Ideal Job

Wow, 2 posts in 2 days. This pace won't keep up! (and I didn't do any for 2 weeks..)

I've reproduced the job advert below exactly as I saw it. Its in a smaller church than I am used to, but its really saying very simply what I would love to do. Problem is: it's in Englandshire. You know what Phil and Kirstie say on Location, Location, Location when they find the ideal house for their clients but its in the wrong location...........??

ASSOCIATE PASTOR

This advert is for a generalist full time Associate Pastor to work with the Lead Pastor in developing the church fellowship and its mission in the wider community as a whole and also taking particular responsibility for developing the youth and children’s ministry.

Job description
• practical management and strategic development of our youth and children’s work
• oversight and encouragement of volunteer youth/children’s workers
• pastoral oversight of young people and church families with young children
• raising awareness and seeking integration of youth and children’s work within the church
• taking an agreed share in the Sunday preaching programme
• sharing in other areas of general ministry where appropriate in agreement with Lead Pastor and deacons


Person specification
• heart for the discipleship and nurture of children & young people
• good leader able to support and stimulate volunteer workers
• ability to relate to all ages as well as children and young people
• evidence of good theological training and awareness
• a good team player


I loved the discipleship and nurture bit!

Maybe the job description, plainly but carefully crafted, might help others about to advertise and I'm told there are a few up here that are about to go live. There's most definitely a shortage nationally of experienced people in community/family and children's outreachy/pastoraly posts of any kind. The church I saw this advert in has been trying to fill the post for over a year. Hmmmmmm. I know I thought long and hard before moving from church one to church two, there was much agonising as to whether it was right to leave a fruitful place of ministry to step out of the boat into something new and I can only testify that church two to church three is/will be even harder because of the situation I was in. Pain is never far away at this moment in time. And I've still got about 6-8 weeks of writing still to do.

I received two pieces of wise advice recently, all related to the fact that I'm being stretched and who knows what I'll end up doing? Not exactly the same as I have done before, that's for sure.

They both seem to be diametrically opposed to each other but in way they're not - know what you think you might be good at doing but then drop it, and be open for the new.

So... 1. A vicar Down South encouraged me that it's OK to speak out or write down what I would like to do, in the belief that by walking closely in submission to him, the things bubbling away that I would love to do are actually in line with God's best rather than against it.

This takes me back to what Mike Seth said at this conference, about being in partnership with God: as a father walks and talks with his older children: being in partnership together: "what would you like to do?" rather than shepherding them and telling them what to do as a parent does with a young child.

2...A minister Up North encouraged me to have the actual piece of paper/job description and lay it down, surrendering it totally to God. I had been saying to him that I was struggling with what seemed to be diametrically opposed - to have an ideal of a slightly wider role that would excite me and stretch me BUT to be a servant, to do and be whatever he says, to do the lowliest job. I walked by the local cafe today wondering if I should apply to work there. All I could think of was the opportunity to live my life out as a Christian in that environment. I remember pulling pints in a bar and cleaning ashtrays out when I was 18 and just getting on with it. I hated it but I did it.

This minister didn't know that I have never been able to get out of my mind the revelation at the HTB Leadership conference that the Senior Pastor of Hillsongs London is at the London theatre from 6am every Sunday helping set up the church staging and is often the last to leave at night as they pack down. Not on show, not up front, not talking, just doing. Talk about challenging...

So yesterday I laid all the various options before me down - for there are a few and September is shaping up to be quite busy with speaking engagements - so that I may walk towards the right one for me that brings me into accountable relationships and allows me to oversee the stuff I absolutely thrive on with children and with adults, plus the ability to work on all the missional ideas to reach whle generations that's been bubbling away for a couple of months.

Sovereign Lord, I will go anywhere you lead. You constantly make things better than they were before in our lives. You're into restoration. I'm holding out my hand expectantly.


Related to all that is above, here are the verses that I couldn't take my eyes off in my readings today:-

Romans 4:20-21
Yet he (Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.