Bishop of Sherwood Information Pack

Contents

Introduction from Bishop of Southwell & Notts....................................................................................3

Role Description....................................................................................................................................5

About the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham...............................................................................11

The Diocesan Vision and Strategic Aspirations...........................................................................................................................................12

Progress in the Embedding of the Diocesan Vision...................................................................................................................................16

Schools and Academies.......................................................................................................................16

Additional information........................................................................................................................17

Appendices..........................................................................................................................................18

2 | P a g e

THE SEE OF SHERWOOD A Message from the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham Following the retirement of the Bishop of Sherwood in March 2020, I am seeking a sister or brother Bishop to join me in overseeing the mission and ministry of the Diocese at a time of significant opportunity and intense, focused development aligned with our aspirations in Growing Disciples, reaching wider, younger and deeper.I became Diocesan Bishop in 2015 and am inspired and challenged by the missional landscape in which we are called to bear witness to Christ in all the diverse settings of the Diocese, from urban estates to market towns, rural villages and post-industrial communities. I am also continually moved and encouraged by the people of God who share in this ministry, lay and ordained, for their servant-hearted outlook and readiness to engage in new possibilities for growth through embracing change and transformation activity.It is my hope and expectation that as a co-worker in the gospel the Bishop of Sherwood will join me in prayer, seeking the Lord first even as we look to God for his guidance and provision. I would also expect such a colleague to bring their distinctive God-given gifts and experiences to enrich and broaden my own leadership, where we can be open to learning together as well as leading in mission. The following pages detail some of the missional opportunities and resources which God is blessing us with at this time. I am seeking to appoint a Suffragan Bishop who can encourage and inspire the people of God in the ongoing inherited forms of mission and ministry of the Diocese, whilst also contributing to the courage and creativity needed to accelerate the transformational activity and innovation necessary to connect with the spiritual hunger and need in an increasingly post-Christian culture. I am particularly looking for an episcopal colleague who can inspire and mentor the burgeoning number of newer and younger leaders, lay and ordained, whom God is both calling to and raising up within this Diocese. This would cover all aspects from discernment to deployment and ongoing development. For this reason, they would have episcopal oversight for the new Discipleship and Ministry team, helping to ensure that the focus of the activity and thinking of this team is entirely integrated into the flow of Diocesan leadership, as well as drawing upon the diverse gifts and outstanding leadership that exists in parishes. With a highly intentional approach to evangelism and the spiritual formation of disciples, it is

3 | P a g e

important that an episcopal colleague can also provide the necessary pastoral support to help people to establish a ‘sacred pace’ that can sustain life and ministry; the giving and receiving of hospitality, supporting clergy and families where it is needed and requested, whilst modelling healthy patterns of life and ministry will be central to this.In my Presidential Address to Synod in April 2019 I spoke about the Diocese being at a ‘tipping point’ where we must be bold and maintain our strategic focus while sustaining the early and encouraging signs of growth. We need someone with a servant-shaped ministry, grounded in a life of prayer, with a natural flair for articulating and interpreting our vision for Growing Disciples and Churches across the different traditions and social contexts. I assure all considering this appointment of my prayers, as we seek to be truly open to the prompting of the Spirit.

The Rt Revd Paul WilliamsDecember 2019

4 | P a g e

Role Description

Suffragan Bishop of Sherwoodin the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham

December 2019

NotesThis role description has been prepared on the basis of the requirements for the Bishop of Sherwood, identified by the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and approved by the Bishop’s Council for the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.

As with any role description it will need to be kept under review. If there are any particular concerns after six months the Bishop may wish to raise these with the Diocesan Bishop. The Bishop will also wish to ensure that at their first Ministerial Development Review with their Diocesan Bishop this document is discussed and amended as appropriate.

This document should not be considered in isolation but in the context of the vows and duties undertaken at the ordination and consecration as a bishop and also the Canons of the Church of England.

The Bishop will also have received various briefing documents to support the nomination and appointment.

The Purpose of the Role The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham is seeking to identify a suitably qualified candidate with the vocation to serve as his episcopal colleague across the Diocese, sharing in the apostolic ministry of a Bishop in the Church of God, and who will grow into – and possibly in due time beyond – the role of Suffragan Bishop. The Bishop of Sherwood will share in the oversight and pastoral care of the clergy and people of Nottinghamshire, with one parish in South Yorkshire, within the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham. This Diocese serves a population of 1.1m with 231 parishes and 320 churches in widely diverse communities incorporating urban, suburban, estates, market towns, rural villages, as well as post-industrial contexts. There are presently 193 licensed clergy, 233 retired and/or PTO clergy and 311 readers/licensed lay ministers. The Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham has 73 church schools which comprises 8 secondaries and 65 primaries.

Together with the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the two archdeacons (of Nottingham and of Newark), and other members of Diocesan leadership team, they will lead in the continued implementation

5 | P a g e

of a refreshed diocesan vision. This has been disseminated throughout the Diocese celebrating the imperative for ‘Growing Disciples’, with three core strands reaching Wider in every community, connecting with Younger generations and growing Deeper roots of faith. A series of priorities have been discerned to facilitate growing new disciples in every parish across the diocese. These bold aspirations are well defined, focused and measurable and have already seen good levels of engagement in a broad range of parishes with early numerical growth in contexts previously experiencing decline. Compelled by the love of Christ by 2023 we are seeking to:

Welcome 7000 new disciples into the fellowship of Christ and his church (this is the number of those we are hoping become a regular part of a worshipping community in the Diocese over a 7-year period to Advent 2023; we pray this will represent an overall increase in AWA after four decades of decline).

Commission 1000 younger leaders (especially 15-30year olds) equipped and inspired to serve the purposes of God in the church and society.

Plant or graft 75 New Worshipping Communities (NWCs) across the diocese to increase our reach in telling the story of Jesus to all.

Grow 25 larger resourcing churches with clear commitment to develop leaders, plant NWCs, and nurture the faith of children and youth, as well as all ages.

Serve and pray together as 1 church contending for the gospel in every community and sphere of public life in our city, county and region.

The purpose of the role of the Bishop of Sherwood is to work collegially with and accountably to the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham providing strategic leadership in the delivery of this far-reaching vision, helping further increase the levels of engagement in every part of the Diocese, principally through a ministry of preaching and teaching, evangelism and apologetics. With the Diocesan Bishop they are also to share in the privilege of loving and serving all the people of God, encouraging the faithful, whilst being a wise, kind and articulate advocate for change and growth.Consistent with the Church of England Ordinal, it is expected that the Bishop of Sherwood will know themselves to be a dearly loved child of God and a committed disciple of the Lord Jesus, dependent on the renewing power of the Holy Spirit and learning to live daily in God’s presence through prayer and the study of scripture.

Safeguarding children and adults who may be at risk of harm is a fundamental aspect of mission. It is at the heart of the development of healthy churches and our service to thecommunity. The Suffragan Bishop will have a significant role in sharing

6 | P a g e

and communicating the key safeguarding message across the Diocese and in some of the complex pastoral issues that can arise.

7 | P a g e

Principal Challenges and Specific Priorities In light of the size of the Diocese, the number of clergy and lay ministers, and the scope for rich and diverse missional opportunity, Southwell & Nottingham needs a Suffragan Bishop to share with the Diocesan Bishop in the breadth of engagement and leadership that underpins the development and delivery of the strategic vision. The Bishop of Sherwood will also have specific episcopal responsibility for the following three broad priorities:

1. The Calling and Equipping of All God’s People To exercise episcopal leadership in taking primary responsibility overseeing the work of the Discipleship & Ministry Team, newly formed in 2018-19. This team supports the discernment of vocations and the process of formation for ministry, lay and ordained. The Bishop will be a co-sponsoring bishop with the Diocesan. They will also be the principle advocate for the deployment pipeline in the mission across the whole diocese, incorporating the further expansion of the new School of Discipleship working in partnership with TEIs, notably the St Mellitus East Midlands Centre based in Nottingham. With a particular emphasis on younger leadership and vocations in the Diocese they will provide strategic episcopal oversight helping facilitate the further flourishing of the Younger Leadership College through encouragement to the core team and bringing theological insight and vision for spiritual formation.

2. The Wellbeing and Flourishing of All God’s PeopleIn September 2019, the Diocese appointed a Principal for Wellbeing and Ministerial Development as part of its broader and intentional commitment to see the ‘abiding and abounding in Christ’ of all God’s people. Through teaching the faith, inspiring people to a life of prayer and modelling the spirituality of Sabbath, the Bishop of Sherwood will thereby make a strategic contribution towards creating a more positive culture of wellbeing for clergy, lay leaders and church communities. This also includes taking responsibility for diversity and inclusion of presently under-represented peoples, particularly with regard to ethnicity and developing indigenous leaders. It is hoped the Bishop will bring specific areas of interest and expertise to make a contribution to the flourishing of people in wider society, particularly in reference to sport, the arts and diverse forms of media (Nottingham has a vibrant culture across all these spheres).

3. Growing Disciples in every Church and ContextTo bring distinct theological and missiological insights to the work of evangelism and church planting across diverse cultures and social contexts of the Diocese, with a track record for leading the Church into growth. With this in mind, to be lead bishop working with the current team for church planting and grafting, in helping the Diocese to

8 | P a g e

accelerate its plans working with parishes realising the missional potential for new worshipping communities. To bring therefore high ‘cultural literacy’ which informs new models of mission and church, as well as having expertise in using social media to communicate the gospel effectively to unchurched people in an increasingly secularised and post-Christian context, giving confidence to others with gifts in this area.

In some of the above areas we hope the Bishop will contribute to the national discourse, particularly in relation to establishing New Worshipping Communities in post-industrial, estates or rural contexts, as well as missional engagement in sports and the arts.Main Responsibilities of the RoleMindful of the themes of the current quinquennium as identified by the House of Bishop namely i) to contribute to the common good ii) to facilitate the growth of the church and iii) to re-imagine ministry, the main responsibilities of the role will be: ▪ Acting as episcopal colleague to the Diocesan Bishop, playing a full

part on the Diocesan senior staff, including in the Bishop’s Core Team. ▪ They will teach the faith with theological depth and a breadth of vision,

committed also to the work of evangelism and enabling others to be more confident and natural evangelists. As part of this, they will alternate with the Diocesan Bishop to deliver Curate Training Leadership Days, held every 6 weeks and The Apprentice Track termly gatherings for the development of young leaders.

▪ Exercising specific episcopal functions as are customary for a bishop (i.e. licensing and instituting clergy, conducting confirmations and parish missions). They will share with the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham in the exercise of episcopal ministry in the Cathedral, but also develop new opportunities for episcopal ministry in the civic city centre church, St. Mary the Virgin, in the Lace Market, Nottingham.

▪ Leadership in mission and ministry, specifically to take responsibility for the range of work delivered within the remit of the Discipleship & Ministry Team, including church planting and grafting and clergy wellbeing. As part of the monthly Diocesan Programme Board, the Suffragan Bishop will be the Programme Sponsor for all Strategic Development Fund projects which deliver New Worshipping Communities and new church plants/grafts.

▪ Sharing with the Diocesan Bishop to oversee clergy appointments (the process is managed by archdeacons), giving pastoral care and support to clergy and their families as well as advising clergy on aspects of ministerial development and when considering a move to a new appointment. The Suffragan Bishop will convene and have episcopal oversight for the Diocesan BAME Advisory Group (three meetings per annum).

9 | P a g e

▪ Taking opportunities to foster good and caring partnerships with key stakeholders in other sectors of society across the city and county, working in a coordinated way with the Diocesan Bishop. It is anticipated that the Suffragan Bishop will Chair the Diocesan Estates Evangelism Task Group.

▪ Contribute to fostering good partnerships in mission with other denominations in the region, taking the Anglican episcopal lead for Inter-Faith Leaders in the city and the Black Majority Churches Prayer Breakfasts (3 per annum respectively). They will also relate the local diocese to the wider Church of England through membership of the College of Bishops, participation in its meetings, provincial episcopal confirmations, and mission initiatives sponsored by the Archbishop. Southwell & Nottingham has a long-standing formal link with The Diocese of Natal (South Africa) and is presently exploring a number of new opportunities in the Anglican Communion. The Bishop will be prepared to travel to visit these links and foster these partnerships in mission.

▪ To share with the Diocesan Bishop in exercising responsibility for the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults, the provision of pastoral care of survivors, and creating a culture in which all will flourish, and which is coherent and consistent with the safeguarding policies of the Church of England. The Suffragan Bishop will provide episcopal representation at the quarterly Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel.

▪ Working alongside colleagues in the continuing delivery of the priorities within Growing Disciples and refreshing the strategy beyond its current horizon in 2023, including future opportunities for development and areas of challenge.

▪ To uphold the Five Guiding Principles as set out in the House of Bishops’ Declaration on the Ministry of Priests and Bishops, and to promote the flourishing of churches across the range of the theological breadth of the Church of England.

▪ To continue to develop their own areas of interest and expertise in ways which will both be of benefit to the church and community and sustain and energise them in their own life and ministry.

▪ To discharge all other duties as set out in canon law.

Person SpecificationThe new Bishop of Sherwood will be a person who demonstrates the following qualities:

Spiritual Life a person of prayer and spirituality who models whole-life discipleship, teaching others how to ‘abide deeply in Christ and abound in the work of the Lord’.

10 | P a g e

Theology and Preaching demonstrates a generous orthodoxy, with the theological rigour to interpret the scriptures and gospel entrusted to the Church, helping to enrich its engagement with an ever-changing society facing a crisis of values and identity.

a gifted bible teacher able to inspire through preaching.

Mission, Evangelism & Growth

a natural evangelist with the ability to release the evangelistic potential of the whole church, at ease adapting and creatively communicating the gospel message across the diversity of communication channels, especially through social media.

an ability to identify and deliver new models of church and mission to grow disciples in every parish and in every context, with particular experience planting new worshipping communities.

Social and Community Engagement

an individual with experience in reconciliation and the ‘social and emotional intelligence’ to read and relate to people in a diversity of contexts, including in areas of greater deprivation or where long-term systemic issues create tensions in communities and low expectations.

a leader, influencer and prophetic voice in the public square, able to build strategic, collaborative and fruitful relationships with a range of stakeholders across the city and county, with particular reference to sport, the arts and media.

Safeguarding someone who instinctively champions the precedence of safeguarding, with a keen sense of the church’s historical ‘blind spots’

someone who can work sure-footedly within the framework of the NCI and Diocesan safeguarding policies.

Implementation and Delivery

aligned with the diocesan vision in order to accelerate its implementation yet with the ability to bring new, fresh perspectives, contributing to the breadth of gifts and experience within the senior team.

Formation and Vocation of All

someone with a track record in fostering lay and ordained vocations and seeking to ensure the flourishing of all God’s people, with inspirational teaching as well as strategic leadership.

a servant-leader with the mutuality, grace and generosity to identify, encourage and release others in the flourishing of their leadership, including the Diocesan Bishop.

someone who works with and encourages diversity, especially among BAME people and women.

someone who is known to support the wellbeing of those who share ministry with them as well as their own household whilst operating within the

11 | P a g e

appropriate boundaries of self-care. Leadership and Oversight of Others

a resilient leader who is not risk averse, able to take tough decisions and who thrives working at pace and in a climate of transition and change.

Managing and unlocking the potential of Resources and Structures

someone who brings procedural clarity through consistent and transparent ways of working, demonstrating they understand the importance of good administration

able to facilitate and support good governance whilst creatively releasing the potential of current assets. (See Appendix F for Diocesan Financial Accounts and Parish Share reports)

Personal someone who evidently lives and ministers within the gifts, power and presence of the Holy Spirit

able to be vulnerable and authentic in speaking of the struggles, disappointments and fears as well as the joys of discipleship.

Our CommitmentThe new Bishop of Sherwood will be joining a well-resourced diocese with a clear vision for Growing Disciples and Churches across the different traditions and social contexts. They can be assured of the affection and close collegial support of the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham and the other members of the senior staff (lay and ordained), who seek to work together collaboratively and with a sense of mutual encouragement.They will be provided with a suitable house, ideally within a City centre location, with appropriate administrative support and will have their expenses of office met in line with Church Commissioners’ guidelines.It is hoped that the Bishop of Sherwood will have a satisfying ministry in the Diocese which includes having time for personal interests and activities that replenish them.

12 | P a g e

About the Diocese of Southwell and NottinghamFounded in 1884, the Diocese incorporates the whole of the County of Nottingham, with a parish also in South Yorkshire. There are two archdeaconries, Newark and Nottingham. The combined population of the conurbation – the city and the three boroughs immediately surrounding it (Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe) – is c650k. Substantial further growth is expected across Nottinghamshire, the latest projection being of an overall increase of a further 50K (6%) by 2021.The M1 and A1 both run through Nottinghamshire, the motorway on the western (industrial) side, the A1 on the eastern (predominantly rural) side. There are fast and reliable train services on the east coast line from Retford and Newark to King’s Cross; and an hourly service on the slower line from Nottingham to St Pancras.The County Council is responsible for an increasingly well-used daily local service, the Robin Hood rail link, between Nottingham, Mansfield and Worksop. There is also an excellent tram service connecting the city centre with outer parts of the city, including the university campuses. East Midlands and Robin Hood Airports, both within striking distance, serve a variety of business and holiday destinations.Nottinghamshire enjoys easy relationships between its different cultures. It is less ethnically diverse than England as a whole – but with big variations between different areas. Taking the county as a whole, 92% of people are white British – but in Nottingham the figure is 65% and in three other Districts (Broxtowe, Gedling, Rushcliffe) of the archdeaconry it’s over 86%. A wide variety of minority ethnic churches thrive in Nottinghamshire. They enjoy good relationships with the diocese, and the Pastor of one of them is an Ecumenical Canon of the Cathedral. Every baptised person is seen as a fundamental part of the ministry and mission of the Church. Many engage in a wide range of leadership roles including 193 licensed clergy (113 incumbent stipendiary ministers, 30 stipendiary curates, 3 stipendiary Associate ministers, 15 Diocesan and Cathedral employed clergy, 28 self-supporting licensed clergy, 4 House for Duty clergy), 212 retired clergy (150 with PTO, 41 retired), 21 clergy with PTO, 21 externally funded or SSM Chaplains and 311 readers/licensed lay ministers.

13 | P a g e

The Cathedral Church of the Diocese is in Southwell, a small market town in the middle of the county 15 miles north east from Nottingham. This is also the home of the Diocesan Bishop and Diocesan Offices, Jubilee House.

The Diocesan Vision and Strategic AspirationsIn Advent 2016, the launch of our refreshed Diocesan vision for ‘Growing Disciples’ helped to provide the strategic framework for our missional priorities of reaching Wider in every community, connecting with Younger generations and growing Deeper roots of faith (see Appendix A for ‘Diocesan Vision for Growing Disciples’ leaflet).This vision is embedded in a missiological framework inspired by the Great Commission (Matt 28) and rooted in the model of discipleship taught by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 4-7) and reflected in ‘the way of discipleship’ set out in Luke 9 setting out theological foundation for ‘Growing Disciples’ (see Appendix B for ‘Theological Foundations for Growing Disciples’).

Our primary aspiration to welcome at least 7000 new disciples into the fellowship of Christ and his church by 2023 have been further impelled by three successful Strategic Development Fund bids totalling c£9m. Such bids have enabled us to make a strong start in our commitment to planting and grafting at least 75 New Worshipping Communities and towards establishing 25 larger Resourcing Churches. These new financial resources are available to a wide cohort of churches and parishes of all sizes and traditions may apply for funding to establish a New Worshipping Community as they respond to the opportunities to reach people in fresh ways (See Appendix C to watch the ‘New Worshipping Communities: A Vision for Growth’ videos). However, it remains a communication challenge to assure some clergy in smaller and more struggling parishes that this new funding is not being channelled only to a few large churches and projects. This requires considerable engagement by the bishops in many one-to-one interactions, through parish visits, clergy training and hospitality It will also be a little while before the fruitful outcomes of some of the initiatives fostering new vocations and growing younger disciples are experienced as a ‘benefit’ to the mission of the whole diocese. Welcoming and growing new disciples As we seek to welcome 7000 new disciples by 2023, every local church is encouraged to engage with the vision through developing an intentional plan for growing disciples that is rooted in their own local context and opportunities for mission. Following a series of successful vision evenings

14 | P a g e

in the autumn of 2016, 92% of our parishes submitted their plans for 2017. The wider Diocese was able to provide training as well as making funds available to support parishes with these plans, while the senior team have maintained a high level of communication to sustain momentum during the early stages of implementation. Parishes were invited to submit their updated plans at the end of 2017. Encouraging shoots of new growth are already emerging in different parts of the Diocese in a way that is being celebrated more widely. Some of the stories can be read in Appendix D ‘Your Stories’.Through 2017-18 the senior Diocesan team worked closely with parishes and deaneries to map new opportunities for Growing Disciples, particularly evaluating possibilities for planting and grafting new worshipping communities.This work represents a compelling picture of the future that is already beginning to reignite hope and challenge narratives of decline. We anticipate seeing an increase in overall congregational numbers by 2023, with a substantial increase in the proportion of those under 40. Growing younger leadersIn Nov 2016 the Diocese established the Younger Leadership College as a catalyst to support and stimulate churches with engaging younger disciples, to encourage them to exercise leadership in the church and wider society. Since its inception, the Younger Leadership College has enabled over 600 young people to actively participate in programmes and events, including formation groups for Disciples as Leaders and the Executive Leadership Programme in school sixth forms. To help build further on these very positive outcomes, team roles within the Younger Leadership College (YLC) have recently been reconfigured to support the introduction of a new Apprentice Track in September 2019. The Apprentice Track is currently helping to provide a challenging and inspiring formational experience to 35 young disciples who want to grow as servant leaders either as full-time interns or associates who work within any part of the Diocese. The Apprentice Track also operates alongside other continuing aspects of the YLC work, especially in secondary schools and church-based youth groups, as well as those churches working intentionally among students.Growing larger resourcing churches for the Diocese

15 | P a g e

The intention is that 25 or more larger Resourcing Churches will provide the principal capacity with people and gifts (lay and ordained) that can enable us to establish the majority of 75 new worshipping communities, reaching widely into all parts of our diverse diocese. We anticipate that at least 50% of the new worshipping communities will be grafts or plants into existing parish churches, to help revitalise and re-energise mission. Specific leadership training is provided to the incumbent and lay leaders. In each larger Resourcing Church, we are committed to deploying a ‘pioneer church planter’, normally ordained, with the expectation that they lead the establishment of a NWC within 2 – 4 years of their arrival. We have 22 potential larger resourcing churches identified, who are now working within a learning community led by the Diocesan Bishop and facilitated through the Discipleship & Ministry team. At least one quarter of these are starting to form the necessary teams and networks as well as nurture leaders to ensure they are equipped to ‘give themselves away’ in the next 12-18 months. We continue to emphasise that every church can and should be a resourcing church and may engage in planting new worshipping communities, on their own or in partnership with other churches.Planting and grafting new worshipping communitiesBetween 2016-19 at least 15 new worshipping communities have been established, some within existing parishes and church buildings, others in new contexts and facilities. New churches include Trinity Church Nottingham (planted by a team of 15 from HTB in Sep 2016, now meeting in a former auction house that is being restored close to the city centre – by Jan 2018 averaging 250+ on a Sunday). In Sep 2017 a new rural resourcing church was established in the middle of the county, with Sunday services starting in Mar 2018, a congregation averaging 40-50 now meets in a barn with regular midweek groups and activities. By contrast in late 2017 a new church was planted in a former hairdresser’s shop on an estate in

16 | P a g e

Stapleford, initiated and supported by the parish church and led by a curate. We recognise that there is a balance to maintain between strategic planning (through mapping exercises and wider consultation within deaneries) and responding to opportunities as they arise. For this reason, we have developed an open and flexible approach, providing a framework for church planting that is locally-led and diocesan-supported. The Diocese recognises the need for Bishops and Archdeacons to be proactive in developing plans, creating opportunities and then providing a range of resources to support the initiative. Three new potential resourcing churches have received Strategic Development Funding since 2017 in Newark and Aspley, with three more planned in Nottingham’s historic civic city-church, Mansfield and Retford. These potential resourcing churches are finding new and fruitful models for mission, as well as creating ground-breaking operating structures, some within a multi-parish context, to ensure optimum efficiency of resources and dissemination of learning.

Serving and praying togetherAgainst the backdrop of tensions and uncertainty in society and the wider church, the Diocese seeks to cultivate a shared sense of joining together in the transforming mission of God, which has been a core element of the DNA of Diocese since the late 1980’s, exemplified by an oversubscribed annual Diocesan Conference at Swanwick for lay and ordained leaders, as well as a sense of greater coherence that a medium-

17 | P a g e

sized diocese can achieve where it is largely aligned to a County boundary. Most churches in the Diocese are within central or broadly evangelical traditions. There are five petitioning parishes, four within the Nottingham Archdeaconry, who are engaged in the diocesan vision, under the pastoral supervision of the Bishop of Beverley. The Diocese recognises the need to find new ways to support prayer and spirituality in the deepening of discipleship among all ages. In Autumn 2019, a new Principal of Wellbeing and Ministry Development joined the Diocesan team to support our leaders, both Clergy and Lay in order that their ministry can flourish. Following on from the oneLIFE Mission in Autumn 2019, over 85 nurture courses were also offered across our diocese, building on the opportunity for encountering and deepening discipleship.

18 | P a g e

Progress in the Embedding of the Diocesan Vision Alongside encouraging stories of new growth there are some early indications that there is a levelling out of the steady decline in Sunday attendance across the diocese since the mid-1990s. Overall the age-profile of many congregations across the diocese remains high with 67% of churches having less than 5 children under 11 on a Sunday. From a leadership perspective, we have seen a significant proportion of new clergy called to serve in the Diocese with 55% of incumbents being appointed in the last 3 years. The average age of our stipendiary clergy has dropped by 15 years during this time. Our vocational enquiries for lay and ordained ministry have also increased by 40%, with 35 now training on our new Licensed Lay Ministry Course.In Sep 2018 Bishop Paul launched YoungLIFE, an initiative to work closely with churches seeking to make a step-change in the ministry and mission to children – 28 churches participated in learning communities led by the Diocesan Bishop, with churches launching new initiatives from September 2019. The Diocese has also been reviewing how it can structure its resources and personnel to support parishes to be more intentional and creative in growing younger disciples. The Diocese is currently seeking to appoint a Diocesan Lead for Growing Younger Disciples. While there is much to do in a complex and challenging area of ministry there is much fresh impetus, including the possibility of building closer partnerships in mission with Church Schools.

Schools and Academies In the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham we have 73 schools. This includes 8 secondaries, 2 junior, 4 infant and 59 primaries. Altogether there are 28 schools with academy status in the diocese and another 6 with conversion imminent or clear intentions to begin to convert shortly. There are 3 academies which are single academy trust. There are 19 Voluntary Aided and 27 Voluntary Controlled maintained schools The landscape of our Diocese, in respect of the status of schools, continues to evolve as schools decided to join trusts for a variety of reasons.All Diocesan Church Schools and Academies are supported by the education team. Training and support are available for Christian distinctiveness, leadership development, governance, admissions, SIAMS and OFSTED preparation, Headteacher recruitment and a variety of network meetings, to name just a few areas. In addition, Voluntary Aided schools receive funding through the diocese for building work. Each of our secondary schools has a diocesan chaplain. A key focus of the

19 | P a g e

education department’s work is to enable our schools to live out the Church of England vision for education reflected in the Diocesan Board of Education ‘Vision for Education’ (See Appendix E).

20 | P a g e

Additional information

Stipend, housing and office spaceThe current stipend for Suffragan Bishops is £36,930 per annum. The current Bishop of Sherwood lives on the edge of Nottingham to facilitate ease of travel into the City and to Southwell. It is anticipated that the new Suffragan Bishop will live in or around the City of Nottingham, to facilitate the development of new opportunities for episcopal ministry in the civic city centre church, St. Mary the Virgin, in the Lace Market, Nottingham.

Eligibility and pre-employment enquiriesThe next Bishop will need to have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom. They will need to complete an Enhanced DBS check and a pre-appointment occupational health clearance.

Induction and DevelopmentThe nominated candidate will be required to attend safeguarding training, prior to consecration. There will also be a series of other induction meetings to help him/her begin the new role.

ConsecrationIf the nominated candidate is not already in episcopal orders, his/her consecration may take place on 1 May or later in 2020.

21 | P a g e

AppendicesAPPENDIX ADiocesan Vision for Growing Disciples: https://growingdisciples.co.uk/uploads/resources/downloads/SD_Leaflet.pdf

APPENDIX B Discipleship: A Theological Foundation for Growing Discipleshttps://churchofengland.box.com/s/yr769uge7g4usadoj09ape0mh0e4rrjd

APPENDIX CNew Worshipping Communities: A Vision for Growth:https://southwell.anglican.org/new-worshipping-communities-a-vision-for-growth/

APPENDIX DYour Stories:http://southwell.anglican.org/your-stories/

APPENDIX EDBE Vision for Education

ADDITIONALLY:Parish Share:http://southwell.anglican.org/ministry-costs-booklet/https://www.dropbox.com/s/tnfqsq3c63wx5vb/Ministry%20Costs%20video.mp4?dl=0

Annual Reports and Accounts:https://churchofengland.box.com/s/r2luv3fbwyw2qlxfvg0p7og0hpnjm793

22 | P a g e