A church within which the Father-heart of God may be known, the love of Jesus may be discovered and the power of the Holy Spirit may be experienced as people grow to maturity in Christ.

We are a group of three churches on the eastern side of Northampton. The original church, Emmanuel, was built and opened in 1974, and forms part of the Weston Favell Shopping Centre. In the mid 1990’s, two church plants were created within the parish, one at Boothville and the other at Rectory Farm. The Emmanuel Group is made up of Anglicans, Methodists and Baptists members. However, we now see ourselves working as an ecumenical church with people of all Christian traditions. We have a ministry team of lay and ordained ministers. In the parish there are 13 schools and 14 housing estates. It is the most populated parish in the diocese.

• to share with the Bishop in the cure of souls, and to work strategically for growth in numbers among the worshipping community
• to teach Christian discipleship including the principles of giving
• to take seriously the pastoral and missional opportunities of occasional offices, aiming for good working relationships with funeral directors and others
• to enable the full participation of children and young people in the whole life of the church, and to develop mission among the younger generations
• to be involved in both church and other local schools as far as possible, actively seeking opportunities for mission and preferably offering a chaplaincy role and leading collective worship rather than chairing the governing body
• to be involved in deanery and diocesan activities and in the life of their local community
• to promote and enable lay ministry in both church and community
• to take part in our ministry review process, consisting of a three-year rolling programme: a pastoral visit by me to your home, a formal review by a member of my senior team, and a review of training needs
• to engage with the continuing ministerial development programme offered by the diocese and in personal study, nurturing your own spirituality
• to hold a current DBS certificate, to undergo safeguarding training as required by the bishop, and to follow and promote the diocesan safeguarding policy.

We are looking for someone with an open evangelical approach who would be enthused by working in an ecumenical setting, and within a church with a wide variety of theological and cultural backgrounds. The parish is the largest by population in the Diocese of Peterborough. You would be working in areas of high social deprivation, areas of above average affluence, and everything in between.

The ministry team in which you will be working is a small team of clergy, with ministers from other traditions, and a larger group of laity, both Anglican and Free Church, willing and able to conduct services, and to undertake tasks within the parish. It is important to understand that, as with our congregations, unity is key, and working collaboratively is vital within the ministry team. Hence, it would be an advantage if the applicant had experience of, and enthusiasm for, working in an inter--denominational setting.

In a recent survey conducted across the three congregations, members were asked their views on:

• The spiritual gifts desirable in a new minister: leadership, life of prayer, teaching and preaching, faith and encouragement
• Other gifts: honest and inspiring, versatile, trustworthy, friendly, able to co-ordinate, and caring
• Important aspects of the role: encouraging and enabling people to use their spiritual gifts, offering pastoral and spiritual care to parishioners, being open to the differences between the various congregations, experience of managing paid employees and volunteers

It is envisaged that, from a strong biblical and faith base, the successful applicant will be able to lead, teach and encourage all who come into contact with the Emmanuel Group of Churches, in their journey of faith.

We are a group of three churches forming a Local Ecumenical Partnership on the eastern side of Northampton. The original church, Emmanuel, was built and opened in 1974, and formed part of the Weston Favell Shopping Centre, an out-of-town shopping centre, built to serve the numerous new estates which were being constructed. In the mid 1990’s, two church plants were created, one at Boothville and the other at Rectory Farm, both within the parish boundary.

The Emmanuel Group was made up of Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists and URC members, Over the last 40 years, we have evolved. While respecting and valuing our supporting denominations, we now see ourselves working in a post-modern society as an ecumenical church with people of all Christian traditions, many of whom are not affiliated to any specific denomination.

We have a joint team ministry which, until recently, comprised an Anglican Team Rector, a Free Church Minister (Baptist), two Assistant Priests, and an Anglican Curate in training. The post of Free Church Minister alternates between Methodist and Baptist. It is important to understand that, as with our congregations, unity is key, and working collaboratively is vital within the ministry team. (John 17: 18-21)