The Church of ST JOHN Bowling, Bradford Parish Profile
Mission Statement Know God, Show God, Share God. Values Jesus at the centre Positive faith in God Every member ministry Caring community Loving the lost Website www.stjohnsbowling.com Social Media facebook.com/tmcstjohns, Twitter @TMCstjohns
Bishop s Statement St John s Bowling is a significant church within the Bradford Episcopal Area and the Diocese of Leeds. Under the 29 years of the previous incumbent s ministry, the church has punched above its weight and beyond its parish boundaries. Significant numbers of people from difficult circumstances have come to faith and grown as disciples of Jesus. In particular, the church has given birth to a range of new congregations meeting both in the parish as well as in other challenging parts of Bradford. These carry the St John s DNA of working well with those whom other churches struggle to reach. Located to the south of the city centre, the parish is in the top 2% most deprived in the country and, in particular, life expectancy of both men and women is well below the national average. It has large numbers of young people (a quarter are aged 14 or under), and growing ethnic diversity. At the last census 25% of the population were Asian, mostly Muslims of Pakistan heritage, and numbers of people from Eastern Europe can be expected to have increased since then. Recent developments have seen further improvements in the church buildings, including the creation of a community hub as a better base for ministry to the neighbourhood. The two Church of England secondary academies in the parish (Bradford Academy and the newly-opened Bradford Forster Academy) both offer excellent opportunities to engage with young people and families. Our vision as the Diocese is about confident clergy equipping confident Christians to live and tell the good news of Jesus Christ. In appointing to this post, we are looking for someone who has a joyful and confident faith which can inspire further church growth in challenging urban communities.
(S)he will be an energetic, resilient and confident leader who can work with the people of St John s to continue their growth in numbers and discipleship. I am also seeking a person who can encourage creative work, collaborative ministry and the sharing of good practice with other nearby parishes, and in particular with St Stephen s Bowling and St Matthew s Bankfoot and their incumbent. The new Deanery of Inner Bradford is comprised of parishes similar to St John s, most of whom are experimenting with new patterns of mission and ministry as they grapple with what it means to be the Church of England in the presence of large Muslim populations. The new priest-in-charge will therefore find a group of creative and supportive colleagues in the Deanery chapter, all of whom will be deeply familiar with the joys and challenges that each other faces. Hence the new priest-in-charge of St John s will be expected to work with a spirit of generosity in sharing wisdom and insights about ministry within the Deanery of Inner Bradford, across the Episcopal Area and Diocese of Leeds, and also nationally. +Toby Bradford 4 January 2017
The church The church was completed in 1842. The folk lore of the origins of St John s Bowling is that a lady called Sally ran a church meeting in her home for the workers of the local Bowling Iron Works (off Neville Road) and eventually shamed the Iron Works to build the church under the guidance of the vicar of Bradford. The church building, therefore, has an iron frame and pillars and is consequently listed as Grade 11. The members of St John s have consistently sought to make the church (and church hall first erected in the 1970s) a hub for local activity and have gradually succeeded. Major alterations were completed in 1993 when all pews were removed, the west balcony closed in order to form a tower room, the organ removed, the vestry to the south removed, and a narthex room created with screens between it and the main worship area. The church building has most recently undergone building works to create full access, new toilet facilities, storage facilities, a reception area, new catering kitchen, as well as full redecoration of the rear community caféstyle space (Narthex) and the main worship area. The car park has also been extended. These works have created the setting for the launch of the St John s Bowling Hub, the venue from which all church ministries and services are delivered. Our usable space has increased from 275m 2 to over 400m 2. The Hub has a part-time co-ordinator, Dave Brickman who has oversight of the venue and co-ordinates the full programme of services. The Hub is intended to be a safe, welcoming venue used to facilitate community integration where the specific needs of each of the relevant groups can be appropriately met. We support approximately 500 local people every week and our vision is to increase this number to 1500 through the development of our vibrant community hub. www.stjohnshub.org.uk
Over the past 15 years, St John s has seen a number of church plants and fresh expression type congregations develop from the core morning congregation (TMC), that have over time become independent of St John s. In addition to the historic links, these congregations share values with TMC and, while independent, have sought to maintain this relationship through the means of the Outworks:Bradford,network of congregations. www.outworksbradford.org.uk St Johns Bowling has a role in relation to the many adults and families who see St John s (TMC) as their home church who have very few links to the locality around the church building in Bowling. We still have a great ministry to them and should want to encourage folks to continue to come across Bradford to St John s. This has been because of the worship, the emphasis on networking, the cells, the discipling and the teaching. This is a ministry that we see will continue.
The parish The Parish has a population of approximately 5580 people in approximately 3000 dwellings. The housing is varied; many are terraced and a number are back to back, with some bungalows and semi-detached; typical property price is low. Opposite the church the road has wardened housing for the elderly. There is little social housing apart from the housing very near the Interchange that houses refugees and women at risk. (The age profile is very mixed with all ages well represented). There are three primary schools within the parish and two secondary schools, Bradford Academy & Bradford Forster Academy are affiliated to the Church of England. Other church buildings within the parish include New Hey Rd Methodist and Ebenezer Methodist. Also are the Jamiyat Tabligh ul Islam Mosque and Gurdwaras Guru Nanak Dev Ji Sikh Temple. East Bowling is undoubtedly a deprived area, our parish is ranked as the 157 out of 12,599 most deprived. The ONS states we suffer from poor health, poor education, high crime and one of the worst living environments in the UK. Unemployment stands at 44% higher than the national average.our community is diverse in its ethnic make-up with more than 40% of people classing themselves in an ethnic group other than white British. There are now approximately 25% of the population that are of Asian descent and in the last few years the number of Eastern European families has increased dramatically. Social isolation and poor mental health are significant issues for our local community. There has been an observed decline in service provision in our area during the last decade. This has led to a severe reduction in the number of opportunities for people to interact socially whilst receiving essential services. Currently within East Bowling there is no other community centre with the same level of internal space, delivering the same diversity of therapeutic, recreational and support services as the St John s Bowling Hub.
Church and ministries At present the church building houses the services and ministries of three congregations: St John s Bowling - this congregation is known as TMC (The Morning Congregation), and is led by the Vicar of St John s. This is an all age congregation of 100 adults and children meeting every Sunday at 10.30am with a guitar led worship team. Most weeks the congregation worship together then the children leave the service for their own groups, Splish Splash for preschool children and Splosh for primary age. A young people s group (Snix) meets on Sunday evenings. TMC service is relaxed, friendly and welcoming with regular involvement from the congregation members. About half of the adult members attend mid week cell groups meeting in peoples homes.. Halogen (who pay rent to St John s) an alternative style congregation, with historical affiliation to St John s Bowling, whose vision is strongly for young families mainly from our partner organisation BD4 Community Trust (led by Dave and Lorna Brickman on Friday evenings). Global Ministry of Champions (who pay rent to St John s) - an Assemblies of God congregation (led by Rev Benjamin Ayesu on Sunday afternoons).
Charitable Trusts The church members have formed two charitable trusts Olive Branch Trust, www.olivebranchtrust.org.uk and BD4 Community Trust, www.bd4communitytrust.org.uk The Olive Branch Trust was set up in February 1983 to facilitate the employment, development and support of church workers to enable them to deliver outreach. We are an active member of our community and work with anyone and everyone to create better opportunities for the people we call our neighbours. BD4 Community Trust to deliver a fantastic service to families with children under 5 (BD4 Family) and local older people (Gems) with the aim of improving the quality of life for the residents of East Bowling and beyond. We also run various community activities such as music lessons, community festivals, charity days and men s evenings as well as hiring out our space for local groups including Narcotics Anonymous, Tranquil Productions breakdancing lessons, Gym Club, local council surgeries and private parties.
Key challenges for the next five years 1. To provide vision and direction for the congregation. To provide a structure to encourage the discipleship of everyone including those adults attending our regular Alpha courses. Address the challenges of a reducing connection with the parish and neighbourhood. Over half of those attending drive in each week through family or relational connections. 2. Oversee investment into employment of a childrens / youth worker. We currently have 2 volunteer workers from overseas, America and Germany, linked with Time For God until June 17. 3. Re-engaging the 'millennial generation' (20-35 year olds) - numbers within this age bracket have decreased. 4. Increase the number of people benefitting from the ministry and services of St John s Bowling Church and community Hub by means of services such as a volunteer run café, a job club, IT and reprographic support, advice and counselling services, and support for vulnerable adults developed. 5. Accomplishing sustainability for our ministries and services - in terms of finances, staffing and users. 6. Engagement and developing on-going and new partnerships within the wider Bradford context, especially with other Outworks:Bradford congregations. 7. Renovation of the Tower room to create more meeting/office space. 8. Re-development of the church hall site this will involve the demolishing of the present structure to build a two-storey building on its present footprint. This building will provide space downstairs for a sustainable local nursery to be delivered by Our BD4 CIC. The upper storey will provide office/ quiet space that can be hired by local voluntary agencies. f This will be a substantial project, but once functioning the nursery and hireable space will contribute to the sustainability of the St John s Hub. There is a possibility of a stage 2 Lottery application following on from the stage 1 grant.
Key roles for the Priest in charge Discipling Leading and teaching at Sunday services. Developing ongoing vision for the church family, growth and influence within our community and city. Supporting and facilitating the ongoing life and health of cell groups. Fulfilment of all responsibilities linked to the offices of funerals, weddings, baptism etc. Line management of Hub Co-ordinator. Involvement with Outworks: Bradford and Prayer for Bradford. Active involvement in our partner charities, Olive Branch Trust and BD4 Community Trust Continue and build on current relationship with local schools Key characteristics of the Priest in charge A passion for local issues and preparedness to embrace the context and address needs, which can seem daunting. A strategic thinker with a view to St John s place and purpose within the wider context of Bradford. Flexibility to work within a diverse context with a variety of people of all ages and perspectives. Compassion and experience in working with complex families. A willingness to partner with projects and churches also working in our context, and with whom we already have a working relationship. A knowledge of the charitable sector is desirable as St John s has formed two charitable trusts with which the vicar works closely. Ability to lead and equip leaders within the church and mentor key people within community contexts. Resilience not easily offended!
What we can offer An active congregation that believes in an all-memberministry approach, with a sense of purpose and mission for their community. The support of two active church wardens; both with knowledge and preparedness to engage with building maintenance. A vibrant worship team. Links and relationships with key community projects and neighbouring churches e.g. e:merge; Shine; Friends of Bowling Park; ASH CIC; Bierley Life Centre. Positive links with local schools. A well-kept and newly updated church building. Employed part-time church administrator. A large vicarage, placed on a key road within the community with easy access to local schools, amenities, supermarkets, doctor s surgery, swimming pool, and park. East Bowling is within the inner ring road and has very easy access to the city centre, and major city arteries and motorways.
The Diocese of Leeds In this new diocese, less than three years old, we are working with three core objectives: Confident Christians: Encouraging personal spiritual renewal with the aim of producing clergy and laity who are confident in God and in the Gospel. Growing Churches: Numerically, spiritually and in their mission to the wider world. Changing communities: For the better, through our partnership with other churches and faith communities, as well as government and third sector agencies. The Diocese came into being at Easter 2014 following the dissolution of the historic dioceses of Bradford, Ripon & Leeds and Wakefield. This followed a three-year process of debate and consultation driven by the Diocese's Commission. It covers a region whose economy is greater than that of Wales. Background papers to the reorganisation process can be read at www.wyadtransformation.org The Diocese comprises five Episcopal Areas, each coterminous with an Archdeaconry. This is now one of the largest dioceses in the country and its creation is unprecedented in the history of the Church of England. It covers an area of around 2,425 square miles, and a population of around 2,642,400 people. The three former dioceses were created in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to cater for massive population changes brought about by industrialisation and, later, mass immigration. The diocese comprises major cities (Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield), large industrial and post-industrial towns (Halifax, Huddersfield, Dewsbury), market towns (Harrogate, Skipton, Ripon, Richmond and Wetherby), and deeply rural areas (the Dales). The whole of life is here, along with all the richness, diversity and complexities of a changing world.
The diocese is dissected by major motorways (M1, A1M, M62) and major trunk roads (such as the A650, A59), making road and rail communications good. Access to airports is also good, with Leeds- Bradford in easy reach and Manchester only an hour away. The Diocesan Bishop is assisted by four Area Bishops (Bradford, Huddersfield, Ripon and Wakefield) and five archdeacons (Bradford, Halifax, Leeds, Pontefract, Richmond & Craven). In addition, the dormant See of Richmond has been revived and the new Suffragan Bishop is now taking responsibility for the Leeds Episcopal Area on behalf of the Diocesan Bishop who remains the Area Bishop for Leeds. There are 323 stipendiary clergy, 165 self-supporting clergy and 398 clergy with PTO along with 408 Readers, 125 lay pastoral ministers and 52 chaplains in 656 churches with 256 church schools. In the Bradford Episcopal Area there are 57.7 stipendiary posts serving 68 parishes with an average weekly attendance of 5,949 from a population of over half a million. The Diocese is unique in having three cathedrals: Bradford, Ripon and Wakefield and over the past year the cathedrals have begun to work together on the key Diocesan services as well as developing three strands that they will offer to the diocese pilgrimage, civic engagement and apologetics. This new diocese, led by the bishops, is working out how best to create a diocese with more than one cathedral, and to develop the ministry and outreach of these cathedrals in a way that secures their future and recognises their distinctiveness. The diocese has inherited strong partnership links with Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Southwest Virginia, Skara (Sweden) and Erfurt (Germany).
Terms of Appointment and Accommodation The Post is for a full-time priest-in-charge appointed under Common Tenure. Provision of the house includes water rates and Council Tax. All expenses are paid. Removal costs and a resettlement grant are available. The appointment is subject to a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure from the DBS. There are six weeks holiday per annum plus Bank Holidays (or time in lieu) and a full day off each week. Participation in annual Ministerial Development Review and inservice training is required and an annual retreat is strongly encouraged Is God calling you to this post? To arrange a visit or conversation, contact: Archdeacon of Bradford, Ven Dr Andy Jolley, andy.jolley@leeds.anglican.org, 01274 405720; 07973 458403 or Parish Representatives: Sandra Foxcroft and Ian Eskriett at sandra@foxcroftrs.co.uk or ianeskimo@gmail.com Application packs are available from Carmel Dylak: carmel.dylak@leeds.anglican.org, 01274 407471 or http:// leeds.anglican.org/vacancies-bradford Send completed application forms to carmel.dylak@leeds.anglican.org by Noon on Thursday 13th April 2017. Interviews will be held on 28th April 2017 followed by a further meeting with the Diocesan Bishop prior to a final offer of the post.