Children’s Worker

Position within the Church: Childrens Work Co-ordinator.

This postition is currently vacant.

 

Update on the provision for children on Sundays in 2012.

We advertised both internally and externally for someone to succeed Julia Powell in an 8-hour/week post. Several strategically placed agencies were contacted personally  in an attempt to identify someone who might feel called to apply.

However, we were unsuccessful in our attempts to recruit someone for the post.

In the light of the above, the PCC approved a plan for taking our children’s ministry forward into 2012 and beyond. The plan is threefold:

1. To separate the different aspects of the Sunday Children’s Worker brief into several more manageable component parts.

2. To select and build a team of volunteers, with close support from the clergy team, to take on those different aspects of the Job Description throughout 2012.

3. To aim, in faith, to recruit for an expanded post (20 hours/week) including more midweek tasks and with a brief to work more closely with Jan Peters in her ministry starting January 2013.

The first two parts of the plan have been achieved. The post has been split into four parts:

a. Preparing the teaching programme

b. Drawing up the weekly volunteer’s rota

c. Administering the CRB and other statutory paperwork

d. Identifying/approaching new volunteers and helpers

The team (which is already up and running and which will meet regularly) comprises Stuart and Donna Levin (teaching programme for older children), Chris and Jan Peters (teaching programme for younger children), Stuart Main (rotas and admin) and John Lambert with further input from Sylvia Wilson (looking for new volunteers and helpers).

Though it was a little disappointing at the time to not fill the post, there are three distinct advantages in this course of action:

Firstly, we can have every confidence that our children’s work will actually be strengthened by a reinforced, united team working in leadership together for a year with the momentum towards growing the ministry.

Secondly, our previous Sunday Children’s Worker Julia, with her wonderfully unique style and bubbly personality, is a tough act to follow and this extended vacancy will minimise the temptation to draw unfair comparisons with her.

Thirdly, the ambition of expanding the ministry in 2013 should stretch our faith and fire our prayers – and that is when Christians are at their best.

Please pray that the team will really work well together and please give them every encouragement and support as they serve the Lord and care for our little ones in this vital ministry.