Diocesan Staff Employment Handbook

Introduction

Foreword

The Diocesan Board of Finance (the Board) seeks to enable the following bodies:

  • the parishes, fresh expressions and chaplaincies of the diocese;
  • the committees of the diocese;
  • the diocesan and deanery synods;
  • the schools of the diocese;
  • the trading arms of the diocese.

To achieve this, we have to deal with a wide range of people and companies, private, commercial and professional, who in turn look to diocesan staff as representatives of 'the Church'.

For the most part this Employee Handbook deals with the relationship between you and the Board and with the relationship between you and your colleagues.

The day-to-day workings of the diocese are in the hands of all of us and it is our conduct and attitude that will maintain the good name of the Diocese of Lichfield. It is therefore my hope that our work will be marked by integrity, efficiency and courtesy. In turn, I trust we will all find our time with the diocese fulfilling.

This Employee Handbook contains entirely non-contractual rules, policies and procedures applicable to your employment. The Board may from time to time amend or withdraw any part of it at its absolute discretion.

John Naylor
Chairman - The Lichfield Diocesan Board of Finance Limited

The Diocese of Lichfield

  • In Chad’s time the diocese stretched from the Welsh border to the North Sea; and from Northumberland to the Thames. Today Lichfield remains one of the largest in the Church of England.
  • The diocese serves a population of 2.097 million, the 5th largest by population in the country.
  • The diocese serves an area of 1,740 square-miles, the 9th largest by size in the country.
  • The diocese has 238 Benefices, 424 Parishes and 545 Churches.
  • The diocese has 502 clergy in active ministry 142 women and 360 men.
  • On average, each member of the clergy serves 3,660 people.

The diocese is headed up by the 99th Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Michael Ipgrave.

Diocesan vision and priorities

The vision, mission and ministry of the diocese is focused around the three priority areas:

Developing Discipleship

In what ways does it develop discipleship? Will it help the people involved to deepen their experience or knowledge of God? Does it help to do the work of connecting faith and everyday life? Does it encourage us to become Christ-like in some way? Are we prepared for the fact that there may be a cost to this (Luke 14:27)?

Encouraging Vocation

In what ways does it encourage vocation? Will it help people to understand that God calls them? Will it offer ways for them to identify their specific vocation? Will it clearly honour and support all types of calling whether in the workplace, home or church? Does it provide space for a process of discernment?

Inspiring Evangelism

In what ways will it inspire evangelism? Will it give people confidence and opportunity to tell the Jesus story as they know it? Will it tell others directly about Christian faith and invite them to make a response? Will it be a clear expression of God’s love for individuals and communities? Will it bring you into contact with people who are not like you (ethnicity, education, income, etc)?

Our shared diocesan vision is:

"As we follow Christ in the footsteps of St Chad, we pray that the two million people in our diocese encounter a church that is confident in the gospel, knows and loves its communities, and is excited to find God already at work in the world. We pray for a church that reflects the richness and variety of those communities. We pray for a church that partners with others in seeking the common good, working for justice as a people of hope."

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