Anglican Diocese of Melbourne | Perry Centre for Renewal 1
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Perry Centre for Renewal
Team: Healthy ChurchesReports to: Director of Revitalisation and Church Planting
About PerryWe believe God is opening a new chapter for his Church across Melbourne and Geelong. We long to see more people discovering life in Jesus, churches growing in health and confidence, and new generations finding their place in God's mission. The Perry Centre for Renewal is the Diocese of Melbourne's investment in that future.
Through our For the harvest vision, we are committed to forming missional disciples, raising and releasing leaders, and renewing and planting healthy churches. Perry brings together people, experience and practical support to help churches pursue that calling. We will walk alongside churches and leaders, strengthen what is already bearing fruit, and help new possibilities take root. Children and young people are central to this work, contributing to the life and renewal of the Church today and shaping its future.
We are building a team with the faith to expect God to work, the imagination to explore new possibilities and the humility to learn together. Working across our Anglican traditions, cultures and communities, we will pray, listen, share what we learn and support churches as they take their next faithful steps.
This is an opportunity to help shape Perry from its early stages and contribute to work with lasting significance. Whether your gifts are in ministry, communication, research or practical organisation, your work will help churches and leaders grow in their capacity to serve their communities and share the good news of Jesus.
Overview
The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne's For the harvest vision and strategy sets out a ten-year journey of renewal for 2027–2036, with prayer woven throughout. The harvest belongs to God, and the Church is called to pray, listen, discern, receive and obey as it participates in God's mission.
Beginning with the 2027 Year of Prayer, the Diocesan Prayer Catalyst is a three-year role to embed prayer in the culture, relationships and everyday rhythms of diocesan and local church life. Working through clergy, lay leaders, prayer networks and diocesan teams, the Catalyst will equip leaders, strengthen local ownership and establish sustainable practices. Diocesan events and initiatives will mobilise participation and strengthen ongoing local prayer.
By the end of three years, equipped leaders, established rhythms and shared responsibility should sustain this prayer culture without a dedicated Catalyst role. Prayer will be rooted in Christ, shaped by Scripture and expressed across diverse Anglican traditions, contexts and communities.
Demonstrated Christian maturity and a deep, active life of prayer. Demonstrated experience in developing and sustaining a prayer ministry and facilitating prayer initiatives within a local church, or Christian organisation. Demonstrated ability to equip and train clergy, lay leaders and volunteer teams. Strong relational and collaborative skills, with the ability to work effectively across the diversity of the Diocese. Demonstrated organisational ability, including the capacity to develop sustainable systems, resources and rhythms. Theological qualifications and ministry experience appropriate to the role.
Anglican Diocese of Melbourne | Perry Centre for Renewal 2
Key responsibilities
Catalyse a diocesan culture of prayerWork with diocesan leaders to develop and implement a three-year approach to embedding prayer across the
diocese, beginning with the 2027 Year of Prayer.
Encourage prayerful dependence upon Christ in diocesan leadership, local churches and ministries. Help integrate prayer and discernment into the Diocese's work of forming disciples, developing leaders, renewing churches, church planting and strengthening Christian witness across traditions and generations. Identify and strengthen existing prayer practices and networks, recognising the gifts already present across the Diocese. Encourage expressions of prayer appropriate to each church's tradition, context and community.
Equip leaders and strengthen local ownershipIdentify, gather and equip clergy, lay leaders, intercessors and emerging prayer leaders who can nurture prayer within their own communities. Provide training, resources and encouragement that help churches develop sustainable prayer rhythms and ministries. Establish networks for prayer leaders to learn together, support one another and share resources, including a community of intercessors. Develop local facilitators and trainers who can continue equipping others beyond the three-year appointment.
Build shared responsibility for prayer across diocesan teams and local churches. Establish sustainable prayer rhythms and resourcesDevelop and coordinate the diocesan prayer diary in partnership with Communication and Media and the Establish accessible prayer communication channels and resources that connect diocesan priorities with local participation. Help churches and diocesan teams establish regular rhythms of personal, congregational and corporate prayer.
Ensure prayer resources and communication channels are practical to maintain, with people or teams responsible for keeping them up to date and the support they need to do so. Encourage the use of Scripture, prayer, worship and other spiritual practices in the formation of disciples and leaders. Mobilise prayer through events and partnershipsLead and enable significant diocesan prayer initiatives that build participation and strengthen ongoing local prayer.
Connect churches with initiatives such as Thy Kingdom Come and 24/7 Prayer where appropriate. Equip local leaders and teams to host prayer events, retreats and prayer ministry within their own contexts. Draw on appropriate external prayer leaders, teachers and networks to strengthen local capacity. Ensure initiatives and contributors work within the theological, ecclesial and safeguarding context of the Diocese. Work with Communication and Media and relevant teams to share stories of prayer, renewal and answered prayer.
Embed prayerful discernment and plan for handoverSupport diocesan and local leaders to listen to God and discern faithful next steps in significant ministry decisions. Help establish practices through which prayer precedes, accompanies and follows ministry initiatives. Agreed clear outcomes and review progress annually, attending to participation, local leadership, shared ownership and the sustainability of prayer practices.
Plan for handover from the beginning, progressively transferring coordination, resources and responsibilities to appropriate leaders and teams. Complete the appointment with established arrangements for sustaining diocesan prayer rhythms, networks, training and initiatives. Provide regular updates on progress, participation and support needs to the Director of Revitalisation and Church Planting. Take part in relevant diocesan services, meetings, conferences and events.
Intended outcomes after three years
Prayer is a recognised and practised part of diocesan leadership, discernment and the implementation of the For the harvest strategy. Participating churches have strengthened prayer rhythms suited to their contexts, supported by equipped local leaders. Prayer leaders are connected through networks that can sustain mutual encouragement, learning and collaboration. Leaders and teams are equipped to maintain diocesan prayer resources, communication channels and significant prayer initiatives. Local leaders and trainers can continue developing prayer ministry and equipping others. Responsibility is sufficiently shared and embedded for the work to continue beyond the dedicated Catalyst appointment.
Working location
This role is based in Melbourne, with time spent at the office at 209 Flinders Lane and working in parishes and other venues across Melbourne and Geelong.
