The General Secretary is the CEO of the London Diocesan Fund (LDF). S/he is responsible for playing a significant role in developing strategy as well as overseeing operations to ensure that the LDF does everything it can to support the mission and growth of the church in London. A key responsibility is developing the strategy and plans in order to deliver the Vision, which will involve ensuring that resources are in place and where appropriate re-allocated to support the aims of the 2030 Vision.

The LDF is the charitable body which facilitates the work of the Diocese; it is a significant sized charity with over 120 staff, income and expenditure of c £50m and with property assets of an approximate market value of c£1 billion. The LDF supports c 400 parishes and a further c50 worshipping communities. The General Secretary is responsible for managing the LDF and ensuring its operational effectiveness.

Fundamental to the effectiveness of the role is the relationship with the Bishop of London, the Area Bishops and Archdeacons, and with the broad range of trustees and non-executives.

To apply for this role, please provide the following documents:

• An up-to-date CV. Please submit a PDF document labelled ‘CV’ with your name and the role title.
• A supporting statement. Please submit a PDF document (maximum two pages) that outlines your interest in this particular organisation and role, and your fit against the essential experience criteria set out in the person specification and role description. Please label this document ‘Supporting Statement’ with your name and the role title.
• A completed diversity monitoring form on the application link.

Please submit your application by 11:59pm Sunday 29^th May 2023.

If you would like to know more about the role or selection process, please contact Graeme Fancourt from our Executive Search partners, Green Park on Graeme.fancourt@green-park.co.uk.

The Diocese of London is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce which represents our context and wider community. We are aware that those of Global Majority Heritage/United Kingdom Minority Ethnic (GMH/UKME), women, and disabled people are currently under-represented among our clergy and workforce, and we particularly encourage applications from those with the relevant skills and experience that will increase this representation.

The General Secretary must be able to work creatively within the unique nature of Church of England dioceses in general and the Diocese of London in particular. S/he must be able to work at varying levels including with Bishops, Trustees, Diocesan Synod, National Church partners, Deaneries/Areas, building partnerships with parishes and the communities which they represent, and other institutions and organisations.

The role requires an ability to listen and discern what is important. Clergy, laity and staff all seek the attention and support of the General Secretary. Hearing what is said, exercising judgment and decision-making must be done with thought and sensitivity. The General Secretary is both servant and leader needing to know when each role is appropriate. Good communication, with many different people and groups is important.

Teamwork is essential in an organisation of the size and complexity of the Diocese. The General Secretary cannot know or do everything and therefore is required to lead a team, giving direction and support, effectively delegating to team members who should own and feel responsible for their areas of activity.

The individual needs to have both a strong commercial and a broad missional perspective, to be both strategic and operational, to be happy both leading in a loose federation and supporting others, be relational as well as solution focused, and be able to work with uncertainty as well as bring clarity. They need to be collaborative and have strong emotional intelligence.

The principal responsibility of the role is to ensure that the LDF champions and drives the mission and growth of the church in London. This includes:

• Providing advice and support to the Bishop of London, Bishops, Archdeacons, Senior Management Group (Senior Staff) and leadership of the LDF.
• Leading the LDF as Chair of the Senior Management Group, working as a member of the College of Bishops, London Senior Staff Meeting, Joint Operations Team, and other bodies. Working to:
  • Energise, enthuse and lead the staff of the LDF
  • Contribute to, shape and deliver the overall 2030 Vision and strategies for our ambitions and priorities
  • Live out of the values and spirit of the organisation
  • Shape a healthy culture which celebrates diversity
  • Ensure the success of colleagues across the LDF and Diocese
  • Take on (and give up) new areas of work and responsibility as the need arises
  • Facilitate good governance
• Developing and delivering the strategic and operational objectives of both the LDF and the wider Diocese. S/he will devise and implement approaches that will support the 2030 Vision and drive efficiency and effectiveness in management of resources.
• Ensuring the Diocese has good people, building and financial resources needed to meet its strategic aims.
• Championing how the Diocese can grow younger, our churches safer (safeguarding), and the LDF and overall Diocese more racially just.
• Communicating with a range of senior level stakeholders.
• Acting as an ambassador for the Diocese.
• Ensuring effective relationships with the London Diocesan Board for Schools.
• Maintaining links with the National Church Institutions of the Church of England – including the Archbishops’ Council, the Church Commissioners, and the Pensions Board – in order to exercise the influence of the Diocese of London as appropriate. S/he will be expected to participate in the Inter-Diocesan Finance Forum, the Diocesan Secretaries’ network and other national and regional groups.
• The General Secretary works closely with the Bishop of London, Area Bishops, Archdeacons and Diocesan Registrar (the legal adviser to the Bishop and the LDF) as well as with the staff of the LDF. Contact and liaison takes place at all levels within the Diocese.
• Trustees of the LDF

The Diocese of London is the group of Church of England organisations located in North London. It comprises parishes, schools, chaplaincies, missional communities and other organisations, which are united by their common Christian faith. The Diocese is overseen by the Bishop of London, assisted by Area Bishops, Archdeacons and senior staff, and administrated by the staff of the London Diocesan Fund. Its Cathedral is St Paul’s.

View a map of the diocese showing our senior clergy.

View the annual reports for the London Diocesan Fund.

Within the Diocese of London, there are:

• 500+ worshipping communities
• 1,000 clergy and ministers
• 200 men and women in training for ministry
• 75,000 adults on electoral rolls
• 70,000+ regular worshippers
• 150 church schools
• 52,000+ pupils
• 150+ chaplaincies in schools, colleges, hospitals, the Met Police, Heathrow, railways, prisons, theatres, the forces, football clubs, Canary Wharf, livery companies, shops and City institutions
• £1,000,000s raised each year for charities around the world
• 1,500,000+ visitors and worshippers in St Paul’s Cathedral each year

Our place within the Anglican Communion

The Diocese of London is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and is in the See of Canterbury. It is bounded by St Albans Diocese to the north, the dioceses of Oxford and Guildford to the west, Southwark and Rochester to the South, and Chelmsford to the East. It works closely with those of other faiths and of no faith, with Christians of all denominations, and with charities and organizations who share common values. The Diocese has particular overseas links with the Dioceses of Niassa and Lembombo in Mozambique, and with the Diocese of Angola. It has a partnership with Berlin-Brandenburg.

Policies & Governance

To hold together such a diverse organization requires mutual cooperation and consensus. The Diocese is governed by many people at parish, deanery, area and diocesan level, as well as nationally. More information about governance is available in the Synods and Committees pages.

Geography and statistics

The Diocese of London covers 277 square miles of Greater London north of the Thames from Staines in the west to the Isle of Dogs in the east and as far north as Enfield. It comprises the Cities of London and Westminster and the London boroughs of Brent, Harrow, Ealing, Hillingdon, Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Hackney, Islington, Tower Hamlets, Hounslow, Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham, part of Richmond-upon-Thames and the Surrey Borough of Spelthorne.