Multiply Associate Team Leader Reaching and Discipling 20s – 40s With its network of parishes covering the country, the Church of England plays an active role in national life, bringing an important Christian dimension to the nation, as well as strengthening community life. The Church of England is arranged geographically into 41 Dioceses, each under the care of a Bishop, and covers every part of England. The Diocese of York takes in much of North and East Yorkshire, an area which includes the cities of York and Hull, as well as Middlesbrough and Selby, two National Parks, and the incomparable Yorkshire coast. We are led and guided in our faith and work by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell. York Minster is our principal church. The Diocese is socially and economically diverse. Whilst some communities are generally affluent, 27 percent of the people in our Diocese live in parishes that are designated as within the most deprived tenth nationally. There are pockets of deprivation in communities of all kinds and sizes, both urban and rural. The Diocesan Office is located at Clifton Moor in York. Led by Canon Peter Warry, Diocesan Secretary and Chief Executive, our teams provide services in support of our clergy, churches, parishes and schools. Alongside mission and ministry work, this includes our Pastoral team, working closely with our parishes; our Education team, working closely with our schools; and our support functions including Safeguarding, Property, Finance, HR and Communications. Our Vision and Strategy We are bringing fresh energy to our refreshed diocesan vision: Living Christ’s Story. This commits us to: Becoming more like Christ Reaching people we currently don't Growing churches of missionary disciples Transforming our finances and structures Two key strategies in reaching people we currently don’t are focused on: Mustard Seed, launched in 2020, focused on People in Poverty Multiply, launched in 2019, focused on those in their 20s - 40s. Both these initiatives are supported by significant contributions from the Church Commissioners’ Strategic Development Fund. Diocese of York ~ Living Christ’s Story The Multiply Programme Our approach The diocesan approach to reaching 20s – 40s includes the following key features: The appointment of full time stipendiary posts to work in 12 parochial contexts A Growth Fund to resource parishes, especially via part time lay appointments The establishment of St Michael-le-Belfrey in York as a Resource Church that will regularly plant out into other parts of the diocese Our goals have always included a renewed envisioning and equipping of churches leading to a ‘ripple effect’ across the diocese as we develop our insights and grow in confidence about how to reach and disciple 20s – 40s. Our aim is that church planting and replication of effective ministries will be established as a norm across the diocese. Our progress so far Multiply has been running for two years and, despite the frustrations that the COVID pandemic has brought, there is much to encourage us. A central element of Multiply is enabling the creation of New Worshipping Communities led by lay people. The Growth Fund provides grant funding and a training programme to support churches who are planting new worshipping communities that reach and disciple younger adults. It is supporting 9 current initiatives and has funding for another 20 posts, with some parishes already in the process of applying for funding and/or support. The funding is for five years with the local parish taking on an increasing proportion each year. Some parishes benefit from the support for their leaders without receiving a specific funding grant. Any parish in the Diocese of York can apply to be part of Multiply. The grant funding enables lay leaders to be employed part time to plant new worshipping communities where they are building on existing mission and beginning to reach people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. The grants are being made to parishes who want to see younger adults engaging more with their churches and who are already connecting in some ways with this group through missional activities or outreach work such as Messy Church, a Toddler group, Start courses, a Food Bank, or other activities. The full time Multiply appointments are based in the urban and market town locations in the diocese. They are at different stages in growing New Worshipping Communities. As well as this they give a part of their time to supporting the Growth Fund leaders and to mission in their deaneries. Our Resource Church, St Michael le Belfrey, is making preparations for its current curate to move and revive an existing parish church. It is intended that this pattern will be repeated every two years. Our website multiplyreach.org has more on locations and current stories 2 The Opportunity Multiply was launched under a Director of Making and Nurturing Disciples, Richard White. Richard has moved back into parish ministry (taking on a challenging role in one of our lowest income communities with a significant student population) and a Director of Mission and Ministry has been appointed. Ian McIntosh will have oversight of among other areas, Multiply and Mustard Seed. We now have an opportunity for a committed Christian, with a passion for seeing young adults become disciples, to join the Multiply team as Associate Team Leader. Working with John Lee, the Multiply Team Leader, and Alice Lambert-Ellis, who provides programme support across Multiply and Mustard Seed, the post-holder will have particular responsibility for continuing the development of lay aspects of the initiative. This particular focus reflects a survey of Fresh Expressions by the Church Army Research Unit, highlighting that very few are led by lay people - addressing this is an important part of our strategy. You will be responsible for growing the lay leadership of New Worshipping Communities across the diocese. Using the ‘Growth Fund’ as a primary vehicle for this, you will support parishes in shaping their applications and mentor the leaders who are appointed, both individually and by team coaching. You will also contribute to the work of Multiply as it encourages and enables all churches to reach younger adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s – running occasional workshops and events to envision and inform parishes. You will take the lead in the conversations with parishes, exploring with the Incumbent, potential leader and sometimes the full Parochial Church Council their plans and the most effective way to deliver them. Often this leads to a Growth Fund application and this role of ‘broker’ enables parishes to prepare well and find the most appropriate shape for their ventures; on occasions it can involve disappointing a parish if it is felt their plans cannot be supported. Throughout the process you will be supported by a ‘Steering Group’ who offer their reflections and support and who are required to endorse successful applications. You will bring experience of training and developing leaders, and have a track record as a pioneering practitioner among groups of young adults. You will be comfortable working within Church of England structures and cultures. Self-motivated and well-organised, you will be willing to work within a team to achieve common goals. This is a full-time post, but we are also open to hearing from people who would be interested in working part-time, potentially sharing the role with another person. The post-holder would principally be based at our office at Clifton Moor in York. However, as a role requiring significant travel and some flexibility around working hours, there will be opportunities to work from home where this provides a better fit. (Note that, due to public health guidelines, our office is currently closed). We offer generous salary, pension, holiday and other benefits. The post is available on a three-year fixed-term contract. Recruitment For an informal discussion about this opportunity please contact Revd John Lee, Multiply Team Leader by email to [email protected], or call 07810 171855. Applications should be made online via the Pathways Church of England recruitment portal. The deadline is midnight on Monday 19 July. Interviews will be held late July / early August. 3 Job Description Purpose To envision and enable the role of the laity in reaching and discipling 20s - 40s and ensure support, advice and resources is available to them. Develop and oversee the Growth Fund. Support the development of the cohort of full time 20s - 40s Ministers and create a wider learning community across the diocese. Main Responsibilities Promote a vision and understanding of the place of lay people in reaching and discipling 20s - 40s. Oversee the ‘20s - 40s Growth Fund’. Promoting it, offering support and advice to parishes and individuals, overseeing the application process and monitoring the use of funds granted. Provide a space where the Growth Ministers and other lay people leading New Worshipping Communities can gather for mutual support, training and development Identify, lead and enable the resourcing and support of the laity in the reaching and discipling of 20s - 40s through the creation of New Worshipping Communities and into existing congregations, so enabling the wider ‘ripple effect’ Drive the ongoing development of the online Multiply website, ensuring that it communicates vision and progress effectively and offers a growing toolbox of resources to serve the need of all benefices and contexts with high quality of content. Be the primary liaison with the diocesan Communication Team and have a lead role in maintaining Multiply’s social media presence Contribute to the wider envisioning and equipping of churches as they seek to reach 20s - 40s’ and create new congregations and worshipping communities. Contribute to the overall direction of ‘Reaching 20s - 40s’, supporting the Team Leader and being present at the monthly meetings of the ‘20s - 40s Ministers.’ Contribute to the culture of shared learning for reaching 20s - 40s; actively encourage sharing amongst part-time paid and other lay ministry resources.