Lay Assistant(s) for Academic Year 2008-9
St Alkmund’s church, Duffield
Website? www.duffieldparishchurch.co.uk
St Alkmund’s church, Duffield, near Derby is looking for lay assistants to start work in late August 2008. This post would ideally suit those graduating in Summer 2008.
The Church
St Alkmund’s is an evangelical Anglican church, with an average morning congregation of 140-180 and evening of 50-70. The church has a large number of children (40+) and young people (60+). There are 10 growth groups which meet fortnightly, alternating with a central prayer meeting. The church runs an evangelistic course Christianity Explored once a year in the summer, 2 ‘feed-in’ evangelistic courses and a year long follow on course.
The Staff
The vicar (Mark Pickles) is a conservative evangelical, who has recently completed a doctor of ministry degree at Reformed Theological Seminary on ‘gospel dynamics’.
The assistant minister Jonty Rhodes re-joined the staff team in 2007 after completing his training at Oak Hill theological college.
There are currently 3 lay assistants – Andy Meadows and Cate Walker working full time and JJ Quayle who is part time.
James Buchanan is training for full time ministry through a Reformed Theological Seminary distance learning course, whilst also co-ordinating the children’s work.
Duffield church is joined in a united benefice with the next door village - Little Eaton and we appointed David Barnsley as the associate vicar of Little Eaton in the summer of 2007.
There is amongst the staff a clear commitment to the authority of the Bible - teaching the Bible and evangelism is central to our understanding and practice of ministry.
The Job
The lay assistants are primarily involved with the youth work and children’s work in the church.
There are 2 weekly youth groups, Ignition (14-18’s, 30-40 regulars) which meets on a Tuesday evening and Impact (11-14’s, 25+ regulars) on a Wednesday . Every other Sunday, Impact Extra meets during the morning service: the young people spend the 1st half of the service in the congregation and the 2nd half in their own group. Both Ignition and Impact seek to teach the Bible to the young people who come, explain the gospel and model the Christian life.
Lay assistants are also involved in the following areas:
Lay assistants are expected to attend all main services and the fortnightly church prayer meetings
Helping lead the Christianity Explored Course
3rd Millennium Training (A theological training course every 2nd Saturday)
Helping set up rooms for meetings
Some administrative and office help, especially at the beginning of school terms
Locking and unlocking the church building and changing the video security tapes
Other areas according to expertise and interest
There is a large amount of bible teaching ministry that are lay assistants are involved in, perhaps more than in some lay assistant jobs. Adequate time for preparation is therefore vital.
Duration
The duration of the lay assistancy would in the first instance be for one year, although it is strongly hoped that this may be extended to 2 years. The job should start in late August, with the first week being spent helping with the annual church holiday club and if only staying for 1 year, would finish at the end of July. During the year, each lay assistant would have 4 weeks holiday. A day off would also be taken each week.
Support
A lay assistant has the potential to be a lonely time, although the increased size of the staff team and having 2-3 lay assistants helps to reduce this but the role can feel isolated at times. Members of the congregation are encouraged to support and feed them! Days off should be used to get away as much as possible.
Training:
The lay assistant would be expected to apply for a place on the Midlands Ministry Training Course which is paid for by the church (every Thursday). This course is attended by apprentices from many churches in the Midlands.
Attendance at weekly staff meeting
Reading the bible with a staff member or member of the congregation
Weekly book study and discussion with Jonty and the other lay-assistants.
Monthly Saturday sessions – 3rd Millennium Ministry ( this is with others in the congregation – 3rd Mill – are putting the equivalent of a seminary level training on DVD with excellent graphics and study notes that can be downloaded from their website. The material is excellent and this group meets monthly to go through the study material together having watched the DVD lesson between meetings. There is also a 3rd part to the morning looking at gospel dynamics – how the gospel ought to transform us, our hearts and lives and flowing from that our ministries, thus also transforming churches)
Accommodation
The lay assistant would either live with a church family or in their own flat provided by the church.
Salary
The church will provide accommodation and pay for work related phone calls, by arrangement with the host family. In addition each lay assistant will receive just under £420 a month.
Applicants
Applications are invited from those expecting to graduate in Summer 2008 and from recent graduates. Any applicant should be a committed Christian who holds conservative evangelical convictions such as expressed in the UCCF basis of faith, which is the church’s doctrinal basis to which all church leaders must adhere.
Some experience working with young people and/or children would be an advantage though not essential and applicants should be confident in explaining the Christian faith. The post would be especially suitable for those hoping to explore doing full time paid Christian work in the future, which might include the ordained Anglican ministry.
It is hoped that applicants will have played an active role in either the Christian Union and/or local church whilst at University. The job includes a comparatively high percentage of time teaching the Bible teaching compared to some schemes so a desire to grow in this gift is desirable!
Further Details and Applications
Further details can be obtained from Mark Pickles, The Vicarage, Vicarage Lane, Duffield, Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 3EB
01332 841168
Or
Jonty Rhodes
01332 843944
Anyone interested in these posts is welcome to phone at any time.
Applications should be sent to Mark in the form of a letter and CV with 2 referees who have known you in a Christian context. Ideally one referee should be your church pastor/minister. There is no set time for interviews. Any suitable applicant will be invited to visit for a weekend giving them a chance to see the church at first hand and to meet Mark and the staff team and others in the congregation. Decisions will be made applicant by applicant