Youth Minister St Mary s, Ferndown

Transcription

1 Profile for the post of Youth Minister St Mary s, Ferndown Salisbury Diocese

2 Index Introduction p. 1 Where we are pp. 2-5 Who s Who at St Mary s Ferndown p. 6 Services at St Mary s p. 7 Life at St Mary s pp Men s Ministry & Women s Ministry p.11 Children s Ministry p.12 Youth Ministry p.13 School links to be developed p.14 Spirituality and Qualities of the Youth Minister p.15 The Youth Minister s Job Specification pp Your Call? P.19 Appendix - Our Vision p. 20

3 Welcome to St Mary s, Ferndown Introduction Welcome to you, as you read about what God is doing in this part of his Kingdom. Ferndown is a great place to live and minister in, and St Mary s is at the heart of its parish both geographically and spiritually. This profile tries to give you a snap shot of our local area, and the whole life of the Church. This is deliberate as we believe finding the right colleague to head up Youth Ministry will mean finding someone who is comfortable in the wider context of the Church as well. The strap-line to our vision is To Know Christ and Make Him Known. In the next few years there are many challenges, and just a few of them are:- AND. Discipling all ages of Christians to become mature in faith, and able to witness effectively Implementing building projects that will enable more vibrant ministry on site Growing the staff team and developing every member ministry in tandem Growing the number of small groups in the church. Pioneering Youth Work in the Church and Schools We are praying God will speak clearly to you as you read on

4 Where we are Ferndown is well positioned a few miles from the end of the M27, near to the A31 trunk road, on the edge of the New Forest. It is the largest settlement in the East Dorset District, with a population of about 20,000. It is largely a modern town, taking its prosperity from neighbouring Bournemouth and Poole (6-7 miles away) as well as its own thriving industry centred around the Ferndown Industrial Estate. Ferndown is also close to the Bournemouth International Airport, located at Hurn. St Mary s is part of the Wimborne Deanery, in the Diocese of Salisbury. Wimborne Minster Salisbury Cathedral - 2 -

5 All about Ferndown Shopping: Ferndown has a modern shopping complex, and has two large supermarkets (Tesco and Sainsburys). There are a number of small shops, banks, building societies, pubs, restaurants and takeaways. Penny s Walk (shopping precinct) Victoria Road, Ferndown King George s Playing Fields and Park Just along the road from St Mary s church is King George s Playing Fields (including children s Ferndown Leisure Centre playground, skate park and tennis courts) and a newly upgraded leisure centre with swimming pool, squash courts and Kinetica gym. The Barrington Centre The town also has a library, a day centre for the elderly, and a thriving community centre called the Barrington Centre, which also includes a theatre. One of the largest employers is the Dorset Health Authority, which has its headquarters in the town

6 Ferndown has a larger proportion of retired people than the Dorset average Ferndown s ethnicity is 99% white, with 88.5% of housing being owner occupied (compared to 76.3% in Dorset). Age structure Dorset Ferndown & (%) West Parley According to the 2001 Census statistics, over 81% of Ferndown and West Parley residents consider themselves to be Christian. (Dorset average is 78%; national average is 72%). 14% stated no religion. Unemployment is 2.6% in Ferndown (lower than the county average of 3.1%). The 4 largest areas of employment in Ferndown and West Parley are wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles (19.8%), manufacturing (13.9%), real estate, renting and business activities (11.1%), and health & social work (10.2%). Schools: There are 4 schools in our parish: Ferndown First, Ferndown Middle, Ferndown Upper and Parley First, the first 3 being located on the same road as St Mary s church. Hampreston Church of England First School is also located within the Benefice. Parley First School Ferndown First School Hampreston CofE School Ferndown Middle School Ferndown Upper School - 4 -

7 Ferndown Common Ferndown is a haven for wildlife, with many heathlands and wooded areas dotted around the town. Poor Common Ferndown Golf Club Slop Bog There is also a Championship Golf Club in the parish. Moors Valley and Avon Heath Country Parks We are also only 5 miles from both Moors Valley and Avon Heath Country Parks as well as being 7 miles from the beautiful Bournemouth and Poole beaches and Purbeck coastline! Bournemouthand Poole beaches On the cliff tops at Studland - 5 -

8 Who s Who at St Mary s, Ferndown Team Rector: Rev Martin Howard Children s and Families Worker: Mary Tyler Church Administrator: Tracey Nicholls St Mary s PCC Jenny Thornton (Church Warden) Ann Mace (Treasurer) Mary Tyler (Children & Families) Tony Thornton (Outreach) Carolyn Couzens (Missionary Links) Joan Paling (Deanery Synod) Eveline Rudge (Deanery Synod) Simon Morgan (Church Warden) Pam Goldsmith (Secretary) Tony Hansford (Youth) Jon Shears (Property) Sue Morgan (Music) Derek Howshall (Deanery Synod) Others leaders Retired clergy: Ann Barber and Barry Lomax Licensed Lay Ministers: Alan Field and David Scouse OLM (in training): Lynne Morris We also have a number of people heading up different spheres of ministry:- Prayer Ministry: Pastoral Care: Music: Men s Ministry: Women s Ministry: Small Groups & Prayerlink Welcome Dominic Couzens Jo and Geoff Potter Sarah Barowski Gary Tyler Liz Howard Jo White Anne Jones - 6 -

9 Services at St Mary s 8am BCP Holy Communion in weeks 1,3,4 & am & 11.00am 3.30pm 7.00pm Thursdays 10.30am 2.00pm Family Services with an emphasis on All Ages (inc. Family Communion on 1 st Sunday). These are structured but in an informal and seeker-friendly way, and with a music group playing the best of new and older songs and hymns. Thanksgivings and Baptisms tend to take place during these services. The aim is that these services are very similar with the same service leader, preacher and worship team at both. The earlier service is slightly larger, with including children. Both services have groups for children up to 14 years of age and a crèche. Children are admitted to Communion after attendance at a preparation course and with parental commitment and support. Prayer Ministry is available during both services. BCP Service alternating between Holy Communion and Evening Prayer, on the 2nd Sunday of each month only. This service was created in September 2006 to provide worship for those of this tradition who lost their weekly traditional morning service. An afternoon tea is provided after the service to maintain the fellowship and friendships within this group. Hungry - This is a new, informal and contemporary evening service held at 7pm in our hall, which started at the end of January. Aimed at the young and the young-at-heart it includes lively worship and focused Bible teaching. The service is followed by refreshments and time to chat. Holy Communion Informal Service (2nd Thursday of the month in the parish hall) - 7 -

10 Life at St Mary s St Mary s is Evangelical in its ethos, and open to Charismatic Renewal that is biblically based. There is an emphasis on good quality preaching, seekerfriendly public worship, and the growth of small groups. Sunday sermons link in with small group bible studies. We believe in and constantly strive to develop every member ministry, a greater love and support of each other, and a wide range of outreach activities. We are open to the renewing power of the Holy Spirit. We support a wide-range of mission partners and activities at home and abroad. Unity is important in our PCC Leadership. We do not vote, but wait until there is a common mind on issues before progressing. This has brought tremendous spiritual strength and unity of purpose to the church and we would want to seek a leader who is comfortable working in such an environment of mutual trust, transparency and accountability. Each member of the PCC heads up a department of church life. We are blessed with lots of older members and many young families and young children. Because of the demographics of the parish and cost of housing, it is harder to find single year olds, but we are beginning to break into that age range. The Alpha Course has been run in the parish for a number of years and the twice-yearly courses continue to birth new Christians and are a source of encouragement to the parish. They are run as evening and daytime courses according to need and are about to break out from the central meeting into people s homes. There is a Men s Outreach Group with a different event each month. In addition various courses are run at different times: for example a Marriage Preparation Course and the Nicky & Sila Lee Marriage Course and Family Time Parenting Course have also been run over the last few years. We have also run a Pastoral Care Course from CWR, and many who have completed it now do pastoral visiting

11 We also run a monthly prayer gathering called, Power Hour which meets on the first Thursday of every month, Interceding for the growth of the church. On the same Thursday people are encouraged to pray and fast wherever they may be, and those who can attend are welcome to come for healing prayer at the mid-week Thursday morning Communion. The Parish is committed to the promotion of Fairtrade and there is a Jubilee representative at the church. We support DOORS working with the homeless young people in Ferndown at an 8 bed residential unit for 16-25s. Our CYFA youth group have had a good connection with DOORS, having helped with their garden project in A number of other activity organisers use the Parish Facilities during the week. Our modern kitchen facilities Fill The Gap Fill the Gap Lunches provide a much-valued fellowship and outreach opportunity on a Sunday lunchtime for a large number of people living on their own. Lunch at One also meets once a month on a Thursday. Regular visits and services are held in the evergrowing number of retirement homes in the parish. We also host The Lighthouse Club for elderly people locally who seek friendship and support. The Lighthouse Club - 9 -

12 St. Mary s Adopt-A-Cop scheme We have close links with our local Police force through an initiative called Adopt-A-Cop, whereby we pray for and support the local Police Officers. A team from St. Mary s doing Hair Braiding and Face Painting at the local Police Open Day In addition we also run an Art Group every Tuesday morning, and a Toddler Group every Tuesday afternoon. At New Wine A number from our various congregations attend Spring Harvest (about 30) and the New Wine Summer Conferences (about 40). We also enjoy a variety of social events at St. Mary s. Recent events include: St Mary s Talent Show St. Mary s Talent Show Bryn Haworth Concert Bonfire and Fireworks party. This is held every November for the church and the local community. Quiz Nights Fashion Show (fundraising event to send members of CYFA to Soul in the City Durban this summer)

13 Men s Ministry at St. Mary s Regular Men s events are run at St. Mary s. Recent events include:- Indoor hot air ballooning (!) Cycle rides Quiz nights Football matches against other local churches BBQ with the kids Women s Ministry at St. Mary s Women s Ministry is headed up by Liz Howard. In the past year a Ladies Pampering Evening and a Christmas Craft evening have been held. A lunch with Michele Guinness is planned in the Autumn

14 Children s Ministry We have a Part-Time Children s Worker who oversees all the children s work (age 0-11) at St Mary s as well as taking assemblies at our local schools, running children s events, organising St. Mary s children s band and working with the Toddler Group. In Autumn 2008 we started G Force, a very popular after school children s club at the church as an outreach to the children in our community. Children's Groups on Sundays Crèche (0-3 years): The crèche is available at both of our Sunday morning services in our choir vestry, where the service is relayed via speakers and a monitor. During the school holidays a self-help crèche is set up. Parents are able to take their children to the crèche at any time in the services. Scramblers & Climbers (3-7 years): The Scramblers (3-5yrs) and Climbers (5-7 yrs) meet in the hall side rooms at both morning service. Explorers (8-11 years): The Explorers meet in the hall at both morning services. Each term they also get together for a Chips and Chill Out evening or a similar social event

15 Youth Ministry At present we have two groups for young people. Pathfinders is a group for year olds which meets during the Sunday morning services. Pathfinders Extra (PFX) runs on a monthly basis and is a purely social event to help members of the group get to know each other better and to develop friendships. CYFA is our youth group for year olds. This group meets after our Sunday evening service Hungry each week in our youth room or at the homes of group leaders Siovon Rowden and Paul & Kate Hartley. Last year the leaders of our CYFA group, Steve & Tasha Wilkinson, left the parish for Cambridge where Steve is now training for ordination. During their time with the group they organised many activities to promote spiritual and personal growth including trips to Soul Survivor (which led to CYFA running Slum Survivor in the church grounds, helping to raise awareness of global poverty), and Farside (a local Christian youth initiative). The group also enjoyed many social outings, youth weekends and other fun activities. Youth Alpha has been held a number of times and last January some members of CYFA attended a training conference at Holy Trinity Brompton in preparation to co-lead the Youth Alpha group which included members of Pathfinders and CYFA as well as some of their non-church going friends. Individuals from CYFA have been inspired and encouraged by their experiences to embark on mission trips and youth ministry in other parts of the country and abroad. This Summer a group of CYFA members will be taking part in Soul In The City Durban, where they will be involved in community projects, working with some of the poorest people in the world. The group has spent two years fundraising for this trip which has involved everything from carwashes and selling cards & cakes to a silent auction, quiz evening and two fashion shows! We also have a youth band, members of which are also involved in the other church music groups

16 School Links to be developed Ferndown Middle School We have a very good relationship with Ferndown Middle School. The Rector s children have all attended or will attend this school, and since September 2006 we have held monthly whole school assemblies, using a small team of helpers with the Rector. These have been fun, interactive, and used PowerPoint. We would love to link in with the Christian lunch-time club run at the school and begin to run after school and evening activities reaching the older pupils in the school (the younger ones being covered by children s ministry). A good number of church members are Governors of the School and the present Head Teacher attends St Mary s. Ferndown Upper School We have friendly ties with the school at Christmas, when they hold their Carol Concert in our church building. We want to offer the taking of assemblies, and request setting up a Christian Union. We could then seek to start activities to reach un-churched youth and begin to effectively disciple existing Christians in this age group.. We would like to hear what experience you have with this age group, and how you would like to reach them for Christ

17 Spirituality and Qualities of the Youth Minister We are looking for a Youth Minister who loves God, people and God s Word. We are looking for a leader who is committed to an Evangelical and Charismatic faith and accepts the 39 Articles of Religion and the Evangelical Alliance s most recent Basis of Faith as orthodox and authentic Christian doctrine. Someone who keeps a sense of humour and humility about the enormity of the tasks that youth ministry presents to those called to it. Who listens to, and is led by the Holy Spirit in all areas of life personal and ministerial, keen to encourage and teach concerning the fruits and gifts, allowing both time and opportunity for the Holy Spirit to minister among us Who is a good communicator and passionate for reaching others with the Gospel, and the loving Father heart of God. We need someone who is passionate about every-member ministry within the priesthood of all believers and who is comfortable leading and enabling teams as well as enjoying team work. Who is committed to all age expressions of church, loving the young and the old and being committed to the family unit. Who is able to inspire vision and implement change, leading to renewal and church growth

18 The Youth Minister s Job Specification Job Title: Employed by: Responsible to: Hours: Holidays: Employed for: Youth Minister St Mary s Church Ferndown Parochial Church Council (PCC) The Team Rector on behalf of the PCC (but can be delegated to another PCC member) 40 hours per week (13 sessions of c. 3 hours) with a minimum of one day off each week. 4 weeks per year, plus statutory holidays and 2 further days after Easter and after Christmas. Initially for 3 years, with 6 month probationary period PERSON SPECIFICATION Character: To be a committed and enthusiastic disciple of Jesus Christ seeking to maintain a vibrant and growing faith Making personal and public worship, prayer, Bible study and an openness to the Holy Spirit a priority Being a personal role model for the young people in speech and action Being an active participating member of St Mary s, encouraging unity and understanding across the ages Someone who will relate well to teenagers and have a good rapport with parents and teachers. Experience: To have a proven leadership experience in youth work, and managing teams of volunteers To have qualified with a relevant Youth Work qualification, preferably to degree standard To have identified strategies and proven success at reaching and developing youth work across a parish that includes both nurture of Christians, and outreach to the un-churched

19 The Youth Minister s Job Specification JOB DESCRIPTION 1. To oversee our ministry of teaching, nurturing, discipling and equipping those aged from 11 to 20 (4 sessions a week including prep time) Caring and praying for the young people Leading or co-ordinating the leadership of the Pathfinders (11-14 s) through a biblical and relevant Sunday teaching programme Leading or co-ordinating the leadership of CYFA (14-18 s) through a biblical and relevant Sunday teaching programme. Link in with Tongues of Fire (the youth band), which needs overseeing spiritually. If you have a musical gift, that will be a bonus! Work collaboratively with our Children s and Families Worker to work out how Youth and Children can lead and participate in services such as Harvest, Christmas Family Worship etc. 2. To develop outreach amongst local young people and build up God s Kingdom in the wider community (4 sessions a week including prep time) In our situation, we desire to build on the excellent relationships we have with local schools. We need to take the Gospel into schools in appropriate ways: (a) Leading and drawing others into leading the monthly assemblies at Ferndown Middle School, and aiming to see a break-through into a similar pattern of assemblies in the Upper School (b) Aim to create and lead Christian Unions in the Middle and Upper Schools (c) Aim to create two key weekly outreach activities on church premises. We have a weekly children s club, G-Force which is for school years 4,5 and 6 so we envisage two events. One to reach school years 7 to 9 (nearest to the Pathfinder age range) and the other to reach school year 10 and upwards (nearest to the CYFA age range). These events need to help young people feel comfortable in our premises, as well as develop an understanding of who God is and why they are in need of him. (d) Work collaboratively, where possible, with the outreach efforts of other local churches, most notably Ferndown United Church. Continued overleaf

20 The Youth Minister s Job Specification 3. To lead, envision, manage and develop the large team of volunteer leaders and helpers (1 session a week including prep time) Providing oversight, pastoral care and support to volunteer leaders and helpers Encouraging and enthusing leaders and helpers to develop their gifts and skills through training and practice Managing people resources, building up the team and recruiting new people. 4. To undertake Administration and Communication, as necessary (2 sessions a week) Attend Staff, PCC and other leadership meetings (e.g. presence at some Building Committee meetings) Keep appropriate records and files using a computer Order and manage resources Manage expenses and the Youth Budget, and bring financial implications of any developments to the Youth Team and PCC. Communicate effectively with parents, the young people and others via various means To assist the designated Local Child Protection Adviser (LCPA) in complying with the current Safeguarding Policy Network with other youth leaders and prepare for an annual trip to Soul Survivor. 5. We are deliberately leaving two sessions per week free so we can think about the ideas and skills each candidate will bring to the role, and agree how these hours will be spent after a person has been 6-12 months in post (2 sessions a week) SUPERVISION, SUPPORT AND TRAINING a) Attend PCC meetings b) Attend fortnightly Staff Team Meetings for prayer and support c) Attend at least one annual residential conference on youth work, to be agreed between the worker and the Rector d) Seek someone outside the church with whom he / she can share on a regular basis e) There will be an Annual Appraisal with a senior member of the PCC in order to review both progress and difficulties

21 YOUR CALL? Thank you for reading this profile. We are praying that God will lead you as you seek his will for your future ministry. If you feel called to apply for this exciting new post, we look forward to hearing from you. If you would like an informal chat please contact: Rev. Martin Howard (Team Rector) Tel: (01202) Or see our website for more details:

22 APPENDIX Our Vision Our vision is to be a Church of Living Stones, where we aim To know Christ and to make Him known Our relationship to God where each person is encouraged to become a true disciple of Christ and grow to spiritual maturity through Bible study, prayer, fellowship, worship and sharing with and caring for others. where each believer is equipped for serving others by helping them discover the gifts and talents God has given them. where they may experience the love of God as we worship, learn, pray, laugh and live in harmony together. Our relationship to one another where all people can find love, acceptance, help, hope, forgiveness, guidance and encouragement. where the buildings in which we meet are a home for the Christian family and where hospitality is offered to all who come; a meeting place that ministers to the needs of the total person, spiritually, emotionally, physically and socially. Our relationship to the world which shares the Good News of Jesus Christ by word and deed and welcomes people into the fellowship of the church. which encourages, supports and equips people for mission, to serve both here and overseas