Apprenticeships

St Alkmund's Church, Duffield, Derbyshire

Email: admin@duffieldparishchurch.co.uk
Website: http://www.duffieldparishchurch.co.uk

The Church

St Alkmund's is an evangelical Anglican church, with an average morning congregation of 150 and evening of 40-70.  The church has a large number of children (40+) and young people (60+).  We also run growth groups fortnightly, alternating with a central church course. The church runs an evangelistic course, Christianity Explored, every summer, two ‘feed-in' evangelistic courses through the year and various discipleship courses.  Our core values are to be: God-Glorifying, Bible Believing and Gospel Centred.

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, has been in his present role since June 2007, having been sent through Oakhill College by the church.  Jonty is planning to lead a church plant in Derby, in autumn 2010.
• 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 2007.
• We currently have 3 lay assistants working in the two churches.

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 and children's work in the church.

There are 2 weekly youth groups, Ignition (14-18's, 30 regulars) and Impact (11-14's, 25 regulars).  Both Ignition and Impact seek to teach the Bible to the young people who come, explain the gospel and model the Christian life.  The lay assistants are involved in planning sessions, writing bible studies and talks, and leading small groups.  The children's work is primarily leading in Sunday Club.

  Lay assistants are also involved in the following areas:

• Helping to lead on the Christianity Explored Course.
• Helping to set up rooms for meetings.
• Some administrative work, especially at the beginning of school terms.
• Preaching, where suitable.
• Other roles according to expertise and interest.

There is a large amount of bible teaching ministry that our 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 post would be initially one year (late August 2010 - end July 2011), although it is strongly hoped that this may be extended to 2 years.  During the year, each lay assistant would have 4 weeks holiday.  A day off would also be taken each week.

Training:

• The lay assistant would be expected to apply to attend the Midlands Ministry Training Course which is paid for by the church (every Thursday).
• Attendance at weekly staff meeting and bible study.
• Reading the bible with a staff member or member of the congregation.

• Weekly book discussions aiming to supplement the training offered at MMTC.  Books are often on systematic theology / pastoral issues.

Accommodation and Salary

Accommodation is provided by the church, usually living with a church family.  Each lay assistant will receive around £430 per month.  The church will pay for work related phone calls and expenses.

Applicants

• Applications are invited from those expecting to graduate in summer 2010 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, and be confident in explaining the Christian faith.
• They should be willing to work hard, and be seeking personal growth in holiness.
• Some experience working with young people and/or children would be an advantage but not at all a pre-requisite.
• The post could be especially suitable for those hoping to explore doing full time paid Christian work in the future.
• It is hoped that applicants will have played an active role in either the Christian Union and/or local church whilst at University.

Further Details and Applications

Further details can be obtained from Mark Pickles, The Vicarage, Vicarage Lane, Duffield, Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 3EB

01332 841168

md@vicduff.freeserve.co.uk

Or

James Buchanan

jambuchanan@gmail.com

01773 828017

Anyone interested in these posts is welcome to phone Mark or James at any time.

Applications should be sent 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.