Introduction

The Vestry of St Mary's invites applications from Anglican/Episcopalian clergy for the incumbency recently vacated by the Rev. Nigel Pounde, who has resigned in order to lead the Church of Scotland's work in the field of HIV/AIDS.

Profile (view profile in pdf format 33K)

This document** describes the temporal, geographical and social setting, placing the congregation in the context of the community from which most of its members are drawn. It gives details of the congregation and an outline of its resources. Importantly in this context it lists the aspirations of the congregation as revealed by recent surveys of members and refined during subsequent discussion.

Applicants are requested to give detailed consideration to the Profile from which the main requirements of the incumbency can be deduced.

Opportunities and challenges

The recent incumbency, though brief, is considered to have been notably successful and provides a firm platform from which to go forward. It is thought that the following opportunities may be especially relevant at the present time:

• Further development of the partnership between the Incumbent and the congregation (Priority Aim 4). Progress under the previous Rector has been a fruitful means towards realising the other aims but we are still feeling our way in this respect.
• Developing a lively programme of Christian education for adults and engendering a greater desire to participate in this (Priority Aim 3). Some experience has been already been gained but there is need for further work.
• Using the opportunity provided by having a Rector of our own to provide additional forms of worship that appeal to those with little or no church connection (Priority Aims 1 and 5). Time is now available for us to reach out in this way to other members of the local community. We do not imagine this will be easy, for it will require both considerable imagination and also great patience.

The main challenge which we face is to use these opportunities, and our experience of standing on our own feet during the recent vacancies, to rise above preoccupation with our own desires and needs and to show that we genuinely care for the spiritual well-being of our neighbours; that we have something of great value to offer them; and that looking outward in these ways we can meanwhile create an extended St Mary's family willing and able to support the work of the charge for the indefinite future.

Conditions of the Incumbency Term                     Contact the Vacancy Committee