DIOCESE OF CHELMSFORD

ASSOCIATE MINISTER, LAY OR ORDAINED

(Held under Common Tenure)

ROLE DESCRIPTION

1. Details of the post Role title: Associate Minister, Harwich Peninsular Team Ministry Name of benefice: Harwich Peninsular Team Ministry Deanery: Harwich Archdeaconry: Colchester Stipend: at incumbent level

2. Wider context

Transforming Presence sets out four strategic priorities for the diocese:

Inhabiting the world distinctively Evangelising effectively Serving with accountability, and Re-imagining Ministry

See www.chelmsford.anglican.org

The people and congregations of the Diocese of Chelmsford aspire to be missional in their life and work, therefore our ministry is:

Collaborative – we work and learn together by nurturing partnerships locally, regionally, nationally and internationally Creative – we are open to change and imaginative new ways of working Contextual – we are committed to the transformation and well-being of each locality and ministry context Contemplative – prayer and theological reflection are the foundation for our action Accountable – to God and to each other. We do not go it alone.

This innovative post has been made possible through the Church Commissioners’ Strategic Development Fund Grant to the diocese. This is a time-limited post for three years and is part of the Diocesan Turnaround Project.

The Bishop looks to appoint those who will work collegially with clergy and lay people in the deanery to encourage and sustain the wider mission and ministry of the church.

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The post will be held under Regulation 29(i) of Common Tenure within the Diocese of Chelmsford and the post-holder must be eligible to be licensed by the Bishop of Chelmsford.

S/he will be a member of the Harwich Deanery.

3. Local context

Harwich Deanery is a largely rural deanery with a number of small centres of population. Around 58% of the population of the deanery (21200 people) live within the Harwich Peninsula Team Ministry. The Team Rector was licensed in June 2016 and there is also a Team Vicar, an Assistant Curate, an Associate Priest (SSM) and A Licensed Lay Minister.

Tendring District (in which Harwich is a significant town) have the highest number of deaths per year of any district or borough in Essex (1953 in 2014 compared, for example, to 1527 in Colchester, 1343 in Chelmsford, 1331 in Braintree and 1522 in Basildon).

In the Tendring area the projected percentage of people aged 85+ in 2020 is 5.1 compared to a national average of 2.8. The Colchester figure is in line with national average. (Older people’s health and wellbeing atlas).

In 2011, there were approximately 34,000 carers in NE Essex (11% of the population) with a larger proportion being in Tendring. Tendring also has a greater proportion of carers relative to its population (12.9%) than the national average (10.2%) and ALL other local authorities in Essex. (North east Essex clinical commissioning group profile, December 2013).

Most carers (64.2%) in NE Essex are aged 35-64 years though a sizeable number of carers are elderly i.e. aged 65 years and over (22.0%). Young carers make up a considerably smaller group of the NE Essex carer population at 2.4%. However, 12% of young carers were caring for more than one person. Females make up 57.4% of the NE Essex carer population, and this predominance is true for all age ranges except in the very elderly (85 years and above). (North east Essex clinical commissioning group profile, December 2013)

Compared to Essex as a whole, NE Essex has a higher proportion of people living with limiting health conditions: NEE CCG has the highest proportion of disability allowance claimants in the Essex County Council area. NEE has the second highest (after Basildon & Brentwood CCG) proportion of people with a long-standing health condition. (North East Essex clinical commissioning group profile, December 2013)

An effective church ministry in Harwich will therefore engage with the elderly, the long term ill and with carers and family.

4. Scope of the Role

Funeral ministry is a key part of parish ministry for many churches, whether in traditional rural communities or in busy town centres. Clergy and licensed lay ministers conduct funerals in churches, crematoria, cemeteries and green burial grounds, providing pastoral care, compassion and hope to thousands of bereaved families and friends each year. It’s so important that the Archbishops’ Council commissioned independent research with families who have had a Church of

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England funeral. This was supported by a wide range of research with funeral directors, clergy and others working to help the bereaved.

 The research confirmed that most people have a positive experience of a Church of England funeral.  That the culture around death and funerals is changing.  That families want funerals to be unique and personal.  That the taboo around talking about death before it happens is being challenged.  That the relationship with the Funeral Director is crucial – and changing.

The Harwich Peninsula Team Ministry have identified a real opportunity presented by its ministry to the dying and the bereaved and concluded that too little is made of the opportunities for outreach and church growth that arise through the taking of funerals and the offer of bereavement support.

They are therefore looking for someone who will play a key role within the exercise of the pastoral ministry within the Team, specifically:

 taking funerals as requested by the Team Rector (expected to be at least two per week).

 working with others to introduce systems and strategies for an effective and efficient funeral ministry that gains the full confidence and support of local Funeral Directors, including development of authorised Pastoral Assistants equipped to take funeral services.

 helping to identify, and then training, those with pastoral gifts, to build an effective and safe team to support those who are dying and bereaved.

 developing the bereavement follow up and support currently offered.

The post holder will also:

 Engage with the National Funerals Project  Develop knowledge of and contacts with national support groups for particular areas of bereavement  Become familiar with churchyard regulations, and make these accessible in a sensitive form to bereaved families.  Develop a range of specialist liturgical and pastoral resources for particular situations.

And within the Deanery, they will:

i) work with colleagues to develop strategies for funeral ministry, including consideration of points of contact for Funeral Directors and centralised administration ii) train those identified with pastoral gifts, in bereavement support. iii) alert parish clergy to particular pastoral situations iv) develop a team of authorised Pastoral assistants equipped to take funeral services, offering training and developmental feedback as required. v) provide feedback and support to clergy colleagues as requested.

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5. Evaluation

This post is funded from the Church Commissioners’ Strategic Development Funding awarded to the diocese, and its impact is therefore being evaluated, to assist learning in the diocese and the wider church. The criteria being used to assess the effective use of the funding include:

 Increased proportion of funerals in the deanery taken by Anglican ministers  Clergy time released for additional mission and ministry, especially in the Harwich Team Ministry  Increased confidence of Funeral Directors about local funeral ministry  Greater reach and pastoral depth of funeral follow up, with consequent impact upon mission.

The post-holder will engage with the evaluation of this project, making reports as requested to the Turnaround Project Team.

6. General Responsibilities

If the post holder is a lay minister, they will have the following general responsibilities, mirroring those held by clergy:

A. To exercise the ministry of a Licensed Lay Minister or Reader in collaboration with clergy and lay colleagues.

B. To have regard to the calling and responsibilities of those called to licensed lay ministry in the Church of England (as described in the Canons) and other relevant documents, including:

 bringing the grace and truth of Christ to this generation and making him known  being faithful in prayer, expectant and watchful for the signs of God’s presence, as he reveals his kingdom among us  bringing the needs of the world before God in intercession  developing effective ways of sharing in ministry with clergy, readers, lay leaders and ecumenical partners  discerning and fostering the gifts of all God’s people  providing spiritual counsel and advice.  Consulting with the parochial church council on matters of general concern and importance to the parish  avoiding occasions of strife and also healing such divisions as might arise

C. To share in the wider work of the Mission & Ministry Unit, deanery and diocese as appropriate, for the building up of the whole Body of Christ.

D. To live their life in a way that is consistent with their calling to Christian ministry. The standards of conduct expected of those exercising licensed lay ministry are similar to the standards required of the clergy. So, Licensed Lay Ministers or Readers are to be diligent to frame and fashion their lives according to the doctrine of Christ, and to make themselves wholesome examples and patterns to the flock of Christ. Furthermore they are not to pursue unsuitable occupations, habits or recreations which do not befit their sacred calling, or which are detrimental to the performance of their duties or justifiably cause offence to others. 4

Personal Qualities Required

 Collegial working  Enabling and encouraging  Able to contribute effectively to a team  Able to communicate effectively to a wide spectrum of people  Open approach to diversity of tradition and conviction  Able to present strong Christian example  Able to motivate self and others  Able to work to goals without direct supervision  Able to serve with accountability  Able to relate previous experience to new work  Able to adapt to changing priorities and circumstances  Able to be creative and offer encouragement

Experience Required

 Sufficient theological education and on-going reflection to enable teaching and training of others  Knowledge and experience of bereavement ministry  Significant experience of funeral ministry  Sound liturgical understanding and practice  Experienced trainer and facilitator

Skills Required  A self-starter  Administrative ability  Ability to prioritise  Skills in growing, supervising and sustaining a team  Presentation work and communication, including ICT skills  Has a current driving licence; owns car or moped/motorcycle.

This post requires satisfactory Enhanced disclosure from the DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service)

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