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 Bishop of Hereford’s Bluecoat School (BHBS), 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 at least 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 Paul’s Church & BHBS school is looking for a chaplain who can:

• Engage naturally with young people, staff and families, listening supportively, and developing creative opportunities to explore and grow in Christian faith and ethos.
• Understand and work well within the framework of a large CofE secondary school, catalysing spiritual search within the CofE schools Growing Faith vision and SIAMS framework.
• 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 confident visible presence in school – including gathered worship, class and year-group assemblies, Christian Unions, pastoral work and a safe space for students and staff.
• Help staff and others to articulate and enact the school’s growing Christian vision in various aspects of school life (described in the SIAMS framework).
• 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 the local parish church, 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.

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 vision and core values of Hereford Diocese. The support structure will include deliberate collegiality between the two LifeLink Chaplaincy posts.

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

Please see full person spec

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