Children’s and Families’ Worker

To help in our discussion and reflection on whether to appoint a Children’s and Families’ Worker, below are some answers to questions that have been raised so far:

1. Why do we need a paid Children’s and Families’ Worker?

As a Church, we have always planned to look into employing someone to work with children and families once the role of youth worker was established. The Church Council believes that now is the time for the church to think more strategically about the way it reaches out to families to enhance the good work we are already doing. To do this, the Church Council believes we need to appoint a professional in this area.

2. Doesn’t Dima look after children?

The Church membership approved the appointment of a youth worker (youths are aged 11-18 years). Dima’s role is and always has been as our Youth Work Leader.

3. Can’t Dima’s role be extended to include this work?

Dima’s role is already full time and he is fully stretched in that role. If you want to know more about what Dima does please have a chat with him or take a look at the Youth Work booklet that is available in the Welcome Area.

4. Why can’t Ian do this as minister? Isn’t that what he is paid for?

Ian’s job is more wide ranging. His role is to oversee the whole Church and to teach the Bible to the whole congregation. He involves others in leadership and service, be it finance, worship, administration, youth work or children’s work.

5. Why this appointment rather than in another area of church life?

For various reasons, firstly because in Chineham there are a lot of children. Indeed, there are twice as many children under 11 years as there are adults over 65. Secondly, when we did our Mission Audit it was clear that we have a great opportunity to work with young families, hence Coffee and Co and then Messy Church. Thirdly, while we may feel an evangelist is what we need, the Children’s and Families’ Worker role will encompass evangelism as there are so many young families to which the appointed person will be reaching out.

6. What would a Children’s and Families’ Worker do?

Exactly what the role would entail has to be defined to fit the needs of Christ Church but the main areas would include:

a. Development of a strategy for our work with children and their families

b. Oversight of what is already happening as well as supervision of the volunteers who are involved in our children’s work

c. Development of evangelism amongst children and their families

7. Why a Children’s and Families’ Worker?

The support of parents and carers is needed in any activities involving children, especially younger ones. Working with children also gives a clear opportunity to work with their parents and it would be great to see whole families being brought closer to faith.

8. What about the existing children’s work leaders?

It is hoped that the existing leaders and helpers will continue in their roles as people did when Dima arrived. The Children’s and Families’ Worker, it is hoped, would come alongside those already doing the work to provide strategic thinking, support, training and encouragement.

9. Can we afford a Children’s and Families’ Worker?

Not with our present level of giving. This is one of the big challenges facing us as we think about this post. It is a question of “do we want to make this appointment enough to support it financially?”.

10. How much might the post cost?

Realistically the cost would be similar to that of having a Youth Work Leader in post, so salary plus housing plus expenses could mean we are looking at about £30000 per annum.

11. What kind of person are we

looking for to fill this post?

We are looking for someone skilled in working with children who, preferably, has done some relevant training. However, we need to recognise that there are many churches looking for similar people and we may need to employ a suitable person to train in this area, although clearly their salary would reflect this.

12. When might we appoint someone?

The Church Council has drawn up a process for moving this forward. Initially we are looking to present the idea for acceptance at the Annual Church Meeting in March 2010. If it is accepted then we would publish the budgetary need to support the post and look to people to pledge giving. In the light of that we would hope to advertise at the end of 2010 for an appointment in mid 2011.

We hope that this has answered any questions you may have, but if you have any further queries please have a word with Ian Bentley, Andrew Corkish or Ruth Randall.

January 2010