Minister in Charge, Springfield Church, Wallington

Overview

We are seeking a Minister from the charismatic, evangelical tradition to help us grow in our faith and  experience of the Holy Spirit. Excellent teaching and communication skills are essential, together with the ability to empower and develop others in their giftings.

Our next Minister will be experienced in pioneering mission and estates ministry. As a church we want to be a place where everyone feels they belong and can expect to be welcomed, accepted and loved for exactly who they are, whatever their faith journey looks like.

Introduction

The church is an extra-parochial place, with a Bishop’s Mission Order agreed. We do not have our own building and we meet in St Paul’s Church which is part of the parish of South Beddington & Roundshaw.

Wallington has a population of around 22,500 and is located in South London, halfway between Croydon and Sutton. There is great socio-economic diversity in the London borough of Sutton, with not all areas reflecting the perception of a leafy middle-class commuter-belt borough. Its location gives easy access to the countryside and a 35-minute train journey to central London with services to both Victoria and London Bridge. Schools in the borough are of a high standard, with the borough’s five grammar schools usually listed in the top 100 high-performing schools in the country.

The Roundshaw estate is a diverse community with some 4,500 residents. There are some incredible people but there is also significant social need (measured by various employment, health and education indicators). Following the lifting of lockdown and our use of St Paul’s Church, our focus has been principally on Roundshaw. This is where we feel God is calling us to at present, although many of our congregation live in the Wallington and Carshalton area. We remain open to God's leading for pioneering opportunities in Wallington.

Main Responsibilities

The role will involve:

• giving spiritual direction and pastoral care to the church
• regular preaching and service-leading on a Sunday morning
• providing a strong lead for the pioneering and estate ministry, and building relationships with people outside the church
• chairing the bi-monthly PCC and Standing Committee meetings
• leading and mentoring the staff team
• overseeing the outward looking aspects of our vision and strategy as we seek to reach the local communities for Christ
• development and roll out of our Mission Action Plan
• officiating at baptisms, marriages and funerals.

The Ideal Candidate

The attributes may seem a lot but we are very open to considering passionate, Spirit-filled individuals who may still be developing in some of these areas.

We are praying that he or she will:

• be experienced in allowing God to move in power through his Holy Spirit, in everyday life as well as in church meetings
• be committed to, and have experience in, pioneering mission and estates ministry
• enable us to truly be beacons of hope in our community, helping us to effectively connect with those who struggle to engage with traditional church
• be an excellent teacher, able to make the Bible relevant to everyone
• help us grow in our passion to be like Jesus in our lives, worship and witness
• empower and develop others in their gifting with appropriate support and direction
• be comfortable working with local clergy, people of all ages and those from a variety of backgrounds
• have great people and pastoral skills
• be an inspiring and effective communicator with good digital communication skills
• understand and value the importance of modern worship as a central part of meetings and services.

About us

Sunday morning service

The first Sunday of each month is an interactive Worship 4 Everyone service. On other Sundays, children and youth attend their own groups in the Phoenix Leisure Centre next door to the church. The adults, of which there are on average 80-90, meet in the church for a time of worship, teaching and prayer. The style is relaxed, open and joyful.

Sunday evening

The Seven is our fortnightly evening time of worship at 7 pm. The youth and 20-30s’ group meet before the service for food on alternative gatherings.

During the week

Groups are a key part of church life with around a dozen, that are different shapes and sizes for people within the Church. We have a number of outward looking groups during the week including a toddler group, an after-school club, an informal Bible discussion group and a Christians Against Poverty Life Skills group. We also run a joint venture with the Roundshaw Community Network hosting a lunchtime Community Meal & Meditation.

Children & Youth Ministry

We have a growing Children and Youth Ministry with a committed team of volunteers, opportunities for children and their parents to grow in faith, and an exciting ‘Youth Hangout’ on Friday evenings.

Staff

Our staff team is made up of two Pioneer curates (one full time and one part time); a Children and Families Pastor; a Youth Pastor; a Pastoral Care, Safeguarding and Operations Manager; a Church Administrator; and a Ministry Assistant for CAP and Roundshaw. We also have a great team of volunteers who lead worship, run groups, and get involved with everything from outreach to service set up.

To find out more, please review the attached Church Profile and Bishop’s Statement.

For an informal conversation with The Venerable Moira Astin, Archdeacon of Reigate, please contact her PA to make an appointment:
E: Kathleen.bailey@southwark.anglican.org
T: 020 8256 9633

Closing Date: Sunday 16 April 2023 (midnight)
Parish Visit: Tuesday 23 May 2023
Interviews: Wednesday 24 May 2023

We have a policy in Southwark Diocese that to be appointed to an incumbent status post, a priest must have served a title post in an Anglican church in the British Isles. We aim to be a diverse and truly representative Diocese, and particularly welcome applications from women and people of UKME heritage.

This post is subject to DBS enhanced disclosure.