Senior Minister (Rector), Anglican Parish of King Island
Rector
Anglican Parish of King Island, Tasmania
Location: King Island
(approximately 120km – 45 minutes flying time – from the shores of Tasmania and Victoria)
Job Type: Full-time (in partnership with Bush Church Aid)
Closing Date: seeking expressions of interest
About King Island
Do you love cheese, wine, windswept vistas and Jesus? Don’t hesitate, your dream job as Rector of the Anglican Parish of King Island awaits! In partnership with Bush Church Aid, we are seeking expressions of interest for this exciting role.
King Island is in Bass Strait, around 120 km from the shores of Tasmania and Victoria and can be accessed by plane from Hobart, Launceston, Burnie and Melbourne. It is 64km long and 26km wide and has a population of around 1600. The main industries are beef, dairy, fishing and a scheelite mine employing approximately 100. Tourism continues to grow now the pandemic has stabilised.
The King Island District High School in Currie provides education from pre-school to year 12. There are approximately 203 students and 23 teachers. The school is within easy walking distance from the rectory. The hospital is modern and employs 4 doctors, nursing staff and a mental health professional. An aged care facility is attached to the hospital. There is a dentist, veterinary clinic and a flying doctor service on the island. Currie, the largest town on King Island, has all the facilities provided by small towns on the mainland.
About the Parish
We are a small, faithful congregation which has continued to gather with the help of local leaders and visiting Locums since our Rector retired at the end of 2022.
We aim to be Kingdom minded, seeking to bring the love and gospel of Christ to the island. We are well embedded in the island’s close-knit community and actively serving in community organisations and services. There are always opportunities to draw alongside people. Some locals join in with an occasional ecumenical service with our Uniting and Catholic brothers and sisters. A good number of locals join us for Christmas and Easter celebrations and services.
The church was rebuilt in 2004 and seats 130 people. There is a modern, well equipped meeting room, kitchen and toilet block. The church is designed in modern brick and glass construction.
One weekly service is held in a modern building that was rebuilt in 2004 and seats 130 people. There is a modern, well equipped meeting room, kitchen and toilet block. The church is designed in modern brick and glass construction with comfortable seating that can be reconfigured for other activities and events. PowerPoint Services allow for hands-free gathering and downloaded videos. NIV Church Bibles are provided. Most congregation members participate in the Bible readings and prayers, and a musically gifted couple provide live music for the singing. One member can lead services. Morning tea follows with espresso coffee and homemade snacks.
The adjoining meeting room is a generous space with a large table, plenty of comfortable chairs, a children’s book library, and a large modern TV monitor. Three regular and one disabled person’s toilet, a good-sized kitchen, and a well-equipped office, all face onto the meeting room. This is an excellent facility for ministry and mission, and for running programs and events that meaningfully engage the community. We are keen to leverage further this potential. The whole complex sits high on a rise giving it excellent profile in the community.
There are currently two weekly Bible studies: one on Wednesday mornings and the other on Wednesday nights. Both are held in people’s homes.
The parish has done some youth mentoring in the local school and opportunities exist for further engagement with the school.
There has been a weekly community radio segment instigated by the previous Rector, and it may be possible to continue this.
The rectory is situated on the same parcel of land as the church complex. The rectory has four bedrooms, two ensuites, two living areas, a study, and a large well-equipped kitchen. It is an excellent ministry house with plenty of room for hospitality and meetings, and space for family members to hang out when ministry is happening at the other end of the house. There is a spacious garden with plenty of room for growing vegetables, and lovely views of the harbour, lighthouse, and ocean from the house and garden. The parish vehicle is a comfortable 2018 Kia Sportage (50,000km).
The Parish is debt free. We have $315,000 invested in interest bearing accounts administered by the Diocese and a working capital of $20,000. Our weekly offerings are commensurate with the size of our parish. However, with the support from Bush Church Aid we can provide a stipend for a full time Rector.
About You
You love island life or are keen to embrace it for the first time, and you have a vision for taking the good news of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. King Island, Tasmania, is pretty much there! We are seeking a person who loves Jesus, His Word, and His people. They will model Christian discipleship to us, faithfully open God’s Word with us, and support, equip, and join us for the ongoing work of building Christ’s church and serving and reaching our community. We need you to help us see more people become passionate, mature disciples of Jesus, for their good, for the good of the island, and for the glory of God. Come and help us see more people, young and old, come to see that King Island is the King’s Island.
Essential Criteria:
- 3 or 4 year degree from a theological college
- Ordained in the Anglican Church (or willing to be)
- Willing to partner with Bush Church Aid
- Good communication skills, good listener, good speaker, approachable
- Strong faith, true communicator of the Gospel, biblically based preaching
- Able to preach and teach from the Bible
- Able to lead people in making disciples of Jesus
- Experience leading volunteers in a church context
- Creative, innovative and flexible
- Work with others to build outreach to children, families and young people
- Enthusiastic and self-motivated
- Team player
- Able to work with technology
- Full time presence in the parish
About the Diocese
Bishop Richard Condie, the current Bishop, wants making disciples of Jesus to be at the core of everything we do. He also highly values training and support for church leaders – this includes each ministry leader in the Diocese having a Professional Supervisor, being in a cohort with others at the same life/ministry stage, and money and time given from the parish for professional development each year.
The current group of clergy/ministry leaders (about 80 in total) meet together twice a year and are highly supportive of each other in gospel partnership.
Find out more at the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania website.
About BCA
Bush Church Aid (BCA) is a missionary organisation with a heart for people living in rural, remote, and regional Australia. Established in 1919, the Society has been going the distance to reach Australia for Christ for over one hundred years.
In partnership with the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania, BCA has been committed to the ministry on King Island since 1998. This partnership includes financial support, prayer support, and pastoral support for the Field Staff (the clergy person and their family).
To serve as Field Staff with BCA, both the candidate for the role and their spouse will need to undertake a selection process which includes interviews, psychological assessments, and referee checks.
More information on BCA, including all the ministries supported, is available at www.bushchurchaid.com.au
Conditions
- Information about stipends and allowances in the Diocese is found here
- Housing or a housing allowance will be provided
- Appointment will be subject to fulfilling Safe Church Communities requirements, including a Tasmanian Working with Vulnerable People Card and completion of a satisfactory Safe Ministry Screening Check.
How to express interest
Please direct expressions of interest to the Diocesan Registrar at personnel@anglicantas.org.au.
For further information, please contact Mr James Oakley, the Diocesan Registrar by email at registrar@anglicantas.org.au or by phone on (03) 6220 2019.