The town of Dover, known for its White Cliffs, the busiest passenger ferry port in the world and beautiful castle, is the UK's closest town to mainland Europe. Dover has both a national and local profile and offers exciting challenges and opportunities for ministry in this busy town.

With a population of 38,000 with a combined average weekly church attendance of 200, Dover is considered a deprived area on a national level. With the recent award of £63 million in the levelling-up Government grant, there is anticipated growth for creative new projects to address the complex issues of asylum seekers and unemployment.

The Dover Ministry Team is now looking for a Mission Enabler and Pioneer Focal Minister to work with them. There's lots more information in our Benefice Profile. Scroll down to download it.

There will be a chance to visit the parishes and meet the Ministry Team on 22 March.

Closing date: 23 February 2023

Interviews: 23 March 2023

Any queries initially to the Archdeacon of Ashford’s PA, Louise Mills: louise.mills@archdeacashford.org or 01233 712649.

The Dover Town Team Ministry are looking for an innovative Mission Enabler who can work with the team to reach out to those who live in two of the parishes, Buckland and Charlton, and be rooted as a Pioneer Focal Minister based at St Peter & St Paul's Church Charlton. Both parts of this role are to further the opportunities for mission and develop intergenerational work within these deprived areas.

This exciting missional and pioneering post is open to lay or ordained candidates for a five year duration working with the Team Rector and other colleagues within the Dover Town Team Ministry.

As the new mission enabler and pioneer focal minister you will:

• Create, facilitate and support lay mission teams which will build relationships with the people of Buckland and Charlton parishes (especially with those from the estates), and offer them intergenerational ministry.
• Work with the people of St Peter & St Paul’s Charlton to find a flourishing and sustainable future for the church, for example through new approaches to prayer, faith study and worship, and by building connections through social media and other technology.
• To offer support, resourcing and training for the whole People of God in engaging with the mission of God in Dover, including in partnership with Christians Together in Dover.

As a member of the team you will:

• Lead worship across all the Parishes of the Dover Town Team Ministry
• Participate fully in all aspects of the collegiate ministry of the Dover Town Team, Dover Deanery and the Diocese.
• Take full advantage of opportunities for personal and professional development.

The Ideal Candidate will be:

• Missional to equip the people of God to reach out to those in deprived areas
• A Team Player within the Ministry Team to lead and equip others to flourish
• Pastoral at heart with a commitment to care, trust and working together
• Courageous and Creative, willing to take brave decisions and engage in new ideas and pioneering projects for sustainable growth.

Please read further for more information about the ideal candidate in the attached profile.

Changed Lives → Changing Lives

By God’s grace we want to be a people who are...

…confident & creative disciples of Jesus Christ
...rooted in scripture & drenched in prayer
…living gratefully, giving generously, caring for creation & sharing the gospel
...growing in number & expectations – of God & ourselves
...motivated by justice & love, open to the Spirit & ready for adventure!

Therefore we will...

...........

'Therefore we will...' is a recognition that words without actions are empty. It is a commitment to taking real steps now to make this vision a reality soon. The current actions that flow from this vision - both at a diocesan level and in our deaneries - are outlined in detail in the document below. Of course, these actions will change and develop over time - and we would encourage our parishes to consider this vision carefully for themselves, to explore together what actions they will commit to take, what their local 'Therefore we will...' might look like.