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Appointment of a New Rector
Westhill Community Church is an evangelical, charismatic, Christian fellowship located in the suburb of Westhill around 8 miles from the centre of Aberdeen. We are very much a multi-cultural, family church with children of a wide range who are served by our children and youth ministries.
In Easter 2014 we completed a new build church centre on the edge of the town which contains worship space for 350, multi-purpose rooms, a community café, creche and offices. We have had one Rector since April 1982, who retired in 2020.
We are an Anglican church, affiliated with the Anglican Convocation in Europe (ACE), and are now looking to appoint a new Rector to provide fresh leadership.
We are seeking:
• to be stretched to encounter God in a fresh and dynamic way so that we can be a blessing to our local community and beyond;
• to be led into the presence of God and be a welcoming place where heaven meets earth, where everyone can experience the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, and where the grace, love and peace of God are everyday realities;
• for everyone’s gifts to be discovered, potential released and for deeper connections of support to be developed.
As a member of ACE we accept and agree with the Jerusalem Declaration and the ACE canons. The successful applicant will be in agreement with both of these.
Closing date for applications: Sunday 26th March 2023
There will be a two-stage application form following which short-listed candidates will be invited for interview.
For further details, including a profile and an enquiry form, please contact HRadmin@westhillcommunitychurch.org
In Easter 2014 we completed a new build church centre on the edge of the town which contains worship space for 350, multi-purpose rooms, a community café, creche and offices. We have had one Rector since April 1982, who retired in 2020.
We are an Anglican church, affiliated with the Anglican Convocation in Europe (ACE), and are now looking to appoint a new Rector to provide fresh leadership.
We are seeking:
• to be stretched to encounter God in a fresh and dynamic way so that we can be a blessing to our local community and beyond;
• to be led into the presence of God and be a welcoming place where heaven meets earth, where everyone can experience the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, and where the grace, love and peace of God are everyday realities;
• for everyone’s gifts to be discovered, potential released and for deeper connections of support to be developed.
As a member of ACE we accept and agree with the Jerusalem Declaration and the ACE canons. The successful applicant will be in agreement with both of these.
Closing date for applications: Sunday 26th March 2023
There will be a two-stage application form following which short-listed candidates will be invited for interview.
For further details, including a profile and an enquiry form, please contact HRadmin@westhillcommunitychurch.org
Westhill Community Church Profile
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In connection with its search for a new Rector, WCC has recently drawn up a Church Profile. Click on the icon to download the profile as a pdf document. |
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Westhill Community Church Profile |
Overview
We are an evangelical, charismatic, Christian fellowship located in the suburb of Westhill around 8 miles from the centre of Aberdeen. We are very much a multi-cultural family church with children of a wide range of ages who are served by our children and youth ministries.
WCC was planted as an extension of a local Anglican church in the 1970s as the town underwent an expansion which reflected the growth of the region due to the rise of the energy business. We were first located in the local parish church and community centre operating as an ecumenical hub in the town. The church family has grown from a small number to its current membership of nearly 150.
In Easter 2014 we completed a new build church centre on the edge of the town which contains worship space for 350, multi-purpose rooms, a community café, creche and offices. We have had one Rector since April 1982, who retired in 2020. We have a range of community ministries supported by enthusiastic staff and volunteers. Over the years we have actively supported initiatives such as CLAN Gathering, Refuel, Imagine, Soul Survivor and Magnitude.
We are an Anglican church, affiliated to the Anglican Convocation in Europe (ACE), and are now looking to appoint a new Rector to provide fresh leadership.
Mission and Vision
Gospel Sharing the transforming power of God.
Growing Becoming more like Jesus.
Groups Encouraging and caring for one another through small groups.
Gifts Serving one another through identifying and using God-given gifts.
Giving Releasing resources for the church through good stewardship of our money, time and talents.
Key Strengths & Challenges
We recently conducted a Natural Church Development Survey (https://ncdchurchsurvey.org/) which indicated that we have strong small groups where people can share openly, care and pray for each other. In addition we demonstrate passionate spirituality by seeking to connect our faith with everyday life. We could however further develop the clarity of the church’s goals and be more creative. The leadership of ministries could also be more empowering and collaborative, developing further the equipping and support of those who serve in and through the church.
Where Next?
We are seeking:
Role of the Rector
We are looking to appoint a dynamic, hope filled, encouraging, team leader who will (in no particular order):
Key Qualities of the Rector
We are seeking someone who (in no particular order):
Church Life
Leadership:
A leadership team of elders is appointed by the Rector (currently 5) to help share the responsibility and decision making of leadership.
The Vestry is elected by the church membership. It is responsible for the sound management of the church’s finances and property, and the appointment of staff including the Rector. It supports the Rector and staff in practical matters relating to the church and its ministries.
Current staff employed by the church include a part-time children’s worker, a café manager, café staff, a part-time Secretary and a part-time HR Administrator. Until recently the church also employed a youth pastor.
Sunday Worship:
We currently hold our main weekly worship service on a Sunday morning. This takes the form of an all-age service once per month, a communion service twice per month, and a more informal healing and renewal service once per month. Our worship style is contemporary, and usually there is an opportunity for prayer ministry during or after the service.
A more informal and interactive Café church runs twice per month during school terms on a Sunday evening.
House Groups:
We currently have 8 small groups, mostly meeting in homes and hence generally referred to as House Groups, which provide a safe place where people can grow together through studying the Bible, praying, sharing, loving, caring, connecting and being accountable to God and each other.
Regular Prayer:
As well as prayer times within House Groups, there are opportunities to meet for early morning prayer each weekday during school term-time, and on Sunday mornings before the worship service. A Prayer Ministry team is available to pray for individuals seeking prayer during or after Sunday morning worship. We also encourage church members to form prayer triplets. Churches in Westhill meet once per month for joint prayer.
Children & Youth:
We have a range of activities including regular Sunday sessions, plus Youth events, Holiday Bible Club and Mainly Music. Until recently the youth ministry and youth outreach was overseen by a Youth Pastor.
Green Pastures Café:
Our award-winning café is located inside the church building. Green Pastures is a place where you are able to relax, and gaze at the wonderful views before leaving feeling revived, refreshed and restored. Our prayer is that those who come will be blessed spiritually as well as physically.
On Monday afternoons the café area is used for a Renew Wellbeing Café (see https://www.renewwellbeing.org.uk/).
Community:
We have a range of ministries offering Care in the Community, in addition to the Renew Wellbeing café. These include practical care, bereavement support, a befriending service and a food bank. These have been a lifeline to many in our local community, particularly during the Covid pandemic.
Inter-Church Relations:
We maintain fellowship with other church congregations in Westhill through joint ministries such as Lent lunches, monthly prayer meetings and an annual Holiday Bible Club for children.
Mission Partnership:
We provide support to individuals serving with OMF International and with Operation Mobilisation. We also support Teen Challenge, Somebody Cares, Mission International and Scripture Union Scotland.
Church Website:
Further details of the church and its ministries can be found on its website: https://www.westhillcommunitychurch.org/
The Local Community
Westhill is a relatively new township of more than 11,000 people, mostly developed since 1968. It is located in Aberdeenshire, approximately 6.5 miles to the west of Aberdeen. It is laid out sensitively, with attractive parks, walks and views. Westhill has benefitted significantly from the oil and gas economy in the North-East. Its amenities include a community centre, a swimming pool, sports and leisure facilities, local shops including retail chains, restaurants and other places of refreshment, hotels and guest houses. The town has a secondary school, typically enrolling over 1000 pupils, with four local feeder primary schools. Four or more different church congregations meet for worship in the community. Additional information about Westhill can be found at https://www.aspc.co.uk/information/areas/westhill/
3 Feb 2023
We are an evangelical, charismatic, Christian fellowship located in the suburb of Westhill around 8 miles from the centre of Aberdeen. We are very much a multi-cultural family church with children of a wide range of ages who are served by our children and youth ministries.
WCC was planted as an extension of a local Anglican church in the 1970s as the town underwent an expansion which reflected the growth of the region due to the rise of the energy business. We were first located in the local parish church and community centre operating as an ecumenical hub in the town. The church family has grown from a small number to its current membership of nearly 150.
In Easter 2014 we completed a new build church centre on the edge of the town which contains worship space for 350, multi-purpose rooms, a community café, creche and offices. We have had one Rector since April 1982, who retired in 2020. We have a range of community ministries supported by enthusiastic staff and volunteers. Over the years we have actively supported initiatives such as CLAN Gathering, Refuel, Imagine, Soul Survivor and Magnitude.
We are an Anglican church, affiliated to the Anglican Convocation in Europe (ACE), and are now looking to appoint a new Rector to provide fresh leadership.
Mission and Vision
- We see our calling as: Serving God in the Heart of the Community.
- We are a church that seeks to be committed to the Great Commandment to “Love” and the Great Commission to “Go.”
- We are a Church on the Move: Moving Up through Worship, Moving In through Fellowship, Moving Out through Evangelism.
- We seek to do this by upholding the six values of our church.
Gospel Sharing the transforming power of God.
Growing Becoming more like Jesus.
Groups Encouraging and caring for one another through small groups.
Gifts Serving one another through identifying and using God-given gifts.
Giving Releasing resources for the church through good stewardship of our money, time and talents.
Key Strengths & Challenges
We recently conducted a Natural Church Development Survey (https://ncdchurchsurvey.org/) which indicated that we have strong small groups where people can share openly, care and pray for each other. In addition we demonstrate passionate spirituality by seeking to connect our faith with everyday life. We could however further develop the clarity of the church’s goals and be more creative. The leadership of ministries could also be more empowering and collaborative, developing further the equipping and support of those who serve in and through the church.
Where Next?
We are seeking:
- to be stretched to encounter God in a fresh and dynamic way so that we can be a blessing to our local community and beyond;
- to be led into the presence of God and be a welcoming place where heaven meets earth, where everyone can experience the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, and where the grace, love and peace of God are everyday realities;
- for everyone’s gifts to be discovered, potential released and for deeper connections of support to be developed.
Role of the Rector
We are looking to appoint a dynamic, hope filled, encouraging, team leader who will (in no particular order):
- become part of our community and be a catalyst along with the Leadership Team to energise the church as it enters a new phase;
- help the church discover and implement the pioneering vision God has for us and to communicate that with clarity and passion;
- support and empower the leaders of ministries and help us as a church to engage with the community outside our church buildings whilst maximising the use of our new facility;
- interpret the gospel and preach in a way that stimulates faith development, creatively adapting content and style for different audiences, occasions, and purposes;
- nurture environments for prayer, discipleship and spiritual development;
- oversee, in co-ordination with the elders and worship team, the services and teaching programmes of the church so that they support the church to develop its spirituality, recognising the needs of different ages and levels of faith;
- oversee and provide pastoral care and support at key life moments and to conduct funerals, weddings, infant and believer’s baptisms;
- inspire the church to share the transforming news of Jesus with family, friends, neighbours and colleagues so that those beyond the church come to faith;
- encourage our church in the understanding and expression of the gifts and fruits of the Spirit so that we move more deeply in the Spirit, including healing prayer and the prophetic ministry;
- work collaboratively with our paid staff and volunteer teams to build and fulfil our purpose;
- partner with the bishop and other ministers in the Anglican Convocation in Europe, engage with Christian leaders locally, and support other Christian ministries to further the growth and influence of God’s kingdom locally and globally.
Key Qualities of the Rector
We are seeking someone who (in no particular order):
- seeks to follow passionately after God, with the humility and vulnerability to recognise that we are all on a journey of development to reflect the character of Jesus and be in step with the Spirit;
- is ordained, or willing to be ordained, within the Anglican communion and who respects and engages with Christian leaders in other traditions;
- has capacity for and competency in leading a larger church or organisation, with the ability to create structures for support and growth;
- is an affirming leader, able to encourage individual development and build cohesive teams, comfortable with both men and women serving in any role;
- is secure in the Christian faith, seeking to live it out in a relevant and contemporary way;
- is sensitive to the Holy Spirit, with a passion to stretch others and courage to follow when God leads in unchartered territory;
- is optimistic and will enjoy the challenge of helping the church thrive;
- is outward looking, encouraging, and able to relate well across the generations, with a good sense of humour and able to have fun – happy to be last out of the building!
- has a passion for mission and will welcome people to come as they are.
Church Life
Leadership:
A leadership team of elders is appointed by the Rector (currently 5) to help share the responsibility and decision making of leadership.
The Vestry is elected by the church membership. It is responsible for the sound management of the church’s finances and property, and the appointment of staff including the Rector. It supports the Rector and staff in practical matters relating to the church and its ministries.
Current staff employed by the church include a part-time children’s worker, a café manager, café staff, a part-time Secretary and a part-time HR Administrator. Until recently the church also employed a youth pastor.
Sunday Worship:
We currently hold our main weekly worship service on a Sunday morning. This takes the form of an all-age service once per month, a communion service twice per month, and a more informal healing and renewal service once per month. Our worship style is contemporary, and usually there is an opportunity for prayer ministry during or after the service.
A more informal and interactive Café church runs twice per month during school terms on a Sunday evening.
House Groups:
We currently have 8 small groups, mostly meeting in homes and hence generally referred to as House Groups, which provide a safe place where people can grow together through studying the Bible, praying, sharing, loving, caring, connecting and being accountable to God and each other.
Regular Prayer:
As well as prayer times within House Groups, there are opportunities to meet for early morning prayer each weekday during school term-time, and on Sunday mornings before the worship service. A Prayer Ministry team is available to pray for individuals seeking prayer during or after Sunday morning worship. We also encourage church members to form prayer triplets. Churches in Westhill meet once per month for joint prayer.
Children & Youth:
We have a range of activities including regular Sunday sessions, plus Youth events, Holiday Bible Club and Mainly Music. Until recently the youth ministry and youth outreach was overseen by a Youth Pastor.
Green Pastures Café:
Our award-winning café is located inside the church building. Green Pastures is a place where you are able to relax, and gaze at the wonderful views before leaving feeling revived, refreshed and restored. Our prayer is that those who come will be blessed spiritually as well as physically.
On Monday afternoons the café area is used for a Renew Wellbeing Café (see https://www.renewwellbeing.org.uk/).
Community:
We have a range of ministries offering Care in the Community, in addition to the Renew Wellbeing café. These include practical care, bereavement support, a befriending service and a food bank. These have been a lifeline to many in our local community, particularly during the Covid pandemic.
Inter-Church Relations:
We maintain fellowship with other church congregations in Westhill through joint ministries such as Lent lunches, monthly prayer meetings and an annual Holiday Bible Club for children.
Mission Partnership:
We provide support to individuals serving with OMF International and with Operation Mobilisation. We also support Teen Challenge, Somebody Cares, Mission International and Scripture Union Scotland.
Church Website:
Further details of the church and its ministries can be found on its website: https://www.westhillcommunitychurch.org/
The Local Community
Westhill is a relatively new township of more than 11,000 people, mostly developed since 1968. It is located in Aberdeenshire, approximately 6.5 miles to the west of Aberdeen. It is laid out sensitively, with attractive parks, walks and views. Westhill has benefitted significantly from the oil and gas economy in the North-East. Its amenities include a community centre, a swimming pool, sports and leisure facilities, local shops including retail chains, restaurants and other places of refreshment, hotels and guest houses. The town has a secondary school, typically enrolling over 1000 pupils, with four local feeder primary schools. Four or more different church congregations meet for worship in the community. Additional information about Westhill can be found at https://www.aspc.co.uk/information/areas/westhill/
3 Feb 2023