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Chaplaincy Assistant

Flo Harris Lodge - Petersham Baptist Church

Location: Lewisham, NSW Australia

1. Primary Objective:

To provide pastoral care and community connections at Flo Harris Lodge (FHL), as a ministry of Petersham Baptist Church (PBC).

To create a living environment at FHL for young adult residents which is:

  1. safe, friendly and supportive;
  2. grounded upon Christian faith and values; and
  3. intended to aid their spiritual development by providing opportunity to hear the Christian Gospel and see its implications lived out.
2. Nature and Key Expectations of Position

The Chaplaincy Assistant position involves duties that are primarily pastoral, with some ancillary managerial and administrative duties.

This position is intended to provide staff coverage during maternity leave of another staff member.

As the Chaplaincy Assistant has significant responsibility for the spiritual and pastoral life of FHL, the Chaplaincy Assistant’s remuneration package contains accommodation on-site at FHL, food, other residential costs, and other related benefits. These benefits are to enable the Chaplaincy Assistant to live on-site at FHL, in accordance with the above expectation. This will enable the Chaplaincy Assistant to remain in touch with the spiritual and relational life and culture of FHL, and to conduct the pastoral elements of their role effectively and appropriately. We do not consider it possible to effectively perform the pastoral elements of the position while living elsewhere. Accordingly, the salary packaging includes these fringe benefits because of their pastoral duties.

It is a fundamental expectation of the position that the Chaplaincy Assistant will regularly attend and be involved in PBC in a manner typical of active members of the Church.

In relation to the significant pastoral duties of the position, the Chaplaincy Assistant is considered to hold a position of Christian religious authority in the context of FHL. This authority is conferred by PBC as a reflection of the fact that the Chaplaincy Assistant is charged with a number of pastoral care duties that are grounded in their religious faith and maturity, including strengthening Christians at FHL in their faith and witness and presenting the gospel to non-Christians at FHL through their life and example.

In order to support the exercise of religious authority in this context, and the performance of the pastoral duties that contribute to the work of Christian ministry at FHL, one selection criteria of the Chaplaincy Assistant position is the Christian faith, character and maturity of the applicant.

In order to clearly and publicly communicate the religious authority held by the Chaplaincy Assistant on behalf of PBC, PBC will generally hold a commissioning service for the Chaplaincy Assistant at or near the commencement of their employment.

3. Primary Responsibilities

a) Pastoral responsibilities include:

  1. Providing pastoral care for individual residents, with particular emphasis on their discipleship. This will at least involve:
    1. as divided with the Primary Chaplain, meeting one-to-one to mentor, encourage and grow Christian residents spiritually;
    2. along with the Primary Chaplain, equipping Christian residents to make disciples in the present and future;
    3. along with the Primary Chaplain, helping non-Christian residents to consider the claims of Christ and trust in Him (through one-to-one meetings where appropriate, and other ways); and
    4. working with other staff to make FHL a safe and caring environment in which residents are able to grow personally, spiritually and relationally.

    NB: It is expected that pastoral care will be delivered by the Primary and Secondary Chaplains in a gender-appropriate manner reflecting the demographics and needs of residents.

  2. Along with the Primary Chaplain, providing pastoral care for, and equipping, the Senior Residents (SRs) by:
    1. meeting fortnightly with the SR team for updates, prayer and mutual encouragement; and
    2. supporting the SRs in their responsibilities and efforts to organise events.
  3. Facilitating and coordinating community events within Flo and in the local area with the purpose of building links to non-Christians through contact at those events.
  4. Being accessible to the residents on the FHL property in ways which facilitate informal interaction and conversation, including by eating dinner with them in the dining room two (2) nights a week.
  5. Assisting the Primary Chaplain with FHL events throughout the year for purposes including orientating new residents, building community at FHL, and year-end celebrations.

b) Managerial responsibilities include:

  1. Attending and contributing to staff meetings;
  2. Conducting administrative tasks related to:
    1. Assisting Senior Residents with floor events;
    2. Planning of events (as set out above at a)iv) and others);
    3. Communication and promotion of events and regular features of Flo residential life.
  3. Being ‘on call’* for half of the following periods (divided equally as suits with the other secondary chaplain role):
    1. weekdays overnight where Primary Chaplains are unavailable because of leave;
    2. every second weekend in the contract period; and
    3. half of relevant public holidays.
  4. During the summer months that FHL is ‘closed’ to residents, overseeing staff planning for the coming year and participating in summer work such as maintenance tasks etc.

The Secondary Chaplain may also, from time to time, be required to perform other tasks that are not included in this Job Description.

* Being ‘on call’ involves being contactable and able to respond to emergencies at FHL, including by being in possession of the FHL phone, being within an hour’s distance of FHL, and being contactable by residents and the public. During time that staff are ‘on call’, a SR will be designated by roster as primarily responsible for FHL; ‘on call’ staff are expected to advise and assist SRs where needed.

4. Key Relationships

Reports to:

  • Primary Chaplain
  • Committee (for performance review and contract purposes)

Directly oversees:

  • Senior Residents (SRs).
5. Hours and Conditions of Work

The Chaplaincy Assistant has variable hours, but is expected to work an average of 10 hours per week (spread as appropriate over the 7 days of the full week and weekend). During the resident contract period, the days and times of work should be spread over any given week in a manner which reflects the pastoral needs and schedule of the FHL community, and of others on the FHL staff team. These times and days may change somewhat from week to week, and from the first half of the year to the second. Provision is made for a degree of flexibility to allow for varying resident availability and university timetables, and staff pursuits outside of FHL. It is anticipated, however, that a general weekly pattern will emerge for each half of the year, which should be formulated and discussed with the Primary Chaplains so as to work together as a team most effectively.

6. Contact

For more information about this role, or to apply, please contact:

Marty & Rachel Thompson
Residential Chaplains
primarychaplains@floharrislodge.org.au

Last revised 18 October 2024