is mostly because they feel that their particular rural needs are not adequately addressed by their own structures, or even because rural is simply ignored.
• There is widespread appreciation, especially by rural lay people, for training delivered at a local level. A focus group from the North East suggests that when the trouble is taken to deliver training in their dale its content is less important than the fact that it is being done at all.
Hands-On Experiences, Networking and Groups Hands-on rural experience days (e.g. visiting farms, working at the regional agricultural show, meeting experienced rural practitioners) are greatly valued by those who have attended, especially when included as part of initial or ongoing ministerial formation. Personal interaction and opportunities for practical experience are frequently identified as examples of helpful practice, especially by ministers and leaders in rural churches.
Visits and Practical Experience An Anglican training provider from the West Midlands indicates: We have a 3- year training cycle for curates, with 5-6 Saturdays per year – one of which is spent out in a rural parish. The morning is spent split into smaller groups which visit local farms; then lunch all together. The afternoon has key local people – including church folk - talking about the situation/rural context, and a certain amount of theological reflection and feedback. The purpose is to help curates understand rural contexts rather than specific rural ministry issues, and we have had very good feedback from them. A rural dean from another West Midlands diocese reveals: Some of our clergy have been on the rural experience days run by our ... Rural Officer. Others made day visits to the Three Counties Show as part of a process of learning about rural chaplaincy and ministry in agricultural contexts. These are always well-received and the comments by the participants are very positive.
In addition to such hands-on experience, many ministerial respondents affirm the value of learning in small group contexts and the employment of some form of one-to-one mentoring as part of their training experience. Further to this, numerous clergy also highlighted the importance of simply meeting and listening to a variety of people: experienced rural church leaders, long-standing congregation members, church or community gatekeepers and those at the hubs of local rural networks.
Significant numbers of respondents also indicate that local or regional rural groups and networks have a key role in equipping them personally for rural ministry, and in helping them equip their churches for rural mission.
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