For an informal conversation regarding this post please contact the Revd Mark Bradford at mark@st.tees.org.uk

This role seeks to offer sanctuary and be a bridge between the University and the Church. In offering sanctuary, the new Anglican Chaplain will engage in holistic mission by playing a full role in the pastoral life of the University alongside colleagues within the multifaith chaplaincy team. The Anglican Chaplain will live out their Christian faith by providing high-quality pastoral care to staff and students. The Chaplain will strengthen the interface between the University and the Church to ensure the needs of the University community are met. This will primarily be facilitated by being located within the St Tees team and the Diocese of Blackburn, but also by signposting people to other local churches and traditions where appropriate. The Chaplain will also network and connect with other individual university chaplaincies and the HEI chaplain community to share expertise and to offer support, especially at the University of Cumbria where they will be a volunteer Assistant Chaplain.

While Lancaster University will be the Anglican Chaplain’s primary commitment, they will be also be a fully integrated part of the St Thomas’ ministry team. This will likely involve oversight of the St Tees student work, which includes a student tea on a Sunday, the 7@StTees gathering, and mid-week student life groups.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the provision of Anglican Christian ministry within Lancaster University and support the Chaplaincy at the University of Cumbria.
• Engage in holistic mission, including by providing pastoral care to staff and students of all faiths and none and signposting to specialist University services as necessary.
• Re-establish a regular Anglican Christian worshipping community within the University.
• Nurture and support links with Christian organisations, especially student-led Christian associations operating through the Lancaster University Students’ Union.
• Develop and lead on specific projects to enhance the overall work of the Chaplaincy.
• Support the Christian vocational development of Lancaster University staff and students.
• Work collaboratively as part of both the Chaplaincy and wider Student Wellbeing Services teams.
• Be an integrated active member of the St Thomas’ ministry team.
• Build bridges between the University and the Church.
• Support the University priorities through participation.
• Supporting the work of the wider Chaplaincy team in planning, development and reflection.
• Undertake offices of funerals and weddings as required.
• An active member of local and regional chaplains in the higher education community.
• An active member of the Lancaster University Chaplaincy Management Committee.
• Abiding by all University policies.

Key Relationships

• Church/External
  • ​The Vicar of St Thomas’.
  • The Bishop of Lancaster.
  • The Deputy Diocesan Director of Education.
  • The Anglican Chaplain to the University of Cumbria
  • Chaplains in the local and regional Higher Education community
• University
  • ​The University of Lancaster’s Associate Director of Student Wellbeing Services.
  • The Spiritual Care Co-ordinator
  • Other members of Lancaster University’s Chaplaincy Team.

Genuine Occupational Requirement - There is an occupational requirement for the post-holder to be a practising Christian, and a member of the Anglican Church, in accordance with Schedule 9 to the Equality Act 2010.

Enhanced DBS - This post will be subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS

1. Qualifications​

• ​​An Anglican Priest
• Completion of a pre and post ordination theological training programme within a Church of England context.
• Evidence of continuing professional and self-development

2. Experience

• ​An Anglican Priest of good standing who takes genuine delight in their own call to service and lives it out in a way that can be a role model to others.
• Some experience (e.g. a placement) of chaplaincy in an educational setting.

3. Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to network, collaborate and readily build trust with a diverse range of people and organisations to create communities with a shared purpose
• Able to exercise a high degree of personal initiative in organising their own work
• Ability to organise and publicise events and programmes.
• Well-developed administrative skills
• A good working knowledge of Microsoft IT packages such as teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

4. Personal

• A person who is loyal to the inheritance of faith revealed in the Scriptures, who is excited by the Gospel and articulate in communicating the saving news of God in Jesus Christ.
• A person of prayer who is serious and disciplined about their own formation in Christ.
• Someone who takes real delight in the breadth of the Church of England with a genuine appreciation of the Five Guiding Principles and the willingness to work in diverse cultural and theological contexts.
• A person who can flourish in an Evangelical worship setting, is secure in their own tradition and willing to work beyond it to support staff and students of other faith background and traditions and none.
• Someone who can play a constructive role as part of a wider parish and multi-faith chaplaincy team.
• A team player who displays advanced relational and emotional intelligence and can work well with those they differ from.
• An enthusiast who can inspire others.
• A heart for Christian service and hard work.

5. Other

• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends.
• Willing to travel both within the Diocese and beyond.
• Full Driving license and use of car for work purpose.

For a full job description and person specification, please see the attached recruitment pack below.

For an informal conversation regarding this post please contact the Revd Mark Bradford at mark@st.tees.org.uk

St Thomas’ Church, also known as St Tees, has been a strong Evangelical church community in the heart of the city of Lancaster since the 1840s. It has seen revival in many decades, and ministers within and without the city and university communities. St Thomas’ is committed to being a church which is a welcoming home, where God is at the centre, being deeply rooted, in Christ, the church and in our city, being radically compassionate, sharing God’s love to all of his world and being generously sent, in the power of His Spirit.

Lancaster University was established in 1964 and is consistently in the top 15 universities in British league tables. It is a popular research-intensive university with an outstanding international reputation that has 5 campuses across the globe and the Lancaster campus at Bailrigg attracts students from all over the world. There are over 3,000 staff and c.16,000 students based at the Bailrigg campus in Lancaster representing over 180 nationalities. It is one of only 6 collegiate universities in the UK with 9 colleges supporting students with pastoral and social support.

Outline of Terms and Conditions

Employer: You will be employed by St Thomas Lancaster Parochial Church Council

Salary: Clergy equivalent package including either housing or housing allowance

Hours: This is a full-time role based on a 6 day working week, but the post holder may be required to work additional hours as to meet the reasonable requirements of the role. The hours will roughly be split 25% St Thomas’ and 75% Lancaster University with allowance for flexibility at the intensity of university time pressure periods and less busy seasons.

Location: The post holder will be based at the University of Lancaster and St Thomas, Lancaster. The nature of the role requires occasional travel around the diocese, and sometimes beyond. A smartphone and laptop can be provided to assist.

Pension: Pension Scheme,10% employer contribution 2% minimum employee contribution. Membership of the Clergy pension scheme is available via a salary sacrifice.

Annual leave: The full-time entitlement is 30 days (not including statutory bank holidays). The holiday year runs from 1 January to 31 December. This role requires annual leave to be taken only outside of University term times.

Probationary period: The appointment is subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.

Notice Period: During the six-month probationary period two weeks’ notice is required on either party. Thereafter you will be required to give three months’ notice should you wish to resign.

Expenses: Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

Relationship with the University: It is a condition of employment that the Anglican Chaplain retains the good will of the University to perform their duties.

Right to work: The post-holder must have the right to reside and work in the UK.