Canon Liturgist Candidate Brief

Canon Liturgist Candidate brief

Living worship Growing Disciples Connecting Communities

Introduction by the Rt Revd David Urquhart, Bishop of Birmingham Thank you for your interest in the role of Canon Liturgist at Birmingham Cathedral. This is a time of great opportunity for Birmingham Cathedral in the life of the city and diocese. Under the leadership of Dean Catherine Ogle, a spectacular and significant celebration of the 300th anniversary of the foundation of St Philip’s as a parish church took place in 2015. The tercentenary year enabled the cathedral to strengthen relationships within the diocese, raise its profile among the businesses, institutions, charities and other faith communities of the city and grow in ambition and confidence in the gospel. The modest building demonstrates daily its attraction as a house of prayer to the people of the city and its international visitors. Alongside daily worship the Cathedral hosts diocesan, regional and national events and is responsive to immediate community needs for celebration and lament. With growing confidence and a newly refurbished interior the cathedral has a clear vision and strategy. The published five year plan focusses on Living Worship; Growing Disciples; Connecting Communities, supported by care for the building, sustainable financial growth and good order. As Dean Catherine now moves on to Winchester Cathedral, Birmingham Cathedral has a clear sense of direction and confidence. The cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Birmingham and plays its part in promoting the life and mission of C of E Birmingham, as mother church. The cathedral enjoys close working relations with diocesan clergy and staff and the cathedral clergy and staff share offices with diocesan support staff at 1 Colmore Row. C of E Birmingham is at an exciting stage with the ‘Growing Younger’ initiative, part of the Transforming Church plan. The cathedral is playing a full part in this important and innovative work. The cathedral is blessed with a choir of adults, boys and girls of the highest standard and offers unrivalled opportunities for music in this great city. After over 30 years outstanding service as Director of Music, Canon Marcus Huxley’s retirement in August 2017 will give an exciting opportunity for the liturgist to take part in recruiting his successor and shaping a new chapter in the music of the cathedral. We are looking for a colleague who is excited by these opportunities and wishes to work with people, liturgy and music to the glory of God. You will be joining a friendly and growing cathedral team who will support you to learn new skills and reach your potential. I hope that this pack, alongside the supporting documents gives you a good briefing, please don’t hesitate to contact me, or Dean Catherine, for more information on [email protected] Please be assured of my prayers as you make your discernment about the next stage of your ministry.

Canon Liturgist role description

Birmingham Cathedral are looking to appoint a Canon Liturgist who is a wise, caring priest with a heart for mission and creative liturgy. The new Residentiary Canon will, on behalf of Chapter, promote the highest standards of liturgy and choral worship within the cathedral. This is a senior post which requires both individual initiative and a high commitment to team working. The Canon Liturgist plays a full role as Chapter member, has responsibility for the leadership and development of the Cathedral music department as well as establishing excellent relations with other clergy, lay staff, volunteers, diocesan and city leaders and other outside bodies. Worship is at the heart of the life of the Cathedral. We are committed to worship that is worthy, inclusive, imaginative and transformative. The majority of Cathedral services use Common Worship contemporary language rites. The Book of Common Prayer is used for Choral evensong and for a weekly lunchtime Eucharist. The Canon Liturgist is responsible for the preparation and presentation of all worship in the cathedral. There are many opportunities for special services which often need imaginative construction and require an ability to create texts and liturgy. The cathedral is a beautiful and flexible space in which the Liturgist can respond to the needs of the different congregations and offer worship that gives glory to God. Special services in recent months have included diocesan ordinations, welcome to a new Suffragan bishop, a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Somme, a celebration of Her Majesty the Queens 90th birthday, 50th anniversary celebration of Aston University, and we are looking forward to holding a mid-night service (and being open all night) during the St Basils Charity Sleep-Out in Cathedral Square in November. The Canon Liturgist is responsible to Cathedral Chapter and on a day to day basis to the Dean who carries out an annual appraisal.

Common practice for Birmingham Cathedral residentiary canons It is understood that all residentiary canons undertake: - To attend the daily offices which are ‘Foundation Prayer’ and to make apologies either to the Dean or Officiant if unable to do so Monday 8.00am MP and Eucharist; Tuesday Choral Evensong or EP Wednesday Choral evensong or EP; Thursday 8.00am MP and Eucharist - To attend the Choral Eucharist on Sundays at 11.00am (unless preaching elsewhere) and Choral Evensong or EP on Sundays at 3.30pm - To share fully in the conduct of public worship - Together with the other residentiary Canons to be concerned for the renewal of corporate life and for pastoral care within and through the Cathedral community. To promote the cathedral in the community, city and diocese - To be advocates for the five year Chapter strategic plan and have a committed engagement with its delivery and development. Each Canon holds a portfolio of responsibility - The preaching ministry of the cathedral is a particular feature of the cathedral, as teaching seat of the Bishop, it is expected that cathedral clergy prepare well and are engaged in theological reading to stimulate preaching - Clergy share in pastoral work including the occasional offices, with the pastoral team being led by the Liturgist - The residentiary Canons are members of Chapter, and share responsibility for the strategic direction and policy of the cathedral - To give priority commitment to attending Residential Canons breakfast meeting on Monday morning, attending the Deans executive and weekly Residential Canons meetings. To share in responsibility for cathedral management and operations through the Deans Executive. - To attend the Cathedral Chapter and, if so elected, the Cathedral Council and such committees as required. To take their share of leading worship and covering for absence of others - To pray for one another and be good colleagues

The liturgist will: Be responsible for all aspects of the worshipping and liturgical life of the cathedral, maintaining and developing its liturgy and choral tradition and enable ‘living worship’ which is serious, inclusive, transformative and of an excellent standard. Have a thorough understanding of the purpose of liturgy as the work of the people of God: enhancing a sense of word and sacrament, numinous and accessible, sacramental and evangelical in its effect on those who participate. Work collaboratively and creatively with clergy colleagues, staff and volunteers to explore and develop new services and opportunities in line with Chapter strategic plan and open to the breadth of traditions within the Church of England. Ensure that all cathedral policies, including Safeguarding, are implemented in the Music department, the serving team and amongst the licensed pastoral care team and bell-ringers. Be an efficient and calm administrator ensuring that all necessary administration, and training, including orders of service, rotas and readings are delivered effectively and in good time. Maintain a bank of liturgical material for use in cathedral services and in the planning of special services. Work with the wider diocese, other churches, institutions and groups to connect communities, build relationships and grow disciples. To establish and maintain good relations with city institutions and discern mission opportunities and the use of cathedral for special services and commemorations. Consult with the Bishop’s chaplain concerning services involving the Bishop in the cathedral.

Train and support members of the Cathedral congregation in worship ministries e.g. reading, leading intercessions and serving, paying particular attention to enabling the gifts of all our diverse congregations to flourish. Provide leadership and management of the Music department, including line-management and annual appraisal of the Director of Music and ensuring effective supervision of the staff members they s/he in turn line-manages. Work with the Director of Music in developing the wider musical programme of the cathedral and developing choral outreach. Be musically literate, with the ability to sing services and to work closely with all the Cathedral musicians. Take a lead in providing pastoral care among the congregations and enabling the congregations to grow in pastoral care for one another. Lead and train the Pastoral Care team and Healing team assistants. Support and liaise with the Cathedral Flower team and bell-ringers. Take a particular pastoral lead in the care of the choir, choir families and personnel in the Music department. Have oversight of baptism and confirmation for choristers, choir members and their families. Work with the education officer to develop Christian education opportunities for the choir and their families. Be responsible to Chapter for all policies regarding worship and music. Attend the Fabric Advisory Committee. Oversee the management of visiting choirs, when necessary. Ensure high quality communication with warmth and courtesy. Regularly update Liturgy Plan in consultation with Chapter (triennially, next update due 2017). In addition: we would welcome someone who has undertaken further theological study and/or has an interest in the Arts and/or interfaith relations.

Person specification The person appointed will be able to demonstrate the following skills and experience: - The preparation and performance of excellent liturgy and the ability to use word, symbol and action creatively and to develop the liturgy of the cathedral as set out in Chapter policy. - A heart for mission and a love for people - Christian faith that is lively and reflective - A commitment to and experience of working to a clear Safeguarding policy - Familiarity with and sympathy for a wide range of liturgical and musical styles - Teaching and preaching skills with commitment to growing in their The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, on a visit during the tercentenary, 2015. own faith - A competent and well organised administrator with IT ability and an eye for detail, style and planning ahead - A commitment to working accountably as part of a team and delivering a strategy - Experience in line management and appraisal and development of others - Experience of nurturing adults and children in faith - Ability to train lay people effectively - Ability to give and receive advice - Musical literacy and ability to sing - Resilience and capacity to enjoy the rapid and demanding pace of life and work in this urban cathedral. - Excellent communication skills

Terms The Canonry is a Common Tenure post, open to those ordained at least six years in the Church of England and a Statement of Particulars will be issued to the person appointed setting out the terms of the appointment. The person appointed will be paid according to the Church Commissioners recommended rates for a Commissioners canon. Expenses are reimbursed in full (authorised by the Dean or the Director of Resources) on a monthly basis. There is an agreed scale for transport and receipts are required. Singing lessons will be available. The liturgist lives at 4 Nursery Drive, Handsworth, a five bedroomed house with garage. The Liturgist has office space at 1 Colmore Row in an open-plan office shared by cathedral and C of E Birmingham staff. The Admin and Comms Officer works closely with the Liturgist in preparation of orders of service and related notices. There are six weeks holiday per annum, plus Bank Holidays and a full day off each week. Birmingham Cathedral is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Enhanced DBS clearance is required for this post. The offer of the post is made subject to satisfactory DBS clearance. How to apply: Please complete the Application Forms as well as the Fostering Diversity Form and return by email marked Confidential to Mrs Anna Pitt The Director of Resources Email [email protected] Closing date Wednesday 26th October Interviews Sunday 6th & Monday 7th November in Birmingham

Birmingham Cathedral Music Department Music is at the heart of cathedral life. The Music Department includes the Cathedral Choir of men’s, girls and boys voices and a voluntary choir who sing during the choir holidays and for mid-week lunchtime services. The Cathedral Choir, under Marcus Huxley has achieved the highest standards and is of national repute. The choir provides an unrivalled mission resource to enable major public services and events to lead people into the beauty of holiness. We maintain a busy choral programme, with services on at least three weekday evenings as well as the two on Sundays. In addition, we broadcast regularly on BBC Radio 3 and Radio WM, and perform in concerts, on CD and on tour. In 2015 the choir went on tour to Leipzig Cathedral, to great acclaim. Birmingham is a city of music-making and the cathedral choir regularly performs with the Birmingham Royal Ballet Sinfonia, and recently the Girls’ Choir accompanied ballet performances by the Birmingham Royal Ballet not only in our home city, but at Sadlers Wells Theatre in London and at the Alhambra Palace in Spain. The opportunities of partnership here are unrivalled, enhanced by the cathedrals growing reputation working with the arts communities. The choir has recently recorded music written by Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) and contributed to a Skyline Symphony by Dan Jones broadcast from the roof-tops around the Cathedral Square. Not having a choir school means choir membership is open to any boy or girl from anywhere in the city, and we end up with a gloriously cosmopolitan mix. We currently have families of Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Japanese, Greek, German and Afro-Caribbean origin and in the past Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Bolivia have also been represented. Our men singers are often drawn from Birmingham University or Birmingham Conservatoire. We enhance our worship on festival occasions with the use of other instruments in addition to the organ. The choir sings in parishes of the dioceses and with the choir of St Chads RC Cathedral. Whilst never being ‘just a venue’ the cathedral is also home to many concerts that attract new audiences and serve the communities of the city.

Church of England Birmingham Birmingham is the UK’s second city with the youngest urban population in Europe. The average age of its residents is 36 with almost a quarter of the population aged under 16. The diocese of Birmingham, founded in 1905, covers an area of nearly 300 square miles, and includes the city of Birmingham and parts of Solihull, Sandwell, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. The Rt Revd David Urquhart has been Bishop of Birmingham since 2006 and the Rt Revd Anne Hollingsworth has been Bishop of Aston since 2015. There are 185 Church of England churches and worship centres with an average Sunday attendance of 15,000 out of a population of 1.5 million. Spiritual and pastoral care in the 150 parishes is offered by around 165 stipendiary priests, alongside self-supporting ministers, offer, retired clergy, readers, local ministry teams & other non-ordained ministers. The diocese is divided into two pastoral administrative areas led by the Archdeacon of Aston and the Archdeacon of Birmingham. 1 Colmore Row in central Birmingham houses the both the diocesan and cathedral offices of the C of E Birmingham, overseen by the Diocesan Secretary, Andrew Halstead, and the cathedral Director of Operations, Anna Pitt. The offices act as a resource centre supporting the cathedral and the parishes of the diocese and their communities. Transforming Church is the mission strategy of the Church of England Birmingham, seeking to grow churches at the heart of each community. Our vision is to ensure that every one of the one and a half million people that live in the geographical area of the diocese of Birmingham has the chance to examine and respond to the claims of Jesus Christ, whether Anglicans, those of other Christian denominations, people of other faiths or of no faith. We aim to empower all Christians in the region to be effective disciples. Growing Younger is a diocesan-wide initiative within our overall mission strategy of Transforming Church. It has been made possible by a welcome £1 million from the Church Commissioners, together £1.7 million from a redeployment of existing resources within the diocese over an initial period of three years: 2015 to 2017. The aim is to pass on the baton of the Christian gospel to children and families, and students and young adults, as part of our vision of growing churches at the heart of each community. Initially around 20 new Children’s and Families Missioners and 9 new Mission Apprentices will be employed, along with a new diocesan Transforming Church team including the Director of Mission, a Programme Director, Facilitators, Coordinators and Advisors. In addition a new mission church has been set up in Birmingham city centre with a special focus on reaching young adults and students. Birmingham has over 65,000 students and 50% of the city’s population is under 30. The overall aim is to grow the Church of England in Birmingham by adding 1,000 to 2,000 new disciples within five years.

Links here to: Finding out more about the city of Birmingham: http://www.cofebirmingham.com/growing-younger/explore/birmingham/ The cathedral strategic plan: http://birminghamcathedral.contentfiles.net/media/assets/file/Cathedral_strategic_plan _2016__2020_full_but_simple_version.pdf Annual report: http://birminghamcathedral.contentfiles.net/media/assets/file/Full_Final_Annual_Repor t__Accounts_2015_signed.pdf