Getting Ready is three facilitated conversations of two hours, which will usually take place in your church. The aim is to establish a sound foundation for the next three years and to help you grow and flourish as individuals, a team and a parish as you move into Focal Ministry.
Getting Ready is for the prospective members of the Focal Ministry team and others with a leadership role in your parish and congregation. This includes the Oversight Minister and where possible some PCC members, Church Wardens and any other authorised ministers in the parish.
The facilitated conversations are learner-centred and tailored around you and your context. They are relaxed and discussion based.
One: Working Together
This conversation explores teamwork and collaborative ministry. It offers the opportunity to think through together how the different people, roles and responsibilities will work out in practice in your context.
Two: Rooted in God
This conversation is about caring for yourself and each other and remaining rooted in God. It looks at growth, development, and learning and keeping a healthy balance and rhythm of life whilst carrying a role of responsibility in the parish.
Three: Flourishing and Growing
This final conversation is about the role of the Focal Minister in nurturing their parish and congregation as they journey with God. It looks at how the Focal Ministers might enable others in the ministry and mission of the church. It also considers what new opportunities for ministry and mission in the wider parish Focal Ministry might open up.
As part of Getting Ready the Focal Minister(s) and their Oversight Minister will complete a Ministry Agreement to help everyone to be clear about roles and expectations. This includes what sort of ministry and how much time Focal Ministers are offering, as well as how legitimate expenses might be claimed.
Safeguarding Training and DBS checks
All Focal Minister MUST be DBS checked through the Church of England. All Focal Ministers will apply for a DBS check through the Central Focal Ministry team. The Programmes and Pathways Assistant will be in touch to send you details of how to apply for your DBS check once you have filled in your personal profile.
All Focal Ministers MUST have completed their Basic and Foundation safeguarding training, through the Church of England online training portal or an in person course run by the diocese before authorisation. This needs to have been completed no more than 3 years ago.
Leadership safeguarding training must be completed within 6 months of authorisation.