Vicar Christ Church Southport

‘At the heart of Southport with a heart for Southport’

We are praying for a Spirit-filled vicar:

• whose heart is to build God’s Kingdom at Christ Church in Southport and beyond
• who will help us become a more mission-shaped church enlarging our vision to embrace a new future
• who will challenge and encourage us through God’s Word and personal example to follow Christ more closely and release our God-given gifts and ministries

We will offer you a strong, supportive, united and hardworking leadership team and PCC responsive to good collaborative leadership, a well-developed Café outreach, and a congregation with a passion for evangelism and mission. The care and well-being of our clergy is a priority for us.

Southport is a seaside town with a resident population of 90,000. It is easily accessible from all over the North West and is a popular choice for days out, golfing, short breaks, and seaside holidays. The town has little manufacturing, and most residents work in retail, agriculture and other service sectors or commute to Liverpool, Manchester, and Warrington.

The parish served by Christ Church is in the top 10% of the poorest parishes in the UK. It contains a high percentage of bedsits and retirement homes and there are significant issues with drug and alcohol abuse and mental health. Compared to surrounding parishes, it has a high Eastern European population.

It is in the deanery of North Meols and Christ Church has a responsible and influential ministry in the deanery. The Archdeacon is currently acting as Area Dean but will expect to hand this role over to the next vicar after a suitable period.

The Vicar will have a large office/meeting room on the first floor of the Church, overlooking the grounds at the front of the building. The Vicarage is located in Birkdale, approximately one mile south of the church. It is a four-bedroom detached family home with a large garden.

Closing Date: June 7^th 2023

Interview Dates: June 21^st 2023

For more information please contact: Ven Pete Spiers Archdeacon of Knowsley and Sefton

Mob: 07590690780 or email: pete.spiers@liverpool.anglican.org.uk

Patron Mike Duff from CPAS is also happy to be contacted: mduff@cpas.org.uk

Please apply by downloading the application form and confidential declaration form. Once complete, please return gabrielle.redmond@liverpool.anglican.org

Main priorities

• Help us become a more mission- shaped church by building on the current work and enlarging our vision to embrace a new future.
• Enable and equip us to release the considerable latent potential we have in our church, equipping, releasing, and developing leaders for mission and ministry.
• Envision and inspire the church to develop our children’s and youth work.
• Have a heart to build God's Kingdom at Christ Church and the surrounding area, desiring stronger links with other churches and denominations wherever possible.
• Seeks spiritual depth through prayer and the exercise of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
• Challenge and encourage us through God's Word, sound leadership, and through a personal example to follow Christ more closely and release our God-given gifts and ministries.
• Manage and support a diverse team of volunteers and paid staff.
• Be sensitive to the diversity of the church membership whilst uniting us around a biblically based perspective on social issues.
• Actively support our mission partners and the church’s commitment to overseas and home mission.

Our ideal candidate:

• Open hearted and welcoming to all

• Passionate to see spiritual growth in others

• Confident and energetic

• Collaborative and consultative

• Empathetic and prayerful

• Approachable and good listener

Being part of the Clergy Team in Liverpool Diocese

For many years we have been working to achieve growth in our diocese. We have used different ways to express this but the aim and direction of travel has remained the same – consistent with the whole of the Church of England. We have articulated a vision for this growth by saying

we are asking God for a bigger church so that we can make a bigger difference:

more people knowing Jesus and more justice in the world.

In our diocesan vision we have identified four priority areas for our work in mission in this season:

Introducing people to God through Jesus Christ

Deepening discipleship, especially by means of our Rule of Life

Developing Christian leaders in every place

Working for justice

Like everyone entering a new role in the Diocese, you will accept the priority of these areas, and will measure your ministry by effectiveness in these areas. You will be supported and expected to be accountable (through the Ministerial Development Review as well as through regular meetings with your colleagues) for how they are being implemented within your area of responsibility.

In common with all clergy in the diocese, you will work together with others to:-

1. Establish a culture of invitation in evangelism within the local church.
2. Start new worshipping communities and maintain existing healthy worshipping communities that are accessible to all.
3. Establish a culture in the local church of expecting a deepening of discipleship and putting into practice the 6 disciplines of the Diocesan Rule of Life.
4. Develop prayerfully a strategy for mission and church growth and aligning it with the Diocesan strategy Fit for Mission.
5. Identify, train, release and support new Christian leaders and teams.
6. Encourage vocations by identifying the gifts of others and assisting people to seek God’s calling for their lives.
7. Develop the distinctive ministry of the local Church within the wider context of the Diocese, Deanery and local ecumenical setting by establishing and maintaining good collaborative working relationships with clergy and lay colleagues.
8. Lead your congregations both to pray for justice in the Church and the world and to recognize how, working with others, your congregations can work for more justice in the Church, your local communities, and the world.
9. Ensure that safeguarding, financial and other governance disciplines are followed.