Parish of Wonersh with Blackheath

To know Christ & to make Him known

Ministry in the Parish
 Parish of Wonersh with Blackheath

Isaiah 62:10
Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people.
Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones.
Raise a banner for the nations.

Ministry Team

The Ministry Team comprises those with regular responsibility for leading worship and preaching.  It is led by our Vicar, Revd Debbie Sellin.  Click here to see photographs of our Ministry Team.

The role of the Ministry team is to work collaboratively with the Vicar:
• to pray for each other and for the church.
• to ensure the provision of regular worship, occasional offices and pastoralcare. The leading and preaching rota is developed every four months.
• to work with the Vicar in developing strategic and tactical initiatives to take the church forward.

The Ministry Team currently meets about every two months and its members are in regular communication via email, telephone, and personal contact.  The meetings are chaired by the Vicar, and they give him/her the opportunity to enthuse, encourage and support the team.

 It meets every few months to pray for each another, develop service rotas and agree new preaching series. The theme of the ministry in the parish is that it is a shared enterprise under Christ guided by the vicar.  The vicar and PCC operate together as the leadership team, with a Standing Committee comprising the Vicar, the four Church Wardens and two others elected by the PCC,  progressing the day-to-day business of the Parish. 

Volunteer authorised ministry includes one Non Stipendiary Minister (Colin Sowter - retired but with permission to officiate), three OLM (Keith Bateson, James Cooke and Liz Tilley), and two Readers (John Metcalfe & Brenda Williams).    

Others involved with Ministry

Paid staff, apart from the incumbent, are the church secretary (Jackie Vass), a full time Youth Leader (Vacancy), a children and families’ worker (Nicki Cooke) and a part time OLM  (Liz Tilley) with responsibilities for the over 55’s. 

We have previously used some four Christian Volunteers from Careforce to help us in a number of areas of the churches’ life and ministry including Children & Young People’s Work, howeve this year we do not have such worker. 

 

Training for Ordination   See Guildford Diocesan Ministry Course. 

On completion of her studies at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford  Gussie Walsh, serving a curacy at the team ministry at Penrith, was fully ordained July (2009).  

We supported Kate Wyles while she studied for ministry at STETS (Southern Theological Education &Training Scheme), based at Sarum College Salisbury; she was ordained in Summer 2011.   Mandy MacVean  started her training Sept 09 for ordination, also with STETS, but under the supervision of Revd John Bundock at Bramley. 

Thank you to those members of the fellowship who take part in the OLM Training Group.  This comprises about 8 members of the fellowship which met regularly with the trainee to complete a major task each year related to some aspect of ministry.  The purpose is to develop both the trainee and local church in ways of understanding, growing, demonstrating and living out shared ministry.  This is done by:- encouraging shared ministry in the parish;- sharing aspects of training in relation to its mission & ministry;- fostering the parishes understanding of OLM.

Lay Involvement

We encourage a number of lay people to lead and preach from time to time. This may have influenced the 11 of our congregation who have been ordained over the last 20 years - four of whom are now on the Ministry Team, while two are still going through training. The parish has two trained Pastoral Assistants  -: Sue Metcalfe and Nansi Parker being active on our Care Team.  Lay people read the lessons at both churches. They lead the intercessions at Wonersh and are beginning to do so at Blackheath. 

 

For details of activities in the fellowship look in the “CHURCH LIFE” section of this website.