The Department for Apostolic Life brings together several areas of responsibility at Church House whose primary aim is to support parishes and individuals in their ‘apostolic’ life and ‘mission’ activities.
The overall team is headed by the Revd Canon Rebecca Swyer, and the principal areas of support include:
- Focal ministry
- Lay ministry
- Ordained ministry
- Strategy
- Wellbeing for clergy and their households
Director for Apostolic Life
Head of department, encompassing the Director of Ministry role. Rebecca has oversight of the training and assessment of curates (IME 2), support for curates moving to a post of first responsibility and of initial and ongoing training and support for Training Incumbents.
PA to the Director and Deputy Director for Apostolic Life
Administrative role supporting the Director and Deputy Director for Apostolic Life
Programme Delivery Manager (0.6 Post - Monday, Wednesday & Thursday - Role Funded by the Strategic Development Fund)
Deputy Diocesan Director of Vocations
The Revd Jamie Gater
Fr Jamie assists the DDV in the discernment and selection of those exploring a call to ordained ministry or religious life. He is responsible for developing training for those selected on the exceptional discernment pathway.
PA to the DDV (0.5 Role)
PA to the DDV and Deputy DDV. Annie also organises financial support for ordinands-in-training.
Focal Ministry Officer
The Revd Felix Smith
Officer for Lay Ministry and Training
Lay Ministry and Training Administrator
Samantha provides administrative support to the Lay Ministry Co-Ordinator with the running of training courses. Whilst overseeing the process of authorising Lay Ministers of Holy Communion and handling Reader Ministry matters. Samantha also provides administrative support to the Youth and Children team.
Head of Wellbeing for Clergy and Families (Role Funded by the B. Wild Fund)
Laura oversees the Wellbeing for Clergy and Families service; providing support in the form of short-term counselling, traumatic event debriefing, wellbeing events, and workshops on topics such as: Managing Stress, Avoiding Burnout and Women’s Health.
Further details and resources can be found here https://www.chichester.anglican.org/wellbeing-for-clergy-and-families/
CMD Officer
VACANT
The CMD Officer organises and delivers a range of appropriate training courses for clergy in response to ministerial objectives identified through MDR.
MDR, CMD & Pastoral Care Administrator
Ruth administers the Ministerial Development Review (MDR) scheme for all licensed clergy, grants for clergy to attend training events/conferences and to undertake courses of study, Extended Ministerial Development Leave (EMDL) and Study Leave. She produces a Training Brochure that includes courses and study days for clergy and licensed lay ministers.
Rural Officer (0.5 Role Funded by the Ashburnham Giving Trust)
Gary offers training and advice to the eastern part of the diocese on rural issues. Gary has a wealth of experience and resources to help rural churches not just to survive but thrive.
Bishop's Advisor for Self Supporting Ministry (SSM)
Serving as an advocate for SSM ministry in the diocese alongside being licensed to the Deanery of Lewes and Seaford and working as a solicitor four days a week.
Bishop’s Advisor for Deliverance Ministry
Deliverance@chichester.anglican.org
The task of the Advisor is to support clergy in their ministry, which might involve simply listening and offering advice on how to proceed. In other instances, a member of the team will arrange to visit in person, ministering alongside the parish clergy. Occasionally, and especially when there is no connection with the church, referrals might be made directly to the team. Clergy should undertake only such ministry under the direction of the Bishops Advisor who is assisted in the role of Advisor by a small team of clergy, who are spread geographically across the diocese. Deliverance ministry is part of the wider ministry of pastoral care, carried out in accordance with the House of Bishops Guidance on Deliverance Ministry.
Vocations Adviser - West (Voluntary Role)
IME and Reader Tutor