Title Parishes 2019

St Nicholas & All Saints with St. Helen’s,

Keywords: Urban, City, Charismatic, Open evangelical, Worcester Resourcing Church, New Wine Profile pack

It is exciting because… About the Diocese of Worcester Welcome to the Diocese of Worcester! • we are developing creative new • the Diocese of Worcester is one of 41 patterns of ministry in these changing (42 including the Diocese in Europe) times: though there are fewer that make up the Church of . stipendiary clergy than in the recent • the Diocese of Worcester also forms past there are now more people part of the . offering licensed and authorised lay • the diocese covers an area of 670 ministry than ever before; square miles and includes the County of • we are implementing, after much , the Metropolitan reflection and consultation, an Borough of Dudley, and a few parishes imaginative ‘Kingdom People’ vision in northern Gloucestershire, south east which seeks to envision our people in Wolverhampton and Sandwell - so we their core task of proclaiming the are not short on variety (it’s a great Kingdom; place to serve a curacy, because we • differences in ‘churchmanship’ are not have nearly ever context you could , : divisive in a diocese which has a genuine imagine!) ‘family feel’ to it; • From the urban north, with its

• we have a dynamic and mission minded impressive history and cultural mix, to “Thank you for showing interest in this Bishop’s Staff team committed to the agricultural south where the rich serving your curacy in this diocese. I working with lay and ordained colours of rural life flavour many believe it to be a one full of potential at a creative moment in a diocese where colleagues throughout the Diocese to people's day to day experience, the exciting things are happening” join in God’s mission; diocese has much to offer to visitor, resident and worshipper alike.

• The diocese was founded in around 679 In 2015: by St Theodore of Canterbury for the tribe of the . Today the diocese • 12,300 people attended a church service on an average week covers a population of 877,000. We • 10,400 attended a church service on an average Sunday have 98 benefices, 172 parishes and 275 • There were 14,400 on the electoral roll of our churches • 16,800 people attended Easter Services churches. • 37,900 people attended Christmas services • 2,250 children and adults were baptised in our churches • 890 weddings were conducted, and 2,950 people had a funeral in church or crematorium cemetery

Kingdom People The Kingdom People initiative aims to be a gift Lay Ministers, who have completed a year’s to the parishes and not an additional burden. It training course in areas such as worship, In 2010, a 2020 Vision Group was set up by Bishop's Council to try to discern what God's future vision aims to provide a framework in which churches children’s and youth work, evangelism and might be for the Anglican Church in Worcestershire might flourish and grow rather than impose a parish administration. blueprint of how every church should look. It and Dudley. Discussion in this group identified that Education our churches should be places where the Kingdom has been promoted to parishes from autumn In the Diocese of Worcester we are committed is our core conversation and where the Kingdom 2013. This includes the temporary employment to work in schools and tertiary education. The values set out by Bishop John of love, compassion, of a Kingdom People Development Officer to justice and freedom are evident. diocesan area includes three Local Authorities, Worcestershire, Dudley and Sandwell. There Following research undertaken in 2012 into what are 97 Primary Church Schools in the Diocese churches were already doing and what factors and three Secondary Schools. The Diocese also helped or hindered them in their activities, a Kingdom People vision has been set out. This is a vision for a Church which enables its people to be…

• Deeply rooted in prayer and study of the scriptures • Renewed and transformed by regular worship encourage parishes to take up the “gift” and • Equipped to witness to the gospel of identify and train a network of volunteer love, compassion, justice and freedom facilitators to help them discern God’s way • Dedicated to helping children, young forward. people and young adults to belong and be nurtured in faith Ministry offers programmes and resources to all schools • Devoted to growing deeply in There is a broad range of Churchmanship in the area. There are a growing number of discipleship, offering our time and within the Diocese of Worcester. The Diocese talents and money to God schools becoming Academies in which the • Resourced and released to minister to has around 120 full-time stipendiary clergy, Worcester Diocesan Academies Trust is others plus around 40 Non-stipendiary and Ministers developing a key role in that process. • Ready to engage with and serve our in Secular Employment. We are also blessed

community with a large number of retired clergy, who • Committed to making our buildings fit continue to provide ministry to parishes across for purpose as a spiritual and community resource. our diocese. There is an extensive lay ministry in the diocese with 180 Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) and a large number of Authorised

Title Parish General Information Date of ordination: 2005 church or move to a role within the diocese, Length of time in present role: both through the work of All Saints as a Parish: 9 years (started September 2009) “resourcing church” as it works strategically St Nicholas & All Saints with St Helen’s, with the Bishop and his team. Worcester (known as “All Saints Personal information, previous posts and Worcester”) experience: The context: the parish setting Incumbent Other responsibilities and duties currently The parish of St Nicholas and All Saints with undertaken by incumbent: St Helen’s (known as “All Saints Revd Dr Rich Johnson Worcester”) is the city centre parish in St Helen’s School House • Deanery Synod Standing Committee Worcester. Although a parish church in Fish Street • Diocesan Synod every sense, All Saints is functionally a Worcester • New Wine National Leadership Team “gathered church” with a congregation WR1 2HN • Archbishop’s College of Evangelists made up of people from all across Tel: 01905 734625 • Graduate of the CPAS Arrow Leadership Worcester, surrounding villages and smaller Email: [email protected] Programme towns around the county.

Previous posts: The parish itself is small both 2007-2009 Associate Vicar, St Paul’s geographically and in terms of population. Auckland, NZ The parish covers most of the city centre, which includes two shopping centres, a 2005-2007 Curate, St Paul’s Auckland, NZ railway station, the bus station, a further Previous training experience: education college campus, a university campus, several museums, the Guildhall Two previous curates civic building, as well as many restaurants 2014-2017 Rev Owen Gallacher and bars. Worcester is located within the parish boundaries and is the 2011-2014 Rev Eoghan Heaslip main focus for civic worship services. Nature of post: It has a population of approximately 2,200, This is a training post for a deacon who with the vast majority aged between 16-64 expects to be ordained priest, and with a view to them going on to either plant a new years old. There is a mix of housing. Most of it is newly built apartments, but there Church tradition attendance is around 80 adults and 20 are also some areas of social housing and All Saints Worcester is charismatic and youth. some sheltered housing. The majority of open evangelical, although not all in the those living in the parish are working congregation would use those terms to professionals or elderly. There is no school describe their own spirituality or in the parish and very few children live in theological convictions. The church is a the parish. committed member of the New Wine family of churches with approximately 90 people attending the New Wine summer gathering every year. Electoral roll and church membership There are currently 230 people on the electoral roll number, although the church database would indicate that those who Vestments are not worn at either gathering consider All Saints to be their home is and sung worship is led by our worship around 350 adults. bands. Sunday worship gatherings Occasional offices

There are two Sunday worship gatherings Given the nature of the parish, we have

each week. The 10.30am gathering takes very few occasional offices, and are Church buildings place in our All Saints building and is generally requested by members of the All Saints Worcester is one church with two informal in style, with both a children’s church rather than parishioners. Annually buildings; the All Saints building which is church programme and a youth we average approximately 5-8 infant the main parish church located on programme. Usual Sunday attendance is baptisms or dedications, 3 weddings and 4 Deansway (the main road through the city around 180 adults, 30 youth and 60 funerals. centre), and St Helen’s located half a mile children. The 6.30pm gathering takes place away on the High Street. The parish/church Pattern of daily prayer in our St Helen’s building and is also There is a time of prayer and worship each office is located on the St Helen’s site in the informal in style. This is particularly old parish school rooms. weekday morning at 9.30am which the staff popular with older youth, students and team all attend and to which others come those in their 20s. Usual Sunday when they can. Staff team Children’s Worker including defined ministries, mission The staff team of All Saints is currently as Currently vacant (p/t) initiatives, small groups and as part of the follows: parochial church council (PCC). A full list is Youth Worker available on our website. Vicar Currently vacant (p/t) Rich Johnson Buildings Redevelopment Project Manager Associate Vicar Stella Power (p/t) Owen Gallacher Administrator Associate Vicar Barbara Penney (p/t and voluntary) Paul Swann (p/t, non-stipendiary) Ordinands Curate (started 2018) Jonny Gordon (p/t) Andy Smith Fraser Oates (p/t)

Operations Coordinator Mark Carrington Lay involvement In addition to the staff team there are a Ministry Coordinator & PA to the Vicar large number of people involved leading in Philippa Barton (p/t) the life of the church in different ways,

Small groups All Saints is committed to developing and resourcing a network of smaller communities across the city that meet midweek in homes, offices and cafés. These are the primary place of belonging seen lots of people come back to faith or redevelopment. In addition, All Saints has a for church members, where lives are shared discover faith, as well as large numbers of vision to expand into neighbouring and people are championed in their youth, students and young adults who play properties on the St Helen’s site as funds discipleship journeys. There are currently a significant part in church life, and are allow, in order to create a city-centre base 15 small groups meeting either weekly or particularly involved with the evening for local mission and ministry (including the fortnightly. worship gathering. relocation of the Foodbank to this site). This will allow the All Saints site to be Areas of particular mission and Opportunities for the development of fresh developed as a cutting-edge arts and expressions of church conference venue, training centre for the ministry “resourcing church”, as well as a space for The designation of All Saints to a worship gatherings on a Sunday. Over the last 10 years, All Saints has “resourcing church” brings with it huge developed a particular focus on and opportunities to develop fresh expressions Areas and types of co-operation with commitment to social action. All Saints of church. other local churches helped launched the Street Pastors All Saints has strong and healthy initiative in 2010, set up the Worcester relationships with other local churches. Foodbank in 2011 and in 2012 launched a Particular future plans already established The clergy of All Saints are committed to Christians Against Poverty debt centre. In active participation in the Worcester East addition to this, members of All Saints lead The main focus of development for the next phase in the life of the church is the deanery chapter and synod. They also a Hope for Justice group and helped transition into a “resourcing church”. This represent the church at Worcester establish their “Zoe Hub” in Birmingham. process is underway at present following a Churches Together meetings and All Saints All Saints was asked to be the link successful application by the diocese to the participates in the annual walk of witness community organisation for the county Church Commissioners for investment on Good Friday. All Saints clergy are also council to help with the resettling of four capital to assist with the redevelopment of very involved in a collective of evangelical Syrian families. We are the hub church for the buildings, fund a leadership pipeline of churches in the city. The leaders of these Home for Good in Worcester. ordinands and curates as well as some churches meet every Thursday to pray for additional paid staff roles to help establish one another, the partner churches and the All Saints is also committed to being a the “resourcing church”. city. Out of this commitment to prayer and church that connects well with relationship has flowed a renewed contemporary culture, helping Both the church buildings are Grade 2* commitment to shared mission in the city, communicate the gospel in creative and listed and of historical significance. They including “The Noise” youth mission week relevant ways. As a result All Saints has both require extensive repairs and and mutual support of various different All Saints is committed to being highly What are the incumbent’s and social action projects. missional, not just in its shared life, but PCC’s vision and priorities? through the lives of all who are part of it. It The church worked collaboratively to is excited about playing its part in the formulate its vision and priorities, and there Vision and Priorities mission of God to restore, redeem and is strong support from across the church for How does the church see itself? reconcile all things. The vision for these. The PCC is highly committed to The church understands itself to be discipleship is a holistic one; seeing all facilitating the vision and is dynamic and fundamentally three things (to the extent people flourish and thrive as divine image supportive. to which such labels are helpful): Anglican, bearers, understanding their vocation, open evangelical and charismatic. operating in their spiritual gifts and natural The following strategic priorities have been talents, empowered by the Spirit. identified, which shape all aspects of the It is a gathered church and most of the development of the church: congregation have no prior experience of What is its vision of mission? the Anglican church. There is a growing All Saints describes its mission to be “a • Create a discipleship culture throughout and strengthening understanding of what it missional community that gives creative the whole church, equipping, mentoring means to be Anglican and part of the and faithful expression to the Kingdom of and training people at every age and Diocese of Worcester. God in Worcester and beyond”. lifestage to live authentic Kingdom lives

in the power of the Spirit The vision is to be “a growing community of • Continue to nurture a community in Kingdom people, formed of multiple which all are cared for, able to embrace smaller communities, in and through which God’s healing and transformation, our lives and our city are radically becoming more fully alive and able to transformed by God’s love, grace and live out their calling power”. • Develop the leadership community at

This is often summarized in the phrase the heart of the church and train new “joining with God in the renewal of all leaders in all areas • things”, which captures the theological Expand our missional impact through vision underpinning this mission and vision. the further development of our mission initiatives, support of our mission partners, collaboration with other

churches and the equipping of the whole church community to live as Incumbents understanding of the whole church. They will be integral to the missionaries where God calls us Role of Training development of All Saints as a “resourcing • Prayerfully explore and identify how church” with an expectation they will either Training a curate is a huge privilege for a best to develop multiple expressions of plant out or move into a parish embracing training incumbent and a role that is taken church to allow us to more fully renewal in partnership with All Saints. very seriously at All Saints. Our hope for embrace all God is calling us to be and any curate who joins the team at All Saints to do. Areas of particular responsibility for is that they would find a gracious and spacious place in which to continue their curate in training ministerial development and formation. Curates will have involvement in all aspects This will mean learning what they need to of church and parish life to gain broad learn, finding their voice, playing to their experience, but also be encouraged to take strengths, working on their weaknesses, on specific responsibilities and develop sharing in the leadership and development specific areas of interest and gifting. We of the church (more and more as the curacy have an organic and iterative approach to develops), establishing healthy patterns staffing responsibilities and aim to get each and rhythms in both their personal team member playing to their strengths. devotions and ministry life, and ultimately being ready to move on to a new post but Some of the areas we are looking to not partly wanting to because their develop, and which our next curate may be experience at All Saints has been so excited to shape and lead forward are: positive. • the creative arts – including the development of our All Saints building into a space that allows it to be a What is the likely role of the curate leading regional arts venue in future plans? • student ministry and chaplaincy to the The next curate will be joining the All Saints university and FE college staff team at a crucial and exciting time. • pastoral care The curate will be a key member of the senior ministry team, working directly and collaboratively with the Vicar, Associate Vicars and staff team, sharing in the leadership, development and care of the Curacy Accommodation The diocese will be providing an additional house to accommodate the next curate, ensuring it is suitable for the needs of the curate and taking into count factors such as schooling when identifying suitable locations within Worcester. None of the clergy currently live in the parish as there is no suitable housing available.

Who should be contacted in the first instance? Diocesan Director of Ordinands and Vocation Revd. Dr John Fitzmaurice The Old Palace Deansway Worcester WR1 2JE

01905 732814 / 07950 163116 [email protected]

The process of formation, training will provide the primary context for related to the Formation Criteria and seek and assessment in the Diocese of feedback in the curate’s early ministry. to amplify and add depth to the curates’ 4. The Formation Criteria and Assessment Worcester experience in their ministerial context. – which are national guidelines setting out There is an annual residential weekend Curacy is, first and foremost, a period of the aims for the curacy, for all partners in currently held at Sarum College as well as a formation and training undertaken for the training relationship to work towards. Quiet Day. This year we will be trialling future ministry. Although a curacy is an action-learning-set style theological opportunity for ministry in its own right, it The Diocesan IME programme reflection groups for an evening every two is undertaken with a view to preparation The primary training context is the parish months. It is expected that Diocesan IME for the future – regardless of whether the (in the case of MSE curates, additionally, in Study Days take precedence over parish curate is non-stipendiary or stipendiary. the workplace). However, the diocese commitments on the same day. This training is the shared responsibility of provides additional training for all curates. the curate, the training incumbent, and the This is generally held on seven Saturdays in Stipendiary curates undertake two short DOV. Primary resources for the successful the year, with a residential weekend in placements while self-supporting curates outcome of this training are: February. undertake one. Curates are encouraged to undertake these placements in contexts 1. The curate – who brings experience, All curates, stipendiary and non-stipendiary professional life, Christian faith and recent are expected to attend the IME days. There which there training parish are unable to training from theological course or college is also one additional evening session for provide. to the new ministry. He or she needs to be new deacons, an additional evening session EKM Exchange allowed and encouraged to bring all of this for new priests and a full day for curates in The Diocese of Worcester has a partnership into ministry and continued training – the third year looking to a post of link with the Evangelische Kirche in alongside a willingness to learn. responsibility beyond the curacy. Mitteldeutschland and as part of their 2. The training incumbent – who brings It has proved a good idea to invite training their own experience and needs to be able curacy Worcester curates both to visit incumbents to one IME session, and this to share this, with vulnerability and newly-ordained pastors in Germany and to happens from time to time. responsibility, to help the curate find his or learn something of the challenges of her own patterns of sustainable ministry. The Training Programme ministry there and to host them in 3. The parish – which should have its own The Diocesan element of IME Phase 2 is Worcester. sense of vocation to train and develop the based on a three-year rolling programme of ministry of the whole people of God, and study days, taught across year groups. The themes of these study days are closely