SSWSH to hire national missioner

National Missioner to the Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda

(One full-time or two half-time posts, lay or ordained, flexible location)

This new post, generously funded for two years by a grant from the Archbishops’ Council, is a unique opportunity for a passionate person, lay or ordained, to equip the 424 Parishes of the Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda in recovering and encouraging a Catholic vision for evangelism.

Overseen by the Bishop of Burnley and supported by a national steering group, you will work closely with the Council of Bishops of The Society and the Council of Forward in Faith to promote a confident mission agenda and support local churches in prioritising growth. In particular you will:

• Oversee a bold launch of the Society Mission Strategy, ‘Forming Missionary Disciples’ and prepare resources to support parishes in responding to it.
• Develop a vision for a movement of missionary disciples by pioneering a Rule of Life for lay Christians that will support them in living out their faith in their daily lives.
• Call together and facilitate groups of priests to enable them to grow in confidence and seek fresh joy in developing the life of the local church.
• Build collaborative networks with the Church House Evangelism and Discipleship Team, the four part-time diocese-based catholic missioners and other groups, organisations and resource providers.
• Explore a proposal to identify key, strategic parishes in different regions of the country that may become ‘centres of excellence’ in catholic evangelism.

It is an occupational requirement that the postholder(s) will be an Anglican in the catholic tradition in sympathy with the aims of the Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda and, if ordained, will be a priest or deacon of The Society. They will have the ability to enthuse and inspire both clergy and laity across the country and have experience of church growth.

This post can be filled on a full-time basis either by a priest or distinctive deacon (with accommodation and a parish base available) or a layperson (salary to be negotiated). Alternatively, the role can be shared by two people, lay or ordained, each working on a half-time basis. The missioner(s) will be employed by an appropriate Diocesan Board of Finance.

The Job Description and Person Specification are available here.

For more information and to express an interest, please contact Bishop Philip North, the Bishop of Burnley (bishop.burnley@blackburn.anglican.org) for an informal conversation.

If you know anyone who may be suited to this role, please contact the Bishop of Burnley.

Closing date: 27^th March 2020

Interview date: 22^nd April 2020