Job Title: Operations Minister
Location: St James Church, Bream – Forest South Deanery, Diocese of Gloucester
Full-time – 35 hours per week
Reports to: Vicar and Churchwardens
Remuneration: £24 – 28 000 p/a
About St James Church
St James, Bream is an active and well-resourced rural Anglican church located in a vibrant village of around 3,000 residents, with an average Sunday attendance of approximately 90 people—including a committed group of 12–15 young people. With a strong heart for God’s Word, an openness to the Holy Spirit, and a deep commitment to mission and community care, we aim to be a church where people can encounter Jesus and grow in their faith.
Context
We are part of a larger movement of renewal within the Forest South Deanery and the Diocese of Gloucester. Both the deanery and the diocese are embracing innovation and fresh thinking about the future of ministry. The Diocese of Gloucester is not only comparatively well resourced financially but is also led by a bold and visionary senior leadership team. Together, we are seizing a unique opportunity to rethink and reshape church and ministry for the future.
Vision
At St James, we have a clear and intentional growth path for our members, structured around seven critical ministries—from Welcoming to Operations. These ministries are designed to help people, wherever they are on their journey of faith, take the next step toward becoming fully devoted followers of Christ. As we look to the future, we believe that growing deeper in faith and larger in number go hand in hand, and we are committed to doing both for God’s glory.
We want to develop a strategy which we colloquially refer to as ‘A generation younger’ which will focus on positioning St James as a church which attracts a generation younger than our current active cohort who are generally in their 50’s to 60’s. We would therefore be wanting to shape our life to attract people in their mid-30’s to 50’s through the way we communicate generally, the sermon themes and programmes we offer, our social media presence and the activities we offer. It is through this strategy that we aim to develop a ministry to young people by attracting families and offering a more holistic church experience than resourcing a stand alone youth and children’s ministry which tends to be marked by an aging church with an increasingly isolated young person’s ministry.
The Role
With the recent departure of our Children’s, Family, and Youth Ministry couple (who have moved on to a YWAM leadership role in Denmark), we are reimagining this position. Rather than a direct replacement, we are seeking a visionary Operations Minister who will work collaboratively with the Vicar, Leadership Team, and PCC to strengthen and align all seven ministries in pursuit of our mission. In addition to this you would research and shape best practice in other churches to help St James be a church responding to current culture and trends. There may also be the possibility of working more widely in the Deanery, particularly using Caleb’s Mountain as an initiative to reach secondary age children.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the strategic development and operational delivery of the seven core ministries at St James.
- Ensure effective communication, coordination, and integration across ministry areas.
- Facilitate systems, structures, and processes that enable ministry leaders and teams to flourish.
- Support initiatives that help people come to faith, grow spiritually, and engage actively in church life.
- Assist in vision-casting and the ongoing development of our defined growth path for members.
- Collaborate with staff and volunteers to foster a culture of discipleship and service.
- Work with the Vicar, Leadership Team and PCC to evaluate ministry effectiveness and identify areas for growth and innovation.
We’re Looking for Someone Who:
- Has a deep and living faith in Jesus Christ and a passion for the local church.
- Is highly organized, with proven skills in planning, implementation, and team leadership.
- Understands and values the integration of strategy and spiritual formation.
- Can think both practically and imaginatively about how the church can grow and thrive.
- Has strong interpersonal skills and can relate well across generations and backgrounds.
- Is excited about working in a rural context as part of a wider diocesan and deanery vision for renewal.
What We Offer
- The opportunity to shape and grow a significant ministry in a supportive and vision-led environment.
- A church family eager to welcome, support, and partner with you in ministry.
- A role that offers both spiritual and strategic leadership opportunities.
- Support from a Diocese committed to innovation, resourcing, and leadership development.
Expectations
2 days off p/w (negotiated at interview)
Please send your covering letter and application to ku.gr1757600698o.hcr1757600698uhcma1757600698erb@r1757600698aciv1757600698
Closing date Monday 22nd September 2025.
Interviews will take place on Tuesday 30th September 2025.
