Chaplaincy Assistant and Student Outreach Worker
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The Chaplaincy Service. The University of Sheffield Chaplaincy Service and Sheffield Cathedral CHAPLAINCY ASSISTANT AND STUDENT OUTREACH WORKER This is a full-time post, with equal responsibility as Anglican Chaplaincy Assistant at the University of Sheffield Chaplaincy Service and Student Outreach Worker at Sheffield Cathedral. It is a challenging role, which would suit either a recent graduate or someone who will graduate this year, with an interest in exploring a vocation to ordained ministry in the Church of England. It will demand a pioneer spirit, as well as flair, imagination, enterprise, and a sense of humour! We hope that you will find this information pack useful, and that you will consider applying for this exciting post. If you wish to apply, please send an application form and curriculum vitae, including the names and contact details of two referees, to the Revd Canon Will Lamb (Sheffield Cathedral, Church Street, Sheffield, S1 1HA, or by email to [email protected]) to arrive by Friday 20th April 2007. Interviews will take place at Sheffield Cathedral on Thursday 10th May 2007. The Very Revd Peter Bradley The Revd Canon Will Lamb Dean of Sheffield Anglican Chaplain, University of Sheffield Residentiary Canon, Sheffield Cathedral 1 Living in Sheffield Sheffield is a city of stark contrasts, having the wealthiest electoral ward in the country, but with a number of seriously deprived areas, mostly on the east side. There is some ethnic diversity, with Muslims of Pakistani origin being the largest minority. The different parts of the city tend to see themselves as villages, and the topography encourages this - Sheffield is built on seven hills (so they say). The city is close to some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK. The Peak District National Park actually begins within the city boundaries. It’s a city that is still looking for an identity, following the significant changes in the steel industry. But all around there are signs of regeneration and the emergence of a new Sheffield, based around information technology and with a growing reputation for design and new media. Local theatres and music festivals are of international quality. The City Hall has recently been refurbished as a major international venue for concerts, musicals and lectures. Also in the city’s cultural quarter are the stunning Millennium Galleries, where Sheffield’s steel tradition is celebrated alongside contemporary arts. These galleries and the Graves Gallery sit alongside the Winter Gardens, a little bit of jungle in the middle of the city. Sheffield has two Universities. Together the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University employ 10,000 staff and make a major contribution to the local economy. There are over 50,000 students in Sheffield. It is also one of the cities with the highest concentration of International Students outside London. It offers a great nightlife, and its music scene enjoys an international reputation. Whether you enjoy the arts, eating out, live music, or sport, you will find plenty to occupy yourself in Sheffield. 2 The University and Chaplaincy Service The University of Sheffield is one of the UK’s leading universities, with an international reputation for excellence in both teaching and research. The University received its Royal Charter in 1905, although its roots go back to 1828, when the Sheffield School of Medicine was founded. There are 25,000 full-time and part-time students studying in the University, of whom 19,450 are undergraduates and 5,550 postgraduates. Included in this figure are more than 3,846 international students from 116 countries. The University is Sheffield’s third largest employer, with 6,000 staff working in a wide range of jobs. The academic buildings – a mixture of Edwardian and modern – are set in pleasant suburbs in the west of Sheffield, close to the city centre yet within easy reach of the Peak District National Park. A five-year, £100 million building programme is providing new and refurbished accommodation for many departments, as well as state-of-the-art sports facilities. We are investing £16 million in a new learning resources centre to provide an advanced integrated learning environment for our students. The first full-time Anglican Chaplain was appointed in 1953 and for many years, an ecumenical team of Chaplains worked together on an informal basis. Since that time there have been a number of developments, the most significant of which was the approval by the University Senate of the ‘Statement on Religious Activities on Campus’ in March 2002. The Statement addressed a number of concerns, but more significantly for the first time it officially recognised the role of Chaplains, and it supported the provision of a multi-faith Chaplaincy Service within its network of Student Services. The “multi-faith” element of the Chaplaincy Service reflects the diversity of the student body (particularly with large numbers of international students) and fulfils the expressed aim of the University’s Charter that no student or member of staff should suffer discrimination on religious grounds. Thus the Senate ensured that all members of the University should have access to Chaplains and Religious Advisers of their own tradition. Today the Chaplaincy Service provides a host of different services to the University. Our activities have expanded dramatically, and at the start of the 2006/2007 academic year, we moved to new premises to cater for the increasing numbers of students and staff who relate to the Chaplaincy. Our publications include ‘Faith in the City’, a guide to places of worship, and ‘Feasts’, a recipe book for students living on a tight budget. We organize activities for Intro Week, an annual Christmas Carol Service, Memorial Services, a retreat, a pilgrimage to Taizé, as well as ‘Faith Matters Week’, an annual celebration of faith and spirituality on campus. The Christian Chaplains work closely together, alongside representatives of other faith communities. We have positive working relationships with student societies, including the Catholic Chaplaincy Fellowship, the Christian Union, the Student Christian Movement, SPEAK, and Synergy (Fusion). 3 The Cathedral The Cathedral is Sheffield’s oldest building, the ancient heart of a great city and flourishing diocese, where God has been worshipped for over a thousand years. It stands as a sign of God’s love for us all, whoever we are and whatever our need. Our doors are open every day of the year and there is no admission charge. The Cathedral has changed much over the centuries, but its mission remains the same: to be a place of sanctuary and meeting, of exploration and excellence - a place for all people. There are daily services, with a varied programme of educational and social events. The accomplished Cathedral Choir consists of men, boys and girls, offering worship in the great tradition of English Cathedral music. The Cathedral cares for the poor and vulnerable of our city by offering breakfast and other services through the award-winning Cathedral Archer Project. The new Community Resources Centre, opened in March 2007, has brought this work on site and also provided spaces for educational and social activities. If you take up this role, you will be working with a small team of people committed to enable the Cathedral’s aims to be fulfilled. The Cathedral’s governing body is the Chapter, consisting of the clergy, the churchwardens, and two other lay people, one of whom is the Cathedral Treasurer. The Residentiary Chapter, consisting of the Dean, the four residentiary canons and the Administrator, is responsible for the implementation of the Chapter’s policy on a day to day basis. Each member of the Residentiary Chapter supervises areas of work, and relates to lay heads of department. 4 Job Description 1 Job Details Title: Anglican Chaplaincy Assistant & Student Outreach Worker Responsible to: The Revd Canon William Lamb Accountable to: The Dean and Chapter of Sheffield Cathedral The Director of Student Services, the University of Sheffield 2 Job Purpose • To contribute to the Christian ministry of the Chaplaincy Service • To contribute to the Cathedral’s student ministry • To develop mission and ministry for students in Sheffield city centre and the Cathedral parish 3 Job Dimensions Share in the Christian ministry of the Chaplaincy Service by: • Welcoming visitors • Responding to general enquiries • Sharing in the pattern of daily worship • Arranging mailings, advertising, and the distribution of posters • Assisting with the preparation of publications • Assisting the Chaplains in co-ordinating student activity • Assisting the Chaplains in the arrangements for trips (including a retreat) and social activities • Building links with local churches • Supporting student groups and societies on campus Contribute to the operational effectiveness of the Chaplaincy by: • Attending Staff Meetings • Participating in Away Days • Following University policies and procedures on campus • Understanding the strategic aims of the University • Taking responsibility for the health and safety of self and others Contribute to the Cathedral’s student ministry by: • Co-ordinating student volunteer activity • Developing the Cathedral’s ministry to International Students • Taking a full and active part in the life of the Cathedral (including worship) Contribute to the effective working of the Cathedral by: • Understanding the Cathedral’s strategic plan • Following the policies and procedures outlined in the Staff Handbook • Taking responsibility for the health and safety of self and others 5 Support your own personal and spiritual development by: • Maintaining your own personal discipline in prayer and discipleship, including an annual retreat • Attending regular supervision sessions with Canon Lamb 4 Terms and Conditions • The appointment will be for one academic year, from 1st September 2007 to 30th June 2008. • The postholder will receive a University Associate Staff Ucard and will have access to telephone and office facilities, as well as a personal email account.