School of Discipleship Lead - Maternity Cover

Role Profile

Since its launch in 2018, the School of Discipleship in Southwell & Nottingham Diocese has built both a wide and varied programme of learning opportunities and a strong reputation for excellence and discipleship/ministerial focus across church traditions, sizes and geographies. The focus has been on discipleship training (first through our RealLIFE course and now through the expanding suite of DISCIPLE materials) and ministerial development for Licensed Lay Ministry (as well as broadening some of our ministry skills training for all interested lay disciples). The School has also been at the forefront of seizing the opportunities offered by new learning technologies. This post offers the opportunity to lead this ministry for 12 months, providing maternity leave cover for the current School of Discipleship Lead. The post will likely begin late October 2026, but ideally some limited transition work in September (to meet the new LLM cohorts) would be possible. The role description attached represents the existing School of Discipleship Lead role. If an informal conversation would be helpful ahead of making an application, please contact the Director of Discipleship & Ministry at .

Purpose of Role

Our vision is to bring Living Hope to the City, Towns and Villages of Nottinghamshire & Beyond - which we believe we will do as we continue Growing Disciples of Christ with Compassion, Confidence and Courage. Our new DISCIPLE suite of resources builds out this vision: in its core module, exploring theologically and practically what it means to be compassionate, confident and courageous disciples; and in a series of new focus modules, exploring aspects of our diocesan vision's 7 Areas of Focus. The School of Discipleship Lead has responsibility for this programme, as well as overseeing our exciting Licensed Lay Ministry training scheme and other ministry skills training for lay disciples. This post offers the opportunity to lead in these areas for 12 months, providing maternity cover for the current role holder.

Principal Tasks

• Contribute, alongside the Director of Discipleship & Ministry, to developing and leading the implementation of an innovative and coherent diocese wide lay ministry strategy, giving proactive consideration to identifying lay leaders who grow lay leaders, and enhancing diversity amongst those called to public ministry.
• Take overall responsibility for the delivery of our in house Licensed Lay Ministry training scheme, facilitating the discernment and formational development of candidates, delivery of modules, and appropriate arrangements to quality assure the programme.
• Develop creative and innovative ways to extend and strengthen the existing programmes, especially with an eye to enhancing the diversity both of candidates and the ministries they will exercise.
• Encourage lay discipleship in parishes through generating an imaginative, broad and engaging suite of resources, founded on the refreshed Disciple course.
• Collaborate with wider D&M team members and church leaders in providing of training across the 7 Areas of Focus, developing plans and teams to create new resources, courses and events accordingly.
• Be visible within parishes and liaise with the diocesan Communications team to promote and recruit to all courses and programmes.
• Contribute to (and realise the benefits of) national and regional networks.

Additional responsibilities

• Play a full role in the life of the Discipleship & Ministry team, including participation in shared development activities and a willingness to engage and offer leadership (as required) in the team's corporate life of prayer and worship.
• Coordinate with other diocesan teams as and where appropriate (either in a School of Discipleship capacity, or as a general representative of the Discipleship & Ministry team), and champion the diocesan Vision and Strategy in all contexts.
• Strategically provide Sunday support to Churches as agreed/where possible.

Person Specification

See attached Job Pack.