CHANGE
THE
TREND.
CHURCH PLACEMENT
PACK
UPDATED | June 2015
WELCOME
We are glad you are considering taking on a student studying with Reign Ministries.
This pack explains the role and responsibilities of the church when agreeing to place
a student. If you would like more information about the degree then please feel free to
request a Degree Starter Pack. These can also be found on our website.
PAGE 4
What does the church do?
PAGE 5
What does Reign Ministries do?
PAGE 6
Reign Ministries Strategy & Vision
PAGE 7
What does the Line Manager do?
PAGE 8-9
Example Job Descriptions
PAGE 10-15
Three Way Agreement
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We believe that
youth ministry
should be about
making disciples.
Reign Ministries exists to see
Jesus' strategy of disciple
making inspire a movement
through the church among
young people. We Value
In looking at the gospels we see a pattern to Jesus’ ministry. Our staff serve as
coaches helping students and volunteers to establish disciple-making youth
ministries, patterned after the passion and priorities of Jesus.
Our students are immersed in a placement where they engage in practical ministry
from day one. Students encounter challenges in their ministries that directly relate to
the skills they are learning in the classroom. We believe this is the best way to learn.
Our investment into those we train goes beyond the classroom as our team
personally coaches and mentors each emerging leader.
We Offer
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What Does The Church Do?
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO TAKE ON A STUDENT IN OUR CHURCH OR PROJECT?
• Create a Job Description for 15-20 hours of youth ministry
• Assign a Line Manager to work closely with the trainee
• Costs: See below
• Attend one training day each year alongside your student
• Send your student and potentially some teens on a Mission abroad in year two of placement
• Sign a Three Way Agreement with the student and Reign Ministries
Reign Ministries Identifies a Student
for your Church
Student from your own Church
The Church comes to an agreement with
the student on:
• Accommodation
• Food
• Travel to/from Conference & Cluster
• Pocket Money
The Church will be responsible to provide:
• Accommodation
• Food
• Travel to/from Conference & Cluster
• Pocket Money
*Student bursary or living situation may cover
some of these costs
*Student bursary or living situation may cover
some of these costs
Year 1
Training Fees: Waived
Year 2
Training Fees: £1000
Year 3
Training Fees: £2000
Year 1
Training fees: £2600
Year 2
Training fees: £2600
Year 3
Training fees: £2600
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What Does Reign Ministries Do?
SIX CONFERENCE WEEKS
During these six residential conferences students will be led through guided facilitations
covering the BA modules. These are also times of inspiration, worship and input as
students gather together with an international team of youth workers.
WEEKLY CLUSTER
During the weekly cluster students meet with other youth ministry trainees in their area.
And experienced cluster leader will help to support and oversee the practical training of
the student.
COACHES TRAINEE
Weekly meeting with trainee in how to develop a disciple-making youth ministry through
ministry observations and through peer review meetings.
FACILITATE REVIEWS
These bi-annual reviews happen with trainee, line manager and a Reign Ministries
representative.
TRAINING DAYS
Lead training days for all ministry and key leaders.
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Reign Ministries Strategy and Vision
WHAT IS THE VISION?
We believe that youth ministry should be about MAKING DISCIPLES and we exist to help
see a disciple-making STRATEGY implemented in youth ministries across the country.
HOW ARE WE ACCOMPLISHING THIS VISION?
We do this through delivering a combination of TRAINING, TRIPS and resourcing the
CHURCH.
We TRAIN disciple-making youth workers through our gap year experience and by
facilitating a BA (Hons) in Theology and Mission from Springdale College and accredited
by York St. John University.
We take young people on mission TRIPS not only to help build and equip young people,
but also to inspire and identify emerging leaders who may want to train further for youth
ministry.
We believe the multiplication of the CHURCH is God’s plan to reach the world. Therefore
we work in and through the church rather than apart from it. Our trainee youth ministers
lead a local church youth ministry while earning their degree.
THE STRATEGY
Jesus gave us not only a message, but a method for building a disciple-making
movement. We try as simply as possible to study the life and ministry of Jesus and ask,
“How did Jesus do it?” The diagram below is our visual to explain both the end goal as
well as the healthy balance a disciple-making youth ministry should exhibit.
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What does the Line Manager do?
WORK MANAGEMENT
• Managing and supervising the student’s work for the placement
• Ensuring that the work programme enables the student to fulfil the competencies at a basic level.
• Meeting regularly with the student (usually at least once a fortnight) and signing the
student’s completed time sheets.
• Releasing students to attend all course commitments.
MEETINGS WITH REIGN MINISTRIES
• Attending the Line Manager induction session each September.
• Participate in the mid-year and end of year review meetings at your location.
COMMUNICATION WITH REIGN MINISTRIES
• Assessing the student’s suitability to become a qualified professional worker through the
completion of mid-year and end of year review forms, and through completing quarterly
ministry observations.
• Communicating to the Formation Tutor any concerns or issues regarding the students
work or the course, as they arise.
TIMELINE OF RESPONSIBILITIES
AUTUMN
WINTER
SPRING
Line Manager Training Mid year review:
Day
student/Line Manager/
ReignMinistries
representative.
SUMMER
End year review:
student Line Manager/
Reign Ministries
representative.
Ministry Observation
Ministry Observation
6 week review form
emailed to Formation
Tutor
Line Manager guide
form emailed to
Formation Tutor
Meeting with student
and collecting time
sheets
Meeting with student
and collecting time
sheets
Line Manager guide
form emailed to the
Formation Tutor
Meeting with student
and collecting time
sheets
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Meeting with student
and collecting time
sheets
Example Job Descriptions
Here are some examples from other Job Descriptions that various churches have
put together for students:
EXAMPLE ONE: SCHOOL PLACEMENT
•
Provide pastoral care and offer spiritual and emotional support to students at the __________ School.
•
Develop opportunities to gently present the Christian faith (e.g. assemblies, RE
lessons, lunch clubs, etc)
•
Develop opportunities to encourage young people, where appropriate, towards
finding their own expression of faith and spirituality (e.g. Christian Union, after
school groups, etc) and to nurture them in their spiritual journey.
EXAMPLE TWO: KINGS CHURCH
•
The development and co-ordination of youth work at The King’s Church.
Currently this involves regular church activities for children and young people
including King’s Club, Youth Fellowship, and the monthly Youth Service.
•
Provide opportunity for additional events and activities.
•
Assist in the planning and co-ordination of the pastoral support for young people.
•
Contribute to the outreach strategy for young people in and around Epsom and
Ewell.
•
Engage with Christians in schools and Christian Unions.
•
To be involved with the Bible Explorer programme in schools.
•
To assist with school assemblies and lessons.
•
To develop links with other Youth leaders and Youth groups in the area.
•
To attend worship each Sunday.
•
Be available and willing to attend a variety of leadership meetings in the Church
as required.
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EXAMPLE THREE: CHURCH PLACEMENT
The youth worker is responsible for creatively supporting the existing youth work and
developing initiatives that focus on an ‘inside outwards’ principle, that is building up and
encouraging the young people in the Church and in turn reaching those within their
relationship networks with the gospel. This will also include involvement in evangelistic
initiatives such as Rock Solid and other initiatives that are more ‘outside in’ such as
working alongside the schools workers and developing a relationship with
______________ High School (subject to their agreement).
The Church also supports an area wide detached ministry to reach those who are outside
of the immediate influence of local Christians called Street Pastors. Involvement in this
initiative is a possibility if the worker and line management feel it right.
The job will involve serving the existing teams in planning, organising, overseeing and
evaluating a youth work programme. The youth work should challenge young people to
dedicate their life to Christ and grow spiritually. It should equip them with the Biblical life
tools to engage with the contemporary world, enable them to build Christian community
and encourage them to be outward looking.
The youth work will involve supporting Christian young people in schools and other
contexts in which they find themselves and help our Christian young people to join in unity
with other Christians in the local area and the wider ‘Salt and Light’ network of Churches
(http://www.saltlight.org/).
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Reign Ministries‘ Three way Agreement
This agreement consists of the following:
1. Trainee Youth Worker Agreement
2. Training Agreement
3. Working Procedures and Policies
Reign Ministries is the organisation responsible for bringing the trainee youth worker and the
Ministry Partner together, and formally supporting this arrangement until the trainee
completes his/her study or the agreement is terminated.
TRAINEE YOUTH WORKER AGREEMENT: CHURCH RESPONSIBILITY
This agreement commences on ………………………….., lasts for one / two / three years
and supersedes all others.
The trainee is a volunteer student and not an employee with a contract of employment, but
is wholly accountable to and responsible to the placement for all areas of work described
below. As described in paragraph 43 of A Guide to the Minimum Wage, the trainee has
been placed by Reign Ministries who, through Reign Ministries, are responsible for
recruitment and training (as specified in section 2 of this agreement) and will receive a
subsistence allowance for his/her living costs. He/she is therefore not subject to the
minimum wage legislation.
Since the trainee is a volunteer they should be covered by the churches public liability
insurance.
We ask that the church leader attend a 1/2 day meeting during the first conference so they
are able to hear and understand the philosophy and ethos behind the training that their
student will receive.
The Ministry Partner shall also provide board and lodging as agreed with the trainee and as
advised by Reign Ministries This would normally include utility bills unless negotiated with
the trainee and Reign Ministries in advance. The trainee will receive from the placement a
sum of……….. per week which is a subsistence allowance for his / her living costs as set
out in A Guide to the Minimum Wage.
The trainee agrees to help to fulfil the mission statement of the placement under the
direction of the management body, team leader and supervisor.
This work will principally involve: (For Ministry Partners to fill in key elements [or complete]
job description)
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This work should allow the trainee to fulfil the practical requirements of the training course as
specified in the course curriculum. The trainee will be expected to make contact with all
church youth work activities in the area of benefit in order to build up the work in the schools
and churches and to encourage a united youth strategy locally. The trainee will also assist
with giving presentations to churches and other organisations on the work of the ministry
partner and to encourage financial support.
The trainee may, subject to the agreement of his or her Church, also participate in the wider
work of Reign Ministries , linking the youth work locally with other placements, and may
participate in activities such as camps, events and training opportunities. With the
agreement of his or her Church, the trainee may also engage in youth ministry outside their
placement. This should fall within school holiday time wherever possible. Time off to do this
work may be taken during term time only in exceptional circumstances. The ministry partner is
not responsible for meeting the cost of work outside the placement unless they request the
trainee to undertake it. Furthermore the trainee must seek permission from the Church
before fund raising within his or her community for any activity, or personal support.
Specifically related to the previous paragraph trainees doing the degree course year 2
students will be required to be involved in a missions experience and hopefully include young
people from the church.
HOURS, HOLIDAYS AND SICKNESS
•
The trainee shall not work for more than 30 hours per week.
•
The trainee shall normally work for two sessions a day (a session being a morning,
afternoon or evening).
•
The trainee should be allocated approximately 10 hours per week for personal study.
•
Once a week the trainee will attend an area cluster meeting and as required team
conferences.
•
The trainee shall be entitled to one full day off per week and one weekend off per term.
•
The trainee is encouraged to take four weeks leave per year.
•
The trainee shall also be encouraged, with the agreement of his or her management body,
to visit other youth works or participate in missions or ventures in order to broaden
experience.
•
The trainee will be expected to participate and bring young people with them on a mission
experience during their second year.
•
In the event of the trainee being unfit to work because of sickness, he/she shall notify his/
her supervisor and any other relevant personnel in the management group or schools.
•
The placement shall not be under any obligation to pay the subsistence allowance if the
absence through sickness extends beyond one month. A review and grievance procedure
will be in place through regular and scheduled reviews by the ministry partner and
trainee. This will be the responsibility of Reign Ministries to initiate and convene.
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Should any disciplinary matter in the first instance a verbal warning shall be issued the trainee
and thereafter a written warning submitted. After this there will be the power to terminate this
agreement.
Name
Signature
Date
Trainee
Ministry Partner
Representative
TRAINING AGREEMENT: REIGN MINISTRIES RESPONSIBILITY
This training agreement commences on …………………….., lasts for one / two / three
years, supersedes all others, and incorporates participation in the degree training course.
The trainee will agree to work for the placement in practical youth work which will form an
intrinsic part of the accredited training course. This training agreement is subject to the
trainee youth worker agreement between placement and trainee.
The placement agrees to pay the advertised sum for the degree student to Reign Ministries
to cover the costs incurred through the provision of the training programme including
administration, training and supervision. For the 2015-16 academic year check the website
for the latest information: http://www.reignministries.co.uk/degree-programme/be-aplacement-church/ These monies are due in advance unless agreed otherwise between the
parties. If for some reason the placement finishes early these are the monies that can be
refunded for the year; if they finish within the first four months Reign Ministries will refund
50% of the conference and supervision charges for that year, and 25% in the first eight
months.
The placement fees are non-refundable. The placement agrees to provide adequate
supervision via agreed management structures. This will include a line manager and a
spiritual mentor.
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The trainee agrees to pay any relevant course fees, which are set and advertised by
Springdale College. The fees for 2015-16 are £ 5995 but here is the link to the site for the
upcoming years costs (http://formission.org.uk) The time and method of payment of these
fees to be agreed between the parties.
Should any disciplinary matter arise, in the first instance, the church/leadership shall issue
a verbal warning to the trainee and thereafter the church/leadership shall issue a written
warning and then have the power to terminate this agreement in the light of further
misconduct except in the case of gross misconduct where the placement shall be entitled
to terminate the contract forthwith. This training agreement is subject to the working
procedures and policy as set out below and should any disciplinary matter arise in
disregard or in respect of any behavior deemed incompatible with the trainee’s
participation in the training course, the following will apply:
In the first instance the Formation Tutor shall order a written warning and then have power
to terminate this agreement.
Once a week the trainee will participate in cluster meetings and as required, team
conferences.
Signed:
Name
Signature
Traniee
Ministry
Partner
Representative
Reign
Ministries
Representative
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Date
WORKING PROCEDURES & GUIDANCE
Reign Ministries has adopted the following procedures for best practise in youth work in
school, church and community settings, as set out in the Reign Ministries Manual.
•
All trainees will be required to complete police check forms.
•
All individual work must be agreed with the supervisor, either the local schools work
leader or the training supervisor, and any other relevant personnel such as school
staff members or church youth leaders.
•
Trainees are always expected to carry a mobile phone or change for the phone.
•
The trainees are responsible to the management of the school in all work undertaken
in school.
•
When working in school, trainees will work within the guidelines of the school as well
as the policy of the placement.
•
Trainees will not provide ongoing counselling but will refer young people to a
professional.
•
Trainees will follow confidentiality procedures (as set out in the Code of Conduct
below) and also, where appropriate, inform the relevant school staff member(s) where
a school issue is involved and their supervisor where a personal issue is involved.
•
With regard to child abuse, whether a school or personal issue, the relevant school
staff member(s) should be informed.
YOUTH WORK PROCEDURES
•
The Code of Conduct set out below should be followed at all times.
•
Lifts should only be given if there is more that 1 young person in the car and the driver
is suitably insured.
•
Should an incident arise, then an incident recording should be made. Incidents to be
recorded include drug use, theft (suspected or otherwise), knowledge of illegal activity,
child abuse, or any other issue that the trainee feels may put them at risk of
repercussion.
•
If a third party, e.g. the emergency services, is called as a result of an incident or an
assault is made on a trainee then an executive member must be called to attend the
site to support the trainee.
•
Should a trainee for any reason operate outside these guidelines then a risk
assessment form must be completed.
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CODE OF CONDUCT
CONDUCT OF TRAINEES:
No one should be under the influence of alcohol during working hours.
No one should smoke during working hours.
Avoid swearing and use appropriate language
Dress should be appropriate for the setting.
Avoid physical contact where possible, especially with the opposite sex.
Aggressive behaviour should never be returned with aggression.
Seek to maintain positive relationships between fellow youth workers whilst young
people are present.
Avoid arguments and disagreements in their presence.
Do not discuss cases in front of other young people or enter into negative
conversations about a young person in the presence of others.
Ensure that prayer takes place prior to a face to face session and follow this up with
prayer in your own time.
Do not lend money except in exceptional circumstances. In an emergency it is better to
give in kind (e.g. buy the bus ticket). It may be appropriate to lend money as a trust
issue but do not lend money if it has not previously been repaid.
It is recommended that 15 minutes should be taken at the end of each session to
complete a general recording sheet for evaluation.
CHILD PROTECTION
Regarding Child Protection Issues Trainees should follow strictly the Child Protection Policy
of the Ministry Partner. The Ministry Partner will explain on the trainee’s arrival the set
procedures as well as guidelines and best practice. The Ministry Partner will also be
encouraged to enrol the trainee on whatever training their ministry does for Child Protection
Issues, as soon as possible.
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