Families' Pastor

Stoneleigh Baptist Church is looking for a committed Christian with experience in ministry to families to help us to continue to share the good of Jesus with families in our community.

Overview

At Stoneleigh Baptist Church we value the difference that knowing Jesus through Word and Spirit and belonging to a worshipping, praying, supportive church family makes. We seek to grow in that and to share it with those in our largely middle-class, suburban community. We are an evangelical church with a mixed worship style and a weekly congregation of 60-80. We have been encouraged to see some Christian families, with primary school aged children, join our Sunday morning congregation in the last couple of years.

Evangelism and Outreach Serving the Local Community

We are involved in both local primary schools and put on seasonal events: an Easter fun-day, a holiday club, family sessions in the school holidays, a light party and Christmas events. We run a thriving monthly Messy Church, a weekly Babies & Toddlers group and a small children’s club. We have a weekly café ministry welcoming adults of all ages (and their pre-school children) into a relaxed environment.

There are 50+ young families who would consider SBC as their church because they come regularly to the children’s club / Messy Church / Toddlers. These are largely non-Christian families who are nevertheless very committed to attending those aspects of church community life with which they are involved. If we saw a spiritual harvest following the regular seed-sowing into this group, SBC would be transformed!

Role: Families’ Pastor

Hours: full time – approx 40 hours, flexible to include Sundays, with at least one full day off per week

Contract: fixed term 3-year contract (initial review after the first 6 months) with the option for review and possible extension

Salary: £29,000 + mileage allowance & other expenses, with the possibility of help with accommodation

Holiday: 25 days + bank holidays

Responsible to: the pastor

Support: we will

·    arrange for a monthly meeting with a small group within the church for prayer, support and encouragement;

·    encourage the post holder to join outside support groups such as the local BUGB Strands group, Paraklesis;

·    encourage and pay for ongoing CPD (books, courses etc.) as agreed with the church leadership team

·    provide some admin support from our church admin staff.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will be someone who:

·    is a Spirit-filled believer who nurtures his/her own relationship with God through an openness to the Holy Spirit and His gifts in prayer, Bible study and Christian living;

·    has experience in families’ ministry in a local church context (relevant qualifications desirable but not essential);

·    exercises his/her ministry as part of a team;

·    becomes a church member, fully part of the Stoneleigh Baptist Church family;

·    is relational, innovative and pioneering.

Given the nature and context of the work, it is an occupational requirement of this role that the post holder is in agreement with the aims and beliefs stated on our website and the Evangelical Alliance’s Basis of Faith, and holds a traditional view of marriage.

To discuss any aspect of this role please contact Pastor Gavin Hunter:

gavin@stonechurch.co.uk

07533 375582

To apply, please send a CV with a covering letter including a reflection on an experience of families’ ministry in which you have been involved to gavin@stonechurch.co.uk .

We invite applications from those eligible to work in UK. It is a genuine occupational requirement that the post-holder is a practising Christian in agreement with the aims and beliefs stated on our website www.stonechurch.co.uk and the Evangelical Alliance’s Basis of Faith, and holds a traditional view of marriage.

The first stage of the interview process will be an in-person interview. Appointment will be subject to three satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check.