Development Worker

My name is Jenny Gillies and I am the Diocesan Development Worker for Family Life and Social Concern. My post is funded jointly by The Mothers' Union in Chester and by The Diocesan Committee of Social Responsibility who work together in what is known as 'The Partnership'. I work full time to support Parishes and the Mother's Union as they reach out in ministry in the area of family life. In particular, my work focuses around the areas of Baptism, Marriage, Parenting, Ageing and Older People and Bereavement. We see family as inclusive of everyone and we recognise that there are lots of issues that families face like problems with finance and debt or struggling with issues connected with divorce and separation or being a single parent family or a step family or singleness.

As well as working within the Church, I represent the Diocese of Chester and The Mother's Union in a wider context, for example on some parenting forums and community consultation activities. My role is not to do all the work, but to enable those who want to engage with work to do just that. This may be through offering advice about what's already going on or about how to start up a project, training to those who need it, or providing resources to equip people to do the work that they need. I am available to work with clergy, parishes, deaneries and MU groups.

Baptism

I am working with a group of clergy who are keen to develop some new baptism liturgy that is appropriate to their local context. I have also worked to resource and train several parishes that have been keen to develop their baptism ministry.

Are you interested in developing your ministry by developing a team of volunteers or using new resources? Why not contact us?

Useful links:

Marriage

Would you like to developing your marriage ministry or your understanding of marriage itself? The Diocese of Chester runs a 5 week course called 'Marriage Matters' written and taught in conjunction with the Reverend Dallas Ayling, Rector of The Priory Parish Birkenhead, it is designed to be part of the Pastoral Worker's Course and is open to all. The course, which is 10 hours long, covers:

  • Relationships
  • Co -habitiation
  • The Marriage Service
  • Marriage preparation models and materials
  • Marriage enrichment
  • Suggestions for ways to be effective on supporting a relationship when things go wrong

For further information contact The Committee for Mission and Ministry via gerri.tetzlaff@chester.anglican.org

Useful links:

Separation and Divorce

How can we uphold 'Christ's teaching on the nature of marriage' (MU aims and objectives) whilst giving effective pastoral support to those who are separated or divorced? This is a dilemma that faces the church and one that the diocese has formed a group to explore.

Useful links:

Parenting

Since 1999 The Mothers' Union has been running a worldwide parenting course that trains facilitators - that is those who want to set up and run courses that parents can join so that they can share ideas, pick up tips and make friends. The next training course will be held in The Retreat House, Abbey Square, Chester on Friday 6th - Sunday 8th July. It is open to anyone from the Diocese of Chester who is interested in setting up courses and willing to become part of a Diocesan wide facilitator network. For further information contact Jenny Gillies

Useful links:

Ageing and Older People

In the Diocese of Chester, there is a group that is specifically set up to explore Older People in the Church from a variety of perspectives. Currently, it is working to produce a resource for parishes offering useful materials and help information.

Useful links:

Bereavement

I am available to work with clergy or groups to explore with or resource them in the way that children deal with bereavement and loss. Also, Chester Diocese runs, in association with Acorn Listening, various courses that support those who wish to work in this area of ministry.

Gill Carding, Diocesan Director of counselling works with individuals and some groups. She can be contacted at:

Church House, Lower Lane
Chester CH3 6HP
(+44) 01244 620444

Useful links:

General Family Support websites

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A Day In The Life of The Development Worker

There are four development workers in UK and Ireland and each one of us has a different portfolio. Working in Chester, my role is as the only full time Development Worker post in the UK and Ireland and is unique in providing support in a Partnership between The Committee of Social Responsibility in the Diocese of Chester and The Mothers' Union. Pennie Kennedy in Oxford is part time and works to develop MU projects within the diocese. In Worcester, Hazel Charlton's work is helping the MU to develop their support to four prisons in the diocese whilst in Ireland, Louise Despard-Hilliard works across four diocese to develop the MU parenting facilitator's work.

It is easy to look at our jobs in terms of areas of work, but what does a Development Worker actually do? Although we are all engaged in different things we are united in one common view - every day of our working lives is different. Just to give you an idea of what that can mean I have included excerpts from a day in my diary.

Up at 6.45 to wake my teenage daughter and encourage her out of bed. She's a morning person and needs little help. I use this time to pray. I quickly found that in this job without this I'd collapse, though sometimes I am so sleepy I confess to just sitting in God's presence rather than any serious intercession. After a conversation about train fares and the time Rachael is likely to get home tonight, its back to bed for 'just five more minutes' before I hit the shower and make breakfast for my other daughter Anna who's 10. I remind her that I need to leave on time today as it's my turn to lead the morning prayers for the staff at Church House. She reminds me that it's often me who makes her late but I win a moral victory when I stand ready in the hallway and she is still cleaning her teeth.

9.25 am I arrive at Church House in Aldford Cheshire after a 40 minute journey. It takes me a few minutes to set up for prayers as I have decided to use water and pebbles. As I carry water from the kitchen, I wonder whether I should have stuck to something much more straightforward. All goes well and by 9.50 am I am sitting at my desk. I am often in the office on a Monday though today is unusual as I will leave at lunchtime. A quick check of the post finds a letter from a parish who would like me to help them devise a better way of doing their baptism preparation. I call and make an appointment. It's amazing how quickly my diary is filling up.

10.30 am A meeting with the person responsible for delivering parenting courses on behalf of Cheshire County Council. The authority has been given funding to run courses as a means to reduce crime. We discuss how our parenting work will in the future link with statutory work. It's a positive meeting and as he leaves I feel hopeful.

11.45 am Just time for a quick chat with Janice Mason, Director of Social Responsibility to update her on developments in some work that I am doing in helping a parish set up a family worker post. The phone rings. Its one of the clergy, 'Do you know of a service that supports families on the Wirral?' There is a young man in need. He has become a primary carer overnight. I recommend one or two organisations and promise to research the situation a bit more. I contact Gill Carding, The Diocesan Director of Counselling and we discuss what options might be available. I email the enquirer some further advice.

12.30 pm Time for lunch. As a teacher I often skipped it but I try to eat every day. Often I am privileged to be in a person's house and find myself generously provided for. Today its soup and fruit (I am determined to lose weight) and a quick browse over my notes for the next event.

1.15 pm In the car and off to an MU deanery festival meeting. It's about a 40 minute drive and I often talk to God or sing in the car. I am sure that anyone watching would think that I am mad but I enjoy myself. Today I use the time to think and listen to Radio 4. It's boring so I switch off and consider how wonderful it is to be driving in sunny weather rather than in a classroom with Year 10.

1.55 pm Arrive at the Church Hall. It's not a huge gathering but people are very warm and friendly and keen to hear what I have to say. When I stand to speak I explain about my job and the most recent developments. I always try to make people laugh too. I am well received and afterwards several people comment that I have inspired them to do something. I desperately avoid the cake until I am persuaded that one small piece won't hurt and without much arm twisting I give in and enjoy it.

4.30 pm Home. Anna is annoyed with me because I didn't pick her up from school but she soon gets over it when I spend some time drawing in the kitchen with her. She then rushes off to watch the TV and I work on getting the tea for us all.

6.30 pm Time to go out again. Because I have children I try to work no more than one evening per week. Tonight I am travelling to the east of the Diocese to help a parish who are developing a mission. My brief is to work with Bishop Nigel on an evening session about Christian Parenting. I try to think what it is that would bring me out on a dark night and as well as a family quiz, a fun way of putting across facts, suggest that we offer desert too. It's a good meeting and I feel really encouraged about how well this is moving forwards. The meeting is not long so I can get back at a reasonable time.

10.00 pm Home and time for bed. My elder daughter wants to tell me all about her recent Russian lesson. We chat and laugh as I try to say some of the words. She reflects on whether she might now choose to be a spy when she is older. Sorry Rachael, I think I may have just blown your cover. It's been another good day and before I finally put the light out I glance to see what tomorrow will bring - whole new set of events and encounters.

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