The Congregational Federation is proud to announce the holding of its first Summer School on 28-30 August 2020

The Congregational Federation (CF) is a federation of independent or Congregational churches formed in 1972 with the object of the advancement of the Christian faith, and with churches directly affiliated to it from England, Scotland and Wales. We are also part of the International Congregational Fellowship.

The aim of this Summer School is both to encourage and to challenge Christians to play our part, especially as Congregational churches, within the broader non-conformist tradition in the public life of the UK today. We will explore our distinctive values, perspectives and principles, reminding ourselves of our call to radical discipleship under Jesus.

The Summer School will immediately appeal to those in any of the non-conformist church traditions but it is open to anyone who believes that Christians and churches should have an impact on the structures and policies of society as well as getting involved at a local level to support disadvantaged people and those suffering injustices.
For information about the Summer School, the presenters and the venue follow this link here.

The weekend will involve a mix of plenary sessions, presented by people with experience and expertise in different aspects of Christian dissent, and interactive, workshop type sessions, led by equally experienced scholar-practitioners.

The venue for the Summer School is the iconic grade 2 listed National Justice Museum in the heart of Nottingham. The cost for delegates is £200 per person, which includes buffet lunches and evening meals, plus a guided tour of the National Justice Museum.

Places should be booked by 31 July 2020, and the first 30 places will attract an early-bird discount of £50.

The particular issues to be explored include the following:

What Are the Distinctives of a Christian Non-Conformist Voice in Public Life?
Challenging ‘Empire’ is a Non-Conformist Church’s Responsibility
Significant Historical Congregationalists with an Ongoing Influence Today
Reading the Bible as Non-Conformists
The Importance of a Congregational Voice in the UK Today

The following academic experts and practitioners are our presenters:

Professor Anthony Reddie
Professor Reddie is the editor of Black Theology: An International Journal. In 2015 he was appointed Professor Extraordinarius in the Department of Philosophy, practical and Systematic Theology at the University of South Africa. He is also the Director of the Oxford Centre for Religion and Culture and a trustee of the British and Irish Association for Practical Theology.
His latest book is Theologizing Brexit: A Liberationist and Postcolonial Critique, the first intercultural and postcolonial exploration of the Brexit phenomenon.

Rev Dr Ann Jeffers
Dr Jeffers is a Research Fellow at Roehampton University, and formerly a Director of Research at Heythrop College, University of London. She is also a Tutor on the Congregational Federation’s ministerial training course. She is the co-editor of a textbook on Gender and Religion and has contributed to The Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception and to Oxford Biblical Studies Online.

Rev Dr Alan Argent
Dr Argent is Research Fellow at Dr Williams's Library, London, and is a significant expert in the Non-Conformist and dissenting Christian traditions with several important books published on this, including the major work, The Transformation of Congregationalism 1900 - 2000. He is the Minister of Trinity Congregational Church, Brixton and a Tutor on the Congregational Federation’s ministerial training course.

Rev Suzanne Nockels
Rev Nockels is the President Elect of the Congregational Federation and the Minister of two Congregational churches in Sheffield. She has a Masters’ degree in Mission (Pioneering) and is a Tutor on the Congregational Federation’s ministerial training course with a particular interest in fresh expressions of church.

Rev Dr Julian Gotobed
Dr Gotobed is a Senior Lecturer in Ministerial Theology at the University of Roehampton. He is a member of the Research Group in Theology, Religion and Practice, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He has published several important articles including one on Martin Luther King Jr, entitled Rediscovering Justice. He is also an Accredited Minister in the Baptist Union of Great Britain.

Rev Dr Graham Adams
Dr Adams is a tutor at Northern College and one of the ecumenical staff team within Luther King House. He is programme leader for their MA and teaches Mission Studies in the context of global Christianity and religious diversity and dialogue. He is the author of Christ and the Other and is a Tutor on the Congregational Federation’s ministerial training course.

For further details and information about booking on the Summer School please contact the administrator at: madeleine.varley@congregational.org.uk. Or telephone: 0115 911 1460.

This press release is available to download here.

CHURCH SUPPORT WORKER VACANCY AT CONGREGATIONAL FEDERATION

The Congregational Federation is an Association of Independent local churches whose mission is to equip, enable, engage and empower the churches in their mission to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. It came into being in 1972 following the apportionment of the assets of the former Congregational Union in England and Wales. The object of the Federation is the advancement of the Christian faith. The Federation has churches directly affiliated to it from England, Scotland, and Wales. It provides support and guidance to member churches.

Services provided include
- Ministerial and lay training
- Assisting with pastoral settlements
- Ministry with children and youth
- Mission initiatives including its partnership with Council for World Mission
- Ecumenical relationships
- Custodian trusteeship via Congregational Federation Ltd
- Advice and guidance on all aspects of church administration and mission

JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Church Support Worker

Overall Objectives: To pro-actively offer support to all Federation Churches to enable them to develop their worship, community provision and fresh expression opportunities.

Line Management: Operations Manager. Working closely with General Secretary.

Remuneration: £15912 pa (FTE £26520) Company pension.

Hours of work: 22.5 hours (3 days) per week as required. Flexibility of hours and days of work will be necessary to meet the requirements of the role.

Place of work: The base will be located within the Nottingham Offices and will require on average one day a week on site depending on the circumstances of the applicant/work requirements and by prior arrangement.

Principal Activities
• To support and encourage churches in their worship, community provision and fresh expression opportunities
• To be an active member of the Church Support Department and to collaborate with the other members in responding to church needs efficiently and effectively.
• To actively encourage the Congregational Way of being church
• To facilitate the children and youth team and their initiatives
• To ensure excellent communication with CF churches by producing newsletters and regular updates
• To produce, provide and/or source materials for churches and the Department
• To assist CF churches in finding financial resources e.g. CF grants and Serving the Community Awards
• Call meetings of the Area workers bringing together their diverse specialties for mutual sharing and equipping
• To support the CF in their striving for adopting new models of being church, regeneration, closing/reforming
• To report to and attend as required CF meetings and Assemblies
• Be aware of and relate to the Council for World Mission projects and funding pathways
• To undertake tasks as required by the Operations Manager or General Secretary as required.

Other requirements:
• The Church Support Worker will require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate
• The Church Support Worker will need to hold a valid driving licence.
• Continuous Professional Development will be undertaken.

Person Specification
Commitment:
• Be a Christian with a strong commitment to the ethos and principles of Congregationalism
• Be passionate about supporting and encouraging churches in their worship and community work

Qualifications
• Educated to degree level.

Experience
• Recent experience of working within a church environment
• Experience of leading small groups or delivering training to volunteers
• Experience of encouraging and enabling volunteers

Communication
• An ability to communicate well both orally and in writing
• Have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• An awareness of the need for discretion in confidential and sensitive matters

Organisation
• Be able to work accurately and calmly under pressure and to meet deadlines
• Be willing and able to travel to different parts of the UK as required
• Be willing to work weekends and evenings as required

Terms
The appointment is a part time position on a 1-year fixed term contract

How to apply
To apply, please send by post or e-mail a letter of application and a detailed CV together with full details of two referees, to the General Secretary, Mrs. Yvonne Campbell, Congregational Federation, 8 Castle Gate Nottingham NG1 7AS.
E-mail: yvonne.campbell@congregational.org.uk
Applications must be received no later than 4th March 2020. Applications received after this date will not be considered.

Interviews for those successfully shortlisted will be taking place on Friday 13th March 2020 in Nottingham.
The list of duties and the ‘person specification’ for this job describe the sort of skills, experience, and knowledge and abilities which we are looking for. We will interview those whose applications best meet these criteria, so it is very important that you should use your application to explain how you can match them.

Please give the names, addresses and telephone numbers of two people who are prepared to give you a reference for this job. If you have previously been employed, your referees should be people who have direct experience of your work through working closely with you for a considerable period, and at least one of them should be your formal line manager in your most recent job. Otherwise they can be people who know you from recent college, or voluntary experience. It is helpful if you can tell us briefly how each referee knows you (e.g. ‘line manager’, ‘work colleague’, ‘college tutor’).

Your referees will be asked to look at the job details and tell us if, in their opinion, you could do the job. We will assume that we can approach them at any stage unless you tell us otherwise when you apply. So, if you wish us to ask for your permission before approaching a particular referee, or to contact them only under certain circumstances (for example if we are calling you for interview, or if we have made you a conditional offer), you must state this explicitly alongside the details of the relevant referee(s).

Your appointment will be subject to (i) the provision of original documentation which indicates your right to work in the UK, (ii) a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (England and Wales) / PVG (Scotland) certificate and (iii) the completion of an initial probationary period of six months.

About the Congregational Federation
This is a federation of independent or Congregational churches formed in 1972. The object of the Federation is the advancement of the Christian faith. The Federation has churches directly affiliated to it from England, Scotland and Wales.

Equal opportunities at Congregational Federation
As an Equal Opportunity employer, we positively encourage applications from people of different backgrounds. All our jobs are filled in line with our equal opportunities and diversity policy, which is available upon request.

Data protection
All data supplied by applicants will be used only for the purposes of determining their suitability for the post and will be held in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Screening
Pre-employment screening may be carried out.

This job vacancy information pack is available to download here.