Role Profile for SSM / LLM Associate Minister (St Margaret

Role Profile for

SSM / LLM Associate Minister

(St Margaret Mapledurham)

within the parish of

Caversham Thameside and Mapledurham

Introduction

Caversham Thameside and Mapledurham came into being in June 2010

and now consists of a parish of some 20,000 people stretching from

Mapledurham in South Oxfordshire through Caversham, one of the most

sought after areas of Reading, and on into Lower Caversham which has

within it areas of high social deprivation.

It is a fascinating mix of people and cultures, hopes and expectations.

Within this mix we are working hard to enhance the mission of God

across Caversham and Mapledurham.

Associate Minister Role

The role we are seeking to fill is described more fully below, however in

brief we are offering the opportunity for someone:

- to join a collaborative, inclusive ministry team designed to help us

thrive in ministry

- to lead a welcoming and sympathetic church ready to embrace the

future

- to be based primarily at the parish church of St Margaret

Mapledurham

- to negotiate a working agreement that meets both our needs and your

capacity

There are Three Churches in the parish:

St Margaret Mapledurham: a

glorious grade 1 listed building

in a small hamlet in an area of

outstanding natural beauty,

and a pilgrim community

seeking to grow by engaging

with others on the journey

St Peter Caversham: the ancient

parish church for Caversham,

and a place for liturgy and

learning seeking to grow by

offering hospitality to those who

cross the threshold

St John the Baptist Caversham:

built 120 years ago in

recognition of changes in the

area, and a community church

seeking to grow by engaging

with those who are nearby

The Role of the Parish and the Roles of the Churches

The PCC is clear that, as a council, its primary function is to enable our

three churches to thrive. The governance structure devised to bring this

about is available on the website:

www.ctmparish.org.uk/pcc-governance-structure

The PCC has recently adopted the following values to underpin all that we

are seeking to do:

inclusive generous life-giving

The PCC is currently undertaking a Mission Action Plan which will help

inform developments that we will seek to bring about at parish level and

to offer an agenda for each church with which to engage in their own

particular setting.

The Clergy Team that serves the parish:

Rev Dan Tyndall.

Dan is the Rector of the parish and is stipendiary.

Rev Jeremy Tear.

Jeremy is a stipendiary Community Priest with a brief

for mission across the parish and is based primarily at

St John’s.

Rev Keith Knee-Robinson.

Keith was a self-supporting priest based at

St Margaret’s. Keith’s licence ended in July 2012. He

has decided not to move to Permission to Officiate. It

is this change in our ministry team that opens up this

opportunity.

Rev Graeme Fancourt.

Graeme is a stipendiary curate working across the

parish.

Rev Marion Pyke.

Marion is a self-supporting curate based in St Peter's

with a brief for Pastoral Care for that church.

The Role of Associate Minister

As our new Associate Minister your primary focus

of ministry will be to lead the church at

St Margaret Mapledurham.

The church community is drawn from an

electoral roll of over 50 with a usual Sunday

attendance of between 20 and 25. There is one

Sunday service at 11.00am. Until very recently

the service has always been Holy Communion

(Common Worship Order 1).

In the last few months a conversation has

started as to whether non-Eucharistic

services might be an appropriate mission

response as we seek to engage with people

beyond the regular congregation. Jeremy

Tear has engaged in a similar conversation

and St John’s is now holding monthly All Age

Services.

However, St Margaret’s is very different

from St John’s in many ways. This is one of

the areas of church life that you would be

asked to address.

The church community is fully committed to

supporting and actively participating in the

ongoing mission of St Margaret’s Church.

There are a number of areas for growth identified by members of the

congregation alongside the potential role of non-Eucharistic worship:

• they are keen to support one another better in growing as disciples

• they recognise the importance of the relationship with Mapledurham

Estate, supporting the Estate’s celebrations of the Queen’s Diamond

Jubilee

• they know the church is highly valued by many visitors throughout the

year and are eager to enhance this ministry

The PCC’s governance structure devolves the

leadership of the each church to a Church Leadership

Team. As Associate Minister for St Margaret’s you

would be part of the Church Leadership Team along

with the two wardens (pictured), treasurer, secretary

and three others.

We are currently developing our understanding of

roles and responsibilities on the Church Leadership

Team with individuals taking a ‘cabinet style’

responsibility for different areas of church life.

How this conversation concludes will be influenced to a large extent by

your capacity – not just in the amount of time you are willing to offer but

also in the specific gifts and skills you bring to the role.

As our new Associate Minister you will also have a role within the parish.

We use the line “based in one church, known in the others” to express the

different relationship we have with the three churches. You would most

often be at St Margaret’s on Sunday morning but would also lead worship

and preach at the other churches from time to time.

Finally, you would be expected to play your part within the parish clergy

ministry team. At the moment the team meets on Tuesdays at 9.00am for

prayers and a staff meeting.

We share out funerals according to an agreed formula, weddings by

negotiation and baptisms according to the preaching rota.

The Person Specification

We are fully committed to enabling self-supporting ministers to thrive in

their ministry. To that end almost everything is up for discussion as a

Working Agreement is negotiated.

Person Specification:

- Essentials

o to fully embrace the PCC’s values of inclusive, generous and

life-giving

o a willingness to work collaboratively within a team

o experience in leading worship and preaching

o experience in leadership

- Desirable:

o experience of being part of a small church

o experience of being part of a growing church

o skills and talents to enhance ministry across the parish

At the moment our expectation is:

- Sunday commitment:

o usually one service in the morning

o occasionally to lead or preach at Evensong at St Peter’s

o exceptionally to take other services

- weekly commitment on Tuesdays

o Morning Prayer at 9.00am

o Staff Meeting until 11.30am most weeks and 12.30pm once a

month

- team commitment

o negotiate a Working Agreement with the Rector including

arrangements for baptisms, weddings and funerals

o engage in regular one-to-one meetings with the Rector

o engage in the diocesan MDR process

o attend Chapter and Deanery Synod when available

We are offering

- full working expenses

- admin support

This role is subject to an enhanced CRB discolure.

Finally, Caversham is a delightful place to live and there is a thriving

market for rented properties should you be wondering about relocating

to the area. We would be happy to put you in touch with Estate Agents,

though a search on www.rightmove.co.uk for “Caversham” or “RG4”

would give you a fair idea of what is available.

More information about the parish can be found on the website

www.ctmparish.org.uk

To discuss the role further please contact the Rector

Revd Dan Tyndall

0118 947 9509 [email protected] 0776 929 6220