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CHURCHES APPLICATION FORM
1. About your church or fellowship
BASIC INFORMATION
NAME OF CHURCH Mackintosh Evangelical Church
ADDRESS 61-63 Mackintosh Place, Cardiff, CF24 4RL
Tel: 029 20484567
Address for correspondence Gordon Blythe (Secretary), 83 Heol Isaf, Radyr, Cardiff, CF15 8DW
Telephone Number: 029 20843337 E-mail:
Location: Between city centre and Roath Park. Immediate area consists mainly of terraced streets with mixed community including families, older aged residents, immigrant community (mostly from Pakistan and Bangladesh) and also students as this is a university catchment area.
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YOUR CHURCH MEMBERS
Approximate number of church members: 78 + approx 15 students from away
Approximate Age Grouping:
Under 18 Nil / 19-29 9 / 30-50 19 / 51-65 25 / Over 65 25Size and style of Leadership Team (Elders and other leaders)
5 elders: 3 in paid employment, 1 part time missionary (Rwanda), 1 retired (but with Echoes of Service).
7 Deacons (5 male and 2 female)
The elders are responsible for all matters of doctrine, church policy, discipline and teaching programmes. They have devolved responsibility for planning and leading the various services and groups to a number of committees. The elders are represented on the relevant planning committees. Church meetings are held for members every 3 months to maintain dialogue and information flow within the church.
YOUR PRESENT SITUATION
Weekly programme. List your weekly programme (including Sundays) and the average attendance at each activity:
Sunday 10.15am Breaking of Bread 55
Sunday 11.30am Family Time 60 (15 approx young people split for separate teaching)
Sunday 6.30pm Evening Praise 40
Monday 2.30pm Women’s Meeting 18
Monday 6.30pm Aerobics 20
Wednesday 10.00am Mums & Todds 15
Wednesday 8.00pm Fellowship (x2 mthly) 20
Wednesday Evening Home Groups (x2 mthly)45
Thursday Junior Youth Club 35
Friday 10.30am Extend (over 50s) 20
Friday Senior Youth Club 20
Monthly meetings:
Ladies Prayer 10
Good Neighbours Tea 1st Sunday 20
Friday Night Special 35
What has been your growth pattern in recent years?
Numbers have remained steady overall. New younger members have balanced recent losses of elderly members. Youth work has increased and students have become more involved with activities. Junior Sunday School has ceased due to lack of numbers but an infants class has now started.
What is your vision as a church?
To be more Christ-like.
To develop gift and commitment within the church.
To represent Christ in the local community in a relevant and welcoming way.
Does your church have a defined policy in the following areas?
The Role of Women
Women play a full role in the life of the Church according to scriptural principles and can participate in all activities except “authoritative teaching” and eldership.
Spiritual Gifts
“Middle of the road” evangelical – not charismatic.
Relationships with other churches/fellowships in your area
In touch with a dozen or so “Brethren Assemblies” in Cardiff area, attending joint meetings of Elders and sharing church premises for irregular meetings/ conferences. “Occasional” member of the Cardiff Church Leaders group (some of the 60 approx evangelical churches in Cardiff area. Particular relations with Thornhill, Glenwood and Highfields Churches where we know the leadership and a number of members.
Membership of “Evangelical Alliance” and “Partnership”.
Please attach any printed material such as a statement of faith or other current publications which could be supplied to an applicant (attached).
Other relevant information
Please give any details about the church life and history that might help an applicant to have a clear picture of the current position in the church fellowship.
The church was founded more than 100 years ago. It has Brethren roots but has steadily moved away from what could be described as a “tight” background to its current middle of the road and, we trust, progressive evangelical scenario. The church deeds have recently been updated to reflect this and to allow more flexible use of the premises. Regular reviews are taken of what the church is about and where it is heading.
Pre second world war, there were 250 in fellowship, a Sunday School of 300 and a women’s fellowship of 300. Mack has helped in planting 8 churches over the years, the last being Glenwood in 1978 when 70 (mainly in their 20’s and 30’s) moved to an edge of the city site.
Mack has always been a missionary-minded church sending and supporting in recent years:
Peter and Jenny Andrews and family to Rwanda 1981-85 (Tear Fund) and 1990 to date.
Paul and Angie Dodds and family to India 1983-88 and 1991 to date.
Julie Aitken to Angola followed by OM Ships and OM Spain 1991-2005
Jonathan and Amanda Hanley and family to France 1993 to date.
Youth work has been through Covenanters until they amalgamated with Youth for Christ and has been less involved since.
The church has recently been praying specifically for (i) an evangelist (ii) reaching those on the fringes of the church (parents, occasional visitors, social contacts etc) (iii) more Christian families to join the church (iv) the return of prodigals who form part of almost every family (v) clear leading for the way ahead.
2. About your requirements
THE STAFFWORKER
Preferred title or job description: Open for discussion
Preferred option: Married Couple
Preferred age range: Mature 40 - 50
THE ROLE
How would the staffworker participate in leadership and decision making?
He would be a key member of the leadership team.
What are the needs or opportunities which you feel could be better dealt with by the appointment of a staffworker?
Strengthening the leadership team; evangelism; reinforcing the church’s preaching and teaching resources; identifying and developing gift within the church; someone with quality time to plan ahead and meet needs as they arise.
What roles do you envisage for the new staffworker? (Please number in order according to priority, with the most important as no. 1)
Pastoral 5
Teaching 2
Preaching 2
Evangelism 1
Youth Work 8
Organization / Administration 3
Social/Community Work 4
Inter-church liaison 7
Schools work 6
Other (Please define)
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
What length of contract do you envisage? 3-5 years initially
What reviews do you propose? Annual reassessment with continuous review as part of the leadership team.
To whom would the staffworker be accountable? Chairman of elders.
Are there any other employment requirements? To live near the church.
What are you offering in terms of:-
Accommodation? Buy or rent own property. There is a good range in the area.
Salary range? Negotiable.
Expenses? Covered as spent/ authorized.
Transport? Church has M-reg minibus if required. Mileage reimbursed for own car.
3. Other matters
If you have previously had a staffworker, please give details about the appointment and its termination.
1985-1990: Peter (and Jenny) Andrews between coming home from Rwanda and returning as missionaries (church worker).
1995-1999: Darren (and Shan) Mayor following a year at GLO and before going to Impact Ministries in mid-Wales (church worker).
2002 to date: Jenny Andrews (part time) back in Cardiff for 3 sons’ education (community worker).
What are the major problems that you can envisage if a staffworker were appointed to your fellowship?
Working through the vision for the work of the church so that all members understand and embrace it.
Avoiding overwork and burn-out
Managing change
To what extent would the church members be involved in the appointment of the staffworker?
There would be open discussion before the elders made any decision.
Is there a responsible person (e.g. Missionary, Evangelist, etc) from outside your fellowship who could be asked to comment on your church?
Ivor Cooper, Counties.
Paul Young, Echoes of Service
May the information in this application be transmitted to a potential staffworker without further reference to you?
Yes
Would your fellowship benefit from any further guidance from Partnership on the selection and appointment of a staffworker?
It would be good to retain this option
Would you accept the help of an external advisor, should any difficulties arise between the fellowship and the staffworker, which could not be easily resolved?
Yes
By signing and submitting this form, you accept the terms and conditions laid down in the current PLUS brochure.
Signed on behalf of the Church (at least two names)
Signed Print Name Date
Signed Print Name Date
STATEMENT OF DOCTRINES AND PRACTICES AS INCORPORATED IN THE CHURCH’S TRUST DEEDS
Doctrines
1. The Divine Inspiration, Authority and Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures.
2 Tim 3: 15-17, 1 Peter 1:10-12, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Psalm 19: 7-11
2. The Unity of the Godhead, with the distinction of Persons in that Unity, namely the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, to whom equal honour is due.
Deut 6:4: Gen 1:2-26, John 1:1-2, 5:17,22,23, 14:25-26, 16:7,27,28
Phil:2:6, Heb 1:1-3,8
3a That the Son of God truly became man, being begotten of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary.
John 1:14, Rom 8:3, Gal 4:4, Matt 1:20-25, Luke 1:35
3b That His death was a sacrifice to God and a propitiation for the remission of sins.
Rom 4:25, 2 Cor 5:21, Heb 9:24-28, Heb 10:12-14
3c That He was raised from the dead.
Matt 28:5-7, 1 Cor 15:20
3d That He ascended to the right hand of God, and is now the all-sufficient High Priest to His people.
Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-51, Acts 1:9, Eph 4:8-10, Heb 4:14-16, Heb 7:25
3e That He will come again to receive His people unto Himself, and set up His Kingdom.
John 14:3, 1Thess 4:13-18, Luke 1:32-33, Isa 9:6-7, Dan 2:44-45, Dan 7:13-14
4 That in consequence of the Fall of Adam, man became ‘lost’
and at ‘enmity against God’; that he is also ‘without strength’
to do the will of God.
Psalm 53:2-3, Luke 19:10, Rom 3:19, 5:6, 12-19, 8:5-7
5. The need of the Holy Spirit’s work in regeneration and
sanctification.
John 3:5-8, 16:8-11, Titus 3:4-7, 2 Thess 2:13-14, 1 Peter 1:2
6a That the justification of the sinner before God is by faith
alone.
Rom 3:21-26, 4:4-5, 5:1, Gal 2:16
6b That every justified one is also born of God.
John 1:12-13, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23
6c That such new birth results in and is made evident by holiness of life and good works.
Eph 2:10, 4:24, Titus 3:4-8
7a That at death the spirit of man does not cease to exist, or become unconscious
Eccl 12:7, Luke 16:19-31, 23:43, 2 Cor 5:6-8
7b That the dead will be raised either to life or to condemnation; and that the blessedness of the righteous and the punishment of the unrighteous will be alike eternal.
1 Cor 15:51-57, Phil 3:20-21, Rom 14:9-10, 2 Cor 5:10,
Dan 12:2, Acts 17:31, Rev 20:11-15
Practices
8 The customary observance of the ordinance of Believer’s baptism by immersion on personal confession of faith and the commemoration of the Lord’s death in the Breaking of Bread on the first day of the week, in so far as circumstances allow.
Matt 28:18-20, Acts 2:41-42, 8:36,38, 10:47-48, 20:7,
Luke 22:19-20, 1 Cor 11:23-26
9 The reception at the Lord’s Table of all believers known to be sound in faith and godly in life.
Rom 15:7, 1 Cor 5:6-8, 10:14-17
10 The conducting of meetings for worship under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, with the opportunity for the exercise in the assembly of all true gifts for edification, subject to the Lordship of Christ.
Rom 12:6-8, 1 Cor 12-14, 1 Peter 4:10-11