If I ever saw the following job advertised, I would be quite keen, actually…
The Watership Downs benefice is a group of 8 small parishes on the coast of Barsetshire. We have been without a vicar for 8 months, and we would love you to consider coming to join us. Our congregations are small and mainly elderly, and we have trouble raising all the money we need. We have thought very hard about our future, and we have come to some conclusions.
As a group of parishes we have realised that:
– If we want to survive, we must work together, ignoring old boundaries
– Things cannot continue as they always have done
– We are the church in the community, it is up to us to be visible
– If we want children and young people in church, we must change to make them welcome
– A vicar is just one person who can only be in one place at one time
– We, together, are the church, and its thriving is the responsibility of each one of us
We commit to:
– Pray for our vicar and make sure s/he has proper time and space to live as well as work
– Offer our gifts and ideas without waiting to be asked
– Work hard as the whole people of God in the service of the Gospel
– Try new things and decide afterwards, rather than beforehand, whether they will work
– Let go of old things to make way for the new things which God will do in and through us
Are you someone who will
– Gently remind us of all these things, regularly?
– Preach the Gospel with us and to us?
– Pray with us and for us?
– Lead our worship?
– Show us ways we might grow, as disciples and as a church?
– Guide us through the changes which will come?
If so please contact…
The Quotidian Cleric 
Love it!
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I’d like to be part of a parish like this..people prepared to join the dance and not on the edge and watch. Looks like a parish with the ability to grow. Age might be an issue but if work as a team, not so much. The commitment of these people has to be attractive!
People tell me they do exist – let’s hope more will grow.
They do exist, my parish is like that
Good – treasure it!
Now that’s exactly what every advert should look like, can we find any?
Maybe one day!
We’re just drawing up a church profile for our current vacancy under similar circumstances – I’d love to think we could plagiarise this one… maybe in a few years time!
Here’s hoping!
Are you sure it isn’t an advert from a vicar for a parish?
It’s neither, really – it’s a plea for realism in congregations looking for a minister.
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The parish I work with is exactly like this, so the Church must be getting something right after all!
Good! I do hope you & they are sharing good practice whenever possible.
Ideal except for the fact that the advertisement does not make it clear that candidates are welcome irrespective of sexuality, and of whether they are in, or wish to be in, a same sex relationship that may lead to same-sex marriage 2014 style.
I agree with your sentiment, but that isn’t the issue I’m addressing here.
If it is relevant to be inclusive about gender, which it clearly is, it is logical and consistent to be inclusive about sexuality as well. Otherwise the job spec is misleading, open to contrary interpretations, and less likely to attract a self-affirming gay or lesbian candidate. Is that what you want? Why not address both head on?
I think you may have missed the point and context of my post – it was tackling unrealistic expectations of ministers, and was not addressing sex/sexuality at all. I am all for inclusivity, but that’s a different post (incidentally, the only post I’ve made which gained more interest than this one!)
“We, together, are the church” – not true actually, there are bound to be dozens of Nonconformists, Catholics and Independents that are also part of it, just not part of the Church of England.
Though you are generally right, I feel you have missed my point a little. It is also true that in most rural communities, the non-conformist congregations have folded and the remaining physical evidence of the Church is the C of E…
So a young person in a rural context, if they want to commit to following Christ, needs either to commit to the old congregation and the still-older building, or needs to commute to the whoopee “community church” in the nearest market town. And what theology will guide them as they make that choice?
Small and mainly elderly congregations do themselves no favours if they shut their eyes to such choices offered to their children and grandchildren, and their ministers do them no favours if they pretend that such choices are unavailable.
What you say is quite right, but I don’t see where I’ve denied it in either my post or my reply to your earlier comment.