Parish Profile Logie & St John s (Cross) Church of Scotland, Dundee An unrestricted call to a permanent ministry www.logies.org www.facebook.com/logiestjohns
About Us Logie & St John s (Cross) (LSJC) is a Christ-centred, Bible-based, prayerful fellowship of approximately 220 members situated in the west end of Dundee. Most members live in the parish, but a good number also come from different parts of the city. We are a mixed congregation of young and not-so-young, sharing a unity of vision in serving God in this diverse part of the city. We place great importance on identifying and developing members gifts with a view to practical Christian service, both in and outside the church. It has been encouraging in recent months to see a renewed desire in the congregation to serve in the various teams within the church, eg: children s work, music and worship, mother and toddler outreach. As a missional church, we would also expect our new minister to have experience in outreach to different age groups within the local community. LSJC has a history of running summer holiday clubs and an ongoing outreach to families with pre-school children. We value good expository preaching and would be looking for a minister to continue that tradition in our fellowship. The Kirk Session historically took a decision, where viable, to promote team ministry at LSJC. In the past we have had a part time Associate Minister and an Outreach Co-ordinator. We currently employ the local Scripture Union worker one day a week as our Children and Families Worker. In May 2013, our minister of 14 years, Rev David Scott, was called to another church, and this was followed, in September 2013, by a large number of members leaving as they were no longer comfortable remaining within the Church of Scotland denomination. The remaining Kirk Session members have led a successful renewal and refocus of our activities, resulting in a good atmosphere amongst church family members, many of whom have come forward to play a larger part in the life of the church. The visiting speakers have followed a preaching series, allowing a continuity of teaching. Scottish charity no. SC009115 Page 2
Church Life A typical Sunday at LSJC comprises: 10am pre-morning service prayer time 11am morning worship service with crèche and Sunday School (for ages 3-16) Post service time of fellowship with coffee 6.30pm Connect event; a four weekly pattern of fellowship meal, evening worship service, prayer focus and book club Worship times at LSJC include a mixture of traditional and modern hymns, elder-led prayer, children s address, Bible reading and expository preaching of a book of the Bible or a relevant biblical theme. There is currently a well-attended and popular toddler s outreach on a Tuesday and a Friday, with over 40 unchurched families attending. Its popularity led to us setting up Tiny Talk on a Thursday morning; an outreach catering for mums and babies under one year old. By means of an excellent, up to date, church website (www.logies.org) social media (www.facebook.com/logiesstjohns), paper publications and physical noticeboards, we aim to communicate well with our church family, local and wider communities. Organisationally, we have a Kirk Session of eleven elders, five of whom were ordained in December 2013. We have no congregational board as we follow the terms of the Quoad Omnia Constitution. During the vacancy we have an Interim Moderator, Rev David Clark, and Rev George Robson is working one day a week as a Pastoral Visitor. The Guild meets throughout the year, with a range of speakers and activities, and holds fundraising coffee mornings to support projects in the UK and overseas. The Guild are currently also supporting Comfort Rwanda. As a congregation, we have actively supported Christian charities locally and wider afield, including Christian Aid, Bethany Trust, Signpost International and the Blythswood Shoebox Appeal. Recent giving has also included the Scottish Poppy Appeal and India Ministries Fellowship. Scottish charity no. SC009115 Page 3
1.3 miles Location The LSJC parish is located in the west end of Dundee, as shown on the map above (taken from the Church of Scotland website). The church building (right, red dot) is located at one edge or corner of the parish, and the manse (above) is five minutes walk away (left, blue dot). The parish is a mostly residential area including large private homes to the west, and areas of social housing to the north east. Based on the 2011 census, just over 7,000 people live in the parish. Within the parish boundary is a hospital and hospice, and a school campus containing two primary schools (one catholic and one non-denominational) and a nursery school. There is also a university hall of residence and several hotels. To the east of the parish boundary is the University of Dundee, local shops, and an additional nondenominational primary school, who hold their Christmas and Easter services in the church building. Additionally, a 1,200 pupil secondary school is normally located on the parish boundary, ten minutes walk from the church. It is currently being rebuilt; pupils and staff have been decanted to another site in the city, and will return in 2016. The City of Dundee has a population of around 150,000, and there are 35 charges in the Presbytery of Dundee. It is situated on the north banks of the River Tay, is the sunniest city in Scotland, and enjoys stunning scenery. Like many cities, Dundee has a strong industrial heritage which disappeared during the last quarter of the twentieth century. This was replaced by emerging new industries in the creative arts, computer games and biotechnology, mirroring the strengths of the city s two universities. The City Council developed an ambitious project to revive the waterfront (www.dundeewaterfront.com), and is well on the way to achieving this. The central feature of this will be the V&A at Dundee, which will open in 2017, and includes newly opened hotels, a new swimming pool, the redevelopment of the railway station and much more. A bid for UK City of Culture 2017 was shortlisted to the final. Facts & Figures We have around 220 members, and a typical Sunday morning attendance of 70-90. The membership includes around 75 elderly and housebound members, who are unable to attend services, but who remain part of our church family, and many have expressed an ongoing interest in the appointment of a new minister. Scottish charity no. SC009115 Page 4
Premises Our Church building is a mixture of old and new in excellent condition, including the church sanctuary, halls, kitchen and meeting rooms. The main church (above) is able to seat in excess of 350 people comfortably for Sunday morning worship, weddings, funerals and other special services. The ground floor comprises a session room and vestry as well as a traditional church hall (above). A larger modern hall and kitchen facility were added approximately 30 years ago, and are used regularly for our activities ranging from toddlers to evening services. The halls are also used by community groups, including uniformed organisations, community council and many others. A suite of smaller rooms and a church office were built 15 years ago above part of the existing church building. These are used for different church activities such as prayer meetings, Sunday school classes and for hosting Christianity Explored. Audio Visual facilities are available in most parts of the church building with the exception of the Church Sanctuary. We envisage the installation of screens and projection facilities in the church sanctuary as a desirable next stage for 21st century worship. There is a well-apportioned church manse within walking distance of the church. The manse has four bedrooms and three public rooms all centrally heated. There is also a good sized study with all the usual connections for telephone and broadband. There is a small, easily maintained garden to the front of the manse building. The manse also boasts a modern family sized kitchen. More specific details of the manse are available on request. Partnerships The congregation of LSJC is an outward-looking church family. We have held a number of joint services and have worked together on cafe-style outreach events. We are currently participants in COSEN (Church of Scotland Evangelical Network) and DECA (Dundee Evangelical Christian Alliance). The church eldership is also keen to pursue links with other Church of Scotland parishes in the city. LSJC has also recently leased office space to Scripture Union and values the relationship with SU Scotland. We are of the opinion that effective Gospel work is best achieved through shared vision and joint working with other Christian churches and ministries at local, national & international level. Scottish charity no. SC009115 Page 5
Aspiration As a church family we want to see growth in our relationships with God and with each other. We therefore require a minister who will help us focus our mission strategy for the parish we serve. We pray, above all, that God will provide us with a minister who loves Jesus and the Bible and whose desire it is to teach and pastor the flock. Locally, we want to build on our existing outreach to families and young people. We also want to develop our ministry to dads, particularly within the context of our large church toddler group. We would also like to see the reinstatement of our annual church holiday club and build on the existing good relationships that we have with two local primary schools. Over the past twelve months the church has secured the services of the local SU worker, by way of secondment one day a week, to develop the work done with families and young people. This has proved to be an area we would like to develop and could envisage employing a part-time families worker at LSJC in the near future. Nationally, we are committed to staying in the Church of Scotland and want to work with like-minded congregations throughout our land for a return to the traditional, Bible-based, founding principles of our national church. Internationally, we would like to reinstate our support for Gospel-based outreach by building meaningful relationships with suitable missionary organisations based in the UK. Affirmation (August 2013) In deciding to stay in the Church of Scotland at Logie and St John s (Cross) Church we wish to affirm: the Church of Scotland s founding principles of being within the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church; of the authority of Scripture as the supreme rule of faith and life; and of the subordinate standard of the Westminster Confession of Faith. 1 our desire to obey our Lord s command to make disciples of all nations, irrespective of race, age, status or sexual orientation. 2 our rejection of the decision of the General Assembly 2013 regarding its position on same-sex relationships and ordination to the ministry. our purpose as a church to exist to glorify God by growing in grace and Christ-like character and by seeking to bring others to know Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord. our vision to seek to be a Christ-centred, Bible-based, prayerful fellowship characterised by a growing knowledge of God, real and accountable relationships with each other, and vital friendships with others. 3 Having affirmed these principles we consider that the objectives can best be pursued within the framework of the national church, flawed as it may be. Contact Us If you feel called to this ministry, we d love to hear from you. Please send your CV and covering letter to Gavin Berry, Nominating Committee Liaison, vacancy@logies.org. Deadline 30th June 2014. 1 We affirm that all scripture is God-breathed (2Tim3:16,17), that salvation is found in no-one else (Jesus) (Acts4:12) and that we are saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth (2Thess2:13), and are born again through the living and enduring word of God (1Pet1:23). 2 We are servants for Jesus sake (2Cor4:5), who have been given a trust (1Cor4:2) to hold out the word of life (Phil2:16) and not to be moved from the hope held out in the gospel of which we have become servants (Col1:23). 3 We recognise our need to (daily) be transformed by the renewing of (our) minds (Rom12:2) to (speak) the truth in love (and) grow up into him who is the Head, that is Christ (Eph4:15). Scottish charity no. SC009115 Page 6