MINISTRY TRAINEES

We have one vacancy for a young person from the UK aged 18-25 to join our Ministry Trainee scheme this September! You will join a great team of young people serving God in this convenient location on a Tube line just outside London and be able to develop your gifts in Youth Work, Children’s Work, Worship and Tech ministries with housing, pay and a place on a Christian leadership course, all provided by us. 

There is also the option to apply for promotion to Assistant Pastor in your chosen field for a second year. Promising candidates will be assessed on a rolling basis until the post is filled, so don’t delay!

Christ Church is an evangelical Anglican church (Church of England), committed to sound Bible teaching, and to equipping people to serve God every day of the week, not just on Sundays.  Take a look at our website (www.cccw.org.uk) at each of our three Sunday services streamed online through Youtube. 

We want to train young adults to love God and people long-term in ministry. We do this by providing an environment where they are trained and supported by experienced leaders, whilst also giving them the responsibility and opportunity to exercise leadership themselves in a dynamic environment. We pay a living allowance based on 27.5 employment hours a week. We cover ALL training costs, including day release to study at an accredited Christian College or Academy. Trainees are accommodated in shared accommodation or with a church family. There are 4 areas of specialism – Children’s, Youth, Worship, and Technology.

Our trainees often go on to full-time ministry leadership positions in their chosen specialism, but some take up a deferred degree course, train later for ordination, undertake further training or go into secular employment while serving Christ as volunteers in Christian ministry.

There are opportunities for trainees to stay for a second year, when they are promoted to Assistant Ministers with greater responsibility often in their chosen specialism.   This must be right for the trainee as well as for Christ Church. 

We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and welcome those who have just completed their A Levels / Btech qualifications, those who have recently graduated and those who have come from the world of work.   The scheme is particularly suited to adults aged between 18 and 25 years.  We have a rolling programme of interviews, so we are happy to meet the study and work commitments of short-listed candidates.

If you would like to know more, please contact Sylvia Mann, Chair of our HR Care Group, at sylvia.mann@cccw.org.uk or via WhatsApp on 07921 661605 for an application form and to arrange an informal confidential chat with a member of staff. We organise a rolling programme of interviews, as we are happy to meet the study and work commitments of short-listed candidates.

Job Description

Position: Ministry Trainee in the Children’s, Youth, Worship and Tech Ministry

Responsible to: Children’s Pastor or Youth, Worship and Creative Pastor, as appropriate.

Employed by: The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of Christ Church Chorleywood

Purpose: To gain training and experience and invest in one of the areas of ministry at Christ Church under the direction of the lay pastor concerned.  However, if it is right for the individual and the ministry of Christ Church as a whole, a trainee will be able to experience the other areas of ministry during the year.

Aim: To model a godly example of Christian discipleship to the children, young people and adults, who are part of the Christ Church family or connected to the church, whilst being trained and mentored with a view to exploring serving in Christian ministry beyond the role of Ministry Trainee.

Hours of work: 37.5 hours a week (27.5 hours of paid employment and 10 hours in-house training combined with day release at Christian college in London.

Responsibilities

Working in the Children’s, Youth, Technology and Worship Ministries

1.      To understand and model the values of these ministries and of Christ Church as a whole and help to support and encourage, as appropriate, the children, young people and adults to grow in these values.

2.      To train in leading, developing and resourcing all aspects of the Sunday morning and weekday programmes under the direction of the pastor concerned.

3.      To be a key assistant in the area served and support the pastor in the delivery of the vision, including assisting in developing all aspects of the ministry and mentoring and investing in young leaders.

4.      To support and assist the Vicar, clergy and other members of the staff team in the wider ministry of the church and all aspects of the work of Christ Church.

Training Programme

1.      To commit to learning from the pastor concerned and to undertaking and completing assignments.

2.      To attend and fully invest in every aspect of the course at the external Christian college.

3.      To attend and commit to in-house training courses provided by the church.

Working with the wider church:

1.      To be trained in supporting the wider ministry of Christ Church as directed by the pastors.

2.      To help generally within the church.

3.      To promptly attend in person Pastoral Prayers (Wednesday mornings), Listening Prayer and the weekly staff meeting (Tuesday morning), and Mission, Children’s, Worship and Youth Prayers (Thursday mornings) via Zoom.

4.      To be a committed member of the Christ Church family. Sunday services - a trainee may be asked to assist at the 8.30 am and/or 10.30 am services, but is required to attend and, if needed, assist at the 6.00 pm service, which our young people are encouraged to attend.

Skills, Qualities, and Experience required:

1.      A deep personal love for Jesus and a demonstrable desire to follow Him in all areas of one’s life.

2.      A mature Christian faith and walking with Jesus to inspire others.

3.      An eagerness to learn and be challenged to grow as a leader and as a follower of Jesus.

4.      Some experience of leadership or assistant leadership in children’s, worship and youth ministries or in other contexts, whether as a volunteer or in employment together with some basic skills in planning, organising, teaching, and building relationships with children and young people, as an assistant.

5.      A desire to develop and enhance technical, computer and creative skills.

6.      A love for children, young people and adults, and a passion for seeing them discover that Jesus is real and grow in their relationship with Him.