Group Leader Application Form

Thank you for your interest in shaping the Church of Jesus Christ, the City of Norwich, and the future of SOUL Church. We recognize the significant impact God's Church has on our society and community, and we are committed to being diligent and faithful stewards in leading SOUL Church.

Before you start working through this application, please know that there is no pass or fail. All information provided is confidential and will be used internally to find the best fit for each of our group leaders and applicants. Our goal is to understand your heart and help you grow your gifts and follow your calling.

The application is divided into SEVEN sections:

Personal Details
Christian Life
Talents & Strengths
Commitment
Communication
Theological Alignment
Agreement

This will take approximately 20-25 minutes to complete. Please reach out if you need any further explanation.

Be blessed,

Joseph Zimmerman

(Groups and Communities Lead)

Your name *

Last name

Email address *

SECTION 1

Personal Details

Biological Sex *

Mobile Number *

Address *

Country

Street Address

Apt/unit/box (optional)

City

State

Postal code

Birthdate *

Marital status *

Household members

Current Employment or Background: *

This helps us understand your skills and experiences. Dates and detailed history are not necessary.

UK Driving Licence? *

Yes

Do you have a criminal record? *

Even if you do not have a criminal record, are there any 'skeletons in your closet' that could negatively impact the church?

Yes

SECTION 2

CHRISTIAN LIFE

How long have you attended SOUL Church? *

Have you been baptised? *

Water baptism

Baptized in the Holy Spirit

Both

Neither, but would like to be

Neither

Please describe where you feel you are spiritually (e.g., personal devotion, Bible reading, worship, prayer) *

Briefly explain how & when you became a Christian and why you feel called to serve as a group leader: *

SECTION 3

Talents and Strengths

What do you naturally enjoy doing?

Hobbies, interests, passions, etc.

What are some of the gifts and talents you believe God has given you?

You could also include something you're not already gifted in but have a heart to develop or a strength you wish to grow further.

Choose 1 (or more) Group Hubs you feel your group would fit best in: *

SOUL Sisters (Women's groups)

Men's Groups

Youth Groups (ages 11-18)

Mixed (Discipleship, Bible Studies & Socials)

Families

Special Interests

SOUL Foundation (Support & Wellbeing groups)

SOUL Young Adults (ages 18-30)

Other

Please describe the kind of group you would like to lead. *

Who is the group geared for? What is your heart/vision for this group? Etc.

SECTION 4

Commitment

What is your availability for leading a group? *

I can lead weekly

I can lead bi-weekly

I can lead monthly

Other

Do you already serve in another team, ministry, or department of our church? *

Yes

Are you looking to lead a group alongside anyone else? *

Several of our groups have more than one leader. Sometimes people like to have an assistant leader or a co-leader. Have you got someone in mind who you are hoping to lead this group with?

Yes

Are you happy to receive advice and feedback in your leadership? *

Yes

Do you regularly attend one of our Sunday Services? *

Yes

SECTION 5

Communication

What is your preferred method of communication? *

Phone call

Text message

Other

Can you commit to responding to communications within 24 hours? *

Yes

SECTION 6

Theological Alignment

At SOUL Church, our group leaders play a vital role in teaching and exemplifying our core beliefs and values. To ensure that our leaders can effectively guide others in their spiritual journey, we seek to understand your alignment with our theological positions.

Core Values & Beliefs of SOUL Church

OUR CORE VALUES:

Christ Centered
People Empowering
Outward Focused
Life Giving
A Spirit of Excellence

OUR BELIEFS:

We believe the Bible is God’s Word. It is accurate, authoritative, and applicable to our everyday lives.
We believe in one eternal God who is the Creator of all things. He exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is totally loving and completely holy.
We believe that sin has separated each of us from God and His purpose for our lives.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, as both God and man, is the only one who can reconcile us to God. He lived a sinless and exemplary life, died on the cross in our place, and rose again to prove His victory and empower us for life.
We believe that to receive forgiveness and the ‘new birth,’ we must repent of our sins, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and submit to His will for our lives.
We believe that to live the holy and fruitful lives God intends for us, we need to be baptized in water and be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables us to use spiritual gifts, including speaking in tongues.
We believe in the power and significance of the Church and the necessity of believers to meet regularly together for fellowship, prayer, and the ‘breaking of bread.’
We believe that God has individually equipped us so that we can successfully achieve His purpose for our lives, which is to worship God, fulfill our role in the Church, and serve the community in which we live.
We believe that God wants to heal and transform us so that we can live healthy and blessed lives in order to help others more effectively.
We believe that our eternal destination of either heaven or hell is determined by our response to the Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back again as He promised.

Having read our Core Values and Beliefs, do you fully agree with them and commit to uphold them in your role as a group leader? *

Yes

I agree with most but have some questions or reservations (please explain below)

No (please explain below)

How do you approach contemporary social issues in light of biblical teachings? *

Please share your perspective on how Scripture guides your views on topics such as the sanctity of life, marriage, family, and human sexuality.

Are you committed to living a lifestyle that reflects the moral and ethical teachings of the Bible as upheld by SOUL Church? *

Yes

I strive to, but have areas I'm working on (please elaborate if comfortable)

No (please explain)

Can you share an experience where you upheld biblical principles in the face of societal or cultural pressure? What was the outcome, and what did you learn from it? *

Do you agree to align with all SOUL Church’s beliefs regarding doctrine, leadership, and conduct? *

Yes

SECTION 7

After you have submitted this application, you will be contacted within 2 weeks by the groups and communities team or by the hub leader of the hub you have applied to. They will inform you if your application has been successful. If it has been, you will be invited to a short in-person conversation with one of our leaders where you will have the opportunity to discuss your involvement with the group moving forward.

Between now and your meeting with the team, please take some time to pray and consider whether you feel God is calling you to serve as a group leader. We truly desire to move SOUL Church forward in the direction God has called us to go as a ministry—to take ground in Norwich for God's Kingdom and to have an eternal impact in people's lives.

I commit to leading a group for a minimum of 12 months.

Yes

Most suitable day(s) of the week for a meeting with one of our team: *

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Most suitable time of day for a meeting with one of our team: *

Morning

Afternoon

Evening

It is a requirement that everyone working with young people or vulnerable adults has a DBS check. As part of the DBS check process, we need to see valid ID from each person. Required documents for a DBS check are:

One document of ID – passport or driving licence.
One document showing proof of address – utility bill, bank statement, credit card statement, driving licence (only if driving licence shows the applicant's current address and has not also been used as ID document).

Please confirm your understanding of the DBS check requirements: *

I agree to undergo a DBS check and will bring the required ID documents to the meeting.

I agree to a DBS check but need assistance obtaining the required ID documents.

I am serving in a capacity that does not require a DBS check.

Other.

I declare that the information provided in this application is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. *

Please write down any questions you have for us which we have not already covered. Write as many questions as you wish.

NEXT STEPS

Interview:
Upon review of your application, we will contact you to schedule an interview.

Training:
Successful applicants will be given a Group Leaders Manual (available at the Communities stand on Sundays) and required to attend a Group Leader training session.

Contact Information:
If you have any questions or need assistance with this application, please contact:
Joseph Zimmerman - Groups and Communities Lead
Phone: 07557 106016
Email: groups@soulchurch.com or joseph.zimmerman@soulchurch.com

Privacy Notice:
Your personal data will be kept confidential and used only for the purposes of processing your application and serving within SOUL Church. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy.

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Soul Church
info@soulchurch.com
01603 488880