Details of the Post

Job Title: Youth Network Associate Leader

Salary: £23-25,000 per annum

Full-time: 37.5 hours

Fixed Term: 2 years. Extension possible depending on funding.

Transforming Wigan has developed a youth network, the Brighter Network,which will work in partnership with the proposed seven Hub-parishes being formed across Wigan.We are looking to appoint an Associate Youth Network Leader to work closely with the Network Leader, as a no. 2, playing a key role in leading the youth network.

The youth network has established a borough wide network of leaders based on relationship, unified in purpose and mission. The youth network has an apostolic mandate to create an environment in which young people can thrive, grow and excel as disciples. These young disciples either lead or are part of active worship communities called 3&12 Revival Groups, which focus on making and growing disciples who make and grow disciples. The youth network grows, resources and empowers youth missional leaders through training, discipleship, mentoring, accountability, support & corporate gathering. The youth network is strongly committed to investing continuously in all generations of leaders who are passionate about youth and young people. The youth network is commissioned to set a Culture of Revival in the Church in Wigan through the empowerment and discipling of youth and young people.

We are looking for an extremely positive, passionate, skilled, organised, faithful leader with pastoral gifting, who is able to do detail well and can work effectively within an Apostolic Vision for the youth network.

Wider Context

We warmly welcome your interest in this exciting post and commend our diocese and the Wigan Deanery to your prayerful consideration and discernment. The Diocese of Liverpool is a creative place to minister as we work together to be a bigger church making a bigger difference.

Local Context

The Deanery of Wigan is engaged in a 7 year initiative called ‘Transforming Wigan’ with the prime objective to turn around the missional strength of the Church in Wigan. Following the work in 2013-14 to set out the parameters for this movement, the specific vision and strategy has been worked on since under the leadership of our Mission Director, Revd Tim Montgomery.

The vision is to see one in ten people in Wigan on a discipleship journey with Jesus by 2022. The focus is on making and growing disciples. The three key aims are to renew the faith of the disciples in Wigan, to re-orientate Church in Wigan to be missional, and to revive the spiritual heart of Wigan through the church of disciples living out their faith every day in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The strategy focuses on equipping disciples to deepen their faith and serve with their gifts; establish a ‘House of Prayer’; growing leaders of every type to enable us to grow existing and new Worship Communities; and streamline the structures of the church.

One of the goals is to establish one Team Ministry Benefice in Wigan with seven Hubs growing existing and new Worship Communities. The Team will operate some core services and some pan-Wigan ministries across the deanery where ministry is facilitated by doing so.

For further background information to this post please see the documents ‘TWM Executive Summary’. Please also visit our website

Responsibilities

•To work with the Network Leader and Network Leadership Team to create an environment in which young people can thrive, excel and grow as disciples of Jesus

•To work with the Network Leader and Network Leadership team to resource, empower and equip youth missional leaders involved in leading 3&12 Revival Groups through on the job discipleship, mentoring, teaching and corporate gatherings

•To continue to develop the strategy and practice to grow, develop and empower young leaders

•To continue the work of growing and strengthening the network of leaders through investing relationally

•To be a lead on Alpha

•To be a lead on Safeguarding (Training will be supplied if needed)

•Work within a Church Wigan financial system to manage the youth network budget

•To liaise with other key leaders of the Transforming Wigan movement

Key Contacts

Groups and Committees

The Brighter Network CORE Leadership Team

The Guiding Coalition / Church Wigan Leadership Team

Youth Organisations in Wigan

Hub/Church/Worship Community Leaders

Youth Leaders/Ministers/Pastors

Youth Workers

Chaplains to young people

Head Teachers of Wigan Schools

Support Structures

Ben Houghton, Leader of the Youth Network

Revd Tim Montgomery, Director of Mission

Person Specification

Each of the following criteria will be assessed via: (a) application form; (i) interview; (p) presentation

Essential Requirements / Desirable Requirements
Qualifications / Further Education Qualifications (a) / Higher Education Qualification (a)
Youth Work Qualification (a)
Theological / Loyal to the Church of England in partnership with all Christian Churches of other denominations (a/i)
Demonstrates depth of theological understanding (i)
Commitment to the ministry of the whole people of God (i)
Commitment to the development of fresh expressions of Church and missional communities (i)
Recognises the gifts of the Holy Spirit and nurtures their use personally and in others (a,i,p) / Experience of developing new fresh expressions of Church alongside existing (i)
Spiritual & Personal / Fully embrace the Diocesan Growth Agenda and the Transforming Wigan Initiative (a)
A person of integrity (i)
An encourager with prophetic instinct to identify gifts and strengths and will equip others to develop their ministries
Shares the values and the ethos of the Church of England (i)
Shows a passion for Worship, the Bible and Prayer (a)
A collaborative Team Leader (i)
A proven problem solver with resilience and flexibility (a,i)
An entrepreneurial spirit with an innovative, creative approach to new tasks (i)
Shows Pastoral sensitivity in dealing with people and change (p)
Ability to work in a team and on own initiative (a,i) / Embracing of a variety of forms of worship (a,i)
Vision & Leadership / An extremely positive, ‘can do’ person who is able to see and do detail exceptionally well, with a big picture vision in mind
An overriding desire to make and grow disciples and to grow Church among young people in new ways (i)
Able to play a significant part in the Transforming Wigan initiative to help achieve the key objectives of the ‘One in Ten vision (i)
Able to lead and work with a team (i)
Able to lead in mission with conviction and enthusiasm
Able to stimulate, motivate, enthuse, challenge and open eyes to new vision (i)
Able to engage, connect, encourage and develop young people and young adults
An effective communicator and teacher with the ability to share the Christian gospel skilfully and appropriately (a,i)
A people person with a missional-pastoral instinct
Able to minister to young people appropriately (i) / Experience of planting and developing youth focussed Church (a,i)
Experience of working with schools, young people and local youth organisations (a,i)
Experience of leadership and of leading teams (a,i)
Experience of establishing and developing new ways of mission amongst young people and young adults (a,i)
Managerial / Able to think strategically and creatively (i)
Have good time-management and self-organisation skills, including achieving a balance between working and recreation (i)
Able to delegate and manage change (a)
Able to manage the administration of projects and dimensions within the team (a,i)
Good with detail (a)
Financial / Awareness of financial issues and procedures (a)
IT Skills / Have a functional level of computer literacy (a)
Knowledge and Skills / A good and effective communicator (i)
Experience in delivering teaching/training (a,i,p)
Able to prioritise tasks and manage own performance (a,i)
Able to lead and facilitate purposeful meetings (a,i,p)
Able to work in partnership with other organisations and denominations (a,i)
Able to network effectively (a)
An understanding of safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults (a,i) / Experience of working in partnership with others (i)
Knowledge of Church of England structures (i)
Experience of managing volunteers (a,i)
Experience of working across Church’s/Worship Communities (a,i)
Experience of working in a variety of settings including schools, colleges and local communities (a,i)

The Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) Regulation, section 7.2 applies to this post.

This post will be subject to appropriate Criminal Records Bureau checks and Independent Safeguarding Authority registration.

A six month probation period will apply.

Closing Date for Applications: 29th June 2018, 12 noon

Interview Date: 9th July 2018

For an informal chat for further information, please contact Ben Houghton at

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