Description of Job

Are you passionate to see young people come to faith, teaching, encouraging and supporting them as they mature in Christ?

We're looking for a Youth and Children’s Pastor to lead our ministry to young people in our Village. A prayerful, inspirational person who will build on the work that has developed here in Rudgwick over the years – both in the church, and at our dedicated Youth Centre building, whilst being open to how God may be leading us forward into a new and exciting stage of growth.

This is a leadership role for someone with a passion to see children, young people and their families encounter God and grow in relationship with Him.

The youth ministry will be the core focus of the role, leading both open and faith-based youth work. However, in a village context our ministry needs to be holistic, and it is vital that the youth programme is integrated with our children’s ministry and other areas of Church and village life, including building on relationships with the schools in our parish. We are looking for candidates who can bring fresh thinking and ideas, and support our lay volunteers and leaders.

The position comes with accommodation provided rent free (3 bedroom detached house, with garden, garage and off road parking).

About Us

Holy Trinity is a thriving charismatic Anglican village church on the West Sussex / Surrey border. Although we are a rural community the church is very active – as well as our youth and children’s ministries, we run weekly Small Groups, The Alpha Course and several other courses - as well as a board games ministry to elderly residents in the village. You can get a feel for who we are by exploring our website and watching our YouTube channel. We serve a community of 3,000 people with our mission of “Seeking to bring Jesus Christ into the heart of our community” and our vision to be a “Healthy, Growing Village Church”.

Our youth and children’s work has grown into a ministry valued and respected by the wider community and has enabled us to build strong relationships of trust with the diverse schools in our parish, and the families and relatives of the young people who participate. This has been helped by the leasing in 2009 of the old Cricket Pavilion from the Parish Council which is now Rudgwick Youth Centre (RYC).

The recruitment pack with further details and the person specification can be downloaded from our website along with the application form and Confidential Self Declaration

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• To develop and lead the ethos, vision and strategy for Rudgwick Church’s engagement with the children and young people, in partnership with the church’s Leadership.
• To oversee, lead and develop outreach to children and young people in the village through Rudgwick Youth Centre and other activities with age appropriate and engaging ways of introducing them to Jesus.
• To oversee, lead and develop discipleship, growth and development of young people at Rudgwick Church through the Sunday morning and mid-week programme, trips, camps (specifically leading the youth and children at May Camp and New Wine) and other activities and to help them take their place as full serving members of the church.
• To oversee, lead and develop our ministry to children and families, including taking school services and assemblies and being part of the ‘Open the Book’ team.
• To provide pastoral care for the young people in the church and village, always observing safeguarding best practice.
• To identify, recruit, nurture and support the volunteer team, keeping up to date with resources and initiatives to implement with the team.
• To communicate the youth and children’s programme to young people and their families, in ways that are clear, relevant and accessible to them and to the church leadership. This will include appropriate social media usage.
• To ensure that safeguarding, health and safety, food hygiene and data protection policies and other policies & procedures are followed and that the safeguarding of young people is paramount.
• To live in the village

General

• A member of the Church Leadership Team, contributing to the mission and life of the wider church.
• Being a part of the regular worshipping community and attending church services even when not leading a group or speaking.
• Be available to assist the Vicar if necessary, including preaching and leading at services.
• Support other ministries in the life of the church where necessary.
• Undertake any other duties that may reasonably be required of this post holder.

 The Church family undertakes to:

• Pray for and support you as a part of our community;
• Support you in developing your giftings within the wider mission of our church;
• Provide accommodation and expenses to fulfil your duties;
• To give one clear day off per week;
• To give you time to attend Diocesan Youth Worker days and other opportunities to nurture, develop and support you;
• Provide weekly line management with the vicar and an annual appraisal;
• In conjunction with the Youth and Children’s Pastor, help with the day to day running of the Youth Centre through the RYC Management Committee.

Safeguarding

Rudgwick church is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and considers that their safety and wellbeing is of paramount importance. The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check with Barred Lists and the successful applicant will be required to complete Church of England safeguarding training.