Associate Vicar Vacancy

I was drawn to that role by the opportunity to work collaboratively with the then Vicar, across a benefice with lots of opportunities for mission and ministry, leading in parishes with diverse styles and traditions.

In January 2024, the Vicar retired and during the vacancy, I felt God calling me to continue to serve in the Vale Benefice over the coming years, but the question arose, in which role was God calling me to serve in; remaining as the Associate Vicar or by becoming the Vicar?

I chose to apply for the Vicar role, as I wanted to continue to serve the congregations and community that I have grown to love over the last 8 years, as they entered a new chapter in the life of the Benefice. There is a growing desire to work more co-operatively across the benefice, developing our discipleship and growing in evangelism. I wanted to be involved in helping to shape and nurture this new benefice vision.

Our vision is to be a benefice where people come to faith in God our Creator, grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and live out their faith through the power of the Holy Spirit.

This will involve building on the strengths of each of our parishes, recognising the challenges of being in growing communities, addressing areas of development across the benefice and creatively embracing new ministry opportunities.

I hope that you will feel drawn to join me, in working collaboratively across our four parishes, in this new vision-led adventure as a benefice. Together, we will have the privilege of seeing where God takes the congregations and communities we are called to serve and guide.

Please do contact me if you would like to have an informal conversation before applying, I would be delighted to hear from you. You can contact me on 07739563894 or at vicaralec@valebenefice.org.uk.

God bless,

Alec Gill

Vicar of the Vale Benefice

Diocese of Oxford Vacancies

The congregation are invited to join the whole Benefice in prayer for filling this vacancy.