Diocesan Canon Precentor Job Description

Diocesan Canon Precentor Job Description The Diocesan Canon Precentor will have a ministry within Christ Church Cathedral and across the Diocese of Oxford, with a dual focus on liturgy and training. In relation to the diocese the post- holder will give time to resourcing theological education and formation across the three counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. In the cathedral will be the Residentiary Canon with lead responsibility for the liturgy, working closely with the Dean, Sub-Dean, Director of Music, Vergers and other staff. The newly-appointed post of Cathedral Chaplain/Succentor will be a significant resource, working closely with the Diocesan Canon Precentor in supervising the management of the sacristy and in resourcing and delivering liturgy. The Canon, who must have been in Holy Orders for a minimum of six years, will have a key post within the Diocesan Board of Mission and its programme of Initial Ministerial Education (IME). It is expected that the split between diocesan and cathedral responsibilities will be about 50:50, although this will be blurred as it is hoped that some of the diocesan-focused ministry will take place within Christ Church as part of the Cathedral’s outreach. The Canon will have access to a well-resourced Cathedral, as well as the facilities of the wider institution (Christ Church being a joint foundation which is both a cathedral and a college in the University of Oxford). Diocesan Responsibilities Within the Diocese, the Canon will work closely with, and under the oversight of, the Deputy Director of Mission (Ministerial Formation), and will be a member of the Team for Initial Ministerial Education (TIME) Responsibilities will comprise: 1. Co-ordinating and facilitating the Hard Skills day programme for curates (and others, both lay and ordained) as part of IME Phase 2 in the diocese (1 day, I week). This work involves: facilitating and hosting the days liaising with the diocesan legal team (Chancellor; Registrar; Chancellor emeritus; Archdeacons) working closely with the Curates Training Administrator Examples of the programme are baptisms, funerals, running parish meetings; churchyards (which includes the use of churchyards in the mission of the church); working with local schools; pastoral care at the cutting edge 2. Providing theological teaching on the various programmes delivered by the TIME team - the Rolling Programme/Learning for Discipleship, the IME2 curates PgDip and BA modules, Local Ministry Programme. Two specific areas identified by the TIME team and currently without a tutor are Mission and Evangelism or Preaching, which would complement the specialisms of the existing members of the TIME team. 1 3. Releasing people with theological gifts within Oxford City for the benefit of the wider Diocese. The benefits of this could include identifying individuals who would: Form and facilitate a group to support curates who have been flagged as potential theological educators. Provide high quality study days for the Continuing Ministerial Development programme across the Diocese Offer specialist theological input on IME2 days The post holder would be expected to contribute fully to the life of the Team for Initial Ministerial Education (TIME) including attending team meetings. Responsibilities will involve evening and weekend working across the Diocese. A number of Hard Skills days take place on a Saturday to enable self-supporting ministers to participate. For more details of the work of TIME team, please see http://www.oxford.anglican.org/mission-ministry/training-for-ministry/ Cathedral Responsibilities Within the Cathedral, the Diocesan Canon is the Canon with the oversight of liturgy, working closely with the Sub-Dean, who has day-to-day responsibility for the running of the Cathedral. The Diocesan Canon will also work closely with the Cathedral Chaplain/Succentor (a new career- development post), who helps maintain the daily liturgical life of the Cathedral and whom he or she will supervise. Under Christ Church’s statutes, the governance of the Cathedral is largely delegated to the Cathedral Chapter, in which the Diocesan Canon plays a full part. However, by statute the Diocesan Canon is not a member of Governing Body of Christ Church. While this differentiates the Diocesan Canon from other Canons within the institution, it also relieves the Diocesan Canon from responsibilities including attending Governing Body meetings and committee work. The Diocesan Canon will be proposed for membership of the Senior Common Room, which brings with it dining rights. Within the Cathedral, the Diocesan Canon’s responsibilities are: 1. Leading and taking responsibility for, with the assistance of the Cathedral Chaplain/Succentor and in accordance with the Cathedral Customary, the planning, preparation and delivery of regular and special services and events, liaising in particular with the Sub-Dean, Organist, Vergers and sides-people. For special services, the Precentor will be working with a wide range of organisations, helping them to articulate their prayerful intentions in liturgical and ceremonial form, rehearsing and directing those involved to achieve the desired aim, within tight timeframes and through accurate paperwork. Presiding, preaching, and officiating at services, in turn with others of the Cathedral clergy. Sharing responsibility with the Sub-Dean for the After Eight services (informal Sunday evening worship during term). Working with the Bishop’s Chaplain and other diocesan representatives to ensure the smooth running of diocesan services in the Cathedral. 2. Eight to ten weeks ‘in Residence’ per year, providing a continuing presence at Morning Prayer and Evensong, preaching at Matins, occasionally welcoming guests, introducing evening concerts etc. 3. Supporting and encouraging the work of the Cathedral Singers, and chairing their Executive Committee. 4. Administrative Duties including: 2 Attending meetings of the Cathedral Chapter two or three times a term, weekly meeting with the Dean, Sub-Dean and Registrar, and monthly Liturgy Planning meetings. Serving as a member of the Diocesan Liturgical Committee. Attending the Precentors' annual conference and sharing with the Sub-Dean in representing the Cathedral at meetings of Oxford Deanery Synod and Chapter, Churches Together in Central Oxford,. Representing the Cathedral at monthly meetings of the Editorial Group of the Oxford diocesan newspaper, The Door. 5. Line management of the Cathedral Chaplain/Succentor. 6. Overseeing the Christ Church Cathedral Institute (details below). The Christ Church Cathedral Institute The Cathedral wishes to develop a Christ Church Cathedral Institute, modelled on similar lines to the enterprises in St. Paul’s and Westminster Abbey. This would initially consist of devising a programme of public lectures and debates to allow discussion of morality, faith, politics and citizenship, including inviting speakers from the academic, religious and public spheres, and supervising the organisation of events by the Institute administration. We anticipate working with diocesan representatives to organise events in the wider diocese under the auspices of the Cathedral Institute. It is expected that after an initial pilot programme of events would run at Christ Church for 9-18 months, after which selected events/programmes could be run in the three Episcopal Areas (Buckingham, Reading and Dorchester). The ultimate responsibility for the programme will reside with Chapter, who will retain oversight. General Conditions of Service In accordance with the Ecclesiastical Measure that established the post of the Diocesan Canon, the Diocesan Canon Precentor is a member of Cathedral Chapter, but not a member of the Governing Body of Christ Church. The Canon Precentor will be proposed for membership of the Christ Church Senior Common Room, and with it the right to take meals may be taken in College and there are other benefits (such as use of the Senior Common Room, etc.). The cost of this is supported by the Church Commissioners, who also provide the Canon’s stipend. Spacious and well-situated housing is provided by the diocese, off- site in Vicarage Road, less than one mile from Christ Church. The Diocesan Canon is paid as a Residentiary Canon on the National Stipend Scale. An office is provided in Christ Church. The Canon will also have a desk in Church House Oxford, from which they will be expected to work on a regular basis. Administrative l support for the Diocesan responsibilities is also provided there. Expenses of office are met fully. 3 Person Specification, Experience and Qualifications The Diocesan Canon Precentor will: be an innovative and imaginative liturgist, familiar both with history of liturgy and current liturgical developments in the Church of England be an excellent communicator with an aptitude for devising creative acts of worship for special occasions be an instinctive team player with proven managerial skills be well-organised and an effective administrator have an ability to take and develop initiatives and comfortable working in an academic environment. have a good working knowledge of church music, its repertoire and performance be committed to the Cathedral’s daily liturgy be an able preacher and teacher have good IT skills be energetic and capable of handling a stimulating, varied and demanding workload have relevant training and experience in safeguarding have a first degree in Theology It is desirable that person appointed also has:

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