Job Description
- Supporting the Bishop in his diocesan, civic and national responsibilities.
- Assisting the Bishop with administrative, pastoral and practical tasks across the Diocese.
- Analysing, reflecting upon and briefing the Bishop on the theological, policy and procedural implications of a wide range of issues facing the Church and wider society.
- Managing specific issues and projects on behalf of the Bishop.
- Supporting the Bishop in his statutory roles and obligations.
- Contributing to the overall vision and strategy of the diocese by participating in Bishop’s Staff meetings and the Bishop’s Strategy Group, serving as a trusted advisor to the Bishop and other senior staff.
- Leading the Bishop’s Office Team, overseeing the overall operational plan for the office and line managing the Bishop’s Administrator and Hospitality Co-ordinator (one role).
The Chaplain will be a key member of the Bishop’s Personal Staff which includes the Bishop’s PA, the Bishop’s Administrator and Hospitality Co-ordinator, the Palace Gardener and a part‑time Driver. The Bishop’s Office is located in the Gatehouse to the Bishop’s Palace in central Exeter. The Bishop’s Administrator and Hospitality Co-ordinator provides administrative support to the Chaplain.
The role demands a time commitment comparable to that of a parish priest. Generally, the Bishop’s Chaplain will be expected to participate in morning and evening worship and maintain regular office hours from 9.00am to 5.00pm with a break for lunch. Some evening commitments may be required. The designated rest day is usually Saturday, though there may be occasional Saturday duties, in which case an alternative day off can be arranged. It is crucial that the Bishop’s Chaplain is typically available when the Bishop is in the office, given the demands on the Bishop’s diary.
Housing will be provided at no cost including exemptions from rent, council tax and water rates, located a short distance from the Bishop’s Office. The Bishop’s Chaplain will occupy this accommodation under a licence from its owners, the Diocesan Board of Finance. Additionally, removal expenses will be covered, along with a resettlement grant currently set at £2867. Permission may be granted to a Chaplain to live in his or her own property. However, if this is the preferred option, no housing allowance is available.
Responsibilities
The Bishop’s Personal Staff assists the Bishop by:
- Providing high quality briefings and information.
- Delivering efficient and effective administrative support, ensuring that robust office systems are in place.
- Embodying the Bishop’s ministry of hospitality by welcoming callers, visitors and guests with warmth and generosity.
- Maintaining strong communication between the Bishop’s Office, the Old Deanery, the Cathedral and the Diocesan Director of Communications & Engagement.
- Supporting the Bishop’s Ministry
- Support the Bishop’s ministry across the Diocese, as well as regionally and nationally, by conducting research, preparing briefings for General Synod, House and College of Bishops meetings and various other national and county bodies on which the Bishop serves, and assisting in the preparation of material for speaking engagements.
- Work with the Bishop’s PA to ensure the Bishop’s correspondence is kept up to date and that he is fully prepared for all engagements.
- Represent the Bishop at events, meetings or task groups within the Diocese as required, engaging with individuals, parishes.
- Carrying out any additional tasks the Bishop may reasonably request.
- Liturgical and Spiritual
- Support the Bishop in his ministry by regularly joining him for the Eucharist and Daily Office.
- Prepare for services in the Bishop’s chapel and acting as Sacristan.
- Prepare Orders of Services and documents for licensings and episcopal services, ensuring the appropriate ‘visit sheet’ is readily available.
- Serve liturgically as the Bishop’s Chaplain as required.
- Share responsibility for organising licensing and ordination services.
- Oversee the issuing of licences and other legal documents by the Registry.
- Officiate at parish services when invited to provide cover for holidays and vacancies, as time permits. Whilst there is no obligation to do so, this provides an opportunity for the Chaplain to maintain connections with the network of mission communities.
- To be a member of the Bishop of Exeter’s Senior Team.
- Serve as a sounding board for the Bishop, providing a listening ear and constructive feedback.
- Participate fully in Bishop’s Staff meetings and the Bishop’s Strategy Group.
- Facilitate positive relationships between the Bishop’s Office, the Cathedral and the Old Deanery.
- Be an effective and proactive Office Team Leader, developing and maintaining the operational plan for the work of the office.
- Line manage the Bishop’s Administrator and act as the functional line manager for the Bishop’s PA.
- Ensure that the culture and behaviours of the office team reflect the Bishop’s ministry of hospitality and welcome.
- Pastoral and Administrative
- Assist in the Bishop’s pastoral care of clergy and lay leaders.
- Draft correspondence as necessary, including initial enquiries, liaising with senior colleagues and drafting responses to informal complaints directed to the Bishop.
- Service the Bishop’s Staff Meeting including making practical arrangements for residential meetings including producing agendas, supporting papers and minutes while also monitoring follow‑up actions.
- Arrange invitations and attendance lists for Diocesan meetings of Rural Deans and Lay Chairs in consultation with the Bishop’s Administrator; draft the agenda and collate supporting documents for these meetings.
- Serve as the Bishop’s Data Protection Compliance Officer and Data Controller responsible for processing Subject Access Requests (SARs).
- Oversee applications under Canon C4.
- Consult the ‘blue file’ and senior colleagues to draft Clergy Current Status Letters (CCSLs) on behalf of the Bishop.
- Represent the Bishop on the Wellbeing Panel.
- Liaise with the Diocesan Secretary and the Director of People Services and Safeguarding in support of Bishop’s Visitors and be the point of contact for the Dr Nobb’s Charity.
- Oversee the storage and content of the confidential clergy “blue” files, ensuring compliance with best practices and guidance from the House of Bishops and PCR2 report.
- Act as the nominated representative for the National Clergy Database on behalf of the Bishop’s Office ensuring all updates generated by the office are uploaded to both the national and diocesan databases.
- Safeguarding
- Chair Core Group meetings whenever possible.
- Ensure adherence to the correct procedures regarding ‘Safe to Receive’ protocols.
- Facilitate effective communication between the Bishop and the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor (DSA) as well as the Safeguarding Team.
- Represent the Bishop on the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP).
- Serve the designated point of contact for the Bishop in dealing with any allegations made under Safeguarding Protocols and participate as a member of the Core Group as required.
- Legal and Clergy Discipline
- Collaborate with the PAs to the Bishops of Crediton and Plymouth in issuing of Permissions to Officiate, reviewing Clergy Personal Files and overseeing the central Diocesan Register of clergy with Permission to Officiate.
- Review all Clergy Personal Files entering and leaving the Diocese.
- Communicate with the Registry on matters relating to the Clergy Discipline Measure, draft official letters and ensure that the Bishop undertakes all necessary actions required under the Measure within the specified timetable.
- Oversee applications for Canon C4 faculties.
- Oversee applications for Overseas Permission to Officiate when needed.
Qualifications
- Be episcopally ordained priest in the Church of England or a Church in full Communion with it. This means an ordained Anglican cleric who can conduct worship on behalf of the Bishop and administer all sacraments appropriate to the Church of England. This post has attached to it a genuine occupational requirement under the 2010 Equality Act, Part 1, Schedule 9.
- Be able to work collaboratively within a close‑knit team, to share information and to be a cohesive and supportive presence.
- Be adaptable, flexible and able to prioritise in the face of a shifting set of demands and deadlines.
- High level of organisational skill and the ability to coordinate large amounts of personal information.
- Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality, to be courteous and approachable.
- Flexible approach to duties and working hours, including assisting at and attending occasional evening/weekend functions.
- Ability to be pastorally sensitive in relating to clergy, church officers and the wider community.
- Competence in the use of all aspects of Microsoft Office including Word, Outlook and Excel.
- Good liturgical knowledge in the drawing up of services.
- As part of the Bishop’s Personal Staff to take a turn in doing routine tasks: welcoming visitors, answering phone calls, photocopying, making tea etc.
- Good general standard of education, with a high standard of literacy.
- Be able to admit mistakes and learn from them.
- Professional personal appearance.
- Hold a full current driving licence and access to own transport.
About Us
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About The NCIs
The National Church Institutions comprises a wide variety of teams, professions and functions that support the mission and ministries of the Church of England in its vision to be a church, centred on Jesus Christ, for the whole nation - a church that is simpler, humbler, bolder.
We Include. You Belong.
Our Belonging and Inclusion Strategy aims for everyone in the National Church Institutions (NCIs) to feel that they belong, and are valued for who they are and what they contribute. Together, our people contribute in different ways towards our common purpose, whichever NCI they work in and whatever their background.
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- Strive for Excellence
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We believe our commitment to belonging and inclusion fuels our progress and drives us forward. The NCIs are a safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. We welcome applications from people of all faiths and of no faith. We want to encourage applications from a diverse group of people who share our values. Even if you have never thought about working for us before, if you have the skills and experience we’re looking for then we would like to hear from you.
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