Kings Norton Baptist Church is seeking a new pastor following the retirement of the previous pastor of 18 years, Ken Mullis. We need a person with vision and commitment to lead the members and friends of Kings Norton Baptist Church in serving God in the Kings Norton area of Birmingham. Practical leadership and team building skills are required to develop people’s gifts and abilities for service as well as Bible-based teaching and encouragement to underpin members’ work and witness.

The Church Profile describes current activities at KNBC as well as the current membership.

Inspirational leadership for the 21st Century

KNBC are looking for a full time pastor but applications from people available for part time work will be considered. Currently we will pay a salary according to Baptist Union guidelines. The Church owns a three bedroom house situated in Kings Norton, however, it is currently occupied by a man (with his family) undertaking a postgraduate course at Birmingham Bible College.

Queries should be addressed to the Elder, Frank Williamson on 0121 451 2898 / fw@fw1.co.uk

The Chapel was founded in 1847 from two terraced houses made into one building, on Wharf Road, Kings Norton. At this time all baptisms took place in the canal (few metres away). The entrance at this time faced Wharf Road. In 1947 the Vestry was built at the rear of the Chapel to commemorate 100th Anniversary and to honour the Pastor, Mr Sanders.

During the 1960’s the Chapel was extended with a kitchen and cloakrooms being installed. The Chapel windows which faced Wharf Road were re-sized to a better proportion with a single storey building. The main entrance moved to the back of the building, away from the road.

In 1997, a week of celebrations took place to mark 150 years of Chapel life and activity. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham attended a Thanksgiving service and unveiled a commemorative plaque. .

Kings Norton Baptist Church is situated just a short distance from the old Kings Norton village on The Green, on the south-west side of Birmingham. Kings Norton (pop.22,500 1991 census), is accessible to open countryside. The main railway is to the south-west, with a station for local rail, the Birmingham-Worcester canal, and the River Rea all pass through the area, which now spans roughly a mile in all directions from The Green. Several retirement and nursing homes have been built in recent years. Shopping is mainly in Cotteridge and on The Green.

Several primary Schools, four secondary schools and a sixth form college lie within the area. The parish church of St. Nicolas stands prominent on The Green, with three satellite churches spread across the area. There is a local Library and considerable area of parkland off the Pershore Road. The Pershore Road is a main route into and out of Birmingham with frequent buses. Local employment is largely clustered on three factory centres, including Pilkingtons. Many residents commute to Birmingham centre. Kings Norton will benefit from central government funding in the shape of the Urban Regeneration Budget and the New Deal for the Community scheme. The current housing stock will be upgraded plus other services and amenities. Regeneration of the community will bring many opportunities for outreach.

At present there are 30 members plus some attenders /friends. There are 2 families with young children in the fellowship. Further adult members are in full time employment, and there are up to ten members and friends now retired from full-time work. All regular members and friends live 2 miles or less from the Chapel. The Church currently benefits from a Ministerial assistant who supports the current Elder and helps in the work and life of the church. He is on a nominal two year contract ending September 2006.

There is a programme of Evangelical outreach, to local children through the Sunday School, to carers and retired people through monthly coffee mornings and lunches, and to local residential homes for the elderly. At present the fellowship benefits from the work of a Birmingham City Mission Missionary at least one day a week. Festivals such Easter, Christmas and Harvest are often used as outreach opportunities with extra leafleting of the area. These activities vary over the years according to the person power available. BCM student teams have supported childrens’ holiday clubs and other local outreach in recent years.

Sunday morning worship is for the whole Church family with a crèche run for babies and toddlers. At present, morning worship combines traditional organ-accompanied hymn singing with contemporary songs from “Praise”, introduced to the church late in 2000. The Church also uses “Christian Hymns” and “Mission Praise” in Worship. The sermon is followed three Sunday mornings out of four by Communion and a time for open prayer, testimony & sharing etc. A short talk for church family children is usually included. Evening worship is at present suspended and replaced by Mens, Ladies and prayer meetings through the month. Each Sunday a leaflet, The Bulletin, is produced with brief details regarding worship, events for the week and matters for prayer.

This follows on from morning worship with a minibus run for neighbourhood children. At present three classes reflect the main age groups found in state education, up to the age of fourteen. A “Safe to Grow” child protection policy has been in place for a number of years.

The mid-week meeting is at present held on Tuesday evenings for Bible study and prayer, or as a church prayer meeting. A "just looking" group for new believers and seekers is held on Wednesday evenings. A small group of ladies meet for prayer one morning per week. A Sisterhood meeting for senior ladies is also held on Wednesday afternoons.

KNBC supports Birmingham City Mission, BMS missionary in Thailand and other church friends now working in Ethiopia, Brazil, France and Tanzania. There is regular contact, especially with email, prayer and financial support.

KNBC is nominally part of the South Birmingham cluster. It supports BMS (see above) and Home Mission.