Kirkweb - Vacant Congregations Page! Dundee Congregational Church

Mission Statement
Contacts
Dundee City
The Church
Administration
Activities
The Manse
Emoluments
Person Profile
Applications
Contact Details
Church Profile PDF

Window Graphic © Our Aim Is:
Red Dot to make everyone a follower and believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and help them grow in Christian understanding through the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God.

In Our Church We:
Red Dot worship God our Father for who He is and what He has done
Red Dot take care of and nurture all in our fellowship and enjoy being together as part of God’s extended family
Red Dot through evangelism, bring people into His Kingdom
Red Dot preach the truth about Jesus, and about a new life in the Holy Spirit
Red Dot work with our Christian partners in God’s kingdom

Church address and contacts
Dundee Congregational Church
6-8 Constitution Road, Dundee
Postal Address: 3 Nicoll Street, Dundee DD1 1LY
(being the door to the Church Hall at the rear of the Church)
Telephone: 01382 227575 (Answering machine only)

Dundee Congregational Church Web Site

Chairman of Forward Planning:
Mrs Hazel Kelly, 4 Wemyss Crescent, Monifieth, Dundee. DD5 4RA. Tel. 01382 533689.
Email: hazel@kingswayeast.force9.co.uk

Church Secretary:
Mrs. Jessie Tarbet, 27 Woodlands Terrace, Dundee. DD4 9BD. Tel. 01382 810266.
Email: jessietarbet@hotmail.com

Church Treasurer:
Mr. Dennis F. Collins, Stirling Lodge, Craigiebarn Road, Dundee. DD4 7PL. Tel. and Fax: 01382 458070.
Email: stirlinglodge@bbmax.co.uk

Dundee
With a population of just over 143,000, Dundee is a green and leafy city situated on the River Tay and for many years was known as the home of jute, jam and journalism. The jute and the jam have gone, but D C Thomson of Dandy and Beano fame is still one of the largest employers in the area. Today, Dundee is known as the City of Discovery, in honour of Dundee's history of scientific activities and of the RRS Discovery, Robert Falcon Scott’s Antarctic exploration vessel, which was built in Dundee and is now berthed in the city harbour.

Biomedical and technological industries have arrived since the 1980s, and the city now accounts for 10% of the UK's digital-entertainment industry. The largest employers in Dundee are the city council and the NHS, which make up over 10% of the city's workforce. The Teaching Hospital and Medical School of Ninewells in partnership with the Universities of Dundee and Abertay are at the forefront of internationally acclaimed Cancer Research and Bio-Technology initiatives.

The city is home to the Scottish Dance Theatre which is based in the city's renowned Dundee Repertory Theatre. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra regularly plays in the city's Caird Hall. Dundee caters well for the active sportsperson with 4 golf courses within the city boundaries, an indoor ice rink for skating and curling, numerous bowling clubs, football, hockey and rugby clubs. For the less active, the City has two professional football teams to support on a Saturday.

Dundee Congregational Church
The Church is situated in the City Centre and the building itself has been in existence since 1833. It was once described as “the Cathedral of Scottish Congregationalism.” The building is well maintained and has an efficient gas central heating system. Extensive roof and stonework repairs were carried out in 2006 with the help of grants from Historic Scotland and Heritage Lottery Funding.

Much commercial, residential and university development has occurred and is occurring around our Church buildings which are now in the centre of the ever-expanding University of Abertay campus.

The Church has a striking facade and everyone entering the building for the first time is struck by the beauty of the woodwork, organ and windows. A few years ago a Welcome Hall was installed at the entrance to the Church and this is much used for meetings etc.

The Church Hall with stage is readily adaptable to various purposes and is let to suitable outside organisations on a regular basis. The kitchen is fitted with modern units.

Adjoining the Hall are the Vestry and the Little Chapel. The latter is capable of seating 25 and is used each Sunday for the Junior Church lessons and activities. Beneath the Church is a large crypt now used for storage.

Dundee Congregational Church Sanctuary

Church Membership stands at 110 with around 45-50 people at Sunday Morning Worship. Communion Services are held on the first Sunday of each month. The greater part of our congregation is of pensionable age and at the present time 8 of our members are housebound or in residential or nursing homes. However, there is a wealth of experience and team spirit among the members which we would like our new minister to sustain and develop.

Our Church was founded on Congregational principles and continues as an open and tolerant Church recognising the right of individual members to follow an informed conscience. We continue in the traditional Congregational ethos of a liberal theology. We accept the parts played by both an ordained and a lay ministry in the Church and in the community. We further believe in nurturing and enhancing the warm and friendly welcome experienced by all who enter our fellowship.

Administration
On the amalgamation of the Congregational Union of Scotland and the United Reformed Church in 1998 we decided to become an independent Congregational Church. The Church is financially secure. Kirk Session is responsible for the running of the Church and consists of the Minister ex officio and 17 Deacons, being the Church Secretary, the Church Treasurer and 15 Members elected by written ballot (5 of whom retire each year). The Church Secretary and the Church Treasurer are elected by Church Meeting and Session elects its own Chairman and Vice-Chairman all annually.

There are two main Church Meetings each year which are usually held after the Church Service at the end of February and September. At the February meeting which is the AGM, the Church members consider the reports on the various activities and the Church Accounts for the previous year. The September meeting is more of a progress report and sounding board for new ideas. If a major decision is required at any time a Church Meeting is called.

Session appoints annually various Committees and the Minister, Church Secretary, Church Treasurer and Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Session are ex officiis members of all these Committees.

The Executive Committee consists of the 5 ex officiis members plus the Assistant Treasurer and one other member of Session. Session remits to the Executive Committee sensitive matters, such as salary reviews, with the necessary powers to act. The Executive Committee has powers to take decisions on urgent matters or to act in an emergency.

The Property Committee sees to the maintenance of the fabric of the Church and Manse.

The Social Committee is responsible for the catering arrangements for any Church function and the Sunday teas and coffees after the Service.

The Flower Committee arranges the flowers each Sunday for the decoration of the Church and on special occasions. The flowers are distributed after Morning Service to appropriate persons.

The Magazine Committee edits, prints, collates and circulates the Church Magazine which is issued ten times a year with a subscription base of 95.

The Benevolent Fund distributes funds exceptionally to help anyone but generally to various charities as approved by Session. This is funded in the main by retiring collections on the first Sunday of the month.

The Badminton Club, Drama Club and Women’s Guild are totally autonomous, running their own affairs and finances.

We have friendly links with our neighbouring Church of Scotland, Methodist, URC and Baptist congregations and hold joint services during Easter week and monthly evening services in the different churches.

Our Minister, the Rev. Alastair C. Keddie, who has been with us since 2001 is to retire at the beginning of May 2008. Church Meeting has unanimously decided that we call another Minister.

Church Activities:
Junior Church of 8 children who are regular attenders and during the summer they take part in a ‘Banner Club’ making special banners for the Church and Hall.

The Women’s Guild has a membership of 30 which meets fortnightly. Ladies from the neighbouring United Reformed Church take an active part.

A flourishing Drama Club which presents two productions a year is celebrating 70 years of uninterrupted excellence this year.

We have the services of an excellent organist. The organ is considered to be a very fine instrument indeed. Presently we use “Mission Praise” and previously we have used “Congregational Praise” and “Common Ground.”

Our pew bibles are the New International Version.

The Church Magazine is issued ten times a year with a circulation of 95.

A Badminton Club meets weekly in a local school during term time.

Our Flower Committee of eight ladies arrange the flowers each Sunday for the decoration of the Church and on special occasions. The flowers are distributed after Morning Service.

The Church participates in Doors Open Days.

At Christmas the Church Hall has been used to host a meal for the homeless.

Alpha courses are held from time to time.

A number of Healing Services have been held.

There is a Prayer Chain Group of some 12 friends who pray every day for the specific needs of named people who may be members of the Church, relatives, friends, or others. The group meets to further this prayerful outreach in the strictest of confidence.

The Church is open for Prayer on Wednesdays from 12-2p.m.

Fellowship

Tea and coffee is served in the Church Hall each Sunday following Morning Service and is well attended by the members

During Easter Week and the week before Christmas refreshments are offered to members, friends and passersby in the friendly atmosphere of our Welcome Hall.

We hold Men’s Breakfasts and less regularly, Ladies’ Breakfasts with speakers and also Easter Breakfasts.

For the past few years a House Party has been arranged in the Lake District during the Keswick Convention.

In February 2008 we are arranging a midweek Church Holiday to Crieff Hydro as an antidote to the winter blues.

Our Minister conducts “Meeting Point” in the Vestry on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 12noon, and “Digging Deeper” every Thursday at 7.30p.m. These informal meetings give the opportunity for fellowship, Bible Study, prayer and discussion.

Special Projects
In recent years we have been much involved in bringing our Church buildings to a wider public. A service from our Church was televised in 2002, the African Children’s Choir was with us in 2003 and again in 2006 with over 300 people attending on each occasion and some £5000 raised for them. In 2004 the New Scotland Choir and Orchestra gave a concert. Signpost International organized a rally when Dr Tony Campolo was the inspirational speaker and in the spring of 2007 a choir from Dr. Graham`s Homes in Kalimpong sang to an audience of over 400. Our Church also has been used by other denominations for conferences.

In addition to the funds raised for the choirs the Church over the last 6 years has given over £10,000 to different charities. For the last 2 years individual members have been supporting, by monthly payments, a number of Christian teachers in Guinea Bissau through Miss Isa Arthur who has now retired but who worked for the Worldwide Evangelisation Crusade. We also help to support an Indian student studying at Abertay University.

We have involvement with charity work in Romania and Rwanda. Two of our members visit both countries regularly and take an active part in the work.

The Manse
The Manse is a semi-detached house situated in the West End of Dundee on a bus route and is near to Primary and Secondary Schools, Ninewells Hospital and the University of Dundee. It is south-facing with a beautiful uninterrupted view across the River Tay to Fife. There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs, with study, sitting-room, dining-room, kitchen and a cloakroom downstairs. There is gas central heating and a garden to the front and rear of the house with a garage.

Should the applicant not wish to occupy the Manse, the Church owns a two bed-roomed ground floor flat near the Manse which could be made available.

Minister’s Emoluments:
Stipend and expenses would be by mutual agreement. Arrangements can be made to assist in car purchase if necessary. The Minister has six weeks annual leave per year.

With regard to the Manse the Church pays all Council Tax, repairs, insurance of the house (but not contents), external and internal decoration, servicing and repair of gas central heating and telephone rental and Church calls. Removal expenses will be met by the Church.

Over the years our Ministers have been honorary Chaplains to the University of Dundee representing the Congregational interest. It is likely that this will continue.

Further Information
A copy of the 2006 Annual Reports can be forwarded on request.

What Qualities are we looking for in our New Minister?
We recognise that no one person will have all the attributes we would like, but hope that by listing our priorities we will have a basis for discussion with prospective candidates.

Preacher and Communicator:
We would like someone with a sense of humour who is at ease with people and who can put people at ease.

Our ideal candidate will be a passionate Christian who is able to communicate his/her faith from the pulpit, bridging the gap between the biblical text and today’s world. We are looking for someone who sees preaching and teaching as central to a church’s growth – someone who can challenge and inspire us and share the vision of the way ahead.

Spiritual Guidance:
We are looking for a Minister of high integrity who sees prayer and humility as the cornerstone of servant leadership and who will teach us, both by words and example, how to grow in faith and communicate more effectively with God.

Pastoral Care:
We would expect the Minister to visit the sick and elderly members of the congregation, have a listening ear, and a word of comfort for all those who are sick, lonely, bereaved or troubled. We are looking for someone who has time for everyone.

Church Growth:
We believe that a Church which is not committed to growth will die. Our membership is predominantly elderly and we are looking for someone who can think strategically and creatively, in an effort to sustain and develop our Congregation and offer us a clear idea of our future. As part of this our Minister will be involved in communicating the way ahead to the whole church.

Mission:
Our Church helps to support several projects in Romania, Rwanda, Guinea Bissau and CSI Hospital in Chickballapur. We collect for Christian Aid and sent a substantial con- tribution to the Tsunami Appeal Fund. We have always supported a number of local charities and appeals, both financially and in kind. We expect that our new minister will encourage us further in these fields.

Applications:
Applications are invited from Ordained Christian Ministers. Interested parties are invited to make informal contact, by telephone or email, with any of the following, Hazel Kelly, Jessie Tarbet or Dennis Collins.

Contact Details
Chairman of Forward Planning:
Mrs Hazel Kelly, 4 Wemyss Crescent, Monifieth, Dundee. DD5 4RA.
Tel. 01382 533689
or e-mail: Mrs Hazel Kelly.

Mrs Hazel Kelly.

Church Secretary:
Mrs. Jessie Tarbet, 27 Woodlands Terrace, Dundee. DD4 9BD.
Tel. 01382 810266
or e-mail: Mrs. Jessie Tarbet

Mrs. Jessie Tarbet

Church Treasurer:
Mr. Dennis F. Collins, Stirling Lodge, Craigiebarn Road, Dundee. DD4 7PL.
Tel. and Fax: 01382 458070
or e-mail: Mr. Dennis F. Collins.

Mr. Dennis F. Collins.

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