King's Chapel Senior Minister Search: Updated Job Description Information

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Position Description for Senior Minister, King’s Chapel, Boston, MA

Position available: immediately

A small historic church founded in 1686 and located in downtown Boston, King's Chapel is Anglican in liturgy, Christian Unitarian in theology, and congregational in governance. Each Sunday, King's Chapel celebrates Morning Prayer using its prayer book, which is adapted from The Book of Common Prayer. King's Chapel follows the liturgical calendar, and sermons are usually based on the Scripture that the lectionary appoints for the day. The Church School meets separately twice each month, September through May, for Family Worship at 9:45, followed by classes. Parishioners are drawn from Boston and the surrounding suburbs. More information is available at http://www.kings-chapel.org/ .

King’s Chapel has been congregational in governance since shortly after the United States became a nation. It was both the first Anglican church in New England and in 1784 the first Unitarian church in America. Its Unitarian tradition dates from this time, but was firmly established with the ordination of the Rev. James Freeman in 1787, over the objection of the Episcopal leadership. King’s Chapel remains an independent congregation, affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association,

In the love of the truth and in the spirit of Jesus Christ, we unite for the worship of God and the service of man.

- King’s Chapel Covenant

Key Qualifications:

· Experience as a senior, associate, or assistant. minister

• Demonstrated success in parish leadership, preferably in a congregation in a metropolitan area, as evidenced by growth in membership, participation, and financial support

• Demonstrated ability in preaching, as evidenced by sermons or lectures; experience preaching from a lectionary is highly desirable

• Demonstrated scholarship in liberal Christian theology, as evidenced by publications (books, papers or articles), other writings, and/or course work

• Experience in parish management: demonstrated ability to work both as a supervisor and as a colleague

• Demonstrated success working with and engaging lay leadership and volunteers, as measured by growth in program variety and participation both in the adult congregation and in the church school

• Experience in and ongoing commitment to one-on-one pastoral work, whether as counselor or spiritual advisor

• Enthusiasm for and energy working with parishioners of all ages who hold a wide range of religious beliefs and interests, as evidenced by health of current congregation

• Master of Divinity or higher degree with documentation of coursework, especially in Old Testament and New Testament studies

Responsibilities and Position Requirements:

1. To plan and conduct Morning Prayer on Sundays, and to arrange for and instruct guest ministers and lay readers over a 12-month liturgical year; to arrange the mid-week service and to preach at it once each month
2. To provide guidance and work with the church school program, including leading Family Worship services
3. To conduct special services and rites and to administer the sacraments
4. To supervise and work collegially with key persons, including the parish administrator, the director of the church school, and the music director
5. To attend regularly scheduled meetings of Vestry and of the Parish Council and to provide a written monthly report to Wardens and Vestry, to the Parish Council, and to any other groups or task forces as requested, or if not requested, at the minister’s discretion
6. To serve as the key point of contact for parish outreach activities, both to members and friends of the congregation and to other religious and community organizations; to meet with prospective members of the Society; to maintain regular contact with all members of the congregation, in particular the sick or those unable to attend church services, families in need, and others as requested
7. To provide pastoral counseling as appropriate
8. To meet with the Senior and Junior Wardens, as requested or as otherwise appropriate and with the Committee on Ministry
9. To make a written and oral report to the Annual Meeting of the Society of King’s Chapel and to be present at other all-Parish meetings, events, and activities such as concerts, coffee hours, luncheons, etc.
10. To teach ARE course/s; to assist others in preparing and executing courses; to lead occasional retreats

11. To represent King’s Chapel within the UUA, in interdenominational groups, and in the community; to serve on related boards, such as the Minns Lectures

SALARY: in accordance with UUA guidelines for geo 5, Midsize I church, http://www.uua.org/careers/compensation/fair/178552.shtml

(In 2013, King’s Chapel will be in geo 6.)

Interested persons are invited to send a letter of interest, a resume, and a sermon to the co-chairs, Beth Chapin at mebchapin@comcast.net and Clifford Allen at clifford_allen12@comcast.net