Working overseas
Mission partners are recruited by the Faith Impact Forum in response to requests received from our partner churches across the world.
Our partner churches are involved in quite specific projects and often ask for highly skilled and experienced people from such professions as ministers, lecturers, nurses, doctors, teachers, social workers, administrators, accountants and development workers.
The Faith Impact Forum would welcome a conversation with anyone who feel they are called to serve as a Mission Partner but who doesn't feel that the current vacancies best suit their gifts, skills and experiences. Please contact recruitment@churchofscotland.org.uk should you wish to further discuss your options.
Current vacancies
There are no vacancies working overseas at this time, please check back at a later date.
FAQs
How do I apply?
The job description for the role is listed under each vacancy along with our application forms.
Applications should be sent by email to recruitment@churchofscotland.org.uk and must be received by 12 noon on the closing date.
Applications should comprise:
- A personal statement, outlining how your skills, experiences and personal qualities match the requirements of the role outlined in the job description. Please provide reference contact details for your last 2 periods of employment (this would normally be your direct line manager/supervisor). If you have had more than 2 employers in the last 3 years, please provide referee contact details for that period. References will not be contacted until later in the process.
- A full CV, including educational and professional qualifications alongside a full employment history showing positions held, responsibilities and relevant achievements.
- A personal information form, to be downloaded and attached.
Please note that the information you provide to us in your application will be processed in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice that can be accessed here. Your information will not be shared with any third parties and will be retained only for as long as required for the purposes of the application you have submitted. In the event that you wish to discuss our use of your information please email hr@churchofscotland.org.uk.
Please save the forms to your device before filling them in and returning them to us. If you encounter any difficulties when editing them, please download Adobe Acrobat Reader.
What is the recruitment process?
The recruitment process begins when an individual offers their support to the Council. Our Partner Churches are then contacted to enquire where they may need support.
Due to the nature of the positions that we recruit for and the associated level of assessment involved, it should be noted that the recruitment process can take up to 8 months, however this is not the case with all vacancies.
Interviewing
Interviewing is carried out by members of the World Mission Council (WMC), World Mission Departmental staff and a representative from the Church of Scotland Human Resources Department.
Prior to interview, short-listed candidates, and their family where applicable, are asked to complete questionnaires sent out by our partners Healthlink 360, who act as the Council's medical officers.
If successful at interview
If successful at interview, the candidate will then be asked to attend for a medical at Healthlink 360. This is to assess the candidate's physical fitness to work overseas. Where spouse/family members intend to accompany the successful candidate overseas they are asked to attend for a medical to ensure their own suitability for living overseas. Follow-up psychological assessment is done by Healthlink 360 exploring further the paper exercise completed prior to interview. Successful candidates may also have a period of training in mission and cross-cultural issues prior to departure.
What is a Mission Partner?
Our mission partners are the overseas personnel of the Faith Impact Forum (FIF). They work in various roles with our partner churches and institutions in Malawi, Zambia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Israel/Palestine and Pakistan.
How long will I go for?
The most common contract length is four years and eight months. Approval of the Council is required for a contract of less than 2 years.
What is the reason behind the contract lengths?
Our aim is to use mission partners to build capacity in our partner churches around the globe and not for the partner churches to become reliant on our mission partners.
These contract terms give the mission partner the ability to settle in and make a difference, but are not too long so as to avoid dependency issues.
Where the contract is 4 years and 8 months long the time will generally be divided as follows:
Two years overseas; followed by four months leave in the UK (2 months holiday, 2 months deputation/work); followed by two years overseas; followed by four months leave in the UK (2 months holiday, 2 months deputation/work).
Will my travel expenses be paid for?
The Church will cover the following travel expenses:
- Travel from the UK to the country of appointment
- Travel back to the UK every 2 years, or between contracts
- Travel home on the completion of the mission partner's final contract
Will I have to continue to pay National Insurance Contributions?
No. National Insurance contributions are paid on behalf of the Mission Partner by the Church.
Will I be provided with medical insurance cover?
Yes. Mission Partners are provided with a comprehensive medical insurance policy, subject to approval from the WMC's medical insurance provider.
Is there a pension scheme?
The Church of Scotland has a defined contribution pension agreement available for eligible employees. This is not contracted out for the purpose of any state pension provision. Overseas staff are required to complete a questionnaire to see if they are eligible to join the scheme. If it is not possible, the Church will pay an equivalent amount which could be used for personal pension provision arrangements.
Where our Mission Partners work
Get inspired by the stories of our Mission Partners carrying out mission work across the globe.
Israel and Palestine: Muriel Pearson
Following a career in teaching, Muriel began training for ministry in 2000 and took up the post of parish minister in Cranhill, a Priority Area in the east end of Glasgow, in 2004. There, she worked closely with community organisations and helped develop Cranhill Development Trust. Muriel currently serves on the board of Place For Hope and has trained as a counsellor, an NVC (non-violent communication) practitioner and Capacitar facilitator.
She was appointed to the post of Associate Minister in St Andrew’s Jerusalem and Tiberias in September 2021 and is now in her second year in Tiberias. As well as connecting with local partners and introducing them to visiting pilgrims from Scotland, Muriel is enjoying chaplaincy at the Scots Hotel and Tabeetha School, and regularly blogs at https://murielpearson.com . Her two ‘projects’ are to develop a Galilee Garden as a place for reflection in the grounds of St Andrew’s Tiberias and to update the Museum/Visitors’ Centre which tells the story of the Christian presence here since 1888.
She sees her role as about listening and storytelling and working with people of peace across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories
Updates
Israel and Palestine: Stewart Gillan
Stewart’s first ministry was in South Africa, where he served as parish Minster in Alexandra township and as a researcher with the Commission of the Restitution of Land Rights. He completed his PhD at New College, Edinburgh, where he did field work with communities that had been forcibly removed from ancestral land under apartheid.
Upon his return to Toronto, he became the Executive Director of the Churches’ Council on Theological Education in Canada. It was in Toronto that he met Sarah Ormerod, a soprano and music teacher. They married in 2004, relocating to Scotland and taking up residence in Linlithgow, where Stewart served as minister of St Michael’s Parish Church for the next fourteen years. During this time they started their family, with Imogen making her appearance 15 years ago and Alex 13. They moved to Glasgow in 2018 when Stewart took up a call as minister of St John’s Renfield, Kelvindale. For Sarah, Kelvinside Academy, where she was Head of Music, was just around the corner.
Of his call to become a Mission Partner in Jerusalem, Stewart writes: "I have felt called to the ministry of the Church in Israel and Palestine since my first visit in October 2007 with the Middle East Committee of the then World Mission Council. Our visits over the next four years gave me an introduction to the life and work of our churches in Jerusalem and Tiberias, our three institutions (Tabeetha School, Scots Hotel and St Andrew’s Guesthouse), and some of our Church and Human Rights partners in the land of the Holy One.
"Already the learning curve has been a steep one, with a long way to go. I look forward to sharing in ministry with the Rev Muriel Pearson. Together, we ask for your support in prayer and partnership in this deeply spiritual and strategic ministry with people who have been working for peace and justice in God’s name all of their lives. God being our helper."
Updates
Italy: Fiona Kendall
Fiona works in Rome with Mediterranean Hope, a refugee project created by the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy (FCEI). Her background in European law and voluntary work with asylum seekers has helped to equip for her role as MH’s European & Legal Affairs Advisor.
Fiona has strong links with the Church of Scotland where she grew up, and the Methodist Church, where she played an active part during a decade spent in Yorkshire. Hers is an ecumenical appointment with the Methodist Church.
Toast and Marmalade Sunday
This simple resource for Fairtrade Fortnight or beyond is to support Fiona Kendall and her work with Mediterranean Hope’s Migrant Programme in Calabria. It offers material for a Sunday service, discussion groups and after church refreshments based on why we should support the purchase of Fairtrade oranges.
Updates
Malawi: Gary Brough
Gary Brough joined Church of Scotland as a Mission Partner in 2018 and he and his family moved to Mzuzu, northern Malawi. In 2022 he took up a new role as Capacity Development Facilitator at the CCAP General Assembly.
He works with the General Assembly and its five Synods in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe to help build the strength and sustainability of their institutions and development projects.
Gary is joined by his wife Jacqueline and three daughters Eilidh, Morven and Caitlin.
Updates
Malawi: Kenneth Ross
Kenneth Ross works with all 3 theological institutes run by the 3 CCAP Synods.
He also contributes to other theological institutions run by our partners in Africa.
Specifically, he supports the Nile Theological College in South Sudan; the Giffen Institute of Theology in Kanyama refugee camp, Kenya; and the beginnings of a theological department in the Igreja Evangelica de Cristo em Mocambique (IECM).
Updates
Zambia: Keith and Ida Waddell
Keith and Ida Waddell are Mission Partners with the United Church of Zambia (UCZ). They have been in Zambia since 1994 and served as Education and Health Secretaries at Synod Headquarters in Lusaka since 2015. They have now returned to Mwandi Mission in Western Province, where Keith is Mission Partner (Special Needs) and Ida, Mission Partner (Health). Keith is focusing on the establishment of a sheltered workshop for young people and Ida, on moving the Mission Hospital to a specialist facility. This is an ecumenical appointment with the Methodist Church.