Manning Uniting Church is seeking a leader with a driving vision to grow a regional church community to 150-200 people over the next five years.  Having received a Synod Growth Fund grant (project entitled ‘Fig Tree Project’), worked through the ‘Growing Young’ program, and with the financial and material support of Wesley Mission the church is ready for the challenge. A qualified minister is being sought as a team leader who will work with the church leadership, its membership, a next-gen appointment, and Wesley Mission to grow the church in the community.

About the Role 

Manning Uniting Church is seeking a leader with a driving vision to grow a regional church community to 150-200 people over the next five years.  Having received a Synod Growth Fund grant (project entitled ‘Fig Tree Project’), worked through the ‘Growing Young’ program, and with the financial and material support of Wesley Mission the church is ready for the challenge. A qualified minister is being sought as a team leader who will work with the church leadership, its membership, a next-gen appointment, and Wesley Mission to grow the church in the community.

Manning Uniting Church seeks to be an inter-generational, resourcing Church Hub for the region and has committed to the following:

  • To act with love and without judgment in Jesus’ name.
  • To live into transformational values: 
  • Grace (We seek to be gracious to our neighbour), 
  • Inclusion (We are welcoming to all people, a safe place where everyone is invited to participate),
  • Dignity (Everyone is of infinite worth and has a dignity which cannot be taken away from them), 
  • Faith & Hope (People’s lives can be transformed by compassion, giving both meaning and hope).

The aim is to reach the following goals: 

  • Help create a diverse 150+ congregation through encouraging families and young people into the life of the congregation, along with awesome oldies living and working together in a resourcing/hub Church.
  • Have a significant number of functioning discipleship groups by 2030.
  • Create pathways into congregational life for the large group of people linked to Wesley Mission Community Services.
  • Prioritise creating warm relationships with existing contacts.
  • Continue to grow the mission to hard to reach and marginalised groups and develop other contextually appropriate programs.

Key Ministry Responsibilities

Lead and champion the missional vision of Manning Uniting Church growing and enhancing its reputation as a church in the Taree and surrounding community.

  • Cultivate a culture of prayer and worship, together with the Manning Uniting Church Council to develop services that:
    • seek to be gracious to our neighbours
    • are welcoming to all people
    • are a safe place where everyone is invited to participate
    • speak of everybody’s infinite worth and dignity
    • create opportunities for people’s lives to be transformed by love and compassion
    • allow for meaning and hope
    • allow for congregation members to sometimes lead worship
  • Use and support a range of powerful and effective communication techniques, such as modern video, live streaming, music, websites, blogs, radio and AI in reaching a wider community
  • Lead, mentor and equip a Next Gen leader when appointed as well as developing volunteer leaders
  • Work closely with the Wesley Mission Chaplain and lay leaders
  • Help create pathways for Wesley Mission staff and clients into the life of a flourishing Church community
  • Work with church leaders to:
    • Identify and address training, equipping and growth needs, to improve their effectiveness 
    • Inspire members into effective discipleship and outreach
    • Develop outreach into the community to provide ministries that meet the needs of families and young people
    • Develop positive relationships and partnerships in the Taree community that help to support and fund the ongoing ministry of the Church
    • Develop a Pastoral Care Ministry through equipping lay leaders to provide support to a growing congregation
    • Conduct bible studies and devotions
    • Develop sources of income that will make ministerial positions financially sustainable after 5 years
    • Lead worship services, celebrate baptisms, communion, infant dedications, weddings and funerals as required
    • Be available to provide support in crisis situations within reasonable limitations

Other more general responsibilities include:

  • Regularly meet with an approved and qualified person for regular supervision
  • Participate in ongoing training and recognition activities as required
  • Encourage engagement of the congregation with other congregations, Christian groups and communities, and Wesley Community Services
  • Demonstrate responsible stewardship of all resources
  • Adhere to established financial policies and procedures of Manning Uniting Church
  • Participate in environmentally positive work practices

In addition to those outlined above, specific responsibilities also include:

  • Reading and understanding the Basis of Union, and having a preparedness to work within the polity and ethos of the Uniting Church in Australia
  • A genuine willingness to embrace challenges as they arise and to work flexibly in support of the overall key objectives
  • A willingness to work a flexible schedule when required
  • Following policy and procedures in relation to workplace health and safety
  • Participating in maintaining a safe working environment for both yourself and others in the workplace
  • Undertaking reasonable additional duties as directed

Relationships

  • Reporting to:   Manning Uniting Church Council
  • Working with:   Ministry leaders of Manning Uniting Church 
  • Wesley Mission Director of Mission
  • Wesley Mission staff including Missional Communities 
  • Other relevant organisations including Uniting Church Presbytery and local congregations, government departments, service providers, industry organisations and key stakeholders
  • Developing a Missional leadership team with:
    -    Next Gen Family/Youth Minister
    -    Wesley Mission Chaplain

Criteria

  • Ordained or suitably qualified lay person.
  • Must hold a current Working with Children Check number (NSW)/ Working with Vulnerable People Check number (ACT) and obtain any other required checks.
  • Only people with a right to work in Australia can apply for this position.