Vicar of Widnes St John and St Paul

Introduction

We are seeking a Christ-centred, prayerful and Spirit-filled priest to become the next Vicar of Widnes St John and St Paul.

You will lead a welcoming, vibrant and missional church into its next season of growth, helping the whole church family to grow in discipleship, deepen its life of prayer and worship, and make Jesus known across the town.

We’re looking for:

• A prayerful, Bible-centred and Spirit-led leader with a deep love for Jesus
 • A confident and collaborative pastor who is warm, approachable and encouraging
 • Someone with a clear heart for evangelism, discipleship and the mission of the local church
 • A leader who is passionate about children, young people, families and young adults, while valuing every generation

We offer:

• A welcoming and caring church family with a shared vision for mission
 • Committed lay leaders, volunteers and ministry teams
 • Two flexible and well-used church sites with strong community connections
 

Transform Widnes longs to see lives changed by the transforming love of Jesus and to serve the town with faith, hope and practical care. We look forward with hope to welcoming a vicar who will walk with us, lead us faithfully, and help us lead people into the transforming love of Jesus.

This is a full-time stipendiary appointment with housing provided at St John’s Vicarage.

For more information please contact: 

Ven Simon Fisher, Archdeacon of St Helens & Warrington 

mob: 07525617067 or email: simon.fisher@liverpool.anglican.org 

Being part of the Clergy Team in Liverpool Diocese For many years we have been working to achieve growth in our diocese. We have used different ways to express this but the aim and direction of travel has remained the same – consistent with the whole of the Church of England. We have articulated a vision for this growth by saying
          we are asking God for a bigger church so that we can make a bigger difference: more people knowing Jesus and more justice in the world.

In our diocesan vision we have identified four priority areas for our work in mission in this season: 

• Introducing people to God through Jesus Christ
• Deepening discipleship, especially by means of our Rule of Life
• Developing Christian leaders in every place
• Working for justice

Like everyone entering a new role in the Diocese, you will accept the priority of these areas, and will measure your ministry by effectiveness in these areas. You will be supported and expected to be accountable (through the Ministerial Development Review as well as through regular meetings with your colleagues) for how they are being implemented within your area of responsibility.

In common with all clergy in the diocese, you will work together with others to:-

1. Establish a culture of invitation in evangelism within the local church.
2. Start new worshipping communities and maintain existing healthy worshipping communities that are accessible to all. 
3. Establish a culture in the local church of expecting a deepening of discipleship and putting into practice the 6 disciplines of the Rule of Life.  
4. Develop prayerfully a strategy for mission and church growth and aligning it with the Diocesan strategy Fit for Mission.
5. Identify, train, release and support new Christian leaders and teams. 
6. Encourage vocations by identifying the gifts of others and assisting people to seek God’s calling for their lives. 
7. Develop the distinctive ministry of the local Church within the wider context of the Diocese, Deanery and local ecumenical setting by establishing and maintaining good collaborative working relationships with clergy and lay colleagues. 
8. Lead your congregations both to pray for justice in the Church and the world and to recognize how, working with others, your congregations can work for more justice in the Church, your local communities, and the world. 
9. Ensure that safeguarding, financial and other governance disciplines are followed.

We are continuing our work to actively increase the diversity of those working in the diocese and in pursuit of that we are using anonymous shortlisting.