Dunkeswell Mission Community Dunkeswell, Broadhembury, Luppitt, Sheldon Upottery and Plymtree Dunkeswell Mission Community Profile Vacancies: Rector of Dunkeswell Mission Community, based in Dunkeswell and a House for Duty Priest, based in Broadhembury
Foreword By the Archdeacon of Exeter, The Venerable Christopher Futcher Our vision is that we seek to be people who together are: Growing in prayer Making new disciples Serving the people of Devon with joy Our strategy centres on Mission Communities - parishes joining together to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ more effectively in Devon. The phrase Mission Communities sums up what we need to be as a Church in the modern world: mission-oriented, community-focused and locally-rooted. Mission Communities help us to work together and support one another better being more responsive to the different contexts and cultures of Devon. The Diocese of Exeter is a community of more than 25,000 people who come together in churches large and small, all over the county of Devon. We offer a Christian presence in every community, offering support and prayer, worship and friendship as well as practical help for those in need. If our Mission Communities are to flourish they need to be more than just a structure. They need to live and embody the life of Jesus Christ and to share that life with others. Jesus came so that we can have life in all its fullness. That is our vision and our hope for the Church in Devon. In this profile, you will find the vision and challenges of the Dunkeswell Mission Community. I commend it to your study and prayer as you seek to discern your next step in ministry. The Venerable Christopher Futcher Archdeacon of Exeter 2
Introduction from the Churchwardens We believe that the Dunkeswell Mission Community is at an exciting point in its development. We are fortunate to be in a beautiful part of the West Country, with great transport links, friendly villages, amazing scenery and the world-famous Jurassic coast on our doorstep. Our communities are vibrant and the recent addition of Plymtree to our Mission Community brings the opportunity to strengthen our clergy team. Our Devon countryside encompasses traditional communities with a Christian heritage even if some do not attend church regularly. Our small village churches are active, with something to offer everyone. Our challenge is to serve the changing needs of our rural communities through mission and outreach to the young and old, to the farming community and to those seeking spiritual fulfilment. By meeting the needs of our current congregations, and by finding new ways to reach out to our wider communities through the proclamation of the gospel, we are confident that we can grow Christian life and participation in our churches. We hope that you find this profile document interesting and hold you in our prayers as you consider your future ministry. The Churchwardens Dunkeswell Mission Community 3
What are we looking for? Rector Role & Person Specification Rector Rector of the Benefice comprising the parishes of Broadhembury, Dunkeswell, Luppitt, Plymtree, Sheldon and Upottery. Home Location: The Rectory, Dunkeswell, Devon, EX15 2RH Role Specification Main responsibilities: The Rector is responsible for the Mission Community and Ministry Team, with special focus on: Ensuring that our Mission Community identity grows and supports the Christian identity in each village. Strengthening our ministry to families, youth and children. Growing lay leadership and ministry. Encouraging the Mission Community in a ministry of worship, prayer, fellowship and friendship. Continuing to develop productive partnerships with local schools. Contributing to the life of the deanery and diocese through Chapters and Synods. We hope that the Rector will: Pray and worship - contribute to a lively and active style of worship which retains an Anglican character, working with others in creating worship that enables people to encounter God; Pioneer initiate new and develop existing forms of community outreach; training and encouraging new ways of being effective witnesses for Christ: Preach teach God s word dynamically and faithfully and have experience at leading others in spiritual growth and in openness to the work of the Holy Spirit; contribute to leadership of the Mission Community with distinctive preaching and teaching; Pastor - care for and nurture the congregations and their wide contacts with the community; sharing in the oversight of a busy and active Parish family; helping people to make connections with the Christian faith in their day to day lives. 4
Qualifications A priest of the Church of England DBS enhanced clearance is required A sense of humour and fun Experience A minimum of 3 years ordained ministry. Experience of working in clergy and lay teams, ideally in a rural context Experience in teaching, training and equipping others would be an advantage. Our agreed Mission Action Plan seeks to make worship and teaching more accessible, as well as helping people to develop their prayer life and discipleship as part of a church community that is focussed on mission. To help achieve our aim, we are looking for a priest who: Is able to embrace a wide range of liturgies and styles of worship, from traditional to more modern. Has clear leadership skills and vision to facilitate the development of the Mission Community s work and outreach, and the ability to be challenging when necessary. Is a good communicator with good interpersonal and listening skills. Is able to encourage the development of the gifts, prayer life and involvement of lay members of the congregation. Relates well to all age groups, from the youngest to the oldest and has experience of working alongside children and young families. Is able to work alongside the Parish Administrator and Associate Priest and will 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. Holds a current driving licence with access to a car due to the geographic nature and limited public transport in the Mission Community. Is conversant with IT and has email and internet accessibility. Full expenses will be reimbursed. Is a caring pastor. 5
What are we looking for? House for Duty (5-11 year olds), and to be willing to take School Acts of Worship regularly (either Broadhembury or Plymtree on a Thursday morning). We recognise that this is a part-time position and will support the Associate Priest in maintaining a balance between parish commitments and personal life. We hope that the Associate Priest will: Pray and worship - contribute to a lively and active style of worship which retains an Anglican character, working with others in creating worship that enables people to encounter God; Role & Person Specification - House for Duty/Associate Priest Associate Priest of the Dunkeswell Mission Community, comprising the parishes of Broadhembury, Dunkeswell, Luppitt, Plymtree, Sheldon and Upottery, with a shared oversight for Broadhembury, Plymtree and Sheldon. Home location: The Vicarage, Broadhembury Pioneer work with the Rector to initiate new and develop existing forms of community outreach; encouraging new ways of being effective witnesses for Christ: Preach teach God s word dynamically and faithfully and have experience at leading others in spiritual growth and in openness to the work of the Holy Spirit; contribute to the Mission Community with distinctive preaching and teaching; Pastor - care for and nurture the congregations and their wide contacts with the community; sharing in the oversight of a busy and active Parish family; helping people to make connections with the Christian faith in their day to day lives. Terms House for Duty and 10 per cent stipend If the house is not required, a 45 per cent stipend will apply Role Specification Main responsibilities: The Associate Priest is responsible for working with and supporting the Rector, with special focus on: Taking up to two Sunday services and working the equivalent of two other days per week within the Dunkeswell Mission Community, showing flexibility on working days to accommodate funerals and weddings, etc. Being involved in one of our church infant and junior schools 6
Qualifications Priest of the Church of England DBS enhanced clearance is required. Experience A minimum of 3 years ordained ministry. Experience of working in clergy and lay teams. Skills Willing and able to work harmoniously as a member of a team. An effective communicator, teacher and preacher. Enthusiasm for ecumenical working and relating Christian faith and practice to society. Self-motivated and able to work in situations which cross boundaries of traditional Christian ministry. An ability to establish rapport and to communicate with all ages in a range of settings. An ability to reflect theologically on work undertaken and the context in which ministry occurs, and communicate insights to a wide audience. Conversant with IT and have email and internet accessibility. Holds a current driving licence with access to a car due to the geographic nature and limited public transport in the Mission Community. Full expenses will be reimbursed. 7
The Dunkeswell Mission Community There are pre-schools in three of the parishes (Dunkeswell, Upottery, Plymtree) and three primary schools (Church schools - Broadhembury & Plymtree; County - Upottery). Secondary education can be obtained from the highly-rated Colyton Grammar School, which is within easy reach, and there are wellregarded comprehensive schools in Cullompton, Uffculme, Ottery St Mary and Honiton. Honiton is only eight miles from Sidmouth on the Jurassic Coast, and not far from other coastal towns such as Lyme Regis, Branscombe, Beer, Exmouth and Topsham. The Exe Estuary is both a birdwatcher s paradise and home to many watersports. The Dunkeswell Mission Community is situated in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in East Devon. It comprises six individual parishes, covering around 24,000 acres (37.5 sq. miles), each with its own church: Broadhembury (which joined the group in 2011) Dunkeswell Luppitt Plymtree (which joined the group officially in early 2017) Exeter and Taunton are only a 30-40-minute drive away, with department stores meeting the whole range of occasional shopping needs. The villages are connected with narrow country lanes, often single track, and patience is required with generous time allowances needed for getting from one village to another. The lanes are a wonderful sight in spring with wild daffodils, primroses and violets, however! Long distance communications are good. Honiton is on the main train line to Exeter and to London Waterloo. Taunton is on the main west coast train line, connecting to London Paddington in just 1hr 40mins. The M5 and A303 main roads can be accessed within 30 minutes by car. Sheldon Upottery Location This is attractive farming country, predominantly of livestock, but light industry and small businesses also provide employment, as does tourism. The local town is Honiton, which is a 15-minute car journey away, with good shopping including supermarkets, pubs, restaurants and garages. It is well known for its lacemaking history and numerous antique shops. Honiton has an excellent NHS Medical Centre and a hospital for minor injuries. There are also hotels and residential care homes close by. Dunkeswell, Broadhembury and Plymtree have village shops offering a range of produce and Broadhembury also has a tea room. Dunkeswell has a surgery. Cullompton is a market town about 20 minutes away. 8
About the communities Each of the villages in the Mission Community is lively and friendly, with thriving activities, many of which involve church members. Our Mission Community covers six parishes in a widespread rural area with a total population of some 4,000 (the largest being 1,500) with an average weekly total church attendance of 150. There is one Junior Church (in Upottery) and three youth clubs (Dunkeswell, Upottery, Sheldon). Between them, the parishes boast two gardening clubs, three football clubs, two cricket clubs, two tennis clubs, a short mat bowls club and a full-size all-weather bowls green. Two airfields at Dunkeswell and Smeatharpe - provide go-karting, banger racing and parachuting, as well as being home to 110 businesses. In addition, there are four village pubs, village shops and post offices, a Country House hotel, three social clubs, Women s Institute branches, a Ladies Group, art clubs, several keep-fit clubs of different kinds, an over 60s club, and various bible study groups, with five churches having bellringers. Enquirers courses are also held, such as Alpha, Emmaus and Pilgrim courses. Social events include dances, skittles and various fundraising events. Four parish magazines and a village newsletter include church news and details of services. There is no central or main village or town within the Mission Community, but Dunkeswell is the nearest to being central and the Rectory is conveniently located there, with the House for Duty being based in Broadhembury. No parish looks to any other for leadership or as a base for collective activities. Background Until 2006, the churches worked independently of each other, and they differ somewhat in the way in which they work in their respective villages. However, in 2006, the Moving on in Mission & Ministry (MOiMM) movement required the parishes of the Dunkeswell Benefice (Dunkeswell, Sheldon, Luppitt & Upottery) to consider how they might become a Mission Community. The parishes got together and, considering the large area covered by the benefice, resisted attempts to persuade them that it would be sensible to join another group. A five-year plan was established and the Dunkeswell Mission Community became a working reality in May 2010. In late 2010, it was decided that the parish of Broadhembury should join the group, to justify a full-time Rector for the enlarged benefice on an ongoing basis. This move was warmly welcomed by all the parishes. The Mission Community was further strengthened in mid 2016, when the parish of Plymtree joined, with a new United Benefice of Broadhembury, Dunkeswell, Luppitt, Plymtree, Sheldon & Upottery being formally created in January 2017. This move also enabled the Mission Community to justify a House for Duty Priest based at Broadhembury, although this post has not yet been filled. 9
Worship pattern Across the Mission Community we offer a wide range of forms of worship. The current monthly pattern is as below: Week Dunkeswell Broadhembury Luppitt Sheldon Upottery Plymtree 1 9.30 am BCP Communion 9.30 am BCP Communion 9:30 am Family Worship Morning Prayer 11.00 am Family Worship 2 Morning Prayer 10.00 am BCP Morning Prayer Family Service 9:30 am Morning Prayer 9:15 am 3 Morning Prayer 9.30 am 9:30 am BCP Communion All Age Worship Morning Prayer 4 10.00 am Worship for All Ages Family Service 9:30 am BCP Communion 9:15am 5 Six Worship Together service. Every fifth Sunday, we come together as a Mission Community with a service held in each of the six churches of the benefice in turn. Upottery has a lay led Service of Morning Prayer each Wednesday at 9.00am Dunkeswell has a Healing Ministry every 4th Saturday (CW = Common Worship; BCP = Book of Common Prayer or CW Order 2 Trad Language) It is the policy of each parish to provide the style and churchmanship needs of its various congregations, which include traditional, modern, youth and children s needs. The Mission Community is probably best defined as middle of the road between Anglo-Catholic and Evangelical, but there are distinct congregations within the parish flocks, and their various needs are regarded as important. 10
Our ministry team At present the Mission Community is led by one Stipendiary priest, although the recent addition of Plymtree to the Mission Community has led to the vacancy for a House for Duty priest a position as yet unfilled. Upottery has a PTO Reader, and every parish has lay people who organise and take non-sacramental services. The Six Worship Together services are organised by the individual lay worship teams. Visiting and retired clergy all kindly take services when they are available and there are gaps to fill, and we are fortunate to have their ministry. Organisation The structure of the Mission Community is simple - six separate parishes with their parish churches (plus Holy Trinity Church, which stands within the precincts of Dunkeswell Abbey, whose ruins are managed by an Abbey Trust, which has purchased the building for its own use, leaving it to be used as a Festival Church only). Ensure that our Churches are vibrant, caring and welcoming communities where all, especially those who are new to the faith, are valued and encouraged. Take Christ out into the world. Administration The need to offload administration from the shoulders of the incumbent has been a high priority, and an Administrator for the Mission Community, Mrs Karen Davies, was appointed in 2011. Karen works alongside the Rector, so is very familiar with all the duties required to meet the needs of the parishes. This part time post is funded by all the parishes and she works from home but with a dedicated Mission Community telephone line. Her responsibilities include organising the paperwork for weddings, funerals and baptisms, as well as arranging cover for services including the occasional offices where the Rector is otherwise engaged. She also publishes a monthly Services and Events sheet for the Community. Decision making in the parishes is usually quite simple the PCCs are typically the core congregation and meet at regular intervals. Chairmanship of the PCCs is shared by the Lay Chairs and the Rector. The churchwardens meet with the Rector every six months to discuss the way forward together and consider the Mission Community Mission Action Plan. The Churchwardens Meeting acts as the Mission Community coordinating council. The Dunkeswell Mission Community is also part of a greater Group Ministry joined with Honiton Mission Community and the Offwell group of parishes. Whilst each parish retains its own identity and way of doing things, we work together to: Support our Clergy in mission and ministry to create a cohesive Christian presence in our communities. Strengthen our faith through worship, proclamation and prayer, extending a welcome to all in Christ s name. 11
Finance and development focus Across the Mission Community, individual parishes are accountable to PCCs and there has been no wish or need to combine the treasuries. The churches individually raise the funds for all their needs, including their common fund share based on their participant numbers and give substantially to charities and disaster funds. Parishes also contribute to the central funding of the Rector s expenses and the cost of the Mission Community Administrator. Current development focus for the Mission Community The Church needs to grow discipleship within each of the communities, serving their particular needs in their own way. The time spent by the Rector in pastoral care all over the benefice has been the most valuable mission and outreach that we have had and this must continue. The workload has been shared on Sundays by retired priests and lay people and the development of lay pastoral support is a key opportunity. Each parish will maintain its rolling Mission Action Plan, identifying where help and cooperation with other parishes is planned to grow. The overall Mission Community Mission Action Plan will highlight these areas for co-operation, look for opportunities for joint working, and deal with inter-parish communications and administration. It is felt that ongoing events to help further develop trust and relationships between parishes, as well as the ongoing development of efficient inter-parish communications, is essential to the development of the Mission Community and the achievement of its vision. Our ministry team for the Mission Community must be developed further, building its ability to provide for all the worship needs in all the churches and to reach and engage those who have no church contact. We must maintain existing worship approaches to meet the ongoing needs of our congregations, avoiding change for change s sake. 12
Accommodation The Rectory, Dunkeswell The Rectory for our Mission Community is in the old village of Dunkeswell. The spacious property, which is approached by a driveway, benefits from full oil-fired central heating and double glazing. The accommodation comprises: On the ground floor - Hallway, cloakroom, study with built in book shelves, lounge with open fireplace and french doors to garden, dining room, large kitchen breakfast room, and utility room. On the first floor 4 bedrooms (2 double with wash hand basins and 2 single), bathroom and shower room. Outside there is a large child-friendly garden. A paved terrace runs along one side of the house with a rockery garden. The double garage has an up-and-over door, power and lights. There is generous parking and turning space at the end of the driveway. The Rectory, Broadhembury The premises for our House for Duty priest is in the picturesque village of Broadhembury in a rural location near to the church, standing within a large garden. There is an oil-fired condensing boiler installed in 2013 supplying hot water and the whole house central heating system together with an open fire in the sitting room. The windows and doors are aluminium framed double glazed units. The roof space has loft insulation, which is in accordance with current Building Regulations requirements. There are four bedrooms and a family bathroom on the first floor. The bathroom currently has an electric shower over the bath. There are three reception rooms, kitchen and utility on the ground floor. The garage is attached to the house and can be accessed through the utility room. 13
Dunkeswell Mission Community Dunkeswell, Broadhembury, Luppitt, Sheldon Upottery and Plymtree Further information Parish Information can be viewed on the Mission Community Website www.dunkeswell.org.uk Other useful websites are: www.exeter.anglican.org www.plymtree.org.uk/st-john-the-baptist www.upottery.com/our-parish/st-mary-s-church