Face-to-Face Sharing and Learning Together An Anglican priest from the North East describes a one-day course organised by her local Rural Officer: It was very good because there were other people working in similar circumstances that I could identify with. Many other benefices were there so we could all see what each was up to; lots of new ideas were generated for fundraising, using church buildings etc. The help we could offer each other was not exhausted in that one day; there were many not able to attend who would have found it very useful. A rural vicar from a West Midlands diocese suggests: What would be really good is a locally-based day conference on rural ministry. Lots of group work, with everyone bringing stuff to work on, and incorporating current experience, and with carefully chosen facilitators. There would need to be lots of opportunity for sharing stories, experience and examples.
Online Forums and Networking A West Midlands’ Baptist minister is enthusiastic for online networking, where we can share our experiences with each other, and interact – making connections that would be impossible without the internet. A Methodist training provider from the North East indicates that sharing and networking is best done face-to-face, but online would be acceptable given the limitations of distance and travel experienced by rural practitioners. A rural URC minister from the same region suggests that the idea would be for online forums where people can get together to share ideas. Networking opportunities between peers would be especially important.
A significant number of rural ministers and training providers feel that lay people will also benefit considerably from being included in such opportunities to share together, rather than just receiving more formal training, especially if this is at a reasonably local level. One Anglican training provider from a very rural diocese indicates: What is needed most is rural training at deanery level; rural days including laity, with teaching, sharing best practice, spreading resources. This gets lay people talking and involved, especially in sharing their experiences, which is very valuable.
The key needs emerging here are: • Opportunities for rural ministers to get together with others in similar situations and with specialist facilitators, to share experiences and seek solutions together.
• Online forums for peer-to-peer interactions, creating dynamic ‘communities of good practice’ that can benefit the wider rural church.
• Active inclusion of lay people in opportunities to share and learn together.
Training Gaps in training, or failing to make the most of potential training resources within churches, are the third major area identified by respondents.
Page 68 of 111
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