Pastoral Assistants | St John the Divine Kennington

Position: Pastoral Assistant

Location: St. John the Divine Church (SW9 6JA)

Contract: Fixed term through August 2026, Full time.

Stipend: £670/month stipend + £750/month towards housing

Holiday: 28 days (including 4 Sundays), plus bank holidays, and the weekdays after Christmas and Easter off.

About us:

We are a Church of England parish, worshipping in the Catholic tradition. Our community is rich in its diversity and open to all, regardless of race, gender, sexuality or background. We are a community of over sixty nationalities, and we rejoice that we are many people but one in Christ. Our many activities include a weekly youth club, choirs, monthly young adults meeting, a regular Friday gathering of our Latinx elders, and opportunities to be nurtured in the Christian faith.

Role Description:

We seek to appoint two pastoral assistants to share the responsibilities outlined below. This is a stipendiary role intended for individuals seeking an opportunity to immerse themselves in parish life as part of their own vocational discernment and spiritual formation. Some of our previous pastoral assistants have gone on to theological college and ordination, whilst others have pursued different paths.

Any appointment will be pending successful completion of enhanced DBS check to meet safeguarding requirements for this role. To be considered for the pastoral assistant role, please submit your CV and expression of interest to Fr. Mark Williams at [email protected] .

Responsibilities:

A summary of principal duties, some of which will be shared when there are two pastoral assistants, as agreed with the Vicar. These duties are not exhaustive and other reasonable duties may be added.

1) Shadow and assist the Vicar and other clergy and staff

Spend time with Fr Mark, learning what he does and assisting as required. Among other things, this may include:

Welcoming visitors and spending time with people in need of pastoral support.
Baptism/sick/funeral visits.
Preparing the church, hall, and vicarage for events and helping to clear up afterwards.
Opening/closing the hall or church for those hiring the space.
Admin (assisting Parish Administrator with worship booklets or Director of Operations with communications).
Contributing ideas for furthering the work of the parish.

2) Prayer

Say Morning Prayer in church on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Attend Parish Mass on Sunday and attend, set up and serve masses during the week (Monday-Friday).
Meet regularly with a spiritual director, and go on retreat at some point during the year (expenses paid).

3) Schools

Assist in the two parish schools, under the Vicar and Chaplain’s guidance. Among other things, this may include:

Helping with the schools’ community engagement projects.
Running a first communion class or confirmation class as appropriate.
Assisting in the planning and delivery of collective worship, school masses.

4) Support the Eagles (young adults) group

Get to know the group’s members.
Work with leaders to organise speakers and topics for the main monthly meeting, as well as other events (e.g. parties, pilgrimages, visits etc.), and communicate with the group.
Host the monthly meetings in the vicarage, making sure everyone feels welcome.
Encourage and help other members to suggest and lead events.
Look out for new young adults in church, and encourage them to join.

5) Robes Project

Work with Robes parish leadership team, who organise a team of around 50 volunteers to host 20 homeless guests in the hall for dinner, bed, and breakfast on Thursday nights, January to March, and engaging with the central Robes Project charity.

6) Children’s Choirs

On Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons during term, set up the hall, collect children from school for rehearsals, and get them settled.
When required, help with the choirs’ events and services.
Help on the children’s and consort choirs’ residentials.

7) Children’s Ministry

Help lead a first communion class.
Lead children’s ministry as and when required.

8) Divine Youth Club

Take a lead in the weekly Thursday afternoon session, working closely with XLP youth workers and supporting St John’s catering and hospitality

9) Participating in other parish groups as and when required

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