Dean of Chelmsford

Post Introduction
The Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop and a centre of worship and mission, providing a focus for the life and work of the Church of England in the Diocese.

As such the responsibility of the Dean and Chapter is to deliver excellent Church of England liturgy for the congregation, the Diocese and, via live-streamed services, the wider world. This is fundamental to the mission and ministry of the Cathedral.

We expect our Dean to head the Cathedral Community as a team player - sharing, hearing and listening and in return fully intend to reciprocate.

The life of a Cathedral is necessarily evolutionary. The new Dean will be joining the Cathedral as it relies on the 2021 Cathedrals Measure with all that is entailed in that in terms of procedure and governance.

Main Responsibilities
These will include:

- Working with the Chapter to align with the Bishop, and the Diocese’s direction of travel, currently embodied in Travelling Well Together, to form an outward-looking vision for the Cathedral. This vision will be centred in the love of Christ, clarify the Cathedral’s identity within the City, County and the Diocese and act as a point of unity.
- To continue the work of rebuilding the structure, morale and culture of the whole staff team within the Cathedral, ensuring it is appropriately resourced and supported to meet operational and missional needs, and that those serving the Cathedral feel empowered to use their gifts collaboratively, fully and faithfully in service to God and neighbour.
- To develop and secure the long-term future of music and liturgical provision within the Cathedral, ensuring that it is a visible strength and a source of joy, drawing on the talents of a diverse community and contributing to the Cathedral’s mission and outreach.
- To lead the growth, and development of the Chapter to ensure that it is an effective and collaborative trustee body able fully to carry out its responsibilities and exercise its powers with professionalism and diligence. To work alongside the Chapter in developing and delivering a plan for the Cathedral’s financial wellbeing, and the good use and stewardship of its resources.
- To explore new ways in which the Cathedral can discern and celebrate the transforming love of Christ. Inspiring the Cathedral community to inhabit and own a shared vocation to reach out to those in need based in the abundant generosity of God.
- To lead the Cathedral and love the congregation, growing a sustainable community which welcomes, reflects and is shaped by the diversity in which it is based. To actively explore ways to promote inclusion and unity, stirring the vocation of the people of God.

Someone who is:

- **An insightful visionary **who has a track record of successfully drawing together communities to inhabit and own a shared purpose**.** A person who can develop ambitions grounded in the blessings of Chelmsford Cathedral. The person will also be comfortable in asking others to contribute to delivering the vision of the Cathedral.
- **A self-aware and emotionally intelligent leader**, instinctively collaborative and adept at embedding good communication, willing to listen and committed to building a community centred in the affirming values of Christian fellowship. An individual who is comfortable in humility and passionate about developing others and ensuring their contributions are recognised and valued.
- **A financially astute custodian **who recognises the importance of sound financial stewardship and will want to be creative with income generation. The individual will be comfortable interpreting budgets, planning and running fund raising projects** **and working with governance and complexity.
- **A reflective preacher, celebrant and worship leader **who is able comfortably to adopt a range of traditions to share the Gospel. A person who recognises the importance of music and liturgy within Cathedral worship and can adapt and re-shape this with sensitivity and courage, offering openness and hospitality to those currently outside the cathedral community.
- **An evangelist and missioner **who reaches out throughout the community and the Diocese to encourage and inspire the faith of others, regardless of background or church tradition.** **A generous convenor able to draw together, sustain, celebrate and send out disciples to work to the glory of Christ.

About Us
Chelmsford is described as “a bright, lively and friendly city - small but bursting with things to see, do, experience and enjoy”. It is situated to the north-east of London, and has easy travel links into Stratford and London Liverpool Street (a direct service from Chelmsford to Liverpool St takes around 35 minutes). However, it also has access to rural areas and the coast (taking around 35 minutes to drive to Bell Wharf Beach).

Chelmsford was made a city in 2012, and today the district has a population of around 180,000, with 48% of residents describing themselves as Christian