Hereford City Deanery are seeking to appoint 2 Fulltime Parish based LifeLink Chaplains, growing faithin our two strong Church Secondary Schools, initially in a 4-year project.

This post, working closely with The Hereford Academy School (THA), will work in all three arenas of school, homeandchurch life with around 50% of time spent in school and 50% with family and community links in order to build on spiritual questions and create ‘sticky’ faith. The successful candidate will relate naturally with students and others, engage closely with CofE school vision priorities, develop creative ways to explore Christian faith, and empower students to grow into discipleship and spiritual leadership. The nature of the role means that there is a genuine occupational requirement to be a practising Christian.

Applicants may be lay or ordained.

VISION

Parish-based School Chaplaincy to empower and support students and staff in spiritual questions and development as part of lifelong learning – that they might discover the life in all its fulness brought by Jesus Christ (John 10:10).

We have an open door to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to a generation almost entirely missing from our churches. This post works collegially within a Deanery project employing 2 new full-time missional chaplains, building initially over the next 4 years on the huge opportunity afforded by our national CofE school vision.

We are calling these LifeLink Chaplains – making life-growing links to establish a sustainableGrowing Faith in young people, and ‘LifeLink’ in two senses:

• They are to build strategic links both before and after secondary school, making creative opportunities to fan into flame the sparks of faith placed by primary school etc, and provide opportunities for deepening faith and discipleship that sticks, going on to Further and Higher Education communities – where we are also building chaplaincy ministry.
• Our Growing Faith educational vision is built around clear evidence that real living and sustainable faith is unlikely to emerge without intentional investment in all three arenas of school, homeandchurch life.

St Martin’s Church and THA are looking for a chaplain who can:

• Engage naturally with young people, staff and families, developing creative opportunities to explore and grow in Christian faith and ethos.
• Network widely and build trusting relationships, working alongside people in the City Deanery and local community, and developing volunteers through church and school.
• Be a strong visible presence in school – including collective worship, Christian Union and drop-in sessions, pastoral work and a safe space for students and staff.
• Empower students to continue in Christian faith, discipleship and spiritual leadership as they progress through their faith journey from primary school to college and further education.
• Actively engage with wider partners, including other local chaplains and organisations as well as existing church-based children and family workers across the Deanery, as well as the growing prayer and mission network of church leaders across Hereford.
• Engage with school life to support students and staff as they build on the Christian values and inclusive ethos of the school.
• Support the school in working within the SIAMS framework.

Accountabilities

Although line-managed by local parish clergy, this is within the wider structure and vision of Hereford city Deanery, and accountable to the Bishop of Hereford, working within the vision and core values of Hereford Diocese.

Within and connected for the schools, all practice will be within the school policies and accountable to the Headteacher and Governing bodies.

See the Person Specification for further details.

To Apply please complete the application form and return to Kerry Preedy - HR@hereford.anglican.org