THE NEWTON ABBOT TEAM MINISTRY

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1 THE NEWTON ABBOT TEAM MINISTRY Newton Abbot is a bustling and rapidly expanding market town with strong connections to the agricultural and manufacturing industries, set within the beautiful countryside of Devon between Dartmoor National Park and the South Devon coast. It has a mainline station with excellent rail links to London, Bristol and other major cities, London being just 2.5 hours away. There are also good links to the M5 and the rest of the national road network. The historic city of Exeter with its ancient cathedral and Russell group university is 18 miles away. It has excellent facilities including the newly developed Princesshay Shopping Centre, riverside quay and international airport. The population of Newton Abbot is set to increase from its current 30,000 to 40,000 or more due to the rapid expansion of the town. There are some 4,000 new houses planned or in the process of being built, and the emerging missional opportunity has been a key factor in the creation of this new post. The role will involve both a wide range of parish ministry across the town, in collaboration with the Team Rector and colleague Team Vicar of Milber, and a special focus on developing the church s presence in the two town extensions of Houghton Barton (Hele Park, ca. 1,800 houses) and Wolborough (1,400 houses) with their planned schools and community facilities. The priest appointed as Team Vicar & Missioner will live in Stoneleigh Close in the Highweek district of Newton Abbot, which although fully integrated into the town retains something of its older village identity. There is a thriving primary school in the area and ample secondary and sixth form provision in close proximity. A wealth of sporting and leisure/cultural pursuits is available in the area. Vision and Priorities A new and exciting vision for mission and ministry is emerging as we move from three distinct benefices to a united benefice and Team Ministry early in When formed, the team will seek to refine and implement a coherent vision in line with the objectives of the Mission Action Plan and to foster greater collaboration among the churches of the benefice, so that we can better address in our own context our three diocesan priorities of growing in prayer, making new disciples, and serving the people of Devon with joy. Whilst acknowledging and celebrating difference, we hope to marshal our combined resources so as to present a united front and to address the challenges of growing our mission and ministry in a co-ordinated way. 1

2 This will include our approach to children and young families, an age group that is conspicuous by its absence in the majority of our churches. One way of actively addressing this need is by the appointment of a Children and Families worker. This is seen as a priority as is the rolling out of Messy Church, which finds occasional expression in two of our buildings, in order to create consistent and effective means of drawing people into the ongoing life of the church. We seek to enable the various congregations within the Mission Community to own their unique contribution to the mission and ministry of the benefice as a whole whilst exploring those areas where their individual context can be enhanced by a joined up approach to the overarching needs of the town of Newton Abbot and the surrounding area. We rejoice in the rich and diverse tapestry of ministry contexts which provides both town and rural settings and incorporate a range of ecclesiastical traditions. There is an urgent need not simply to preserve the good things that we have but to explore new and innovative ways of engaging in a community that is overwhelmingly unchurched and disengaged with the parishes in the benefice. Team Ministry It is anticipated that the proposed new benefice and Team Ministry will come into effect in January The team will consist of a full time Team Rector and two full time Team Vicars and a curate. This will be a brand new team with the Team Rector-designate having been in post since April 2016, one Team Vicar currently being appointed and the Team Vicar & Missioner post now advertised. It is an exciting and formative time for the team and provides an opportunity to forge a new relationship between the staff and congregations of the parishes and to formulate a coordinated vision for the town and its surrounding environs. The remit of the Team Vicar based at Milber will include specific responsibility for that parish and a commitment to its particular tradition and ethos, and as Team Vicar he will share with colleagues in ministry across the benefice. The Team Vicar & Missioner will lead on the outward facing mission of the benefice as a whole, especially in the new and emerging town extensions. Consequently, he or she will not be directly responsible for any single church, parish or PCC, but instead will share in ministry across all of them. As Team Missioner, the holder of this post needs to be able to be inclusive in outlook, contemporary in style and seeker-friendly in approach. It could be that worship centres in these two large town extensions will be established, situated in the community facilities that will form part of the developing infrastructure. We would be particularly interested in broadening the range of our church traditions in Newton Abbot and the surrounding area of the diocese by developing a more evangelical and/or charismatic expression of church as part of the mix. The final addition to the team is likely to be the full-time or part-time Children and Families Worker (appointment currently proposed for September 2017). This person will work closely with other members of the ministry team, both lay and ordained, as we seek to build on the excellent relationship that we have with our two church schools and other state schools in the area. There is a parents and toddlers and a play group that meet in the church hall at St Paul s which, although run by non-church groups, are very open to and welcoming of the churches involvement. 2

3 Map of Newton Abbot and surrounding area There are currently 6 churches across three benefices which are in the final stages of becoming a single a Newton Abbot Team Ministry including a new united parish of Newton Abbot with its three churches (a fourth has just begun the process of closure), the parish of Milber and the partly rural parish of Ogwell. Ecclesiastical tradition Highweek All Saints Wolborough St Mary s Wolborough St Paul s Central / Liberal Anglican Central Anglican (more traditional) Civic / more contemporary } These churches will form the new parish of Newton Abbot Milber St Luke s Traditional Catholic Ogwell St Bartholomew s Village Anglican Total participant numbers: 177 3

4 Schools There are nine primary schools in the town including one in the village of Ogwell. Two of these schools are Church of England aided. The Secondary provision, which includes Coombeshead College and Newton Abbot College (each with its own sixth form), has recently been augmented by the new South Devon University Technical College. In addition to this state provision Stover School, situated on the western edge of the town, is an independent Co-Ed school which takes pupils from 2 to 19 years. Further primary and secondary schools are planned to be built in the Wolborough extension and there are preliminary discussions about whether the diocese would wish explore the possibility of either or both of these being Church of England schools. Current Pattern of Sunday worship There is a wide range of services styles which include lay-led Family Service, Matins and Morning Prayer, Common Worship and BCP Holy Communion, and a Parish Mass. Times of services vary and will be reviewed in order to allow sufficient priestly cover across the United Benefice. Occasional Offices: approximate numbers p.a. of baptisms, weddings, funerals and confirmations: 130 Pattern of daily offices: No formal daily office at the moment but we are hopeful of the daily office being said on a rotating basis in each of the five churches within the benefice once the full complement of team members is realised. Staff or team members: 4 Priests (one retired with PTO), 1 Distinctive Deacon (Retired PTO), 5 Readers and a stipendiary curate in training. Lay involvement: There is lay involvement in a monthly Bible study that takes place in the Middleton room in the St Paul s complex, and lay led services in a number of our churches. House, study and prayer groups: 1 Parochial organisations: In future, 3 PCCs and a Team Council There are regular visits to various retirement homes and individuals who are housebound. Schools are playing a growing part in our ministry, with good representation on the governing bodies and involvement in assemblies. Some members of our congregations are active in Street Pastors, which operate in the town over the weekend. An active Christians Together in Newton Abbot includes the Church of England churches and there is an ecumenical monthly prayer meeting at St Pauls. 4

5 Accommodation: 15 Stoneleigh Close, Pitt Hill Road, Highweek, Newton Abbot TQ12 1PX Property description Ground floor A spacious 4-bedroom house located in a quiet cul-de-sac in the Village of Highweek. 2 reception rooms, Kitchen/dining room, Utility and toilet. Separate study with its own entrance and connecting door from the private accommodation. Single garage and off street parking. Good-sized rear garden. First floor 4 double bedrooms all with fitted wardrobes, one with en suite and a family bathroom. 5

6 6 Please note that the kitchen and dining room have now been converted into a large kitchen diner and the small study at the front of the house is now a utility room

7 ROLE DESCRIPTION & PERSON SPECIFICATION Team Vicar & Missioner in the newly formed Newton Abbot Team Ministry with Special Responsibility for New Housing Areas Home Location: Highweek Role Purpose 1. With the Team Rector and colleague Team Vicar, to share the cure of souls in the area of the benefice of Newton Abbot. 2. To work with and share in leading the development of a new team ministry in a spirit of distinctive cooperation across the Mission Community in accordance with the Mission Action Plan. 3. To share in implementing our vision for mission across the community and for growing together as disciples of Christ s kingdom in this area. 4. To lead and serve the people of God in their worship, mission, ministry and service to the wider surrounding community. THE NEWTON ABBOT MISSION COMMUNITY The Mission Community has a number of goals and objectives set out in the Mission Action Plan and these will form the main basis of ministry across the Team. They follow the Diocesan vision, which is to grow in prayer, make new disciples, and serve the people of Devon with joy. The Team Rector has a general responsibility for the Mission Community and Team Ministry. Agreed Objectives for the Mission Community 1. Create a ministry team 2. Establish a communications strategy across the new Mission Community 3. Establish a sustainable system of administrative support for the Mission Community 4. Grow a network of small groups across the Mission Community to enable good relationships between the five churches and to provide opportunity for growing together 5. Develop small prayer group culture including: Open Prayer Groups, Prayer breakfast, Pub group, pastoral care group, Christian basics group 6. Maintain an active, praying, Christian presence in each distinct part of the MC 7. Work on a Fresh Expression and so commit ourselves to growth, making the gospel accessible to a wider range of people 8. Grow lay leadership and ministry 9. Develop ministry to and work with schools in the Mission Community 7

8 TEAM VICAR & MISSIONER This post will not be based in a particular geographical area of the benefice; rather the priest will work across the whole of the Mission Community, taking the lead in mission and ministry in the considerable developments of new housing in the Newton Abbot Team Ministry area. In order to create balance and breadth across a diverse team ministry, we would particularly welcome applications from those who come from an open evangelical and/or charismatic tradition, and from women. Main Responsibilities as Team Vicar & Missioner with responsibility for new housing areas To develop places and patterns of worship and prayer that enable those moving into new housing areas to engage with the life and faith of the church and to grow in prayer, discipleship and service To be the first and primary point of contact for occasional offices in the new housing areas To build on relationships within the Mission Community and so enhance cooperation whilst maintaining the distinctive ethos of Milber Main responsibilities as Team Vicar & Missioner in the wider Mission Community To deepen understanding of the faith and scriptures and make them come alive for all To support the ministry team and congregations across the Mission Community in pastoral care, teaching and nurturing faith and the planning and leading of worship and preaching To further develop partnerships with local schools To assist with the growth and development of the ministry team of lay and ordained so that all the people of God realise their baptismal promises To put vision into practice and help shape the agenda of the Mission Community for the new phase of its life together Specifically, to take a leading role in the Mission Community s engagement with one or more of the priority areas identified in the Mission Action Plan More generally To give attention to time for personal study and renewal in all aspects of ministry To support and contribute to the life of the deanery and diocese through Chapters and Synods. To support the work of Christians Together in Newton Abbot and to play an active part in fostering good relationships and productive partnership with churches and Christians of other traditions 8

9 We seek a Team Vicar & Missioner who will demonstrate passion and evidence of competency in the following areas: Developing a small group culture for nurture and discipleship Developing a programme of discipleship development Evangelism and outreach Outreach and presence on new housing estates Work with schools Pastoral care through the occasional offices Liturgical patterns of worship that incorporates both traditional and new patterns of prayer and music Nurturing and training lay leaders Communications, including IT and social media. We are appointing two Team Vicars and so a balance of experience and expertise in these areas will be necessary across the two appointments. PERSON SPECIFICATION Qualifications 1. A priest of the Church of England 2. Enhanced DBS clearance is required Experience 1. A minimum of 3 years ordained ministry 2. Experience of working in clergy and lay teams 3. A proven ability and motivation to work both within and beyond church structures 4. Particular experience of the world of education and evangelism would be an advantage Skills 1. Collaborative and a good team worker 2. An effective communicator, teacher and preacher 3. Enthusiasm for ecumenical working and relating Christian faith and practice to society 4. Self-motivated and able to work in situations which cross boundaries of traditional Christian ministry 5. An ability to establish rapport with a wide range of people Christians and non-christians 6. An ability to reflect theologically on work undertaken and the context in which ministry occurs, and communicate insights to a wide audience 7. Willingness to work across the whole Mission Community 8. Ability to work with the special position of St Luke s, Milber and to support the flourishing of its distinctive ethos in a context of mutual collaboration and fellowship within the Team Ministry 9