Vacancy – Deanery Mission Support Administrator

The Basildon Deanery is advertising for a Deanery Mission Support Administrator

The Deanery Mission Support Administrator will work for three days per week to relieve parishes of administration burdens in order to free up others in the parish (clergy and lay people) for mission and ministry.

S/he will identify parishes which have key roles unfilled or where the same people are undertaking multiple tasks and parishes which through pluralities and/or other forms of joint working have an increased administration load for clergy. Tasks involve: identification of parishes; visits to parishes and resulting support plans; and delivery of succession planning/ training.

• Salary: £15,192 per annum
• Work schedule: 3 days per week
• Time-limited: One year

Click DMSA Job Description to see the DMSA Job Description.

Person specification

This role would ideally be filled by a person currently actively engaged with an Anglican Church, but with an emphasis on and experience of organisational skills and practical project management experience.

Applications

To apply please send a CV and covering letter to Revd Jonathan Evens, Area Dean, at jonathan.evens@btinternet.com by 05/09/25. To discuss the role, please phone Elizabeth Murdoch Atkinson on 07880258262. Interviews to be held in w/c 15/09/25.

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Damien Jurado - Jericho Road.

Parish ministry

I don't normally post about day-to-day parish ministry but am very aware in this my first week back from my sabbatical of what is involved. Additionally I've had a meeting with a potential ordinand today and have therefore been talking about my understanding of ministry.

So, just for the record and as a one-off post, today, as a fairly typical day in the life of a parish priest, has involved: leading our midweek Holy Communion service; a meeting to plan interviews for the vacancy in our Playgroup; a meeting to discuss ministry with a potential ordinand; passing the time of day with centre users; two hospital visits; and one home visit. I also have a meeting scheduled for later this evening to plan a renewal of vows service for a couple on their wedding anniversary.

In the course of these activities I've met with 20 parishioners (some members of the congregation, others not), prayed about one person's carpal tunnel condition and another's MS, collected and tested a CD for playing during a funeral on Friday, passed on a message about our Contact Centre, advised a family on how to access NHS Chaplains, and listened to people unpacking issues related to landlords and caring. Unusually I've done almost no administration today other than to send an email thanking those who provided cover during my sabbatical. Most of the above was local but I've visited two different hospitals, so have driven 12 miles in the course of the day.

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The Alarm - Absolute Reality.