Archdeacon of Oxford and Residentiary Canon of Christ Church

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From the Bishop of Oxford

If you are exploring a vocation to archidiaconal ministry – welcome! I am looking for a colleague in the Oxford Episcopal Area who will share with me in the spiritual and practical leadership of God’s people in this unique city, one of the world’s great cultural and intellectual crossroads.

We are seeking a Residentiary Canon for Christ Church who as a member of Chapter will bring wisdom, stability and creativity to the life of the Cathedral, and contribute as a member of the Governing Body of Christ Church. We are looking for an Archdeacon who will support the ministry of chaplains across the Diocese of Oxford and lead in other areas according to their gifts and skills.

Over the past few years, we have been encouraging shifts in the way we as a Church approach the task that God has entrusted to us. We are trying to move from being Church-focussed to Kingdom-focussed; from a narrative of scarcity to a narrative of abundant generosity; from a clerically-dependent church to one which celebrates the discipleship and calling of the whole people of God; from one which makes plans and tells God what they are, to one which listens to God, notices where and with whom God is at work, and then joins in.

We are seeking to be a Church which is more Christ-like – more contemplative, more compassionate and more courageous for the sake of God’s world. This is our common vision and, it is also our emerging and evolving strategy. In Oxford, as elsewhere in the Diocese, this is being worked out through engagement with environmental issues, social justice, the building of new ecclesial communities in areas of new housing, engaging more effectively with our children and young people, and making personal discipleship plans available to each lay person. This is alongside encouragement to all of us to be more Christ-like Christians in our everyday lives, wherever they are focussed.

We are hugely encouraged that our churches are more and more connecting with their communities and with the many social needs of our time: food banks, people who are homeless, mentally ill, isolated and elderly, young people at risk of offending, and the welcome and care of refugees. We actively encourage partnerships with other denominations and community-based organisations.

The day to day issues which churches face are often where the ministry of the Archdeacon connects with clergy and parishes. We are looking for someone with a cool, clear head and a compassionate heart; an eye for detail and a broad perspective; and an ability to distinguish between mountains and molehills. The Archdeacon of Oxford works closely with the Bishop of Oxford’s team and with the Associate Archdeacon, the Area Deans and Lay Chairs in the city who together form a supportive team.

If this sounds like an environment in which you could flourish and contribute, please read on.

The role of the Archdeacon of Oxford

There are four parts to the role of the Archdeacon of Oxford: 1. To be the Archdeacon for the two deaneries of the Oxford episcopal Area, working closely with the Bishop of Oxford in day to day oversight and leadership 2. To be a Residentiary Canon of Christ Church, the Cathedral of the Diocese 3. To be the first line of support for chaplains across the Diocese of Oxford in a range of settings 4. To undertake a portfolio of leadership in other areas according to the appointee’s gifts and skills and according to need

The Diocese of Oxford

The Diocese of Oxford is a living, growing network of more than a thousand churches, chaplaincies and schools across the three counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. More than 2.4 million people live in the Diocese, and this number is set to rise by at least half a million over the next decade.

The Diocese is divided into four Episcopal Areas in a mature area scheme. The Bishop of Dorchester is the Area Bishop for Oxfordshire outside the city of Oxford. The Bishop of Buckingham is Area Bishop for Buckinghamshire. The Bishop of Reading is Area Bishop for Berkshire. The Bishop of Oxford has the city of Oxford as an Episcopal Area and oversees the whole.

The Cathedral for the Diocese is Christ Church.

Church House Oxford in Kidlington is the administrative centre for the Diocese and is the base for more than 100 staff working in support of over 600 parishes and benefices and over 280 schools and multi-academy trusts.

Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the Diocese of Oxford, which consists of the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. It is also the chapel of Christ Church at the University of Oxford. This dual role as cathedral and college chapel is unique in the Church of England.

About the Foundation

Christ Church (Aedes Christi or simply ‘the House’) is a Royal Foundation dating from 1546. Yet it traces its history back not only to Wolsey’s Cardinal College in the early sixteenth century but to the Augustinian Priory that preceded it, and indeed to the seventh-century figure of St Frideswide, whose restored shrine has become once again a place of pilgrimage in the Latin Chapel today. Cathedral, College, and School together make up a complex and unique institution committed to education, learning, and religion, under the Dean, the Very Revd Professor Martyn Percy, as both Head of House and Ordinary. The Visitor is Her Majesty the Queen.

The Dean is aided by the Sub Dean, four professorial canons and the Archdeacon of Oxford, who not only constitute the Cathedral Chapter but also sit on Governing Body (along with the Official Students of Christ Church and College officers). Four of their number also serve on the Board of Governors of Christ Church Cathedral School (along with the Headmaster, Richard Murray, and other Governors); while the Diocesan Canon Precentor is a full member of Chapter but not of Governing Body. The College Chaplain has specific responsibility for the welfare and worship of the College students and staff but also plays a wider role in Cathedral worship as time allows.

The Cathedral employs full and part-time vergers, musicians and administrators, the Cathedral Registrar, an Education Officer, a Visitor Officer and a Public Engagement Manager; as well as gratefully enjoying a significant offering of volunteer ministry from Honorary Cathedral Chaplains, the Cathedral LLM, Day Chaplains, Welcomers, Sidesmen, Flower Arrangers, Bell Ringers, and Embroiderers, amongst others.

The College has over 600 undergraduate and graduate students from all walks of life, both from the UK and overseas, along with a thriving academic faculty and an extensive staff.

The Cathedral School, founded by Henry VIII to provide boy Choristers and a Schoolmaster, is located in 3 Brewer Street, opposite Christ Church. It not only continues to educate the boys of the Cathedral Choir but, through its nursery, pre-prep and prep departments, offers provision for boys from age 3 to 13.

Music is a key part of the life of the whole foundation and is principally overseen by the Organist, Professor Steven Grahl, who attends Chapter meetings and directs the Cathedral Choir of boys, Academical Clerks, and Lay Clerks, as well as the Organ Scholars and the Sub- Organist. The Cathedral Singers serves as a voluntary choir of women and men, leading about 110 services a year, under the direction of a paid Director of Music, James Potter, and the Cathedral Singers Organist.

The Cathedral’s newest choir is Frideswide Voices of Christ Church, a girls’ choir drawn from more than 20 schools across the county, which became a permanent part of our foundation in September 2019 under the direction of Helen Smee. The College Choir regularly sings on Mondays in term-time and for the House Communion. During the summer the Cathedral also welcomes many visiting choirs.

Chapter is currently in the process of revising its vision and strategy, but understands the Cathedral as serving four primary roles: as Mother Church of the Diocese; as focus of civic celebration; as College Chapel; and as a focus of congregational worship and mission. The Cathedral is embracing the opportunities offered by the Association of English Cathedrals’ Year of Cathedrals, Year of Pilgrimage in 2020.

For further information on the College, Cathedral and School, see: www.chch.ox.ac.uk and www.cccs.org.uk

The Oxford Area

Oxford City

Oxford is home to two world-class universities and one of the best qualified populations in the country alongside Cambridge. However, this does mask the areas of the city where people have low or no qualifications and the poor performance of Oxford’s state schools.

Oxford is home to a diverse range of industries, with an emphasis on higher education, publishing, research, information technology and science as well as motor manufacturing. It is also home to some of the biggest international enterprises such as BMW, Oxford University Press, Unipart and Trip Adviser.

Oxford is the tourism gateway to the rest of Oxfordshire, annually attracting approximately 7-million day time and staying visitors generating £780 million of income for local Oxford businesses. Oxford is the seventh most visited UK city for overseas visitors.

Christ Church is also one of the major Oxford tourist attractions, with not only its architecture, history and international academic reputation but also its connections to Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter drawing over 450,000 visitors a year. In 2019, we opened a new Visitor Centre, the Thatched Barn, in order to serve these visitors better.

Local Government

Oxfordshire has a two-tier system of local government, which means that the council services are provided by two different councils. Oxford City Council run services such as planning, leisure and waste collection, while Oxfordshire County Council is responsible for running services such as libraries, schools and social care.

In Oxfordshire, there is one county council (Oxfordshire County Council) and five district councils (Oxford City Council, Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire).

Geography of the Archdeaconry

The Geographical area covered by Oxford is incredibly varied covering the central commercial and retail areas of the city, the world-class University of Oxford, the highly populated suburban areas and the smaller village communities outside Oxford’s ring road.

While much of the urban areas of Oxford are densely populated, over half of the city is actually open space. Over a quarter of Oxford is in the Green Belt, with much of this land being flood plain. The city parks and nature conservation areas create pockets and corridors of green within the City boundary.

Social Geography

Oxford is one of the UK’s fastest-growing cities. It is an ethnically diverse city, with 22% of the population from a non-white ethnic group. Nearly a third of the population was born outside of the UK.

Oxford has experienced a growth of nearly 20% in private sector jobs, one of the fastest outside of London. Unemployment has been under 1% for a significant length of time compared to 1.8% at a national level. However, the Archdeaconry contains 10 of Oxford’s neighbourhood areas which are among the 20% most deprived areas of England.

In Oxford, the proportion of the total number of residents of working age is 84%, which is very similar to Oxfordshire (83.1%) but higher than the South-East (81%) and England (78%). The proportion of people self-employed in Oxford at 12.0% does largely reflect the number of medium and large firms based in Oxford. This is higher than in England (10.6%) as a whole.

The average weekly earnings for Oxford’s workforce is higher than of the South East and nationally. The contribution of Oxford’s workforce to the national economy is highlighted in The Oxford Profile 2016 ranks Oxford 8th for annual full-time earnings (£30,400).

There is a high level of commuting into the city. According to the 2011 Census, 88,000 people had their main job in Oxford – 46,000 of them lived outside the city.

New Communities

The two deaneries, Oxford city and Cowley, have a population of nearly 155,000 people, which, This equates to somewhere in the region of 2883 on the electoral roll in Oxford and 1210 in Cowley.

It is anticipated that the population of Oxford will increase significantly to 180,000 by 2031, a growth of 16% over the next 10 – 12 years. the demand for housing will rise to a requirement of 24,000-32,000 by 2031 and that the number of jobs will increase by 24,000. Longer-term population forecasts for the city suggest this will rise to 181,211 in 2035 and then 191,931 in 2040. This is an encouragement to parish churches to find missionally creative ways of engaging with those moving into the area.

Education

Oxford is home to one of the oldest and most famous universities in the world. The University of Oxford, is made up of a variety of institutions, including 38 consistent colleges and a full range of academic departments.

Additionally, Oxford is home to Oxford Brookes University, which has over 150 years of history. It started out as a small School of Art in borrowed teaching rooms and has grown into one of the UK's top modern universities with a local, national and international reputation for teaching and research excellence.

Oxford has a highly successful public and private education structure from primary schools to specialist education centres. However, Oxford has significantly lower state school educational attainment levels than Cambridge and Reading.

There are 13 Church of England schools in the Area and 4 academies plus a large number of independent schools, many of which have regular confirmations. For further information on our schools, visit:

• Oxford Diocesan Board of Education (ODBE) • Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust (ODST)

Hospitals

The Archdeaconry is well served by NHS hospitals. There are also several private hospitals in the area.

Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) is a world-renowned centre of clinical excellence and one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the UK. The Trust is made up of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital (which includes the Children's Hospital, West Wing, Eye Hospital, Heart Centre and Women's Centre), the Churchill Hospital and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, all located in Oxford, and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury, north Oxfordshire.

The trust provides a wide range of clinical services, specialist services (including cardiac, cancer, musculoskeletal and neurological rehabilitation) medical education, training and research.

Ministry in Oxford

The Oxford Area consists of two deaneries, Oxford city and Cowley.

The Archdeaconry of Oxford is a place of great diversity, with every tradition within the Church of England existing in some form in the city of Oxford. There is also a very high concentration of clergy, probably the highest in any comparable area in England, due to a combination of parochial clergy, chaplains in the universities, schools and hospitals and a large number of active retired clergy.

All but four of the 28 benefices within the two deaneries of Oxford and Cowley which make up the Archdeaconry are single-parish benefices. Of the four two-parish benefices, three are away from the city centre.

There are currently 32 stipendiary ministers and 10 stipendiary curates in training as well as a number of others locally employed;. There are and 17 self-supporting ministers across the Area with 13 Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) and 86 clergy with Permission to Officiate (not all of whom are retired clergy). The Area has 33 university, hospital and school chaplains.

We want every minister across the diocese to flourish in their ministry and have launched a new initiative to support this, see oxford.anglican.org/flourishing

The Diocese is committed to upholding the Five Guiding Principles as set out in the House of Bishops’ Declaration on the Ministry of Priests and Bishops and to promote the flourishing of churches across the range of the theological breadth of the Church of England.

Three parishes have passed the House of Bishops resolution on women in the episcopate, two on traditional catholic grounds and one on conservative evangelical grounds. One of the traditional catholic parishes has requested the oversight of the Bishop of Ebbsfleet, who lives in and is an Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese. The other has a positive relationship with the Bishop of Ebbsfleet. The Bishop of Maidstone is also an Assistant Bishop in the Diocese and works closely with our conservative evangelical parishes. 9

Support of Chaplains

There are approximately 88 chaplains in the Diocese of Oxford working in schools and universities, in hospitals and prisons, in the armed forces (the headquarters of the RAF is in the Diocese) and in other settings.

As a Diocese, we see chaplains as a critical part of God’s mission and want to see chaplains both connected and supported to the wider diocese.

Chaplains look to their Area Bishop for licensing, ministerial review where appropriate and pastoral support. However, they look also to the Archdeacon of Oxford for additional support and to enable networking together. This network is served by a regular newsletter and an annual conference.

Team working

The Archdeacon of Oxford is part of the Bishop of Oxford’s team comprising the four bishops, four archdeacons, the Dean of Christ Church, Diocesan Secretary and Directors of Mission and Communication.

The Archdeacon of Oxford works closely with the Area Team which consists of the Bishop of Oxford, the Assistant Archdeacon (who is a local incumbent), the Bishop’s Chaplain, the Diocesan Advisor on Women’s Ministry and the Director of Ordinands. The role is supported by a personal assistant (.7FTE). The Area Team meets regularly with the Area Deans and Lay Chairs.

The Archdeacon of Oxford also acts as the Parish Development Advisor (PDA) for Oxford archdeaconry and is, therefore, part of the PDAs team in the Diocese.

Safeguarding

The Archdeacon of Oxford plays a key role in offering leadership and direction in promoting a Safer Church and supporting parishes with safeguarding concerns. The Archdeacon of Oxford works closely with the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer to ensure that all safeguarding situations within the Archdeaconry are handled in accordance with the House of Bishop guidelines. The Archdeacon has a key role in supporting and advising parishes in relation to safeguarding policy and practice and ensuring that parishes are adhering to good safeguarding practice.

Other Areas of Portfolio Responsibility

The Archdeaconry of Oxford is significantly smaller than our other three archdeaconries. The previous Archdeacon of Oxford has also led in three other key areas: building a network of diocesan interfaith advisors; developing strategy in church planting and new congregations and building our network of BAME Anglicans.

We envisage that the next Archdeacon will develop different portfolio responsibilities over time according to the appointees gifts and the needs of the Diocese. 10

The common vision process

Over the last two and a half years the Diocese of Oxford has been reflecting and rebuilding a common vision.

This is now centred around our vocation to be a more Christ-like Church for the sake of God’s world: more contemplative, more compassionate and more courageous.

We have explored this common vision through three biblical passages so far: the Beatitudes of Matthew 5; the raising of Lazarus in John 11 and 12 and the Letter to the Colossians. We believe this vocation and these values are widely and deeply owned.

We have prayed and listened carefully to the issues and questions which the Church needs to address in the communities we serve. These include the larger questions of what it means to be human in a rapidly changing world, the global ecological crisis and the challenges of a more unequal society. We believe our key local challenges are:

• Massive new housing and population growth, with a population at least the size of Edinburgh set to move into the three counties by 2030 • A population which understands less of the Christian faith • A mental health crisis among children and young people • Major conurbations where the Church lacks strength • Massive and untapped resources among our lay disciples • Growing opportunities and responsibilities in our schools.

We are now in the process of translating this reflection into strategy and action across seven focus areas. These are:

1. Making a bigger difference in the world 2. Sharing our faith and growing the local church 3. Growing new congregations 4. Serving every school in our communities 5. Setting the discipleship of all at the heart of our common life 6. Celebrating and blessing the city of Milton Keynes 7. Engaging in mission with young people, families and children in new ways.

Delivering the strategy

The Diocese has set aside £7.5 million of its own resources for these emerging mission plans over the next three-year period and will be making at least two bids for national strategic development funding (focussed around growing new congregations in the major conurbations). Diocesan funds are available to parishes or deaneries to bid for, for any missionally creative initiative.

The specific plans around each focus area remain in development. They include:

• the renewal of catechesis across the diocese • new tools for parish renewal and planning • encouraging creation care through energy audits and working towards becoming an Eco Diocese • developing school chaplaincy and meaningful connections with every school • growing 750 new congregations by 2030 • new resources for developing discipleship and partnering with Citizens UK on social action.

Emergent process

Our common vision process is emergent and aims to be locally shaped and contextually appropriate for each part of our diverse diocese. It is not a series of top-down programmes. We are seeking at every point to live out our values of being contemplative, compassionate and courageous in every part of our common vision including the way we carry it forward.

The process is bespoke, unstructured, and iterative but very energising to be part of and to lead. We are seeking continually to navigate by where the energy is at local level and to discern where the Spirit is leading. We do not believe Common Vision can embrace every part of our common life: we want to celebrate and bless and work well in a range of other areas of ongoing work and excellence whilst developing new priorities in a creative and sustainable way.

The next Archdeacon of Oxford will need to share these common values and a commitment to working in a collaborative way with the emerging diocesan vision and strategy.

More details of the common vision process can be found at oxford.anglican.org/commonvision

Role specification

Details of post

Role title: Archdeacon of Oxford and Residentiary Canon of Christ Church Scope: Diocese of Oxford and Christ Church Cathedral Episcopal area: Oxford Archdeaconry Accountable to: Bishop of Oxford and Dean of Christ Church Accountable for: Personal Assistant, Assistant Archdeacon Type of role: Full time stipendiary with housing provision Clergy Terms of Service: This role does not fall within the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Measure 2009 as the Cathedral of Christ Church is exempt from this legislation.

The Ministry of Archdeacon

Archdeacons share in the mission of the church, exercising their ministry in close collaboration with the Bishop. They play a significant role in the recruiting, oversight, discipline and pastoral care of the clergy. The Archdeacon ensures that the Bishop is aware of the needs and concerns of clergy and people and fosters in them a fuller sense of their responsibilities as members of Christ’s body. Archdeacons share the ordinary jurisdiction with the Area Bishop and exercise the jurisdiction of the Consistory Court of the Diocese as the Chancellor directs. They present ordination candidates to the Bishop and induct and install ministers, conduct Visitations and admit Churchwardens to their office. Archdeacons work closely with the Area Bishop, Area Deans and Lay Officers to help grow the churches in their care. By their teaching and example, they encourage good administration and due process, exercising their authority with wisdom, gentleness and vision: in all things, remembering that they are servants and pastors of Christ’s flock.

Context

Our common vision process is emergent and aims to be locally shaped and contextually appropriate for each part of our diverse diocese. It is not a series of top-down programmes.

The Archdeacon of Oxford as a member of the Senior Leadership team of the Diocese has a key role in nurturing our vision of what it means to be a Christ-like Church through teaching prayer and sacramental life, and in enabling local response to this core vocation in the archdeaconry of Oxford.

In Oxford, common vision is being worked out through engagement with environmental issues, social justice, the building of new ecclesial communities in areas of new housing, and making personal discipleship plans available to each lay person alongside encouragement to all of us to be more Christ-like Christians in our everyday lives, wherever they are focussed.

Role Purpose

To undertake the responsibilities of an Archdeacon to the city of Oxford with its two deaneries and its multitude of chaplains and ecclesiastical bodies, thus sharing in the archidiaconal tasks of the Diocese of Oxford. (50%)

To undertake specialist roles in the first instance in relation to chaplains across the diocese and as a Parish Development Adviser (20%)

To be a residentiary canon of Christ Church, playing a full part in the life of the cathedral, the Chapter and, as far as possible, the life of the college. (30%)

Main Responsibilities

Archdeacon of Oxford

• To be a member of the Bishop of Oxford’s staff team and the share in the leadership of the Diocese. • To pray with and work collaboratively with the Bishop of Oxford and the Area Team in supporting the parishes and sector ministries of the Oxford Episcopal Area. • To support the network of chaplains across the Diocese of Oxford and to be a first point of contact with those in this sector of ministry • To work strategically with the other Archdeacons of the Diocese to share good practice and co-ordinate property, fabric, finance and mission planning matters across the diocese to ensure parity and coherent policy. • To work closely with the Diocesan Secretary, the Registrar, the Directors of Departments as well as and other Diocesan staff. • To be committed to the emerging diocesan vision and strategy. • To be acquainted with the Archdeaconry and develop wisdom and experience based on the stories of its churches and parishes. • To preach and teach the Gospel around the Archdeaconry. • To exercise the Archdeacon’s statutory responsibilities and to share these responsibilities with the Assistant Archdeacon, Area Deans and other colleagues, so as to be able to give pastoral and strategic support to clergy and parishes. • To help align deployment of clergy and other ministers to local missional planning through deanery structures. • To encourage parishes into growth (spiritual and numerical) by making new Christians and deepening engagement with faith in a variety of ways. • To encourage and support parishes in fulfilling their parish share commitments and teaching good stewardship. • To be an initial resource to Churchwardens and clergy on legal questions. • To work with difficult and complex situations as they arise, and to follow these through to resolution involving other external input as required, and in all cases keeping the Area Bishop informed of situations as they develop. • To play an active role in the Bishop’s Ministerial Development Review scheme. • To take on such tasks as the Diocesan Bishop requires.

Residentiary Canon of Christ Church Cathedral:

• As a member of the respective Governing Bodies, contribute to the development and shaping of strategy and key policies of the Cathedral, the College and the school • Take an active part in the running of the business of the cathedral through membership of the Chapter • Be in residence to conduct daily services and other occasional duties (about one week in six) • Preach about eighteen times a year. • As the Chair the Archdeacon’s Committee lead the decision making for allocation of grants from the Dr South Trust to incumbents of parishes across England of which Christ Church is patron. • As part of the Benefice Committee, represent Christ Church on patronage appointments, along with other members of Chapter. • Support the development of strategy of Christ Church Cathedral School • Play a part in developing the Cathedral’s ministry, particularly in the area of theological education.

Other responsibilities

• Participate in the Bishop’s Ministerial Development Review scheme and engage in Continuing Ministerial Development • Take care for own wellbeing including health and safety and building a good repertoire of spiritual and psychological strategies

Person Specification We are seeking someone who has/is: • Prayerful, seeking to grow in personal holiness and discipleship, with a mature and settled spirituality. • Good communication skills, able to handle different expectations of the role and to see the wood for the trees. • Theologically articulate and able to engage with people beyond the gathered congregations • Committed to ongoing theological exploration and professional and personal development • Committed to modelling healthy patterns of ministry and life • Been in Priest’s orders for six years (Canon C22(1)) • Strong understanding of and track record in parochial leadership • A collaborative and insightful colleague • A commitment to the pastoral care and welfare of the clergy and their families • The ability to relate to and value all traditions • An understanding of new patterns of ministry • A mission-minded leader and strategic thinker • An ability to listen and question, to encourage and enable, to persuade and admonish, to be firm as well as understanding and, above all, to inspire trust and confidence. • The capacity to follow through on disciplinary matters, when necessary, as complainant in CDM cases. • Able to see possibilities and make things happen • Able to encourage and facilitate change and growth • Organised and administratively competent • Ability to grasp complex detail, to give advice and see matters through to completion 15

Personal attributes S/he will: • be emotionally intelligent and self-aware; • be wise; • be approachable; • have the capacity to carry a heavy workload • be flexible and resilient • take the task seriously, and her/himself not too seriously

Team and Committee membership The Archdeacon is a member of the following teams/committees/trusts:

• Bishop’s Staff • Bishop’s Council • Diocesan Synod • Senior Management Group • Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committee • Archdeaconry of Oxford Mission and Pastoral Committee • Diocesan Buildings Committee • Diocesan Advisory Committee • Bayne Benefaction Committee • Oxford Brookes Chaplaincy Committee • St Michael at the Northgate Feofees • Governing Body of Christ Church (nine meetings a year) • Chapter of the Christ Church Cathedral (nine business meetings, three discussion meetings, and one away day a year) • Chair of the Archdeacon’s Committee that oversees parishes where Christ Church is the Patron (meets six times a year and manages grants for eighty parishes) • Benefice Committee of Christ • Governor of Christ Church Cathedral School. • The Archdeacon meets regularly with the Area Bishop and Area Team

Key relationships for the role

• The Bishop of Oxford • The Dean of Christ Church • Other Archdeacons in the Diocese • Area Bishops in the Diocese • Diocesan Secretary • Assistant Archdeacon • Heads of Departments • Other Parish Development Advisers • Area Deans and Lay Co-Chairs in the Episcopal Area • Clergy and Laity of the Oxford Archdeaconry • Staff at Church House Oxford • Members of boards and committees of which the Archdeacon is a member • Chaplains in the Oxford Archdeaconry • Archdeacons’ National and Regional Network • Archdeacon’s Personal Assistant • Oxford Churchwardens

Terms and Conditions of Service

The Diocese of Oxford observes the guidelines issued by the Central Stipends Authority relating to Clergy Terms and Conditions of Service.

Status: Ecclesiastical Office Holder - ‘freehold’ status of the combined office of Archdeacon of Oxford and Residentiary Canon of Christ Church.

The annexation of the archdeaconry to the canonry by statute has created, in effect, one composite office, to which Common Tenure does not apply by virtue of Section 9(4) of the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Measure 2009. Hence, the appointment is governed by the Statutes of Christ Church.

Stipend: £36,100 (from April 2019)

Pension: Archdeacon level pension through the non-contributory clergy pension scheme

Housing: As the Residentiary Canon of Christ Church, the Archdeacon is required to be resident of the Cathedral at the Archdeacon’s Lodge

Office: A fully equipped office is provided by the Cathedral, and a permanent desk in Church House, Oxford

Resettlement £2,477 (as at April 2019) Grant

Removal expenses Based on three quotes received

Holidays: Six weeks per annum as agreed with the Bishop of Oxford so that coverage is maintained within the Episcopal Area.

Expenses: Working expenses are agreed and fully reimbursed. Expenses regarding the Archdeacon’s responsibilities to be reimbursed by the ODBF leaving those relating to the Residentiary Canon to be picked up by Christ Church.

Transport: Ability to travel across the Archdeaconry of Oxford and the wider Diocese of Oxford, which covers a large geographical area, including many rural areas.

Reporting sickness HR and Stipend Administrator of ODBF and Sub-Dean of the Cathedral and other absence

Sickness pay Christ Church policy

Commencement Easter 2020

Termination Freehold office may be brought to an end through reaching retirement age, ill health, after a breakdown of pastoral relationships, or through the effect of pastoral reorganisation as well as for disciplinary reasons. No clergy currently in freehold appointments has had the freehold taken away from them.

Notice of 3 months’ notice to the Bishop following consultation with the Dean Termination

Professional Participation in the diocese of Oxford MDR scheme CMD programme development as well as Christ Church learning opportunities

Conduct Clergy Discipline Measure

DBS: The appointment is subject to Enhanced DBS

Application and Appointment Process

To apply, please submit your completed application form, confidential declaration and recruitment monitoring forms to [email protected]

Closing date for applications is 9:00am on Friday 13th December 2019

Interviews will be held on 8th and 9th January 2020

Appendix 1 - Legal Responsibilities of an Archdeacon in the Church of England

The office of archdeacon has its origins in the early history of the Church. An archdeaconry is a legal division of a diocese for administrative purposes within which the archdeacon exercises an ordinary jurisdiction. The essential nature of the role has been described as ‘being a good steward so that others are freed to be the worshipping, witnessing and ministering Church’. The legal responsibilities of an archdeacon are summarised below:

Diocesan governance 1. The archdeacon is a member, ex officio, of • the Diocesan Synod (Church Representation Rules 2011, Rule 30(4)); • the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) (Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991, Schedule 1); • the Diocesan Parsonages Board (Repair of Benefice Buildings Measure 1972, s.1(4)); and • the Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committee (Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011, Schedule 1).

Parochial governance 2. An archdeacon has a duty to hold visitations in his or her archdeaconry as provided in Canon C 22, paragraph 5.

3. On receiving a valid request to convene an extraordinary meeting of a PCC, the archdeacon must do so if he or she deems there is sufficient cause. The archdeacon must also chair the meeting or appoint a deputy to do so (Church Representation Rules 2011, Rule 23(1)).

4. At the direction of the bishop, the archdeacon inducts a priest who has been instituted to a benefice into the possession of its temporalities (Canon C22, paragraph 5). Although the archdeacon has no statutory role under the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986, in practice he or she is usually actively involved in guiding parishes through the appointment’s procedure.

Buildings and property. 5. In his or her own archdeaconry, the archdeacon is a key player in the operation of the faculty jurisdiction under the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991 and the Faculty Jurisdiction Rules 2013. He or she is ex officio a member of the DAC and has statutory powers: • to grant permissions without reference to the Chancellor in certain types of case listed in Schedule 1 List B of the Faculty Jurisdiction Rules 2015; • to grant a licence for temporary minor re-ordering on an experimental basis for a non- renewable period of 15 months, after which the experiment must be ended – in which case the archdeacon has a duty to ensure that the previous position is restored – or a faculty obtained for permanent changes; and • to order the removal to a place of safety of an item of architectural, artistic, historic or archaeological value which appears to be at risk.

The archdeacon may initiate or intervene in faculty proceedings and may be asked by the Chancellor to seek local resolution of a particular case. The archdeacon is normally present at any Consistory Court hearing in his or her archdeaconry.

6. Canon C22, paragraph 5, requires the archdeacon to survey, in person or by deputy, all churches and churchyards and give direction for the amendment of all defects in the fabric, ornaments and furniture. He or she also has power under the Inspection of Churches Measure 1955, s.2 to enforce the requirement for a quinquennial inspection of a church by a qualified person.

Pastoral reorganisation 7. The archdeacon is an ‘interested party’ under s6 of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 in relation to pastoral proposals affecting any benefice or parish in his or her archdeaconry. In practice, the archdeacon is usually actively involved in identifying the need for pastoral reorganisation and initiating discussions with other interested parties.

Clergy: pastoral care and discipline 8. Canon C22, paragraph 4 provides that an archdeacon ‘shall within his archdeaconry carry out his duties under the bishop and shall assist the bishop in his pastoral care and office, and particularly he shall see that all such as hold any ecclesiastical office within the same perform their duties with diligence and shall bring to the bishop’s attention what calls for correction or merits praise.’

9. Canon C7 provides for the archdeacon to assist the bishop in the examination of candidates for ordination.

10. Under Part 1 of the Incumbents (Vacation of Benefices) Measure 1977, a request for an enquiry on the grounds of serious pastoral breakdown must in the first instance be referred by the bishop to the archdeacon, who is required to report to the bishop whether such an enquiry should, in his or her opinion, be instituted.

11. The archdeacon has no statutory role in proceedings under the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003, but the Code of Practice (paragraphs 10-12) describes circumstances in which it may be appropriate for the archdeacon to act as the complainant, or (paragraph 100) to provide pastoral support.

12. The archdeacon will normally be the person appointed by the bishop to oversee an enquiry into the capability of an office holder under Common Tenure (paragraph 4.1 of the Code of Practice issued under Regulation 31(3) of the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Regulations 2009).

13. The archdeacon is also usually responsible for overseeing the formal stages of the grievance procedure established under Regulation 32 of the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Regulations 2009.

The Legal Office February 2015