Job Title:Youth and Families Chaplain
Reports to:Abbey Missioner
Responsible for:Leading the Abbey’s work with young people and families
Salary:£8250 (FTE: 40 hrs, £22K)
Hours:15 per week
Annual Leave:Pro rata (Full time 25 days + Bank Holidays)
Overall purpose of the post
To work with the children and young people in the choirsand families in the Abbey congregation, to help them feel part of and to contribute to the life of the Abbey community whilst deepening their understanding of Abbey life and faith.
Background
The Abbey is proud of its girls and boys choirs and their contribution to our tradition of choral worship, with over 35 children and young people involved. In term-time the choirs regularly help lead worship on Sundays and on special occasions as well as participating in national and international day-trips and longer tours. Both choirs have been involved with broadcasting for the BBC in recent years. An evening discussion group provides a space for young people to explore faith and contemporary issues and pilgrimages and ‘retreats’ have given a more extended time away for fellowship, fun and learning. Within the Abbey community, families with younger children tend to worship at the 9.30am Sunday service when either a boys or girls choir are also present, leading the worship in a ‘contemporary formal’ style appropriate to a place like Bath Abbey. During the service the children are taught in small groups and families are integrated into the community through fellowship after services and special social events. There are currently no young people from the Abbey congregation involved on a Sunday morning, other than in the choir.
Job Description:
The scope of the job is:
To regularly welcome the boys and girls to their choir rehearsals during term-time on Mondays and Tuesdays and start the rehearsal with a two minute thought for the day and prayer.
To work with the 9.30am service leadership team to work out the logistics of taking the choirs out for teaching and discussion, during the service in term-time.
To lead a regular youth discussion group(currently Monday evenings) and encourage the young people to consider baptism and confirmation.
To organise a one or two day youth pilgrimage around Holy Week or Easter Week.
To work with the music department to organise a choir families ‘tea’ after the 11.15am and 15.30pm services on the 2nd Sunday of each term.
To organise socials for each choir and for families in the 0930 congregation.
To consider opportunities for residential weekends or longer (eg locally, or Taize or Soul Survivor).
To encourage the young people to get involved with a social-justice project connected with the Abbey’s vision (eg Eco-church / Fairtrade).
To assist with pastoral and spiritual care during any choir trips or tours.
To support volunteer leaders for the children’s groups during the 9.30am service.
To build up and support a team of volunteers for the youth and families work.
To supervise the Youth Workers recruited to assist with this role.
Person Specification
Essential
Experience
- Previous experience working with young people in a church or chaplaincy context.
- Experience teaching a large or small group of young people.
- Working as part of a team.
Character and skills
- It is a Genuine Occupational Requirement that the post-holder is a practising Christian.
- Highly personable, able to inspire and motivate children and young people.
- The post-holder will need to be self-motivated, a competent communicator and a competent administrator, whilst being a team player.
- Good level of computer literacy for communications purposes.
Desirable:
- Experience of worshipping in a church with a choral tradition.
- Experience of managing volunteers.
- Experience with children and families in a church context.
Special requirements
- Work will be based at the Abbey on Monday and Tuesday afternoons (to fit with choir rehearsals) and Sundays for the 9.30 am service. The post-holder will need to be flexible with their working hours outside of these times.
- The candidate will be required to submit to an enhanced DBS check
APPLICATION
To submit an application please send a full CV and covering letter which explains why you are a suitable candidate and include the details of two references. References will only be taken up once an offer has been made.
Please send your CV and letter to:
Mrs Deborah Coleman
HR Officer
Bath Abbey Office
12 Kingston Buildings
Bath
BA1 1LT
Telephone:01225 422462
Email:
Deadline for applications: To be advised
Date of Interviews: To be advised *
*at the interview you will be required to give two two minute ‘presentations’ (a thought for the day and a prayer) on a topic provided. One will be suitable for a boys choir (age 5-11) and one for a girls choir (age 11-18).