Diocese of Coventry eBulletin

Cover arrangements for the Diocesan Secretary Bishop Christopher announced in November that Ruth Marlow is retiring as Diocesan Secretary at the end of January.  The recruitment process for a new Diocesan Secretary has already begun, and the post will soon be advertised.  Cover arrangements have also been put in place for the duration of the vacancy. Bishop Christopher and Simon Danks – Chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF) – have agreed that the Diocesan Secretary’s responsibilities will be temporarily covered by: Julie Bellamy – Director of Finance Stephen Davenport – Director of Operations Graeme Pringle – Director of Communications They will be supported in this work by Helen Groocock, Executive Support Officer. Read More

The Equip Hub The Online Learning Platform from the Diocese of Coventry. Once you've signed up, this email will contain personalised recommendations for topics you are interested in exploring.     Sign Up Now

Living Generously: Lent and Easter Workshop A new topic called ‘Living Generously‘ is now available on the Equip Hub. It will help you to explore how we can respond to Christ’s generous act of love on the cross by living generous lives ourselves. There are a variety of resources available such as a study course, prayers & liturgy, books and the Lent and Easter Workshop. The Lent and Easter Workshop will take place on Thursday 27th January, 1-2.30pm on Zoom. The Diocese team are exploring how we can respond to Christ’s generous act of love on the cross by living generous lives ourselves. We are currently creating a range of resources and ideas for the Lent and Easter season that you can use and adapt to your context. This will include materials to use in small groups, prayer days, personal devotion and services. Jen and Anna (from the Serving Christ project) are running this workshop to share the resources and create a space to share ideas and think about how they might work in your context. Register now

Digital Surgery - 8 February Many churches are now offering a hybrid approach to worship, both online and in person. If you have technical or practical questions about how this works, the Digital Surgery will provide help and advice in producing online worship, including live streaming, recording, editing and production. A team from the Diocese and St Mark’s Swanswell will answer questions submitted in advance or during the evening. The Digital Surgery will take place on Tuesday 8th February at 7pm on Zoom. Register now

Basic Video Editing Training Would you like to learn video editing skills to enhance your church’s online worship and social media evangelism? According to tech giants Cisco, video will account for over 82% of internet traffic this year. Mark, the Digital Mission Enabler from the Serving Christ team, is running several two hour free training sessions on Monday 14th February on Zoom and Tuesday 16th February at St. Michael’s Church, Budbrooke. There are four time slots available on each day. However, the slots are limited to five people. To see more information about the sessions taking place over Zoom, click here. To see more information about the sessions taking place at St. Michael’s Church, click here. If you have any questions please contact Mark. Email Mark

Upcoming BCDM courses We have 4 BCDM courses happening in person or via Zoom during the second half of the Spring term. Paul’s Life, Mission and Letters Gain an understanding of what motivated Paul, what his opponents said, and find ways of reading his letters so that they make sense. at St Nicolas in Nuneaton. This will take place on a Monday evening from 19.00 – 21.30 from 07 March to 04 April. This will be delivered by Jon Taylor. The Book of Revelation Get to grips with how to understand this incredible, visionary book. on Zoom. This will take place  on a Tuesday afternoon from 14.00 – 16.00 from 01 March to 29 March. This will be delivered by Katherine Walakira.   Needs Based Evangelism Explore the Mission of God, being relevant to our context, four dimensional listening and implicit and explicit evangelism. at St John’s, Westwood in Coventry on a Thursday evening from 19.00 – 21.30 from 03 March to 31 March. This will be delivered by Gareth Fitzpatrick.   Discovering and Using Our Spiritual Gifts Explore the gifts that God has given you and how he might be calling you to use them (both within and outside of the church).. at St Marks in Bilton. This will take place on a Wednesday evening from 19.00 – 21.30 from 09 March to 06 April. This will be delivered by Jen Stewart. Read more

Difference Hosts Gathering Are you thinking about running the Difference course? Have you already? Having done it, are you wondering how to build on the learning? Through a time of worship, two workshops and short talks. Facilitated by a panel of facilitators and speakers from across several diocese. We hope you will come away feeling more equipped to host context sensitively and resourced with ideas and practices that help individuals and communities apply the habits beyond the course. This event will take place via Zoom on the 5th February 2022 from 1:30pm – 4:30pm. Register now

Diocesan News February Prayer Diary The February edition of the diocesan prayer diary is now available to be viewed and downloaded from the website. Click here.  Grants for churches supporting vulnerable people in Warwick District Grants of up to £3,000 are available in Warwick District to help community organisations adapt their services to people experiencing loneliness, isolation, mental health or financial hardship and for commemorative remembrance events for those who have lost their lives or suffered during Covid. See more here. Grants will be awarded on a first come first serve basis until the funding has been allocated. Email queries to: CERFund@warwickdc.gov.uk For help completing grant applications, contact andy.duncan@coventry.anglican.org. Events for schools at Coventry Cathedral The Coventry Cathedral Schools team has a number of events coming up for schools to book onto: Kiss or Bite? A theatrical exploration of Sir Jacob Epstein’s Jacob and the Angel – March, April and May Sophie Scholl, Workshop and Performance – 18 & 19 March Pi Week – 14 – 18 March Experience Easter – April For more information and to book email Jessica.Weale@Coventry.Anglican.org Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme DCMS has approved continuation of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme for this spending review period, until March 2025. The current period of the scheme was due to end in March this year. This three-year continuation is something the Church Buildings Council worked on with Historic England and the Historic Religious Buildings Alliance to campaign for. Some background in case this is new to anyone: the LPOW scheme awards grants equivalent to VAT costs on eligible capital works, worth up to £42m a year. In past years the CofE has benefitted from between £22-£30m a year. Churches and cathedrals make individual applications to the Government’s chosen operator, a company called Topmark, who will be continuing to run it for them. This announcement happens in a context where wider issues of VAT valuations are being discussed; the Church Buildings Council are part of a coalition of heritage bodies working to get VAT on listed building repairs zero rated, bringing them in line with new builds – this includes a strong environmental argument about the carbon benefits of adaptive re-use. This work will take some time so it is very good to have the LPOW scheme continuing for now. As ever, details of the scheme and application processes can be found on the dedicated website: http://lpwscheme.org.uk which will be updated soon to reflect the extension. The Sherbourne Valley Project The Diocesan Environment Group has been supporting the Sherbourne Valley Project for several years. We encourage parishes in the watershed of the River Sherbourne to become involved in this project to help them care for their local environment. This provides a good practical framework for Christians to be a blessing in their local communities and environments and for those churches that are signed up to Eco Church, this is an expression of one of the assessed categories, Global and Community Engagement. Read more about the project and how you can get involved here. Share your stories on Radio Plus Has your church or community got something exciting coming up you want to share with the people of Coventry? Lizzy would love to hear from you and publicise the great things you are doing on Radio Plus on the lunchtime recharge (1-2pm Monday-Friday). If you would either like her to share about your event or if you are interested in coming in to be interviewed about it then please contact her: revlizzyholland@gmail.com Sacred Journey The Sacred Journey is for those who are thirsty for more of God, for all who are dissatisfied with living on the surface and who want to travel deeper into God’s heart. All are invited to join with others in practising spiritual disciplines and creating sacred space for God. This course will take place at St Michael’s Church Centre, Budbrooke over 6 Wednesday mornings between Wednesday 2nd March 2022 and Wednesday 6th April 2022. For more information, click here.

Diocesan Vacancies Bedworth Parish - Music Youth Worker The Music Youth Worker (MYW) will work collaboratively with the Music Missioner, the Parish Leadership Team, local schools and community centres to plan activities which will provide community transformation through musical activities and events. The role will be responsible for running a range of initiatives that engage children and young people. The role requires nurture of musical groups and music initiatives, directing the performance of musical groups at community events and the development of faith. The MYW will be responsible for connecting with young people, forming youth groups, and going into schools. The role will be require taking responsibility for safeguarding all people involved in the initiatives and activities. For more information, click here. Arden Marches Churches - Family Link Worker Do you have a heart for seeing children and families flourish in all aspects of life, and a vibrant and growing faith in Jesus to share with them? The Arden Marches Churches (Studley and Mappleborough Green) are looking for a creative and self-motivated person who is good at building relationships and communicating the Christian faith, to become their new Family Link Worker. You will work as part of the church and in partnership with Studley St Mary’s CofE Academy to grow their mission and ministry among families with young children.  You will work with the school to support families (including those experiencing various life challenges), engage with the wider community, and support spirituality.  You will work with the churches to a) develop their contacts with families, helping them become disciples of Jesus Christ, and b) develop opportunities for their children and families to worship God and grow in faith. 24 hours a week (14 hours with the churches, 10 hours in the school), 6 weeks holiday. Salary – £14,400. For more information and an application form please contact Reverend Kate Mier 01527 852830 rector@ardenmarches.co.uk   Closing date for applications: Monday 21st February 2022

External Vacancies Why do we advertise external vacancies? VAC - Voluntary, Community & Social Enterprise Mental Health Liaison Officer The newly formed VCSE Community Mental Health Team will ensure that the voluntary and community sector is effectively engaged in shaping the transformation of community mental health services. Working collaboratively with other sectors towards an enhanced, easily accessible service providing integrated and seamless care and support for people experiencing mental distress. They are now looking to appoint a skilled relationship builder to connect, coordinate and support the VCSE sector to contribute to transforming community mental health services for people with severe and continuing mental illness (SMI), with a particular focus on personality and complex trauma, eating disorders and community rehabilitation. This is a full time role of 37 hours per week, with a salary of £28,000 per annum. For more information, click here. Workcare - Voluntary Treasurer Workcare is a charity which provides organisations with Chaplains going into working environments, to be a “Listening Ear in the Workplace” for employees and employers and also assists at Work Clubs to help the unemployed and redundant, find work. Never before has this support been needed more. Workcare is currently just about managing with financial aid but is in need of a Bookkeeper to help “keep the books”. Asking for pro bono assistance isn’t easy, but the work is online and would take up to a maximum 2.5 hours and 5 hours on alternate months. A full Job Description can be downloaded by clicking here. For more information, contact secretary@workcare.org