Workplace Chaplain Nottingham South Deanery
The Workplace Chaplain holds relationships with several of major companies and other organisations which are situated within Nottingham city centre and beyond. The role involves offering pastoral support to employees, both through personal visits by the chaplain and also by means of the leadership of a team of voluntary lay chaplains. A new element of the chaplain s role is to raise awareness of the chaplaincy in the wider area of the Nottingham South Deanery, with the intention of inspiring new people and churches to become involved. The Chaplaincy to Commerce and Industry in Nottingham was set up in 1989 by an initiative from the first occupant of the post, the late Revd Wally Huckle, who, prior to ordination, had been Managing Director of a well-known local firm. Under his guidance, and in collaboration with the then Rector of St Peter's in the city centre, and with the Diocese, the Chaplaincy quickly gained a high reputation for the quality of care being offered to people in their workplaces, which included major stores, law and accountancy firms, industrial units and civil service sites such as the Crown Court and Inland Revenue (as was). From time to time, the Chaplain was also invited to be a part of debate within companies on business ethics and to offer personal support to senior managers at significant times of change. In 2001, following Wally's retirement, the Revd David McCoulough took on the role. The Chaplaincy has developed in a number of directions and was renamed 'Nottingham Workplace Chaplaincy' in 2007. New clients were recruited and a team of voluntary chaplains shared the work between them. In 2008 Revd Alison Maddocks was appointed Workplace Chaplain; in 2011 a review was made of the work of the Chaplaincy, and Revd Rachel Shock, who had previously been the ichaplain, offering pastoral care over the internet, was appointed as a 0.5 Chaplain. The main companies and other organisations which are currently served by the Workplace Chaplain are Capital One, Nottingham City Transport, Bio City, solicitors firms such as Freeth Cartwright and Browne Jacobson, the Crown and Magistrates' Courts and Nottingham YMCA. The client list for the chaplaincy also includes a number of large retail outlets, notably Marks and Spencer, British Home Stores, John Lewis, Debenhams, as well as the staff of the managing organisations of the two major shopping malls, the Victoria and Broadmarsh Centres. The retail outlets are largely served by members of the lay chaplaincy team, which is overseen by the Workplace Chaplain; these lay chaplains come from a variety of backgrounds, including the local Methodist and Catholic churches as well as other Anglican churches. There are also volunteers who support the chaplains by offering support and counselling to clients in fields such as bereavement, parenting, and sexual health. 2
The Chaplaincy organises regular lunch time Insight meetings at which those in leadership and positions of responsibility in Nottingham are given an overview of various aspects of the way the city centre works. These meetings offer an opportunity to network and discuss matters of current concern and interest. There have been a series of City Debates, usually at St Peter s church, which address topics of current interest, especially on the relationship between faith, society and economy. A number of events and services for those from local workplaces are held at various times during the year, such as the annual Workers Memorial Day service and some carol services. In the past the Chaplaincy has supported a local Christians at Work Group and engaged with God on Monday agenda, encouraging people to live out their faith in their workplaces. This very significant ministry of the Workplace Chaplaincy takes place in the context of a city that has a national reputation as a commercial and leisure centre. Over the years, it has come to be very well received and valued by client organisations, with whom a considerable degree of trust and goodwill has been built up. There is a real opportunity to expand the work of the chaplaincy across the southern half of the city through Lenton and Beeston where most of our largest employers outside the centre are based. There have been three sources of funding for the work of the Workplace Chaplaincy over the past twenty years or so. One third came from the Diocese, one third from the St Peter s Trust Fund, and one third from clients. During 2013-14, however, discussions took place with the Diocese and the Nottingham South Deanery with the objective of integrating the Workplace Chaplaincy post into the Diocesan 2020 staffing plan. The Workplace Chaplain post is jointly funded by the Diocese, clients and St Peter s Trust Funds. Full-Time funding is guaranteed for almost 5 years subject to ongoing business donations. Nottingham South Deanery is a densely populated multicultural area spreading from prosperous suburbs in the west with a tradition of strong, independent (largely Evangelical) congregations, through areas heavily shaped by the presence of the University of Nottingham, to more socially deprived urban areas, the city centre and business districts. Our context and very different spiritual traditions offer rich diversity, and real mission potential. In 2014 a deanery 2020 plan for 18.7 paid posts was agreed, and parishes grouped into Minster- Hubs based on common missional and contextual opportunities and grouping together a diversity of church size and function. Their purpose is evangelism, leadership development, and mission in the wider community. Nottingham is a vibrant city with a wide range of shops, restaurants, cultural activities, schools, colleges, two excellent universities and two highly regarded hospitals. It has a good public transport system, easy access to the national motorway network, and excellent direct rail connections to many other cities. The Peak District National Park is less than an hour away. A statement about The Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham can be found on the next page. More Information For a conversation and further information about the workplace chaplaincy role please contact the Area Dean, Revd Karen Rooms (tel. 07906 899611 or roomskaren@googlemail.com ) 3
THE DIOCESE OF SOUTHWELL & NOTTINGHAM GROWING THE CHURCH WIDER, YOUNGER AND DEEPER A statement from the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, Rt Revd Paul Williams and the Archdeacon of Nottingham, Venerable Sarah Clark The Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham incorporates the City of Nottingham, the whole County of Nottinghamshire and five parishes in South Yorkshire. The population is 1.15 million 51% live in the greater Nottingham conurbation, 31% in ex-mining areas and 18% in rural. In 2011 the Diocese reaffirmed its commitment to Joining Together in the Transforming Mission of God with a focus on three core strands: Living Worship, Growing Disciples and Seeking Justice. Following the arrival of a new diocesan bishop in June 2015 we are now looking beyond 2020 at what kind of church we would like to be in 2025 and 2030. As a diocese we have made a refreshed commitment to care for every soul in the diocese with an increased focus on growing disciples. The Senior Staff team has established the first stage of a vision to grow the church wider, younger and deeper. Wider in that we will seek to grow disciples in every part of the diocese, with no retreat from any community: urban centre, outer estates, rural villages or market towns. Younger in that we will seek fresh ways to harness the boldness and creativity of children, students and young people across the diocese, not least in Nottingham which is the 4th youngest city outside London. Deeper as we grow in knowing Christ, so that as his disciples we can be an increasing blessing to the people among whom we live and serve in the workplace, family and community. As part of a renewed strategy for growth we aspire to be purposeful and imaginative in the mission field and the frontline of working life. We long to equip each of our chaplains for their particular ministry, mindful of the sensitivities of operating in a secular environment. Engaging with the world beyond the walls of the church is one of the missional priorities of the Nottingham South deanery leadership team. The Workplace Chaplaincy is viewed as an integral part of this outward looking focus. Bishop Paul has said: It is my prayer that the new Workplace Chaplain will have the creative leadership and imagination to nurture current relationships in the city centre of Nottingham, plan for growth and enable Christians to live out their faith in the workplace. November 2015 4
Job Description and Person Specification Workplace Chaplain Nottingham South Deanery Main Purpose of Role To undertake the delivery of the Chaplaincy s mission through the care for people of all faiths and none in their workplaces across the city centre and beyond; through visiting current clients; by identifying and establishing new opportunities to expand the client base; by supporting, managing and developing the volunteer chaplaincy team including recruiting new members; by encouraging Christians to live out their faith in their workplaces by integrating the chaplaincy into the strategic planning for the mission of the deanery; by a familiarity with social media and similar forms of communication by raising profile of workplace chaplaincy across the deanery and diocese Principal tasks To prioritise visiting client premises to provide pastoral and spiritual care for those at work; To provide vision and leadership to the Chaplaincy Team, including the facilitation of monthly meetings and the setting of priorities; To ensure appropriate training and development are available to the Chaplaincy Team; With the leaders of the city centre churches (Nottingham City Centre Parish and St Nic s) and those in the Deanery, to identify people who could become lay chaplains, and to nurture and train them; To promote the Chaplaincy in the city, Deanery and Diocese, and when and where appropriate to initiate new chaplaincies. This includes networking with various bodies such as the Chamber of Commerce, trade unions, Nottingham City Business Club, and, nationally, the Retail Chaplains Network; To explore God on Monday agenda and encourage appropriate courses, groups and networks to support discipleship at work To work closely with the ministry teams of the city centre Anglican churches and the deanery leadership team to promote and develop the overall mission strategy relating to the engagement of organisations and workers across Nottingham South Deanery; At least two Sunday s a month to speak at a church within the Deanery to promote the work of the Chaplaincy; discipleship at work To make use of modern methods of communication to deliver support in the workplace; To help organise monthly City Centre Insight meetings for church leaders and the business community; To occasionally work in partnership with St Peter s Church organising City Debates To organise and lead special services for those involved in the workplace; To organise and report at regular Chaplaincy Council meetings, and inform the Council s strategic thinking; To manage the administration needs of the chaplaincy, including Council meetings, making use of administrative support when appropriate; To identify, when required, potential Chaplaincy Council members who could support the work of the Council. 5
Relationships 1. The Workplace Chaplain is responsible to the Diocesan Director of Partnerships and Mission. The Workplace Chaplain will be licensed to the deanery. 2. The Workplace Chaplain will also have relationships with: a voluntary team of lay and ordained chaplains; the various clients and their employees; the Workplace Chaplaincy Council; The Deanery Leadership Team the ministry teams of the city centre churches (Nottingham City Centre Parish, and St Nic s), all parishes across the Nottingham South Deanery. Person Specification An ordained minister in the Church of England Creative, open, imaginative and ecumenically committed; A desire to share the Gospel, appropriately, in the context of work. Ready to initiate fresh thinking and new relationships, but also to strengthen and develop existing work; Acquainted with issues of work and the workplace, and able to have empathy with people at all levels of corporate life; Able to hold their own both with senior managers in the workplaces and also in theological reflection with churches exercising ministry in the city centre and beyond; Committed to working with people from a wide range of backgrounds, with pastoral care, both individual and structural, an absolute priority; Committed to inclusiveness shown through the spirit of welcome and hospitality regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, race, sexual orientation, poverty, religion or nationality; Willing to nurture a team of chaplains from a range of church backgrounds, both lay and ordained, and to encourage the interest and involvement of their own church communities in the ministry of the chaplaincy; Willing to work closely with the local structures of the Church to encourage partnership in ministry and mission and to challenge established thinking; Ready to participate in and nurture the chaplaincy team life of prayer and reflection. Able to establish and hold clear role boundaries. Desirable Experience Experience of the business and commercial world, either directly or indirectly, perhaps through doing similar work in an industrial mission or city centre context. Some experience of chaplaincy ministry Working positively in a team to facilitate its development of a team and that of its members. Organisation and prioritisation of a demanding and varied workload. Experience of working in an ecumenical context and understanding of and sensitivity to a range of Christian traditions; experience in an inter-faith context would also be desirable. Remuneration Package The person will be an employee of Southwell & Nottingham DBF with a stipend, housing (or housing allowance) and pension. 6