Head of Growing Younger

Church of England Birmingham believes that children, young people and families should be at the heart of the life and mission of every church.

While some churches are seeing significant fruitfulness amongst younger generations, many have little or no meaningful engagement with children and young people. Church of England Birmingham is committed to changing that picture.

We are seeking a strategic leader of change who can work alongside local leaders to help churches engage, disciple and nurture children, young people and families so that more of them encounter, follow and grow in Jesus Christ.

The Head of Growing Younger will provide strategic leadership for Growing Younger across Church of England Birmingham. Working with clergy, lay leaders, schools, children and youth practitioners and diocesan colleagues, the postholder will help create the conditions in which churches of every tradition, size and context can engage more effectively with younger generations.

This is not primarily a specialist children’s or youth ministry role. We are seeking an experienced leader who understands how churches, organisations and systems change. The successful candidate will bring a proven track record of enabling significant growth amongst children and young people, particularly beyond the existing church community. They will be able to demonstrate how their leadership has enabled sustainable change, developed leaders, built effective teams and delivered measurable outcomes.

Working closely with the Director of Mission, the postholder will help shapethe next phase of Church of England Birmingham’s Growing Younger strategy and oversee Diocesan Investment Programme (DIP) projects that contribute to the growth of new disciples, new leaders and new worshipping communities. They will lead and develop a Growing Younger team and establish effective systems, partnerships and interventions that support local churches to engage younger generations more confidently and fruitfully.

The successful candidate will be willing to challenge assumptions, evaluate existing approaches honestly and reshape activity where necessary, ensuring that time, energy and resources are focused on interventions that contribute most effectively to sustainable growth amongst children and young people.

Reporting to the Director of Mission and working closely with the Head of Parish Growth and Head of Church Planting & Revitalisation, the postholder will help deliver a joined-up approach to mission, discipleship and church growth across Church of England Birmingham.

This role is ultimately about helping churches become places where children, young people and families are a normal and growing part of church life, so that more young people across Birmingham and the wider region encounter, follow and grow in Jesus Christ.

Church of England Birmingham is committed to seeing churches grow at the heart of every community. The growth of younger generations is a critical part of that vision.

This challenge requires more than programme delivery. It requires cultural change, leadership development, intentional mission and a renewed commitment to reaching younger generations beyond the walls of existing church communities.

Church of England Birmingham has developed a range of training, resources and support programmes to equip churches in ministry with children, young people and families. The next phase of this work will require a sharper focus on identifying which approaches genuinely contribute to sustainable growth and how learning can be translated into lasting change across local churches.

We are looking for a leader who can build on what is working, learn from what is not, and make difficult decisions where necessary. This role requires the courage to rethink established approaches, discontinue activity that is not delivering meaningful impact, and champion new models that enable more children and young people to encounter, follow and grow in Jesus Christ.

The Mission Support Team is structured around three interconnected areas of focus:
Parish Growth, Church Planting & Revitalisation, and Growing Younger. Together these form a joined-up approach to supporting healthy, sustainable growth across Church of England Birmingham.

The role will foster a missional culture that reflects all five marks of Mission with particular emphasis on the first two:

To proclaim the good news of the Kingdom

To teach, baptise and nurture new believers

and with a deep understanding of how these Marks of Mission are interwoven with those of loving service, justice, and care for creation.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement a coherent strategy for Growing Younger that increases engagement with children, young people and families across Church of England Birmingham’s churches, schools and communities.
• Work with the Director of Mission to shape and oversee Diocesan Investment Programme (DIP) projects that contribute to the growth of new disciples, new leaders and new…