Ministry Position

The Alstonville Parish – with two centres – is a lively enthusiastic gifted Parish with an evangelical charismatic ethos which is responsive to the preaching of the Word.  It has a diversity of worshipping styles from traditional to contemporary to healing service to the exploration of fresh expressions of worship.

The achievements bear evidence to a parish that has been developing facilities for ministry, grappling with mission in the community, developing the spirituality of its members, creating team ministry and encouraging and empowering people in their ministry gifts.  Collaborative ministry is in evidence with the development of the Mission and Ministry Leadership Team.  The congregations have an understanding of being ministering communities – ‘everyone is a minister’.  There is a strong sense of belonging to the faith community.

There is a desire to reach out and connect with the wider community through active outreach, e.g. children’s Play Place.  The appointment of a new Deacon, in the Priestly formation stream, to the Family-based outreach ministry, is a new and exciting initiative showing signs of growth working with children and their families and developing youth ministry in 2008.

Looking to the future, there is a strong emphasis on the need to nurture the spirituality of the parish family particularly in its life of prayer and living out of faith in the power of the Holy Spirit.  There is also a strong desire to explore and develop a mission-shaped church to both utilize the gifts of members and to make the Christian faith accessible to people outside the church community.

The parish has excellent facilities with well-maintained buildings – churches, hall, kitchen, meeting rooms and offices staffed by a good voluntary team.

To enable the on-going journey of faith the Parish is looking for a priest who:

• has a mature and living spirit-filled faith
• will give Effective Leadership
  • enthusiastic, visionary, prayerful
  • able to work with a team, develop a ministering community – discerning where Parish is at, setting future direction and common goals
• is a Pastor/Teacher
  • able to teach, nurture and encourage spirituality of members – particularly prayer, faith and living a spirit-filled life
  • able to discern the giftedness of members and encourage/build up and empower members to serve
  • who is a good communicator and listener.
• has a Passion for outreach in community  - able to support and encourage Family-based outreach ministry;  build confidence in people to reach out and share the gospel.  See opportunities to be creative and mission-shaped in outlook.
• has ability to minister in the diversity of worship services and across ages
• has ability to help form two Deacons, build up and encourage lay ministers and ministry leaders.