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Appointment of an Associate Vicar Information Pack

Index ` Page

1. Mission Statement 2 2. Job Description 2 3. Person Profile 4 4. The team 4 4.1 The Vicar 4.2 Staff team members 5. Parish profile 6 5.1 The context: the parish setting 5.2 Vision and priorities 5.3 The Churches 5.4 Congregation and population 5.5 Lay involvement 5.6 Parochial organisations 5.7 Future plans 5.8 Co-operation with other local churches 5.9 A training role 6. Accommodation 13 7. Additional information 14 7.1 Resolutions ref Ordination of Women 7.2 Holidays and days off 7.3 Expenses 8. Appointment process 14 9. The Diocese of Birmingham 15 10. Diocesan Programme – Transforming Church 16 11. Appointment 16 12. Support and Resources 17 13. Child Protection 18

Appendix A - Description of the Area served by the three Churches 19 Appendix B – The Church Buildings 22

Further information from: Revd Dr Andy Jolley Aston Vicarage, Sycamore Road, Aston Birmingham, B6 5UH 0121 327 5856 [email protected] www.astonnechellscofe.org.uk

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The Parish of Aston and Nechells Appointment of an Associate Vicar

1 Mission Statement

We seek to ‘follow Jesus and make a difference together’. Together the three churches exist to help people to follow Jesus together, and together with Him to make a difference in the communities of Aston and Nechells. In other words, we want to ‘make disciples who make a difference’. For several years, we have held seven values that help shape our life together:

· All Involved,

· Becoming Disciples,

· Creating Community,

· Doing Evangelism,

· Encountering God,

· Food (we love to share it), and

· Generosity in our engagement with our local communities we seek to share generously all that God has given to us. This is amplified in section 5.2

2 Job Description

2.1 The vision

The Associate Vicar will be a significant leader alongside the Vicar for the life of the Anglican Churches of Aston and Nechells. Particularly for Nechells, (s)he will be an important visible expression of the church and become well known in the local community. (S)he will take responsibility for specific areas of mission and ministry across the whole parish and three churches so that, as far as possible, each member of the staff team works in areas of their gifting and strengths.

2.2 Particular areas for which the Associate Vicar may have oversight and responsibility (to be agreed with the Vicar according to gifting and experience)

1. Directing Mission & Evangelism, including Alpha, community fun days and other whole church “out” events, planting new expressions of church (eg for ex-Muslim followers of Jesus, young people, workplace church) and lead mission among local

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people of South Asian ethnic background, most of whom are Muslims, and to train and equip local Christians in such mission.

2. Directing Discipleship and Pastoral Care, including Sunday teaching programmes, the Triangle (Cell) groups, the Welcome Teams and other training programmes.

3. Directing Leadership Development, in particular the Growing Leaders programme (now working with its second cohort).

4. Directing Community Ministries through CAN DO 4:13, a charitable company founded by the PCC which at present involves St James Advice Centre and Aston & Nechells Food Bank.

5. Directing Youth & Children’s Ministry, including Messy Church and supervision of the part-time children’s worker (employed through the Grace organisation) and youth worker, schools ministry, in particular (but not limited to) our two church schools.

2.3 Other particular areas of responsibility to be allocated by agreement within the Team

6. Line management / supervision of staff employed by the churches (eg Administrators at St James Church and Aston Parish Church, Projects Officer, Mission Apprentice).

7. Possible oversight of one or more of the three congregations.

8. Trustee of various local charities (eg James Homes, Holte & Bracebridge Almshouses).

2.4 All members of the Clergy Team will be expected:

1. To work effectively as a member of a team with other clergy and with a wider team of paid staff and volunteers.

2. To lead worship and ministry in each of the churches, respecting the different characteristics and traditions of each.

3. To be involved with pastoral care and oversight of the congregations of the three churches;

4. To be flexible and adaptable in the delivery of ministry.

5. To share and embody the agreed shared vision and values of the churches.

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6. To work with neighbouring Anglican parishes, and with other local churches through Aston Churches Together and Churches Together in Nechells, to build God’s Kingdom in Nechells and Aston

3 Person Profile

We are looking for a new Associate Vicar: · who is a mature Christian leader; · who loves the Lord, his people and those who don’t yet know him, who has a passionate concern for those who find themselves on the edge or in need; · who listens to God and is readily obedient to what God says; · who is excited by working in an diverse inner-city environment and loves engaging with people from a range of cultures; · who has a heart to bring God’s love and transforming power to the people of Aston and Nechells and to make disciples of them; · who has a life grounded in prayer and shaped by God’s wo rd; · who has experienced God’s transforming power in their own life and is secure in who they are in Jesus; · who is a people person, approachable and sensitive to others, whatever their background; · who is willing to lead and encourage others; · who will enjoy working collaboratively, creatively and flexibly with the rest of the staff team and the wider lay leadership in the churches; · who isn’t a know-it-all, but someone who can accept challenges, take risks, make mistakes and learn – and help us to do the same. · who is an evangelical and open to the work and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

4 – The Team

4.1. The Vicar

Revd. Dr. Andy Jolley Aston Vicarage, Sycamore Road, Aston, Birmingham B6 5UH Telephone: 0121 327 5856, mobile 07973 458403

E-mail address: [email protected] Website: www.astonnechellscofe.org.uk

Date of ordination: 1998

Length of time in present parish: 9 years

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Other responsibilities and duties currently undertaken by incumbent:

Area Dean of Aston Member of Bishop’s Council Member of Cathedral Council Member of Diocesan Synod Chair of CAN DO 4:13 (Charitable Company) Chair of Trustees of St Thomas’ Dole Charity Trustee of Holte & Bracebridge Charity and James Homes (Almshouses) Member of Lee Abbey Household Communities Board Chair of Lee Abbey Aston Household Local Support Group Co-Chair of Aston Churches Together New Wine UPA Network co-leader

Line management experience while Vicar of Aston:

Previous Associate Vicar: Jenny Arnold (2005 – 2012) previously curate at Aston Parish Church (2002-2005)

Other Previous curates: Fiona Robertson (Parish(es) of Aston & Nechells 2006-2010), Lee Hills (Aston Deanery Pioneer Minister 2006-2008), Michele Taylor (Aston Deanery Pioneer Minister 2009-2010)

Previous posts:

4 years as Curate at St John’s Sparkhill Birmingham

7 years as a Management Consultant with Deloitte Haskins & Sells, then Coopers & Lybrand, specializing in change management following gaining an MBA at Warwick Business School.

4 years working for Ford applying computer systems to product development and manufacturing also qualified as a Chartered Mechanical Engineer.

4.2. Staff team members:

As well as the incumbent, there is an Associate Vicar, post vacant. There is also a curate, Revd Beverly Watson (Jenny Arnold the previous Associate Vicar was Beverly’s Training Incumbent). Mike Harmon is due to take up an appointment as curate after his ordination in July 2012

In addition to the clergy, there is also: - a full-time Youth and Community Worker, (Ivor Lewis), who also has a focus in community development work in the North Witton part of the parish; - a Church Centre Co-Ordinator at St James (Jackie Burton), working 21 hours a week; 5

- an Administrator at Aston Parish Church (Stephanie Fletcher) working 15 hours a week; - a Projects Officer (Nigel Cripps) who is paid for 11 hours a week; - a quarter time Children’s Worker (Jane Williams) employed through the Grace organisation; - a half-time Mission Apprentice (Paul Lacey) employed by the PCC through the Diocese of Birmingham Mission Apprentice Scheme.

There is a weekly staff meeting on Monday lunchtime and afternoons, attended by the clergy and Ivor, which the staff take it in turn to host. After lunch, we have “huddle” a time for mutual accountability, sharing and prayer before we move on to the business part of the meeting. David Fletcher, the leader of the Lee Abbey Aston community (and Director of the St James Advice Centre) joins us for lunch and huddle.

As well as the staff team there are six active readers, one from St Matthew’s, two from St James and three from Aston Parish Church. There is another reader in training from St Matthew’s and two retired readers at Aston Parish Church. While each Reader sees one of the churches as their “home”, their ministry is exercised across the 3 churches.

5 - Parish Profile

5.1. The context: the parish setting

? Rural ?Ö Urban ? Semi-rural ? City centre

? Country town ?Ö Inner city ? Industrial ? Housing estate ? Suburban

5.2. Vision and Priorities

Our mission statement at the head of this paper states -

We seek to ‘follow Jesus and make a difference together’. Together the three churches exist to help people to follow Jesus together, and together with Him to make a difference in the communities of Aston and Nechells. In other words, we want to ‘make disciples who make a difference’.

Our vision for Community

We see ourselves as being churches for the local community. Even though a good number of people in our congregations live outside the parish, we encourage everyone to be involved in mission in the parish. Aston Parish Church 6

is seen by many former Aston residents as their family church, and we welcome and accept this trying to say “yes” wherever possible for requests for funerals and weddings from such families. Hence we see people as “parishioners” if they spend time in Aston even if they are not residents.

We seek to build community, both within and between our churches, and also in the wider community of Aston and Nechells. New people come into our churches, especially Aston Parish Church and St Matthew’s, most weeks and we seek to build relationships with them so that they want to be part of a loving community which finds its source in God.

Our vision of mission

We are seeking to develop a culture of growing and becoming as followers of Jesus, engaged in his mission. The past six years have seen the three churches working well together in mission. The strap line we have developed for our new parish is “Following Jesus and Making a Difference Together.” The Together applies both to our working with Jesus and with each other. We have seen a growing confidence in mission across the three churches, but this needs to develop further. There are areas of mission that need developing eg. our outreach to the Muslim community.

What are the incumbent’s and PCC’s vision and priorities.

There is a vision of being a ‘Triangular’ church, with foci on Up / In / Out (Up to God in worship and intimate encounter, In to each other through mutual accountability and encouragement to grow as followers of Jesus, and Out to our community in mission, service and evangelism). Since coming together in 2005, the congregations of the three churches have grown in confidence in mission. Where there had been a willingness to reach out, but perhaps an uncertainty about how to, many of the church are now involved in ‘out’ activity.

A second aspect of our vision is to deepen the extent to which the 7 values of All Involved, Becoming Disciples, Creating Community, Doing Evangelism, Encountering God, sharing Food and Generosity are expressed in the life of the churches.

We find that enquirers and converts often come from very complex and damaging ‘family’ units. It is important that the clergy are comfortable with counseling and discipling such needy people with complex backgrounds.

5.3. The Churches

There are 3 Church of England Churches in the Parish: Aston Parish Church (Ss Peter & Paul, Aston); St James, Aston; St Matthew, Nechells. Appendix B provides technical information on the buildings

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Ecclesiastical tradition: All three churches are open evangelical churches which are charismatic / influenced by renewal (for the past few years a large party of 60-70 adults and children from the 3 churches has gone to New Wine).

Electoral roll number(s): Parish 250 (Aston Parish Church 135, St James 77, St Matthew’s 38) [2011 data ]

Pattern of Sunday worship:

The current Sunday morning worship pattern is;

Aston Parish St Matthew’s St James Week of Church Church Church Month 10.45am 11.00am 11.00am All Age 1st Sunday First Sunday (1) Holy Communion Worship Holy 2nd Sunday Holy Communion All Age Worship Communion Morning 3rd Sunday Morning Worship Holy Communion Worship Holy 4th Sunday Holy Communion Morning Worship Communion Morning 5th Sunday Holy Communion Morning worship Worship † (see below) (see below) (see below)

USA (adults/U16) 86/18 24/8 47/3 (2011 figures)

(1) 1st Sunday All Age Worship in Aston Parish Church Centre, with lunch, informal communion and activities (http://www.astonnechellscofe.org.uk/worship_sunday#first-sunday) A good number of the congregation of St Matthew’s and St James come for the shared lunch.

Holy Communion services use Common Worship Order One, but at Aston Parish Church and St Matthew’s we often follow the pattern of a Service of the Word with Holy Communion. At these churches, all the liturgy and songs are projected onto a screen. At St James we use Common Worship service booklets for communion and service cards for Service of the Word.

The 5th Sunday is flexible. Two or three times a year, we have a united Sunday morning service for our 3 churches at Aston Parish Church. Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday services are also united services and these take place at St James or St Matthew’s.

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There is a single informal evening service (“More”) at Aston Parish Church Centre from 6.30pm. This is an opportunity for a deeper experience of worship, teaching, prayer etc.

Weekday services:

Wednesday 3.30pm Messy Church once a month at St Matthews Church Saturday 10.00am Asian Fellowship (Punjabi/English) in Aston Parish Church Centre

Pattern of Annual Mission Activities:

There are a number of mission opportunities which are built into the calendar each year: - Shrove Tuesday pancake parties eg at Church School - Good Friday walks of witness in both Aston and Nechells (with other local churches) - Easter Car Wash, together with Easter Pageant if Aston Villa are at home over Easter - Community Fun Days in both Aston & Nechells (with other local churches) - Open Air Services on Sunday evenings at different points around the parish during the summer months - Back to Church Sunday - Service for those who have been bereaved around All Saints Day - Community Carol Service with local schools - Christmas Eve Candlelit Carol Service - Alpha course each term - Healing on the streets before Aston Villa weekend home fixtures

Occasional Offices: (2011 data):

12 baptisms, of which 6 were of adults (all at Aston Parish Church) and 6 of children (3 at Aston Parish Church, 3 at St Matthew’s). Adult baptisms are by immersion in the new baptistery at Aston Parish Church and are of people from each of the 3 churches. In addition, there were 6 thanksgivings for children (3 at Aston Parish Church and 3 at St Matthew’s)

6 marriages: 5 were at Aston Parish Church, and 1 at St James (though 2010 was more typical with 22 marriages, 19 of which were at Aston Parish Church, 1 at St James and 2 at St Matthew’s). 9

55 funerals: 35 at the local crematoria or cemeteries and 20 in church (Aston Parish Church 18, St James 1, St Matthew’s 1)

Pattern of daily offices:

Morning Prayer takes place (at 9.15 a.m.) at Aston Parish Church on Mondays, St James on Tuesdays and St Matthew’s on Wednesdays and Fridays. During term time, we meet for prayer on Wednesdays at the earlier time of 8.50 am and then go to St Matthew’s school to pray with staff from 9.30 am to 10 am. Thursday is often the vicars day off.

5.4 Congregations and population

The congregation is ethnically diverse. In all three churches there is a mix of local people and others who commute to church (many of whom used to live in Aston or Nechells).

Appendix A provides statistical data on the population and area served by the three churches

5.5 Lay involvement

A key value we have is ‘All Involved’ i.e. everyone has a role and is expected to be a participant. This value has been embedded longest at Aston Parish Church, but is recognised at the other 2 churches.

Involvement in mission and serving the community have helped people in all three churches to build confidence, both through serving others and also by offering prayer for healing at our community fun-days. Confidence in recognising and sharing God’s involvement in everyday lives has grown through sharing testimony, which is part of Sunday morning worship at all 3 churches.

We are in our second year of running Growing Leaders, which is helping more lay people to grow in confidence in their ministries both outside and inside the church.

Midweek Groups:

There are 8 Triangle (cell) groups for adults and 1 for young people, in addition to the Asian Fellowship. Several of the groups have a membership made up of people from the three churches. All are lay-led. 10

The Alpha course runs three times a year for enquirers or those thinking about confirmation. There is joint clergy / lay leadership. Each course tends to be run at a different location and time in order to maximise accessibility, though leaders and members come from across the whole parish.

An early morning prayer group meets on Tuesdays at Aston Parish Church.

5.6 Parochial organisations

CAN DO 4:13 was established in January 2011 as a charitable company to take on the community work previously undertaken under the umbrella of the PCC. It is now responsible for St James Advice Centre and the Aston & Nechells Food Bank. The three current directors are all members of the PCC.

Areas of particular mission and ministry of parish

Schools – Aston Churches Together has a schools team who take assemblies in most local Junior schools for Christmas and Easter. The clergy take assemblies each Tuesday in both St Clement’s and St Matthew’s schools Healing – Prayer ministry is available at Aston Parish Church and St Matthew’s each Sunday morning and less often at St James. A Healing on the Streets team offers prayer to supporters before each Aston Villa weekend home fixture and also at the community fun days. Advice – St James’ Advice centre, staffed by a mix of Muslim and Christian staff with many Muslim users. Pre-school – There is a parent & toddler group on Wednesdays in St Matthew’s Church with some leaders from the church. Uniformed organisations – Brownies, Guides and Boys Brigade groups all meet each week in Aston Parish Church Centre. A Scout group meets at St Matthew’s Bell Ringers – Meet on Thursday evenings at Aston Parish Church Food Bank – Starting in November 2011, and based at St Matthew’s in Nechells (and the Salvation Army in Aston), this works with those experiencing acute

poverty.

5.7 Particular future plans (already established)

Our current Transforming Church goals, as agreed by clergy and PCC, are:

1. To continue welcoming newcomers to our churches and helping them to feel they belong to our congregations. A Newcomers Development Group has recently been established. 11

2. To increase the numbers and capacity of leaders of all ages in our churches. We are running the CPAS Growing Leaders Course for a second year. 3. To grow gifts in music within the congregations which will enhance worship for all. A band has been established at Aston Parish Church and musicians are now being “loaned” to St Matthew’s from Aston Parish Church. 4. Children and Young People – to develop our capacity for youth and children’s ministry (we lack resources not opportunities) and to make children, and families with children, more welcome and more involved in our services. 5. To work towards every new Christian having 1:1 mentoring weekly for 3 months (after Alpha for those doing that course) and then less regularly 6. To increase the number of people involved in ministry in our churches 7. To grow in loving and serving the neediest in our parish, with more congregation members being involved in serving the needy and more needy people being served.

Our current Transforming Church goals, as agreed by clergy and PCC, are shown above. For the next 12 months, we need to give most attention to Welcoming Newcomers (goal 1), Ministry with Children (goal 4) and Serving Needy People (goal 7).

5.8 Co-operation with other local churches

Aston Churches Together and Churches Together in Nechells are both relatively strong bodies. In the past, the Aston Churches have met together once or twice a year at Aston Villa’s Holte Suite for Sunday morning worship. Both groups share together in putting on community fun days (for around 1000 people each time) and in walks of witness on Good Friday. The Aston Churches also have a schools team who lead assemblies in the local primary schools at Christmas and Easter. The Aston Church Leaders meet each on the first Wednesday of each month for lunch and the Nechells Church Leaders meet around 4 times a year.

The Vicar is the co-chair of Aston Churches Together. The previous Associate Vicar was the chair of Churches Together in Nechells.

5.9 A training role

The Church strives to meet people where they are. The younger members are keen to use digital media but at the opposite end of the spectrum there are a significant number of members for whom English is not their first language and who have difficulty understanding ‘business’ English in spoken and written form.

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A key role of the clergy in this parish is to grow the knowledge and leadership potential of the lay people. New Christians are nurtured by mentoring including encouraging them to join an Alpha or other Christian induction course. In addition the Clergy need to identify lay people with leadership potential; encourage them to take on new roles and to join a ‘growing leaders’ and other courses suitable to the individual.

We are keen to develop a more robust buddy and or mentoring for new members.

This Parish has a long history of welcoming theological students on placement.

6- Accommodation

St Matthew’s Vicarage is a spacious, purpose-built property, constructed c1963 adjacent to St Matthew’s church complex, with a hardstanding for a number of cars to the front and an enclosed rear garden. A single, brick-built garage stands at right angles to the property.

The property is double glazed and cavity wall insulation is due to be installed by the end o March 2012. 13

The front door leads to a hall, study, cloakroom and WC and on to a good-sized lounge. The dining room has a servery hatch through to the kitchen. Beyond the kitchen there is a laundry room and substantial storage cupboards. On the 1st floor there are four bedrooms, a shower room, bathroom and separate WC. A boarded attic is reached by a permanent staircase and incorporates a storeroom. The attic can be used as a bedroom.

The house has gas-fired central heating throughout and is equipped with intruder and smoke alarms. The responsibility for maintenance is described in the relevant Diocesan regulations.

Prior to moving in, a new minister will be invited to pay a further visit to the house with the diocesan surveyor and archdeacon. The PCC has contributed to a diocesan decorations scheme, funding from which may be put towards the cost of internal redecoration.

7 - Additional information:

7.1 Resolutions passed under the Priest (Ordination of Women) Measure

None

7.2 Holidays and Days Off

The Associate Vicar is strongly encouraged to take a regular day off each week which will be agreed (Andy usually takes Thursdays off, Beverly takes Friday and Ivor takes Saturday).

Holiday entitlement is four weeks each year plus 5 days after both Easter and Christmas. Holiday dates are to be mutually agreed. Up to 10 days for conferences, personal retreat or study courses in addition to Bishop’s Study Days for Clergy Time for working holidays such as camps or leading groups to New Wine

7.3 Expenses

All general expenses of office are reimbursed. Specific items in addition to these may be covered if agreed with Andy and / or Treasurer first.

8- Appointment process

Applicants should complete the application form and send it to Revd Andy Jolley (see page 1 for contact details), along with a letter indicating:

(a) the ministry in which you have been involved to date; 14

(b) why you feel drawn to this post; (c) how your experience and abilities match the particular requirements of this post.

The closing date for applications is currently open.

Interviews will be held over 2 days.

On the first day from noon candidates will be able to visit the 3 churches and the St Matthews Vicarage. At each church they will meet 2 members of the congregation who will act as guides.

The candidates will be invited to dinner with the vicar and his family.

Overnight accommodation is available in a local hotel or with a church family (according to candidates’ preferences).

On the second day the formal interviews will be conducted by a team consisting of the vicar, a representative from each church and the Archdeacon of Aston (representing the Bishop). This panel will make a recommendation to the Bishop, who is likely to wish to meet a candidate nominated by the panel from the parish.

Candidates should be free to leave by lunchtime of the second day. Telephone debrief will be offered to unsuccessful candidates.

9 - The Diocese of Birmingham

The Diocese of Birmingham is geographically small, but contains a population of 1,387,000 people. It covers 294 square miles, and contains 195 Church of England places of worship. It is blessed with a rich mix of people from a wide range of national and ethnic backgrounds and, while largely urban, includes the significant presence of rural village communities. The City of Birmingham is a major centre of culture, education, commerce and industry, around which stand other boroughs and local communities each with their own individual character and history. The diocese covers not only the city of Birmingham, but also the borough of Solihull, half of Sandwell, and parts of Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Alongside the historic Christian denominations are many younger church groupings and Christian networks, as well as the strong presence of other world faiths. The deanery of Aston has 10 churches in 7 parishes.

10 - Diocesan programme: Transforming Church

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The Bishop of Birmingham, the Rt Revd David Urquhart, is urging parishes to plan for outreach and growth, under the banner “Transforming Church”. The suffragan Bishop of Aston, the Rt Revd Andrew Watson, has a specific brief to foster local church growth.

Any priest appointed to this diocese must be committed to engaging with those who have not yet come to faith, gathering people whose Christian allegiance has flagged, and developing lay leadership and responsibility in the cause of the Gospel. A renewed programme is being developed to assist parishes in this task.

Key areas in this programme are:

· Transforming worship: drawing us into the presence of the living God; · Transforming relationships: finding healing, encouragement and challenge through our life together; · Transforming discipleship: enabling us to grow as confident followers of Jesus; · Transforming leadership: releasing and harnessing the gifts of all God’s people; · Transforming presence: living out God’s love in our communities and the wider world; · Transforming outreach: leading others to believe in Christ and belong to his Body; · Transforming partnerships: working together with people of good will to see God’s purposes fulfilled.

Every parish has been assigned a consultant who will help clergy and PCCs address one or more of these areas, as appropriate. Consultants are clergy or lay people from within the diocese. Parishes are asked to take stock of their life and mission, and to identify priorities for their development and outreach in the coming months.

Taking the diocese as a whole, the Bishop is looking for growth which will increase the number of worshippers, develop children’s and youth ministry, see a regular Christian basics course in every parish, increase financial giving, and build local leadership. These are summed up in ten diocesan goals. More information can be seen on the diocesan website: http://www.birmingham.anglican.org/

11 - Appointment

The stipend for incumbent status priests in this diocese in 2011-12 is £22,490 plus payment of Council Tax. The person appointed will have removal costs paid (within the UK), plus a resettlement grant of up to £2,140. If this is the post- holder’s first incumbent status post, a further grant up to the same amount is payable in order to purchase items necessary as an incumbent for work purposes. Reasonable working expenses are reimbursed in full by the PCC. 16

The priest appointed must have exercised at least three years stipendiary ordained ministry, and should have experience of ministry in the UK. This priest appointed will be an office holder under Common Tenure, and the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Regulations will apply.

It is hoped that any necessary work to the parsonage will be done during the vacancy, but the person appointed will have the opportunity to visit the house with the Diocesan Surveyor after the appointment is announced.

It is important that the priest appointed plays a full part in the life of the deanery, particularly Chapter and Synod, and in the wider programme of the Diocese. Opportunities for ecumenical collaboration should also be pursued, and good relationships sought with other faith communities.

12 - Support and Resources

The appointed person, like all clergy in the Diocese of Birmingham, will have an annual Ministerial Development Review. Clergy meet first with a consultant (ordained or lay) from the Bishop’s list for an in depth conversation. An agreed summary of that conversation is sent to the Bishop himself, together with any agreed suggestions for further training. Clergy are also encouraged to identify a spiritual director or soul friend, and a pastoral adviser is available for consultation in absolute confidence on personal matters. The person appointed must participate in Continuing Ministerial Development.

Diocesan officers are available to give assistance and support, advising on Mission and Evangelism, Ministry (continuing clergy ministerial education, lay adult development, youth and children’s ministries), Communications, Community Regeneration, engagement with schools, ecumenism, interfaith relations, ministry in the workplace, liturgy, buildings, finance, safeguarding and law. An induction day for new clergy is held each year to introduce them to key officers, and also a residential gathering for those incumbent for the first time. Periodic study mornings are planned, which clergy are expected to attend. Every three years there is a residential 4-day clergy conference. Clergy must participate in Continuing Ministerial Development

It is expected that clergy will have one clear day off per week, and 36 days leave in a full year. Clergy are encouraged to attend a conference / study opportunity and to have time for a retreat annually. This is not reckoned as holiday.

13 - Policy on Child Protection

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In line with the House of Bishops guidance, this diocese observes a Policy for the Protection of Children. Before a formal offer of appointment is made, the preferred candidate will be asked to sign a Declaration Form in line with the Bishop’s Policy. This form asks the person concerned to declare whether or not they have ever been convicted of a criminal offence with regard to children or accepted in this regard an official caution from the police. In addition the preferred candidate will be checked through the Criminal Records Bureau, and so will be required to complete a form and produce evidence of identity. The Parish also has a child and vulnerable adult protection policy.

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Appendix A

Description of the Area served by the three Churches

According to the 2010 (latest) government Indices of Multiple Deprivation; the Parish is 6th most deprived in Birmingham and the 83rd nationally (of 12582 ie top 1%).

St Peter & St Paul (Aston Parish Church)

At the 2001 Census, the population was 7514. The population of Aston is richly multi-cultural. About 37% are Asian/Asian British origin, 17% are Black/Black British and 41% are White. 28% are under 15; 56% between 15 and 60; 16% over 60. 42% claimed to be Christian and 31% Muslim. The Church has been a significant influence in creating and maintaining good community relationship and continued to do so following 11 September 2001 and 7 July 2005.

This part of the parish is largely industrial, but also encompasses the whole of the 50-acre Aston Park with its impressive 17th Century Aston Hall, and Villa Park, the home of the premier league Aston Villa Football Club. A number of schools, two railway stations (Aston and Witton). 29% of residential property is owner-occupied, the rest is council or housing association owned or rented. It varies between three 16-storey tower blocks, rows of small Victorian terraces, warden-supervised accommodation and post-war houses and flats.

In the vicinity of the Church, together with Villa Park and Aston Park, there are roads of terraced properties, a medium-sized modern housing estate where the vicarage (where Andy and his family lives) is located, the Osborne and Normansell Tower blocks (the latter empty, awaiting demolition), Manor Park Primary School, Yew Tree J & I School, King Edward VI Grammar School (Aston), a Salvation Army Citadel with an innovative youth church planting project, Shiloh Pentecostal Fellowship which is adjacent to the Curate’s house, a two-doctor surgery, a police station and a small shopping parade. Also within reach are Witton Road (one side with shops), Junction Six Industrial Estate, Serpentine Road Mosque, an Islamic Educational Cultural Centre, a few corner shops, The Seven Day Adventist Church Regional Centre in Lichfield Road, Witton Methodist Church, Witton Community Centre and Deykin Avenue J & I School.

The South of this area is home to major car distributors, a taxi test centre, the Aston Manor Secondary School, Aston Tower J & I School, Mount Zion Christian Centre, South Aston United Reformed Church, the South Aston Community Association, Victoria Road Evangelical Church, a mosque, the Sapphire Tower block, the new HQ of Birmingham’s Royal Mail and Parcel Force, Dartmouth Circus Industrial Estate and the pretty Phillips Street Park with children’s play area. There is a small estate of owner-occupied houses and flats. In a triangle formed by Chester Street and Rocky Lane and the Lichfield Road, there are a few pockets of terraced housing among light industrial units, the large modern office of Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and Aston Locks Day Nursery. In the nearby Waterlinks development on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, Aston Cross is home to various offices, a regional dialysis centre and an upmarket restaurant.

St Matthew, Nechells

This section of the parish is part industrial and part residential. The population was 7150 at the 2001 Census. About 15% are Asian/Asian British origin, 19% are Black/Black British and 55% 19 are White. 26% are under 15; 56% between 15 and 60; 18% over 60. 55% claimed to be Christian and 15% Muslim. Since 2001, a significant Somali population has settled in the area.

Post-war slum clearance gave way to substantial council house building here, including a number of tower blocks. Later, Nechells formed part of Birmingham’s ‘Heartlands’ redevelopment zone and benefited from a modernisation programme.

Major roads divide the area into four sections. The South West area, known as Bloomsbury, is marked by Nechells Parkway (the A47) and Thimble Mill Lane (B1144). Gasometers dominate the skyline. Recent redevelopment includes the Campanile and Travel Inn budget hotels and a large office complex; these lead on to the new Ringway Business Park. There are corner pubs, a few retail shops and substantial pockets of housing – much of it attractive and relatively newly built, as well as older properties and massive tower blocks. As with all inner city parishes, vandalism is rife and preventative measures are evident.

The Northern area, bordered by Thimble Mill Lane to the West and the Grand Union Canal to the East, was until 1987 the parish of St Clement’s. This includes the Long Acre Trading Estate, Nechells J & I and St Clement’s C of E Schools (see below), a shopping parade and children’s play area and the New Jerusalem Apostolic Church, a Roman Catholic Church and burial ground, the Methodist Church and Ebenezer Mission Hall. Some homes clearly belong to either Local Authority or Housing Association; others are owner-occupied or are let by private landlords.

At the southern end, (Duddeston), Nechells Green is flanked by Nechells Parkway (A47) to the North, and Vauxhall Road, Great Francis Street and Melvina Road (B4132) to the South and East. This is where St Matthew’s Church and parsonage (where the Associate Vicar lives) are located, as is St Matthew’s J & I School and Heartlands High School. Duddeston Railway station is in Duddeston Mill Road. Again, housing is varied and includes refurbished tower blocks, Anchor Housing’s Loxton Court for retired people and streets of Council property. St Vincent’s Roman Catholic Church and School are nearby, as is the Vauxhall Sports and Social Club and a small parade of shops, and the brand new headquarters for the West Midlands Fire Service.

The Vauxhall area between the B4132 road and the Grand Union Canal appears to be entirely industrial. Birmingham’s huge railway container depot is here, as is Birmingham City Council’s Nechells Green Garden (an employment project) and a Hindu Temple and Mission.

There are many statutory and voluntary organisations active in the area. Relationships are good and the clergy are valued. Members of some of the 19 or so churches in Nechells are almost wholly non-resident and have little effective relationship with the local community. With the exception of the Associate Vicar and two Roman Catholic priests, the other ministers are not resident.

Overall first impressions of the main residential districts, most of which date from the 1950’s to the present day, are of either pleasant modern construction or expensively refurbished older property. But social deprivation hides behind many front doors. There are many lone parents and considerable unemployment and crime here. Immense and costly efforts are being made by statutory and voluntary organisations to bring about a regeneration of people by improving their physical conditions and providing education, advice and support for families and individuals.

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St James, Aston

At the 2001 Census, the population was given as 7382. About 65% are Asian/Asian British origin, 15% are Black/Black British and 15% are White. 34% are under 15; 52% between 15 and 60; 13% over 60. 23% claimed to be Christian and 58% Muslim. This is a compact inner- city part of the parish, originally carved out of the former parish of Aston-juxta-Birmingham. The area around St. James occupies two opposing slopes of a hill, the brow of which runs roughly along Victoria Road. This road also divides North As ton from South Aston.

To the north of Victoria Road lies an area of late Victorian red brick terraces, which bear witness to the dramatically changing character of Aston over the past 100 years. The large stately houses of Albert Road, once the homes of well-to-do Victorians, have in subsequent years played host to successive waves of newcomers to the area: Irish, Caribbean, various Asian communities, and more recently Kosovan/Albanian refugees and people from Eastern Europe. There can be an overwhelmingly Muslim feel to this area and, while relationships overall are very good, there have been some difficulties with some of the male youths.

South Aston, however, carries a different mark. Slum clearance and 1970’s redevelopment have given rise to small curving closes of modern terraces and maisonettes owned by the Council, as well as one tower block. Ethnically, there is a difference too. While the northern part of the area is predominantly Asian, especially when it comes to families with school age children, South Aston is more mixed. Here, there is noticeably higher proportion of white or 2nd/3rd generation African- Caribbean residents.

Both North and South Aston, however, have much in common. Both are high-density residential areas. The neighbourhood as a whole has many of the characteristics described in the ‘Faith in the City’ report, but first appearances are of well-ordered, neat streets and a peaceable multi-cultural population. Past policies of the City Council financed ‘face lifting’ renovation programmes, but internally many properties have not been modernised. The area (along with the area around Aston Parish Church) benefited from the Aston Pride New Deal for Communities programme, but this programme ended in 2011.

The area around St. James contains Mansfield Green J &I School, Prince Albert J & I School, Birchfield Independent Girls’ School, Aston Academy (part of City College), New Christchurch Baptist Church, Park Lane Gospel Hall, Birchfield Gospel Hall, Church of God of Prophecy, Sacred Heart RC Church and seven mosques. The Aston household of Lee Abbey is also within this area.

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Appendix B The Church Buildings

St Peter & St Paul, Aston (Aston Parish Church)

The congregation is multi-cultural, fully integrated and church members are loving, accepting and committed to Christ and one another. Children and young people are admitted to Holy Communion before confirmation. Over the past 9 years cell groups (known as Triangle Groups) have been developing and the church embraces the cell church values of All Involved, Becoming Disciples, Creating Community, Doing Evangelism and Encountering God. Hence there is a strong emphasis on the participation of every member in the life of the church. Most of the lay leadership is local though there is some middle class participation from outside the parish. Clergy are loved, prayed for and supported by the laypeople.

Churchmanship is clearly evangelical, expressed in lively services with an emphasis on prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit.

The children and young people (up to 14) leave the service for their groups each week (except 1st Sunday see below). The older members of the 11+ Sunday group also meet as a youth cell at the Salvation Army during the week. There is a termly “Lounge” for the youth of the 3 churches which is developing into a youth fresh expression.

“First Sunday” is a café style church that meets in the church centre on the first Sunday of the month and aims to be a place where newcomers and the unchurched will feel welcome and be able to participate.

Occasional offices provide an excellent opportunity for making parishioners feel welcome and introducing them to the love of God. There have recently been a significant increase in the number of marriages of those from Eastern European, African and other non-British nationalities .

Ss Peter & Paul Church is one of Birmingham’s iconic buildings, it is Grade II* statutory listed, measuring 53m x 28m, in a very large leafy churchyard. It is largely a 19th Century building with traces of 12th Century masonry and a spire which dates from the 15th Century. It houses significant monuments. A phased major rebuilding and re-ordering project is in progress. The second phase of this was completed early in December 2009 and involved building a new platform incorporating a full immersion baptistery, at the junction of the nave and chancel areas.

There are significant financial challenges in achieving the next phases of restoration and redevelopment of the building The interconnecting church centre, with a flat on the first floor, is in regular use by church and community groups.

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Ss Peter and Paul has links with the parishes of St Swithun’s Barston and Hampton-in-Arden. Together with its Asian Fellowship it has planted a church at Khotra in the Punjab (NW India), with which it maintains links.

St Matthew, Nechells

Churchmanship is gently evangelical and worship is made accessible to newcomers. The congregation, which is a good mix of white and black people, has slowly grow n, particularly due to refugees and asylum seekers from Africa joining the congregation. There is a small but committed Sunday School that meets during part of the morning service. There are 2 mid- week triangle (cell) groups meeting in the St. Matthew’s area of the parish.

St Matthew’s is grade II statutory listed building. It is an unusual church, built in 1840 to seat 1,300 people. After serious structural problems in the 1990’s, a £1m+ reordering scheme was initiated. The worship area was created in an imaginative project to restore the dilapidated church building for multiple usages. The worship area seats 250 and is an attractive airy space with modern furniture, lighting and fitments, with a gallery, ancillary rooms and kitchen. A welcoming entrance foyer also leads into a sizeable church hall with a good kitchen. The complex has been used regularly for diocesan events, including clergy study days. Two other churches also meet at St Matthew’s.

Unusually, the Diocesan Board of Finance owns the church, though the PCC is responsible for its upkeep. Following the departure of Aquarius Actions Projects (working with those with alcohol problems) new tenants include the local NHS Mental Health Trust and a team that works for the homeless.

There are two Church of England (Controlled) Primary Schools in the parish, that have a good relationship with the church. This is especially the case with St Matthew’s School, and a prayer support group from the church meets at the school each week.

St James, Aston

The congregation is predominantly Black, with members from Jamaica, Barbados, Montserrat, Nevis and St. Kitts, and the PCC membership is representative of this. The clergy team is keen to continue building their leadership potential.

The previous Vicar, who retired in May 2005, was an evangelical who respected the central churchmanship of the past at St. James and robed for most services. The current clergy continue to robe for Communion services. The preaching and Holy Communion are very important aspects of worship. Sides-people carry the bread and wine forward and the 23 person who processes with the cross also acts as a server assisting the priest at Communion. Alongside such formality the intimate nature of the building and the style in which the services is led often create quite a relaxed feel in our worship. Among some there is a desire to remain responsive to the moving of the Spirit as well as relying on the liturgy.

We are in the process of rebuilding a Junior Church after a period when this ceased to operate.

Two triangle (cell) groups meet in St. James building each week.

The present church building was built in 1981 – replacing a dilapidated Victorian structure with a multi-purpose Church Centre. The main hall has a Sanctuary that may be screened off, allowing the nave area to be used for community use: Play schemes, Adult Education classes, keep-fit and public meetings etc. A small Pentecostal church meets in the church after St James’ Sunday services and also on Wednesday evenings. An Ethiopian Pentecostal Church also us es the building both on a Sunday and in the week.

In another part of the building is an Advice Centre that employs around 3 members of staff plus volunteers. The present manager of the Advice Centre is also the leader of the Lee Abbey Community and joins the staff team for part of the weekly staff meeting. A Pre-School Playgroup that had run for over 20 years, providing excellent pre-school provision for local Muslim children, closed in June 2008 due to insufficient funding. Since then, another Playgroup, led by a member of the local community, has started and the church premises are well used throughout the week by a range of other groups.

The church suffered damage by arson in 2001. This was a pivotal time that caused a great deal of pain for both the church membership and the local community. Although the building was excellently repaired, it brought about change (for example there used to be three youth clubs each week before the fire, now there are none).

St. James has links with the parishes of St. James Colwall, in the Diocese of Hereford, and St. Philip’s Dorridge with St. James Bentley Heath in this diocese.

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