Ministry Trainee

Are you exploring whether God is calling you to serve in Christian Children’s, Worship or Youth ministry? 

Come and join our ministry trainee programme (established in 2001) and work on team for a year in our large, varied, growing and welcoming evangelical church with a living allowance provided and all training costs paid.

Who are we?

Christ Church is an evangelical Anglican church (CofE) located in beautiful Hertfordshire, a stone’s throw from Junction 18 of the M25 and a short walk from Chorleywood Station with regular Metropolitan Line and British Rail trains taking you into central London in 40 minutes. We are a lively, forward-looking church committed to sound Bible teaching, and to equipping people to serve God every day of the week, not just on Sundays.  Please look at our website (cccw.org.uk), which is about to be replaced and our three Sunday services, which are streamed online through You Tube. 

What we offer our Ministry Trainees? 

We want to train young adults to love God and people long-term in ministry. We do this by providing an environment where they are trained and supported by experienced leaders, whilst also giving them the responsibility and opportunity to exercise leadership themselves in a dynamic environment. We pay a living allowance based on 27.5 employment hours a week, which is currently just over £1,240 a month plus a mobile phone allowance of £10 a month and cover all training costs, including day release to study at the HTB College in London.  Costs per trainee for shared accommodation adjacent to the church are currently – rent: £265 per month, Council tax: approx £55 per month, plus shared gas and electricity costs.  There are no charges for water rates or a TV licence. 

There are 3 areas of specialism – Children, Worship and Youth

Ministry Trainees from Christ Church often go on to full-time ministry leadership positions in their chosen specialism, but some take up a deferred degree course, train at a later date for ordination, undertake further training or go into secular employment while serving Christ as a volunteer in Christian ministry.

There are opportunities for trainees to stay for a second year, when they are promoted to Assistant Ministers with greater responsibility often in their chosen specialism.  This must be right for the trainee as well as for Christ Church. 

We warmly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply to join the scheme and welcome those who have just completed their A Level examinations or similar, those who have recently graduated and those who have come from the world of work.  Since the scheme started our trainees have mostly been aged 18 to 23/24 years.

Job Description

Position: Ministry Trainee in the Children’s, Worship or Youth Ministry

Responsible to: Children’s Minister, Worship Minister or Youth Minister, as appropriate.

Employed by: The Parochial Church Council 

Purpose: To gain training and experience and invest in one of the areas of ministry at Christ Church under the direction of the ministry leader concerned.  However, if it is right for the individual and the ministry of Christ Church as a whole, a trainee will be able to experience the other areas of ministry during the year. 

Aim: To model a godly example of Christian discipleship to the children, young people and adults, who are part of the Christ Church family or connected to the church, whilst being trained and mentored with a view to exploring serving in Christian ministry beyond the role of Ministry Trainee.

Hours of work: 37.5 hours a week including 27.5 hours of employment and 10 hours in-house training combined with day release at the HTB College in London. 

Responsibilities

Working in the Children’s, Worship and Youth Ministries

1. To understand and model the values of these ministries and of Christ Church as a whole and support and encourage, as appropriate, the children, young people and adults to grow in these values. 

2. To lead, develop and resource all aspects of the Sunday morning and weekday programmes under the direction of the ministry leader concerned.

3. To be a key leader in the area served and support the ministry leader in the delivery of the vision, including assisting in developing all aspects of the ministry and mentoring and investing in young leaders.

4. To support and assist the Vicar, clergy and other members of the staff team in the wider ministry of the church and all aspects of the work of Christ Church.

Training Programme

1. To commit to learning from the ministry leader concerned and to undertaking and completing assignments.

2. To attend and fully invest in every aspect of the course at the HTB College. 

3. To attend and commit to in-house training courses provided by the church. 

Working with the wider church:

1. To be trained in and support the wider ministry of Christ Church as directed by the ministry leaders.

2. To help with some of the general facilities management within the church.

3. To promptly attend attend Pastoral Prayers (Tuesday mornings), the weekly staff meeting preceded by Listening Prayer on a Wednesday morning, and Mission, Children’s, Worship and Youth Prayers (Thursday mornings).

4. To be a committed member of the Christ Church family. Sunday services - a trainee may be asked to assist at the 8.30 am and/or 10.30 am services, but is required to attend and, if needed, assist at the 6.00 pm service, which our young people are encouraged to attend.

Skills, Qualities, and Experience required:

1. A deep personal love for Jesus and a demonstrable desire to follow Him in all areas of one’s life.

2. A mature Christian faith and walking with Jesus to inspire others.

3. An eagerness to learn and be challenged in order to grow as a leader and follower.

4. Some experience of leadership in children’s, worship or youth ministry contexts, whether as a volunteer or in employment together with basic skills in planning, organising, teaching, and building relationships with children, young people and adults.

5. Some proven examples of leadership roles in other contexts.

6. A love for people and a passion for seeing them discover that Jesus is real and grow in their relationship with Him.

How to apply

If you think you might be interested, we’d love to hear from you.  Just send a short email to RECRUITMENT@cccw.org.uk or a WhatsApp message to 07921 661605 giving your name and contact details, and one sentence mentioning the church you attend and what you’re doing at the moment, and we’ll be in touch for an informal chat.