The church and school have a long and close relationship, and seek a person capable of crossing boundaries and building on the synergies that already exist.

St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School has over 430 years of distinguished history. We are the only Church of England Voluntary Aided Secondary School in the city and diocese. We draw students from the whole Christian spectrum. Our last government inspection described us as "an outstanding Church of England School" where "the quality of Christian concern for staff and students is remarkable". This leads to "a very good education" in which "pupils make good progress and attain high standards". Recently, we have been developing work on values and spiritual development in the curriculum. This work, done in conjunction with partners across the city in other schools and the University of Bristol, has achieved national recognition, establishing us as a centre for excellence in this field. We are rightly well known for the variety of our worship and for our involvement with charity. Our current five-year plan centres around the virtue of Hope.

St Mary Redcliffe church is a large and notable parish church. We occupy an important place in the life of the City of Bristol. We are a member of the Greater Churches Group and have a tradition of liturgical and musical excellence. To the north of the church is the edge of Bristol city centre. To the south of the church is an estate with some levels of deprivation. The church, which has a new incumbent, is seeking to follow a vision for outreach and growth, with a particular focus on the estate. We have good links with Redcliffe Methodist Church and the Redcliffe Community Forum. Members of the congregation run ‘Redcliffe Care’, supporting a lunch club for the elderly and a quarterly service in church. We are exploring what it means to be church in the 21 st century, whilst remaining loyal to our traditions and roots. We seek to serve the local community and incarnate the gospel in ways which offer the riches of the Christian tradition to those amongst whom we are placed.

The Diocese of Bristol aims to ‘create communities of wholeness with Christ at the centre’. This post fits this vision perfectly. We seek a missioner and chaplain who will support learning, enable encounters and open doors in the community. This will fit with both the mission strategy of the church and the opportunities afforded by involvement with the ‘extended schools’ programme. The successful applicant will be an innovator at a crucial time for both school and church and will help to build links and good practice for the future. We hope that the missioner/chaplain will open new avenues for development in school and church.

Person Specification

This specification describes the qualifications, skills and personal qualities needed by the successful applicant for the post.

St Mary Redcliffe

Job Description – Parish Missioner

Job Title:   Parish Missioner and Assistant Curate

The Parish Missioner will:

• Build strong and lasting links with the Redcliffe estate, an area of deprivation in this part of South Bristol;
• Make worshipping disciples of Christ amongst the people of the estate;
• Enable the outreach of St Mary Redcliffe church to its parish.

The Parish Missioner could:

• Plant a worshipping congregation on the estate;
• Explore the possibilities for a Fresh Expression of church in Redcliffe;

Key responsibilities:

• To strengthen current links with the community in Redcliffe;
• To build new links with people and organisations on the estate;
• To develop the work of Redcliffe Care;
• To build teams of people working in mission to the parish;
• To teaching the Christian faith and its practices;
• To enable and lead the worship of God’s people in this context;
• To strengthen the links between SMRT school and SMR church.

Key people and organisations the missioner would need to relate to:

• The Priest-in-charge, Churchwardens, staff and congregation of St Mary Redcliffe Church.
• Redcliffe Care.
• Redcliffe Methodist Church.
• Redcliffe Community Forum
• Caretakers of the flats
• SMRT School and Redcliffe Early Years Children’s Centre.

Other responsibilities:

• Organising and running School Sunday Service in November.
• Baptisms, weddings and funerals as they relate to the local community.
• A regular role in taking Sunday services at St Mary Redcliffe.
• Other activities as agreed with the Priest-in-charge.

Terms and Conditions of Service

The job is dependent upon satisfactory references and an Enhanced CRB disclosure

Line Management

The Missioner will be line managed by the Priest-in-charge of St Mary Redcliffe Church.

Management Responsibilities

The Missioner will have responsibility for managing volunteers and members of the church community in activities associated with the Missioner’s work.

Hours worked

The Missioner will be expected to work a 40 hour week. Over the course of a month, it is expected that half of this time will be spent in work as the Parish Missioner.

Remuneration

The post is paid at the level of incumbent status on the Diocese of Bristol’s scale. Housing will be provided on site, and Council Tax and Water Rates provided. Any expenses incurred in the performance of the job will be reimbursed.

Holiday

The Parish Missioner will be entitled to 30 days annual leave and Bank Holidays, other than Good Friday and Christmas Day. This is to include not more than 5 Sundays. Leave should not be taken during term time without the express permission of the Head Teacher of St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School.

Days off

The Parish Missioner will be expected to take one day off each week. This should not be a Sunday.

Grievance Procedure

Grievances should be referred in the first instance to the line manager, and thereafter to the Archdeacon of Bristol or to the Bishop of Bristol.

Disciplinary Procedure

The Missioner will be subject to the Clergy Discipline Measure.

Pension

The Missioner will receive contributions to the clergy pension scheme.

Training and Development

The Missioner will be supported in an annual retreat and receive a CME allowance of 1% of stipend from the diocese.

Other

To be aware of and observe at all times the Church’s policies and procedures in relation to Health and Safety, the Safety of Children and Young People, the Safety of Vulnerable Adults, Confidentiality, E mail and internet access and usage, Data Protection, Financial Management, Security and to ensure others do so.

To undertake reasonable ad hoc duties as required as directed by the Priest-in-Charge.

St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School

Job Description

The balance of the responsibilities would be, approximately:

• ‘liturgical’ (including services and assemblies, liaison with SMR Church):      20%
• Community/extra-curricular/extended schools work            20%
• pastoral work with students                   20%
• wider spiritual life (e.g. charities, CUs, Room 42 programme)       10%
• increasing links and activities that span spiritual and curriculum development   10%
• pastoral work with staff                  10%
• ‘being around’, support of Parents Evenings, school visits etc.       10%

Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not be identified