• the ARC website, including varied information and considerable freely-downloadable material (e.g. worship resources).
Most of those using ARC resources and services are rural clergy or local Rural Officers.
National and Local Rural Officers A repeated refrain from all sorts of respondents, especially from local rural church leaders, is the significance of Rural Officers in resourcing rural churches in their ministry and mission. In many cases, the individual officers, whether national or local, are praised by name. Their contributions as individuals as well as the resource represented by the national network of Rural Officers are equally valued. Currently there are two National Rural Officers based at the Arthur Rank Centre (representing the Church of England and, jointly, the Methodist and United Reformed Churches). These individuals and the ARC more generally form the hub of a loose network of about 90 Rural Officers throughout England and Wales; most of these are appointed by the Church of England, the Methodist Church and the URC and cover virtually every diocese, district and synod.
Local Rural Officers A West Midlands rural dean relates her experience: I attended a one-day course for all rural clergy – run by our diocesan rural officer. This was absolutely spot on for me, and really opened my eyes to what potential is there in rural parishes; I could take a lot of things on board for development in the parish (e.g. informal teams for pastoral care). A training provider in another West Midlands diocese suggests: The work of our rural churches, multi-parish benefices and local ministry teams has been greatly enhanced by the work of our rural officer. A recently appointed Anglican incumbent from the North East notes: Our diocesan rural officer lays on training days for rural clergy. I found this resource very helpful as I was beginning the job. Anglican and Methodist clergy from the North East describe their respective rural officers as a brilliant source of information, vital, inspiring and fundamental in building networks and getting people involved.
• Printed and online ARC resources are widely seen as very useful, but they do not inspire in the same way as face-to-face input from members of the ARC team, especially the National Rural Officers themselves.
• A development of this is a wide appreciation among rural church ministers, and some strategic church leaders and training providers, of the existence and accessibility of the ARC and its staff. This is more than the opportunity for face-to-face input by the National Rural Officers (e.g. in RMT courses). Rather it is the opportunity to call or visit for advice and assistance; the fact that there are denominational staff based at Page 29 of 111
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