Pastor (Children's and Youth)

Role:

Billericay Baptist Church (BBC) are looking to appoint a ‘Pastor*’ to their leadership team, who will have a particular responsibility for children’s and youth ministry within the church and wider community of Billericay. This is a key position within a ministry team of a multi-congregational church, taking a significant role in the leading and shaping of our ministry to under 18s across all aspects of church life, and as part of the overall vision and direction of the Church.

*NB – BBC are happy to have an ordained or non-ordained person in this role.

Applications:

All applications for the role and enquiries for more information must be submitted via our recruitment consultants Red Balloon Foundation - www.rbf.org.uk/billericay or contact recruitment@rbf.org.uk

Accountable to:

The Elders & Trustees of BBC

Team:

The successful applicant would be part of the BBC staff team, working alongside and in conjunction with our Church Pastor and Community Pastor in leadership of our congregations, while supervising and empowering a passionate team of volunteers who work with children & young people.

Contract:

Two or three year appointment which can be extended for a further period subject to the agreement of both parties; a probationary period will also apply.

Remuneration:

£34,000 - £38,500, range depending on skills/experience including a housing allowance plus a 10% contribution to a pension scheme of the successful applicant’s choice.

Where the successful applicant is ordained, there is potential of provision of a manse (taking up of this provision will remove housing allowance)

5 Weeks Leave or equivalent, plus bank holidays. Maximum of nine Sundays each year.

Time Commitment:

Part or Full Time Arrangements Available. As a ministry role,

full time is based on a 6-day working week.

All contracts will include evening and Sunday working.

Core Responsibilities:

• To have, and communicate, an ongoing vision to introduce the youth and children of BBC, and our wider community, to the Lord.
• To champion our ministry amongst under 18s and young people to the church family, and in the local area; releasing a generation to bring transformation wherever they go under Jesus’ leadership.
• To create or support mechanisms/ activities to facilitate the youth successfully transitioning into the adult population of the Church once they reach 18.
• To ensure that all of our work amongst children and young people is fully integrated in and integral to the wider mission of the church.
• To be a prayerful and inspiring presence in the lives of all the children, young people and families we serve.
• To create and support the delivery of welcoming activities that allow children, young people and adults to engage with what is planned and to ensure all team members, both paid and voluntary, are well briefed and equipped to participate.
• To actively encourage, develop and nurture supportive and accepting relationships with children, and young people, parents, carers and leaders, both within the church family and the wider community.
• To lead, empower and grow our team of volunteers through proactive support, effective communication, inspirational training opportunities and timely administration.
• To plan effective curricula and sessions, which communicate the truths of the Gospel and a Christian lifestyle in a relevant way.
• To keep registers, write evaluation reports and contribute to risk assessments and other planning/strategic documents as required.
• To lead Sunday and other services and empowering children and young people to do the same.
• To fully engage in, and be prepared for, team meetings, to ensure vision and best practice is shared and built upon across the ministry of the church.
• To proactively seek out expansion opportunities for current and potential new projects, aimed both at the church family and those in the local area, and to bring proposals for these to fruition alongside the wider leadership team.
• To actively develop and build strong relationships with external stakeholders such as schools and colleges, other churches, local authorities, etc., alongside our Community Pastor and Church Pastor.
• To stay informed on legislation, local and national issues and examples of best practice in the field.
• To coordinate and participate in occasional overnight/residential trips and activities both in UK and overseas.
• To ensure the safeguarding of all participants and team is paramount in all aspects of delivery alongside a strong focus on health and safety and data protection.

Additional Responsibilities would include:

• Being aware of BBC, Local Authority and appropriate partners’ policies and procedures, working within their guidelines and, where appropriate, implementing policy.
• Being aware of relevant legislation regarding activities undertaken in children’s, youth and community work and delivering ministry within its framework.
• Working in a flexible and co-operative manner, undertaking all such reasonable tasks as may be requested by the leadership of BBC, even where these fall outside usual areas of responsibility.

We prioritise gifting and spiritual maturity for the role over educational qualifications, whilst recognising a solid skill base is also required.

Personal qualities include:

• There is a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) for the candidate to be an active, practicing Christian from a Trinitarian denomination. The Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) Regulations 2003 Section 7.2 applies. We would like to speak to candidates who would describe themselves as followers of Jesus Christ and are able to demonstrate a commitment to live a life under His authority and direction. Candidates should also demonstrate a willingness to learn from Him with a humble and open spirit, cultivating a life of prayer and discernment.
• Previous experience of children’s and/or youthwork in a paid or voluntary context with positive outcomes.
• Being well organised and proactive, able to take initiative and organise day to day tasks whilst being willing to submit to guidance from colleagues, elders and trustees.
• Having good communication skills, i.e., able to present facts, concepts and ideas lucidly and engagingly in verbal, written and visual form to children, young people and adults.
• Having a working knowledge of ICT and ability to set up projectors, research topics online, create presentations, etc. (training can be offered where this is not currently in place).
• Being a self-motivated and enthusiastic person, i.e., able to "get on with the job" alone and work with others.
• Having a good educational background, i.e., A-levels or equivalent, with a willingness to undertake specific training where required.
• Ability to work flexibly, i.e., able to fit in with a wide variety of people and changing situations, and the maturity to recognise that working for a church in a leadership role is both physically and emotionally demanding.
• Ability to work in partnership with people from a variety of different ministry contexts and styles of churchmanship as well as those with no faith at all.
• Being passionate about seeing children and young people becoming disciples of Jesus Christ and helping to see them equipped into the full potential that God has for them.
• Being humble, with an open spirit attitude of willingness to learn professionally and personally.
• Being an encourager and carer of others.
• Ability to be empathetic with issues facing young people, children and parents/carers.
• Holding a positive attitude that encourages young people to be fully involved in groups they attend.
• Willing to take part in a wide range of different activities and events, which are fun and enable learning to take place.
• Ability to seek evangelistic and missional opportunities in all aspects of their role.
• Ability to enable children & youth to grow in spirituality by strengthening ministry of prayer.
• Ability to help us increase our missional presence in the local community through their life and example.

Other Relevant Information:

• Working Week: All contracts include at least one full rest day per week. Hours of working will be flexible, including evening groups/meetings. Sunday working will be part of the role.
• Professional Support: All BBC staff are encouraged to engage in a programme of continuing professional development and training opportunities will be made available.
• Spiritual Support: All BBC staff are encouraged to engage in their own spiritual development and there is budgeted support to enable this to happen through retreats, conferences and the like.
• Working Context: You will be working primarily at our two church sites in Billericay and other local venues. Laptop and mobile phone will be provided.
• Appointment will subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check and the taking up of three satisfactory references.

Applications:

All applications for the role and enquiries for more information must be submitted via our recruitment consultants Red Balloon Foundation - www.rbf.org.uk/billericay or contact recruitment@rbf.org.uk