We are looking for a creative and energetic parish priest with a passion for Jesus and a love for people to help us explore, shape, agree and enable mission and ministry to flourish across our parish.

Operating out of three church buildings in three very different communities, we are a group of overlapping worshipping communities (some more traditional and some fresh expressions), together with a community project, and work closely with a number of community partners who share our buildings. This flexible and creative approach to mission and ministry creates many wonderful opportunities to share the love of Jesus and we want to see how this area of mission and ministry can become increasingly fruitful.

The post is for a fixed term 3 year Interim Associate Vicar.

For an informal chat about this vacancy please contact the vicar Revd Gary Hodgson or Archdeacon Andy Jolley

Closing date is 30th May with visits and interviews planned for 16th June 2023.

The person appointed will take forward two particular specific interim objectives:

1. Explore and agree future pastoral arrangements for Tong and St James Church, including the possibility of joining Drighlington and Gildersome, and support and nurture the community and building development programme as part of the St James’ Restoration Team.

2. Grow contextually appropriate worshipping communities / fresh expressions of faith in the Laisterdyke and Tyersal areas, building relationships with contacts developed through the church’s community ministries as well as other organisations in the parish, exploring the good news of Jesus Christ with them to help them and others embrace the fullness of life available in Him.

(S)he will also:

1. Facilitate with the Vicar of Tong and Laisterdyke and other leaders the identification of God’s vision and new initiatives for ministry and mission in Tong and Laisterdyke, building upon the experience and achievements so far;

2. Work under the overall leadership of the Vicar of Tong and Laisterdyke, and be the lead Anglican priest at St Mary’s Laisterdyke, and St James’ Tong;

3. Share in the worshipping life of the congregations across the Parish, usually leading 2 Sunday congregations each Sunday and sharing in the leadership of the missional congregations throughout the month.

4. Sharing in the variety of Occasional Offices across the Parish.

5. A range of other leadership possibilities exist, to be negotiated with the incumbent dependent on interest, ability and experience.

Our ideal person would be someone who has:

• Proven track record of commitment to and delivery of church growth particularly through utilising a range of links with the community.
• Experience of developing and growing contextually appropriate fresh expressions of church
• Track record of leadership which empowers others and grows the confidence and gifts of God’s people
• Track record of managing change well, so that people are enable to make wise and bold decisions about future ministry. As well as having good negotiation skills.
• A track record of creative, out of the box, solution focussed thinking that is delivered ways that empower people
• Proven track record of growing disciples through relational mission
• Track record of inspiring vision and developing appropriate strategies
• Experience of fruitful ministry in a parish with high levels of deprivation
• Track record of working well and collaboratively in a team

Our vision as the Diocese is about confident clergy equipping confident Christians to live and tell the good news of Jesus Christ. For all of our appointments we are seeking clergy who have a joyful and confident faith which has inspired a track record of church growth.

This is an exciting and pioneering parish, punching well above its weight, with opportunities for developing good practice to be shared nationally. There is long history of creativity and innovation in the parish, and the congregations are “up for it” in terms of engaging enthusiastically with new initiatives. Ministry in this parish has happily married a holistic, practical and effective love for people in their context with a clear Christian commitment to help people come to personal faith in Christ.

This is a fascinating challenge for someone with a heart for mission and a passion to stand alongside the very poor and work with them to address both the causes and consequences of poverty, as well as helping the more affluent to value and engage in their communities and grow in faith. Experience of working in deprived contexts before applying for this post is invaluable. This missional appointment requires whole-hearted immersion in the life of the local churches.