The Process

There are a number of stages to the process for a church to appoint a new rector that need to be followed.

The Checks Phase

The first thing that needs to happen is the diocese need to know that we can afford to pay a rector at the set rate and that we can provide housing that fits the set criteria. This involves form filling, representatives meeting with vestry, architects inspecting the rectory and other various types of information gathering.

At the end of this phase a committee review the information and agree that we meet the criteria or decide we don’t.

We don’t anticipate any issues with us meeting the criteria but the biggest unknown is what work they will deem essential to ensure the rectory meets the criteria.

The Council Phase

If the committee agree that we have passed their checks they will recommend to Diocesan Council (the “select vestry” of the diocese) and they will give permission for a Board of Nomination to be called.

The Board of Nomination Phase

At this point a Board of Nomination will be called. This is made up by four people from Belvoir (the parochial nominators), four members of clergy from the diocese, one lay person from the diocese and is chaired by the bishop. Belvoir’s representatives were elected at last years AGM and are Eric Hudson, Roly McKane, Sandi Thompson and Lisette Watson.

This phase involves receiving applications, visiting clergy in other churches, meeting with people of interest and ends with a vote to appoint a rector. If the board fail to agree on a new rector, it falls to the bishop to make the appointment.

This is not a speedy process but we are hoping that we will be able to appoint before the summer. We will endeavour to keep everyone up to date with where things are at (as much as we know and are allowed to share).

Please do pray for all of those involved in any way through this process that they will know, and be obedient to, God’s leading and prompting.

Alongside this process the mission and ministry of the church continues…

Belvoir Parish Church are looking for someone to help grow their Youth ministry through the creation and development of youth programmes and to lead their youth work into the next chapter.

This will be a 12 month post initially with hours, duties and salary negotiable according to availability and experience.

Contact paul@belvoirparish.co.uk for more info before 26 January 2024

Adrian made the following statement at the end of the Morning Gathering on 22 October 2023.

I need to talk to you this morning about my retirement from ministry and therefore from Belvoir Parish.  In a couple of weeks, I will begin my seventh year with you and am probably reaching this point maybe a year earlier than I had intended, but there are reasons for that.

The first two years I was here were fruitful in beginning to shape a new staff team and a next chapter in the life of Belvoir Parish.  The booklets, ‘Belvoir Style’ and ‘Pathways’ were part of that season, when we were trying to understand where we had come from and how that might shape a possible future.  Without any warning the pandemic changed everyone’s agenda for the next few years.  We came out of that season with a desire to re-set, to re-calibrate Belvoir Parish.  The Dinner Table booklet tried to describe the new cultural and theological landscape.

Our parish systems, our volunteer levels, our income, our legal compliance, our traction with this local community have all improved (because of concerted efforts by church officers, staff, and yourselves).  But there are still challenges with finance, reduced numbers on Sundays (although increased on other days), local community connections and mission.  The lack of a youth worker grieves me – we have a youth group that is now growing beyond its infancy and deserves the best support we can provide.  We recognise our young people as full members of this church.

Anyway, what this church needs for the next chapter is the next chapter.  This requires vision; imagined, articulated, and planned.  This then needs to be implemented and fleshed out in real life.  Now, I have no shortage in imagination, but…

When I arrived in 2017, I knew what had gone before and knew that whatever happened next had to grow from that, but Tom passed it on and then let it go.  I once ran two consecutive legs in the Belfast marathon.  The only thing more important than taking the baton is knowing when to pass it on.  There is nothing to be achieved by holding onto the baton when someone else has been training to take it.  What I am trying to express is that I don’t think the best thing I can do is shape a five- or ten-year post-covid plan that someone else has to implement.  I am convinced the best thing I can do at this moment in the life of Belvoir Parish is to make space for that new person, that new start, and that new dream…

I left school in 1975 and, after four years training, became a teacher for five years, then four more years in theological training and then thirty-five years in ordained ministry.  I am pretty well done.  Could I do another three years?   I am sure we would all begin to regret it.   I have been talking with the Bishop for a number of months and he has agreed that retirement will begin on 1 January 2024. 

All of you and Janice and I are called again to step into the unknown.  The main difference is that we and you will be stepping into different unknowns.  Whatever the future holds we all deserve to be cheered on into it.   God put it this way, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow I will work wonders among you.”  (Joshua 3:5)

For God there is always a tomorrow, and today is always the day to prepare for it.  Let’s embrace the challenge of shaping that tomorrow.   My hope is that in our years together we have continued to point the ship in the right direction, but the next stage of the voyage requires new hands on the wheel.  Enough said.  This isn’t the moment to talk about the processes and systems and what happens in the gaps.  Instead let’s pray… 

Alpha is a place and a space to bring your questions and discuss the answers. It is for everyone (including you).

Belvoir Parish are running a new course on Thursday evenings at 8pm, starting on Thursday 28 September.

The evenings will involve tea, coffee and treats and short videos with discussion breaks.

If you are interested in being joining this course click here to register.

If you are interested in helping out (setting up, baking treats, greeting people) contact Paul.

We would love to see you there.

Post of Youth Worker (16 hours) at Belvoir Parish

Belvoir Parish are looking for someone to grow their Youth ministry through the creation and development of youth programmes. The postholder will make a significant contribution in discipleship by developing relationships with young people within church and the wider community.

Hours – This post is for 16 hours a week (including Sundays). 

Pay – Starting at £22,369 (pro rata) £11.47 per hour

Start date – As soon as possible

Duration – initially 23 months (including 6 months probationary period)

Closing date for applications is Monday 25 September 2023 at 12pm.

We hope to conduct interviews on the week commencing 2 October 2023.

Download the job description, person spec and application form or contact paul@belvoirparish.co.uk with any queries.

Everyone is invited to join us for our SUNday FUNday on 17 September.

We will have an All Age Gathering in the church at 11am with songs, games, talks and videos and follow on with a Garden Party around 12pm with bouncies, burgers and banter.

(If the sun doesn’t shine we will move the garden party indoors.)

Come and join the celebrations.

Camp Belvoir is a Mario Movie-themed adventure happening from 9-11 August, from 10am-1pm. If you are age between 5 and 11 years old, we’d love you to come along for 3 days of God, games, snacks and sports.

The suggested donation for each day is £1.50 to cover costs, but our bigger aim is to include as many children as we can, so come along regardless.

Volunteer Opportunities

We’d love as many people to be involved as possible – we have the following volunteer opportunities available:

• Team Leaders – being a smiling face for a group of between 5 and 8 children each day at Camp; learning their names, getting to know them, building community (18+).
• Young Leaders – Help out with sports, give a hand with crafts, buddy-up with younger kids; a great way to serve and have the craic, all at the same time (12+)
• Coffee/Snacks/Drop-in Leaders – Snack-makers are an essential part of our team, so is making a place for carers with younger children to hang out and have a cuppa. If you can boil a kettle and have a chat, we need you!
• First-Aiders – Are you a trained First Aider, or a medical practitioner and could give us a morning? We’d love to have you on our team.