Parish Communications Enabler

The Parish Communications Enabler equips and supports churches and leaders to communicate the Christian faith clearly, authentically and accessibly, helping them share the good news of God’s Kingdom in their local contexts. The focus is on building local capacity, developing shared approaches and shaping good communications practice over the long term, rather than delivering communications on behalf of parishes.

The role centres on four key areas:

1. Strengthening parish communications by ensuring access to appropriate tools, skills and support.
2. Building long term capacity through toolkits, training, networks and repeatable approaches that enable confident and consistent practice.
3. Enhancing how stories of ministry, growth and transformation are identified and shared, strengthening culture, identity and shared understanding.
4. Enabling effective collaboration between parishes and the Parish Support Team, acting as a bridge and feeding parish insight into diocesan strategy.

The role contributes to equipping people and shaping culture, supporting mission, growth and connection in line with the diocesan vision and outcomes.

Build and Embed Local Communications Capacity

• Design and lead a diocese-wide approach to strengthening parish communications, enabling clergy, wardens and volunteers to communicate their mission confidently in their local context.
• Deliver training, coaching and accessible learning resources across channels including social media, websites, A Church Near You, video, photography and print, focused on long-term capability rather than dependency.
• Provide targeted, time‑limited support to help parishes move forward at key moments, building confidence and self‑sufficiency.

Develop Strategic Resources and Systems

• Lead the development of a coherent suite of templates, toolkits and guidance that shape consistent, high-quality communications practice across the diocese.
• Identify opportunities to standardise, streamline and automate recurring communications activity, improving efficiency and impact.
• Manage agreed budgets for resources and training, ensuring alignment with priorities set by the Head of Communications.

Strengthen Insight, Strategy, and Influence

• Systematically gather insight from parishes on communications challenges, opportunities and emerging needs.
• Use this insight to inform and shape diocesan communications and mission strategy, contributing to wider strategic planning.
• Advise senior leaders on communications priorities, approaches and opportunities to support mission, growth and engagement.

Facilitate Networks and Shared Learning

• Establish and sustain networks and communities of practice that enable peer learning, shared problem‑solving and the spread of good practice.
• Create a clear and repeatable rhythm of training, resources and engagement opportunities.

Support Parish Storytelling and Visibility

• Enable and support the identification and shaping of stories of ministry, growth and transformation that communicate the Christian message clearly and compellingly.
• Help churches articulate their vision, values, and faith clearly in a way that connects with their local communities.
• Contribute to diocesan content and channels, strengthening identity, culture and connection across churches.

Collaboration, Governance, and Spiritual Contribution

• Build strong relationships across the Parish Support Team and wider partners, strengthening collaboration and ensuring parish insight informs diocesan activity.
• Contribute to communications governance, ensuring outputs reflect the Christian vision, ethos and message of the Church of England.
• Prayerfully support ministry and mission in the diocese, working with parishes to discern how communications can support God’s purpose in each context, and enabling the good news of God’s Kingdom to be shared faithfully and effectively.