The parishes of Dunnington, Stockton-on-the-Forest, Holtby and Warthill form the benefice of Rural East York, situated on the eastern outskirts of the historic city of York. Although within easy reach of all the city’s amenities, the parishes are mainly farmland, with small industrial businesses. A significant proportion of the 5,000 population commute to the city for work, resulting in a diverse community of all ages and character.

The benefice forms part of the Deanery of Derwent. This is an exciting time to be joining our deanery as we continue to develop our deanery plan in response to the diocesan invitation to discover more fully what it means to live Christ’s story here. Although each Parish is different, we find a shared vision in our work to spread God’s love to all members of our local communities in which we live.

What we offer:

• Parishes united in our desire to spread the word of Christ and in promoting the growth of congregations, willing to change how we do things to achieve this
• A well organised benefice with regular leadership meetings between churchwardens and ministers.
• A strong ministry team including a licensed lay minister, a number of retired clergy, safeguarding officer, two Recognised Parish Assistants, a paid Communications Officer and a vacancy for a part-time paid families and children’s worker
• A wide variety of worship styles, including a monthly benefice service and weekly on-line services
• A team of organists, singers and musicians who are coordinated by a musical director
• Prayer groups, fellowship groups, Lent Courses and discipleship days
• Weekly news letters and a monthly magazine distributed across the benefice
• Our Free Will Offering to the diocese covers the cost of our ministry unit

We are looking for a Rector who:

• can nurture the gifts and talents of our congregations and help us live Christ’s story.
• has the heart and the ability to encourage and support lay ministry in all its forms.
• has an understanding of the challenges and joys of commuter/rural ministry;
• understands that, although money and numbers do matter, kingdom growth is not just about these things;
• is approachable and outgoing;
• can help us become more relevant to younger adults, teens and the families with younger children that form such a large part of our communities but a small part of our churches; and
• will be sensitive to the needs of the current church family.

The Diocese of York

The Diocese of York, led and guided by Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, takes in much of North and East Yorkshire. As the largest diocese in England, geographically, the area is very diverse, featuring a multitude of needs and opportunities. This includes the bustling urban centres of York, Hull and Middlesbrough, the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors National Park, and the incomparable Yorkshire Coast; as well as areas of deprivation in some of our urban and smaller rural and coastal communities.

Our mission and ministry relies on thousands of people - lay and ordained, volunteer and paid. Our diocesan teams provide a wide range of support services to our mission and ministry, including lifelong learning for ministry, the care of church buildings, and safeguarding. Together, we are striving to be a people who are ‘Living Christ’s Story’. We want to be a simpler, bolder, humbler church which in its diversity reflects the communities it serves. We are bringing renewed focus and fresh energy to achieving our aims:

• Becoming more like Christ
• Reaching those we currently don't
• Growing in discipleship, influence and numbers
• Transforming our finances and structures

Our approach is aligned with a commitment to the best of our parochial inheritance and to the poorest communities, and to the financial realities we face.

Under current immigration rules, it is not generally possible for us to appoint clergy who are not already eligible to work in the UK.

If you would like to have an informal conversation about this post, please contact the Bishop of Selby, the Rt Revd John Thomson tel: 01757 429982, or the Archdeacon of York, Ven Sam Rushton 01904 758241

Appointment is subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS disclosure.

Closing date for applications: Midnight on Sunday 19th March, 2023

Interviews: the afternoon of Sunday 16th into Monday 17th April