The growing village of Oakworth (parish population 5139 in 2011 census) lies in the magnificent countryside of the Worth Valley, but within easy reach of bustling city centres. It lies at the western side of the Bradford Episcopal Area.

We are looking for an enabling leader, who can work with the congregations to keep growing the churches, developing confident lay discipleship, and increasing the profile and engagement of the church within Oakworth and the local community in creative ways.

The post comes with a half-stipend and housing, for which the post-holder will work Sundays and three other days a week. Given the part-time nature of this post, the post-holder will need to focus their available time strategically to inspire and develop others into ministry and leadership alongside themself.

Closing date for applications is Monday 13th January with interviews and a visit on 30/31st January. For an informal conversation about this post please contact the Archdeacon Andy Jolley on 07973 458403

The role is part-time, so we are seeking an enabling and supportive leader who:

• Can cultivate lay discipleship and lay leadership to help grow our congregations numerically, spiritually and in service to our local community;
• Will support and extend our ministry with families, young adults and children;
• Will help us to play our part in ensuring the church is working for the peace and prosperity of Oakworth;
• Can work well with our licensed ministry team and help others catch energy and enthusiasm;
• Will take their own growth as a follower of Jesus seriously, alongside everyone else’s.

The position comes with a half-stipend for 3 days a week plus Sundays.

There are three particular priorities for the incoming incumbent:

1. To provide enabling leadership, which will grow the churches numerically as well as spiritually and in service to their local community, reimagining ministry with a ‘mixed economy’ of new forms of church and worship alongside traditional ones and developing pathways to take lay discipleship and lay leadership on to the next level. They will therefore need excellent teaching, team building and team leadership skills.

2. To support and extend effective ministry with families, young adults and children to grow young people as Christians, and to deepen existing links with the local Oakworth and Oldfield primary schools and the uniformed organisations.

3. To develop active and visible relationships within the village in creative ways, both personally as an individual and also through the congregations. S(he) should be able to engage strategically with the life of the community, developing relationships (for example) with Oakworth Village Society and Oakworth Community Trust, and contributing with others to a vision both for Oakworth, and for the place of the churches in Oakworth.

In addition, the person appointed will be the senior Anglican priest at Oakworth who will lead the ministerial team which comprises an SSM colleague, a retired priest with Permission to Officiate and two Readers. They will also be the Training Incumbent for any curate deployed to the parish.

• Track record of leadership which empowers others and grows the confidence and gifts of God’s people
• Track record of inspiring vision and developing appropriate strategies
• Experience of developing lay discipleship and leadership
• Experience of developing ministry with children, young adults and families
• Experience of co-ordinating different worship styles in a ‘mixed economy’
• Track record of developing good relationships in the local community
• Knowledge/understanding of changing patterns of mission and ministry in the Church
• Able to handle difficulties, whenever they occur, in a calm and diplomatic manner and to seek creative solutions
• Able and willing to work with schools
• A supportive and encouraging leader with the ability to delegate
• Comfortable with being a public Christian figure in the village
• Able to relate well with people from a wide range of backgrounds

Our vision as a Diocese is about confident clergy equipping confident Christians to live and tell the good news of Jesus Christ. In appointing to this post, we are therefore looking for someone who is both visionary and enabling, with the capacity to lead into a new era of growth. The new incumbent will have a joyful and confident faith which has inspired a track record of church growth, both numerically and spiritually.

Oakworth is a valued parish within the Bradford Episcopal Area and the Diocese of Leeds. The village has expanded over recent years, and new housing continues to be built. Giving residents the opportunity to discover Jesus and the life of the local church will remain an important task for the immediate future.

There is a good ministry team in place and the finances and buildings of both Christ Church and St John’s are in good order. Christ Church has recently been reordered, making it a more attractive building for holding events with the community, and there are plans to further improve the facilities there. Other recent positive developments include the development of stronger relationships with other organisations in the village, such as the Oakworth Community Trust and Oakworth Village Society. The next stage will be to build on these to develop further regular work with young families.