Diocese of Durham

DIOCESAN SECRETARY ROLE & BRIEFING

Blessing our communities in Jesus’ name 1 Christian witness is making a visible impact in every community.

GROWING CHURCHES

We are working for the well-being of all in our communities. We are challenging the established order for the common good.

CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

We are changing and enriching people’s lives through the Gospel.

2 POVERTY We are the Church of England from the Tyne to the Tees and the Dales to the Sea, blessing our communities in Jesus’ name for the transformation of us all.

WELCOME

Dear applicant, Many thanks for showing an interest in the role of Diocesan Secretary in the Diocese of Durham. We believe that as a Diocese we are “the Church of England from the Tyne to Tees and the Dales to the Sea, blessing our communities in Jesus’ name for the transformation of us all”. We are excited about what God is doing in our Diocese and we are seeking the right person to join our leadership team. As Diocesan Secretary, you will be the Chief Operating Officer of the Diocese, ensuring that the mission, financial sustainability and the strategy of the Diocese, are served by exemplary financial management, excellent administration and people management and effective governance. You will be part of my senior leadership team, embracing the vision that we share and being key to the resourcing and implementation of that vision. I believe that this role calls for dedication and commitment but offers the opportunity and reward of making a difference for good, and for God, in being part of seeing lives and communities transformed in the North East of England. I look forward to your application and thank you for your interest in exploring whether God is calling you to serve in this post.

Is God calling you to serve in this post?

3 1 - BACKGROUND & CONTEXT

Strictly speaking, the Diocese of Durham dates from 635 AD when Aidan was consecrated Bishop of Lindisfarne. The church of Northumbria was the cradle of Saxon Christianity in England and from early times a centre of learning whose influence was felt across Europe. The settling of Cuthbert’s remains at Durham made it the centre of the land of the ‘Haliwerfolk’ (the people of the holy man). In time the county took the city’s name and although local government reorganisation in 1974 changed the county boundaries, the present boundaries of the Diocese are close to the original County Durham. The present Cathedral was founded in 1093 and is world-famous as one of Europe’s great Romanesque masterpieces. It dominates the World Heritage site and according to Bill Bryson, travel author former Chancellor of Durham University), it is “the best cathedral on planet earth”. Until 1133, when the Diocese of Carlisle was created, there were only two dioceses in the Northern Province, namely York and Durham but in more modern times the Diocese of Newcastle, proposed from as early as 1553, was created in 1882 thus leaving the Diocese of Durham broadly its present size and area. There are roughly 1.5 million people living in the Diocese which covers an area of 987 square miles bounded by the River Tyne in the North and the River Tees in the South. It includes the cities of Durham and Sunderland, the metropolitan boroughs of Gateshead and South Tyneside (including Jarrow and South Shields) and Hartlepool, Darlington and Stockton on Tees. Away from the more urban east side the Diocese also encompasses in the West the rural beauty of Weardale and Teesdale, which reach into the North Pennines. Arising from the economic and industrial forces, the shape of the Diocese is also influenced by the major North-South trunk roads of the A1 and A19, which create a divide between the east coast and the west of the Diocese. At the same time the character of the Diocese changes from rural and market town in the south and west to former pit villages and large towns north and east of Bishop Auckland. There are a number of new town developments dating from the 1950s and 1960s. Newton Aycliffe, Peterlee and Washington are the primary examples, and Billingham shares many of the same features. The City of Sunderland was created in 1992, and the northern part of the Diocese includes the largely urban borough of Gateshead, with its iconic Angel, and the home of The Sage Gateshead.

4 CUTHBERT HOUSE We are the Church of England from the Tyne to the Tees and the Dales to the Sea, blessing our communities in Jesus’ name for the transformation of us all.

1.1 - THE DIOCESE

The modern Diocese consists of 270 churches, across 214 parishes in 15 deaneries in three archdeaconries (Auckland, Durham and Sunderland). Since 1906 there has been one suffragan, the Bishop of Jarrow. In the Diocese there are 19 parishes for which the Diocesan Bishop shares pastoral oversight with the Provincial Episcopal Visitor, the Bishop of Beverley. Ministry is provided by 163 stipendiary clergy (including curates) supported by lay staff and volunteers as well as self-supporting clergy, lay readers and authorised pastoral assistants. The Diocese is seeking to develop a greater variety of lay ministries as part of our vision of the future. The Central Administrative team includes 13 staff posts, many held by long serving and experienced officers reporting to the Diocesan Secretary. The Diocesan Secretary works closely with the Director of Mission, Discipleship and Ministry and their team, who are also based in the central Diocesan Office, Cuthbert House. The Diocese is governed through the two elected bodies, the Diocesan Synod and the Durham Diocesan Board of Finance (DDBF), a company limited by guarantee, and as the Secretary to the Synod and Company Secretary of the DDBF. The Diocesan Secretary is ideally placed to co-ordinate the work of both bodies, and ensure that their respective responsibilities for policy and resources are delivered effectively.

5 The Dioceses of Durham and Newcastle share an Education Team (the Joint Education team) which manages the delivery of the two dioceses’ Boards of Education objectives. The Durham Diocese Board of Education has responsibility for 58 church schools across the diocese (21 of which are voluntary aided, 24 are voluntary controlled, 11 are academies, 1 free school and 1 independent school). The Durham Diocese Board of Education is not incorporated and therefore financial accountability for the education agenda rests with the Durham Diocesan Board of Finance. Our vision is to ‘Bless our communities in Jesus’ name for the transformation of us all’. We are looking to be growing churches with a particular commitment to children and young people and to play our part in facing up to the reality of poverty. The outworking of our Diocesan vision is outlined in our Plan on a Page. https://durhamdiocese.org/download/diocesan-plan-2017-revision/ The new Diocesan Secretary will be joining the Bishop’s Leadership Team in a “season of change” and will need to be a key player in enabling this team to deliver the Diocesan vision. Within the Bishop’s Leadership Team the Diocese will in due course move from having 3 archdeacons each operating as 0.75 archdeacon and 0.25 parish or cathedral based to having only 2 full time archdeacons, our suffragan bishop, the Bishop of Jarrow, will retire in Autumn 2018 and the processes are starting to seek a successor for him. It will be important that the new Diocesan Secretary is able to establish strong working relations with the other new appointments, and current role holders to build a leadership team that is collaborative, supportive and focussed but most important of all centred on God’s mission for his church in the Durham Diocese.

Messy Church brings families to worship through fun and creativity.

6 We are the Church of England from the Tyne to the Tees and the Dales to the Sea, blessing our communities in Jesus’ name for the transformation of us all.

1.2 - KEY OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

██ Season of Change: The Bishop’s Leadership Team is undergoing a change in membership, this coincides with the opportunity to submit a significant grant bid to the National Church’s Strategic Development Fund to support the growth and development of a number of resourcing churches within the Diocese. The Diocesan Secretary will need to be able to build strong constructive relationships with the Bishop’s Leadership Team and swiftly engage with key developments and plans already in train as well as contribute fully to emerging plans and opportunities.

██ Developing and delivering strategy: The Diocesan Priorities are contained within the plan on a page - to grow churches with a particular commitment to children and young people and to play our part in facing up to the reality of poverty. We are working towards a Diocesan Conference in summer 2019 that will be an opportunity to celebrate what God has been doing in our Diocese and provide the opportunity for the Diocese to come together to shape our vision for the years beyond 2020.

██ Financial challenges – wider context: The wider financial context of the Church of England has been changing over the last few years, in particular in the ways in which the Church Commissioners’ income is distributed and the ways in which training for ministry is financed. It will be important that the Diocesan Secretary is a key strategic contributor in the development of our mission through these changes (and others that might come), working closely with key-stakeholders, to maximise the potential for the Diocese.

██ Financial Context – closer to home: For many years, the Diocese has delivered a deficit budget, funded partly through the use of reserves and partly through planned reductions in the number of clergy in post. There are forward forecasts that deliver a balanced budget but only through reducing clergy posts and delivering modest increase in parish share. The next Diocesan Secretary will need to lead on building financial resilience in parishes and the Diocese as a whole and exploring increased giving through stewardship and other forms of income. The Parish Giving Scheme is being launched in summer 2018 and it will be key that this scheme becomes firmly embedded within parishes.

██ Providing great service: Our Central Administrative Team already delivers a good service, as they seek to serve individual parishes and the Diocese. We believe that there is more we can do to support parishes – the next Diocesan Secretary, working in close collaboration with the Director of Mission, Discipleship and Ministry and their team, will need to understand the needs of parishes and identify cost effective methods to support them in their mission and operational resilience, equipping them to be fit for mission in the 21st century.

7 1.3 - TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This post is full time (the standard working week is 35 hours; this post carries with it significant responsibility and a requirement for flexibility) The holiday entitlement is 25 days (rising to 28 days after 2 years in post), plus statutory holidays and other customary holidays (including the Tuesday in Easter week and three days between Christmas and New Year). Salary: circa £68,000 subject to six-month probation review. The appointment may be terminated by four months’ notice either side, during the probationary period this is reduced to one month’s notice on either side. Pension arrangements: 10% employers contribution, plus up to a further 5% if matched by the employee. The post is based at Cuthbert House, Stonebridge, Durham DH1 3RY The post requires you to attend events and meetings in different locations, and you will require the use of a car for the performance of your duties. Mileage allowances at the current HMRC rates are paid, and all other expenses are reimbursed. If a house move is necessary, reasonable agreed costs of the removal carrier will be reimbursed.

██ Application process: The application form must be completed. On separate sheets, please outline how your skills, experience and personal attributes would enable you to meet the challenges of this role. Applications may be submitted electronically (preferred) to [email protected]. org or by hard copy to Bishop’s Office, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7NR by 17:00 Wednesday 4th July. Selection event will be held on Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th July in Durham. If you would like to discuss the post informally with the Vice-Chair of Board of Finance, please contact Jo Dowsett at the Bishop of Durham’s office in the first instance on 01388 602576 or [email protected]

Schools RE Ambassador training event at Cuthbert House

8 2 - JOB SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE: DIOCESAN SECRETARY

EMPLOYER: DURHAM DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE

ACCOUNTABLE TO: BISHOP OF DURHAM

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE POST:

The Diocese is committed to seeing God at work through the growth of His church, blessing all of the communities contained within it.

The role of the Diocesan Secretary, as Chief Operating Officer, is to ensure that the mission, financial sustainability and the strategy of the Diocese, as determined by the Bishop with their staff, Bishop’s Council and Diocesan Synod are served by exemplary financial management, excellent administration and people management and effective governance.

The main formal areas of responsibility are:

1. To be pro-active in the development and successful implementation of Diocesan policy;

2. To be a member of the Bishop’s Leadership Team;

3. To be the principal financial executive of the Diocese responsible for financial strategy and planning;

4. To effectively manage the Diocesan Central Administrative team;

5. To oversee the Governance activities of the Diocese including being Secretary of the Diocesan Synod and Company Secretary for the Diocesan Board of Finance (DDBF) and related bodies.

PRINCIPAL AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

1. A key contributor to the development and successful implementation of Diocesan policy

The Diocesan Secretary will:

1.1 work closely with the Bishop and Chair of Finance Group1 as a member of the Bishop’s Leadership Team. S/he will be an important policy adviser in this role, particularly on process and implementation. This will involve advising not only on national developments (e.g. initiatives from national church as part of Renewal and Reform Programme) and their implications for Durham but also on specific initiatives as they are considered with regard to the Diocese. It will include actively developing and delivering plans that focus on delivering the Diocese’s “plan on a page”.

1.2 work with, and enable the work of, the range of Committees and Boards in the Diocese (e.g. The Bishop’s Council, Diocesan Synod, Diocesan Boards of Finance and Education). S/he will also work with clergy at all levels and with members of the laity to coordinate ideas and to ensure both that their potential contribution to all areas is optimised and that all parties cooperate effectively in implementation of agreed activities.

1.3 hold responsibility for HR compliance of the DDBF, with the support of an external advisor.

1 The Bishop of Durham is the Chair of the Board of Finance, the Vice-Chair of the Board of Finance leads the Finance Group

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1.4 seek to establish the best possible relationships between the diocesan office and the parishes and Deaneries, aiming to deliver a high level of service at all times.

1.5 develop measures and criteria by which to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of policies and plans throughout the Diocese and review these assessments with the Bishop and their senior staff.

1.6 work with the Communications Advisor, participate in developing and managing a Diocesan Communication Strategy and will promote its effectiveness through the use of IT and the media.

1.7 in collaboration with senior colleagues, be alert to the needs of the clergy, their families, parishes and lay people ensuring a sympathetic and swift response to particular needs which may present themselves.

1.8 be fully committed to the diocese complying with safeguarding policies and best practice, ensuring that a professional and proficient administrative support service is provided to parishes as part of DBS checking and the delivery of safeguarding training.

2. A member of the Bishop’s Leadership Team

The Diocesan Secretary will:

2.1 be enthusiastically committed to the vision of the diocese, taking a leading role in the formation, delivery and evaluation of effective strategies to realise this.

2.2 relate appropriately to a range of parties including the Cathedral, neighbouring dioceses, the national church, regional and local ecumenical partners, local authorities, funding bodies and external not-for-profit organisations.

3. Overseeing Financial Strategy and Planning

Working with key Heads of Department, and others as appropriate, the Diocesan Secretary will:

3.1 ensure that statutory and management accounts and reports are provided to the Board of Finance at appropriate times and in accordance with statutes and ecclesiastical requirements.

3.2 ensure that the legal affairs of the Board are managed in accordance with professional advice.

3.3 oversee the preparation of the annual review and capital budgets, management accounts and long range financial projections, in consultation with all departments/committees.

3.4 oversee financial controls, ensuring compliance with purchasing policies.

3.5 oversee the management and financial reporting of specific programme (grant) funding, with support of programme managers including Central Church Strategic Development Funding.

3.6 manage the assets /balance sheet and cashflow of the diocese ensuring that: • assets are reviewed by the Investment Committee and managed in line with Diocese’s Investment Policy.

• management of income from key income streams including parish share, investments, Poorer Communities Funding covers the cash flow needs of the Diocese.

• robust monitoring of diocesan expenditure against budget is in place.

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3.7 Oversee the Property portfolio of the Diocese:

• ensuring the stock of clergy housing is maintained to appropriate standards, and works undertaken during vacancies and following quinquennials are completed on schedule and to budget;

• ensuring suitable housing is provided for clergy, on schedule, as movements occur;

• oversee the property portfolio (including a modest glebe portfolio), identifying the most appropriate use of property assets to deliver optimum impact/return.

3.8 Take oversight of the DDBF’s financial responsibilities and risks in delivering the diocese’s education agenda. • ensuring the implications in changes in the national education backdrop (e.g. funding and governance of schools) are managed such that DDBF is aware of the risk profile of the diocese’s educational activities;

• ensuring historic/legacy situations relating to school buildings and educational agreements are understood and managed to mitigate risk and financial exposure;

• work closely with the Board of Education and Director of Education to ensure that the diocese continues to provide excellent education provision.

4. Management of the Central Administrative Team

The Diocesan Secretary will provide both strategic leadership and general management for those working within the Diocesan Central Administrative Team. S/he will:

4.1 oversee and coordinate the work of the departments and operations of the team under their direct line management. S/he will have overall responsibility for ensuring that Cuthbert House is equipped to be a working place for diocesan staff and also serve the wider diocese as a focal meeting place.

4.2 be responsible for all aspects of the employment of Diocesan Board of Finance employees, ensuring that best practice employment and human resources is developed and implemented. This will include but is not limited to recruitment, induction, issues with terms and conditions, grievance, disciplinary and capability matters, absence and performance management.

4.3 oversee the staff annual appraisal for all staff in their teams, and identify their training and development requirements to enable them to carry out their roles effectively.

4.4 meet regularly with the archdeacons to manage matters relating to the day to day business of the diocese.

4.5 convene regular update and progress meetings with key diocesan postholders and will be responsible for ensuring that all areas of work are appropriately resourced. S/he will ensure the effective and appropriate delegation of tasks throughout the office and that best practice is developed and applied in all activities (including but not only equal opportunities, health and safety, data protection).

4.6 be responsible for supporting and providing a full secretarial service to the Diocesan Synod and Bishop’s Council, appropriate sub-committees, enabling groups, and working parties. Allied to this, the Diocesan Secretary will be responsible for ensuring that the Diocesan Boards receive appropriate support.

11 5. Governance

5.1 be responsible for ensuring that all channels of governance of the diocese are best configured to optimise the effectiveness of mission in the diocese.

5.2 be the Company Secretary of the Diocesan Board of Finance, Secretary to the Diocesan Synod and the Bishop’s Council and of other related companies as required.

5.3 ensure that a thorough risk assessment process exists and is reviewed at least twice a year with the Board of Finance and made available to Audit Committee.

5.4 ensure that any recommendations from the internal Audit Committee, external financial audit and any other key audits that occur are reviewed and where necessary actions plans adopted to address issues arising.

5.5 Ensure that the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) operates in a professional manner in line with current best practice, supporting parishes to care and develop their church buildings.

THE ROLE

The Diocesan Secretary reports to the Diocesan Bishop. They are also accountable to the Bishop’s Council, Diocesan Synod and the Chair of the Finance Group 2

Their direct reports will include:

• Finance Manager • Governance Support Manager • Houses Manager • Office Manager • Parish Giving Champion

The Diocesan Secretary is also the main point of contact for the HR Adviser to the Diocese and Communications Adviser (both of whom are currently outsourced providers of key services).

The Diocesan Secretary’s key relationships, among the many necessary to deliver their responsibilities, are with:

• Bishop of Durham (and their Chaplain) • Bishop of Jarrow • Archdeacons • Chair of Finance Group (Vice Chair of Board of Finance) • Director of Mission, Discipleship and Ministry • Diocesan Registrar (legal Adviser to the Bishop and Diocesan Board of Finance) • Chairs of the Houses of Clergy and Laity of the Diocesan Synod • Director of Education (shared post with Diocese of Newcastle) and Chair of Board of Education • Dean of Durham and Chapter Clerk of Durham Cathedral • Communications Advisor • HR Advisor • Safeguarding Advisor • Chair of Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) • Personal Secretary to the Bishop of Durham • Advisor for Women’s Ministry

2 The Diocesan Bishop is Chair of the Board of Finance, The Finance Group is chaired by the Vice-Chair of the Board of Finance

12 3 - PERSON SPECIFICATION

We are looking for an exceptional candidate who is able to demonstrate the following skills, experience and personal attributes at a level that would enable them to meet the challenges of this role.

CRITERIA ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE

Qualifications • A degree or equivalent professional • Management or other qualification professional qualification

Experience • A proven track record of effective • Experience of managing strategic and operational multi-million pound management, delivering successful budgets outcomes • Delivering transformational • A track record of success in organisational change organisational leadership, including • Relevant experience of motivating and managing staff property management, for • Effective administrative, financial and example property portfolio strategic planning management • Successful partnership working and • Experience of being a the ability to form strategic company secretary relationships • Experience of being a chief • Evidence of robust financial skills operating officer including experience of managing • Experience of working in large budgets and asset bases an organisation which • Member of a senior leadership team, combines and depends on delivering shared goals the work of a few staff professionals and many volunteers • Experience of broadening an organisation’s income base

Knowledge • A working knowledge of the • Conversant with the principles of charity governance complexities and nuances • An understanding of sound HR of the culture of the Church practices of England • An understanding of the Church of England’s legislative framework and its administrative structures

Skills and abilities • Strong inspirational leadership skills with a facilitative leadership style • Ability to delegate to team members to further their development • Excellent persuasion, negotiation and relationship management skills • The ability to communicate well and effectively, both orally and in writing across a wide range of audiences • Understanding of the use of information and information technologies in the management of a complex organisation

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• The vision, energy and clarity of mind to carry out the tasks listed in the job description • An eye for detail while being able to see the bigger picture Personal attributes • A living commitment to follow Jesus Christ * • A passion for the values, strategic objectives and approach of the Diocese • Credibility as a leader who is also inspiring, enthusiastic and capable of taking the organisation as a whole forward • Appreciate and understand the voluntary nature of the work of many people involved in the life of the diocese • Capacity to be flexible and work under pressure, with good levels of personal organisation and an ability to work to deadlines • Entrepreneurial and innovative thinker, able to be creative with limited resources.

Work related • Able to work flexibly including some circumstances evenings and weekends • Ability to travel independently throughout the Diocese • Willing to travel to meetings and conferences in different parts of the UK • Not disqualified from becoming a Company Secretary, Company Director, Charity Trustee, or any other position reasonably required within the scope of the role.

*The post holder must be an active communicant member of the Church of England or a full member of a church belonging to Churches Together in Britain and Ireland or the Evangelical Alliance. This post is exempt under paragraph 3 of Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010. The Diocese of Durham supports and promotes the aims of the Church of England.

14 4 -PLAN ON A PAGE 2017 Version 2 People Church. guidelines. Partnership volunteer time. Developing Capacity The National Church Managing our Investments Engage with and support the Renewal and Reform Agenda. Working with our Cathedral; local Working Ministerial Development Reviews; Staff Appraisals; Staff & Volunteer Staff Appraisals; & development; making good use of ecumenical partners and the wider Maximising the return from all of our from Maximising the return development; lay staff and volunteer structures, organisations and groups; and groups; organisations structures, Development; Evaluation of Activities. ALIGNING OUR RESOURCES Vocations; clergy continuing ministerial clergy Vocations; investments within the Church’s ethical investments within the Church’s Diocesan Business Plan 2016 - 2020 Diocesan Business 2016 Plan name for the transformation of us all. attract funding. Poverty Seeking New Funding and other funding bodies to fostering dignity. Working with the National Church with the National Church Working Transforming Lives Transforming Understanding and through the Gospel. through challenging injustice; We are changing and are We enriching people’s lives enriching people’s working in our communities Engaging with Young Adults Engaging with Young partners to meet community needs. We are the Church of England from the Tyne to the Tees to the Tees the Tyne of England from the Church are We Identifying poverty; listening;offering welcome and hospitality; working with Embracing all forms of poverty (not just Focus on reaching 18 – 25’s: support for 18 – 25’s: Focus on reaching economic); help to move out of poverty; students, apprentices, interns; students, apprentices, leadership. and the Dales to Sea, blessing our communities in Jesus’ Stewardship their finances. Prayer Supporting parishes to manage Being with Jesus; Seeing with Jesus. Listening to Jesus; Developing Leaders Growth/Lay Ministries). Growth/Lay church school for growth school for growth church (Missional Leadership for in every congregation and in every congregation Equip leaders (lay and clergy) Equip leaders (lay and clergy) Christian witness is in every community. leadership; schools. KEY PRIORITIES How we pay for it making a visible impact Transforming Churches Transforming ENABLING FACTORS Children and Young People and Young Children STRATEGIC OUTCOMES STRATEGIC FINANCIAL RESOURCES What will help us get there What we need to be good at Where we will put our energy adults (18-25) to grow in life skills and adults (18-25) to grow education for life; opportunities young Listening to young people; good childhood; Build a plans fully. Generous Giving Generous community of faith Developing Disciples (The ‘Blessing’ course) to give generously to fund our to give generously Encouraging our congregations Encouraging our congregations Developing Deaneries groups locally and globally. locally and globally. groups Working with the Wider Church Working growing numbers. growing care for the world; care Growing Churches Growing community engagement; Church Partnerships with other churches and Partnerships with other churches Church (Develop, deliver, and evaluate Deanery Plans). (Develop, deliver, (including in schools). Transforming Communities Transforming budget by 2020. Building Congregations with families and children Financial Planning established order for the common good. established order Fresh Expressions; new churches new churches Expressions; Fresh We are working for the well-being of all in are We our communities. We are challenging the are our communities. We Deeper love for God and neighbour; more Deeper love for God and neighbour; more Work through local leaders to deliver mission at deanery level through Work (church plants); new congregations; plants); new congregations; (church Planning to deliver a balanced ‘Partnership in Missional Church’; work ‘Partnership in Missional Church’; 15 Cuthbert House Stonebridge Diocese of Durham Durham DH1 3RY

T: 01388T: 01388 604515 604515 | | W: W: www.durham.anglican.org www.durham.anglican.org | E: [email protected] | E: [email protected]

The Durham Diocesan Board of Finance is the Financial Executive of the Diocese of Durham of the Church of England, is registered in England (Company No 192018) under the Companies Act, is a Company Limited by Guarantee and is a Charity registered under No 248287