Team Vicar in the Knaresborough Team Ministry

Overview

Knaresborough is a busy market town, set between Leeds, York and Harrogate. This post brings together the opportunities and challenges of the town and those of three villages, with the experience of working with a Team Rector, and a number of ordained and lay colleagues.  The Team Ministry serves five churches, broadly in the liberal catholic tradition, using both Common Worship and BCP, with a single PCC.  We are looking for a team player, who can share and delegate; a listening pastor; a priest with a Eucharistic focus who is comfortable with a variety of liturgical styles; a preacher and teacher; and someone who manage mission-focused change and reach out to families beyond the worshipping congregation.  We offer a warm welcome, prayerful colleagues, active and supportive lay people, many levels of engagement within our communities and the opportunity to develop ministry within the parish and the Diocese.

The closing date is Monday 6th May @ Midnight

The shortlisting meeting will be held on Thursday 16th May

Interviews will be held on Thursday 6th June

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the Rt. Revd. Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Ripon, Tel: 01765 601094 or email her PA Mrs Judith Richardson, judith.richardson@leeds.anglican.org

Introduction

The Benefice requires someone who will:

• share with the Bishop and the Team Rector both in the cure of souls and in responsibility, under God, for transforming lives, congregations and communities in this parish with reference to any current priorities established by the bishop
• be the Team Vicar of the Knaresborough Team Ministry, having regard to the calling and responsibilities of the clergy as described in the Canons, the Ordinal, the Code of Professional Conduct for the Clergy and other relevant legislation.
• collaborate within the deanery in mission and ministry and, through the deanery plan, in such reshaping of ministry as resources and opportunities may require.
• develop the ministry of the laity, through training, delegation, encouragement and support so that they have greater involvement in the mission and ministry of the parish.
• work with the Team Rector, the PCC and its subcommittees towards the development of a parish vision and to review that vision with them.
• ensure that a high standard of worship, preaching and pastoral care is provided so that people are more able to live and grow as Disciples of Christ, emphasising the vital importance of personal and corporate prayer, study of the Bible and service.
• seek ecumenical cooperation wherever beneficial.
• gain a good working understanding of the Diocese and the support it provides.
• encourage Christian stewardship of people's time, money and abilities so that the whole ministry of the church is strengthened and enabled.
• maintain a distinctively Christian witness, to make new positive links and develop the existing links with community and external organisations based in the parish, so that full use is made of opportunities for outreach and service to the community.

The Ideal Candidate

The Benefice is looking for someone who is able to demonstrate experience and proven competency in the following areas:

• being a team player who is able to work collaboratively, and is willing to delegate and share ministry
• engaging with and providing pastoral care for those of all ages, and listening sympathetically to the concerns of people
• experienced in leading mainly eucharistic worship and being comfortable with a variety of liturgical styles
• demonstrated excellent communication skills not least in preaching and teaching
• ability to help manage and implement change that is mission- focused and will help the church to grow
• building links with families who are not regular church attenders

Who is able to demonstrate knowledge and ability in the following areas:

• change management; building on what is already in place and sensitivity in introducing new ideas
• working with others to realise the full potential and flexibility of the church buildings, and to improve the facilities offered
• able to help develop a vision for the life and ministry of the Team and commitment to help the churches to grow together.
• nurturing all age groups in the life of faith and enabling all members to grow spiritually
• able to help lead and engage others in the implementation of the vision
• good computer and IT skills including Internet, databases and spreadsheets
• seeking out opportunities for outreach and church growth in service and discipleship.
• motivating the faithful, both individually and collectively, and ensure that the various gifts and talents are used effectively.

For more information about this application process, please use this link

About us

The Anglican Diocese of Leeds comprises five Episcopal Areas, each coterminous with an Archdeaconry.  This is now one of the largest dioceses in the country, and its creation is unprecedented in the history of the Church of England.  It covers an area of around 2,425 square miles, and a population of around 2,642,400 people.

The three former dioceses were created in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to cater for massive population changes brought about by industrialisation and, later, mass immigration. The diocese comprises major cities (Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield), large industrial and post-industrial towns (Halifax, Huddersfield, Dewsbury), market towns (Knaresborough, Harrogate, Skipton, Ripon, Richmond and Wetherby), and deeply rural areas (the Dales). The whole of life is here, along with all the richness, diversity and complexities of a changing world.

The Diocesan Bishop (The Rt Rev’d Nick Baines) is assisted by five Area Bishops (Bradford, Huddersfield, Kirkstall, Wakefield and Ripon), and five archdeacons (Bradford, Halifax, Leeds, Pontefract, Richmond & Craven).   The parish of Knaresborough lies in the Harrogate Deanery within the Ripon Episcopal Area and the Archdeaconry of Richmond and Craven.

Our vision as the Diocese is about confident clergy equipping confident Christians to live and tell the good news of Jesus Christ.  For all of our appointments we are seeking clergy who have a joyful and confident faith which has inspired a track record of church growth, both numerically and spiritually.