Community Chaplain

Epsom Methodist Church is a lively town centre church, eager to see lives changed through the power of Christ’s love. We engage extensively with the local community through our weekday community café, an early years nursery and Family Centre, a fortnightly Welcome Club, a monthly film club, a Warm Space during the winter months and a holiday club for older people in the summer. Hundreds of people come through EMC’s doors every day visiting the community café, taking their child to the early years nursery or toddler groups run by the Church or attending one of the many classes and activities being run by community and private providers.

We are increasingly finding that people are looking for wellbeing support and wanting to explore conversations on faith issues. We are establishing an exciting new role of a Community Chaplain to support this work. Your role will cover but not be restricted to:

• Supporting the overall vision of an open and inclusive Christian centre providing personal, practical and chaplaincy support and being a visible Christian presence in the heart of the town.
• Working with Ministry, Family Centre, Community Café and Lay Leadership teams to build relationships with and provide personal chaplaincy support to the families and individuals visiting the Church.
• Being part of the visible Christian presence within EMC by attending relevant events and meetings, including projects such, Holiday at Home, Welcome Club, Warm Wednesdays and Family Centre activities.
• Attending Sunday services and supporting the team that welcomes new worshippers and members as well as helping to develop the broader worship and faith life of the Church.

The ideal candidate will:
•    Have some theological and/or chaplaincy training and/or accreditation as a Methodist Local Preacher.
•    Able to demonstrate evidence of possessing excellent listening, empathetic and inter-personal skills.
•    Have experience of providing and signposting support, particularly at times of personal crisis or difficulty. 
•    An understanding of how to share the Christian faith and support people on their faith journey.
•    A self-motivated team player able to work well alongside other staff colleagues and able to enthuse volunteers and other lay leaders.
•    Able to contribute to the worship life of the Church.

The post is suitable for either a lay or ordained person of a Christian denomination in sympathy with the Methodist Church.