Keynotes, Speed-dating, and a Marketplace

The programme includes keynote rural speakers, a marketplace of rural ministry ideas and resources, and workshops that take an in-depth look at areas such as missional communities in rural contexts and worship through rural schools.

There is even a chance to take part in Rural Hope ‘speed-dating’, with quick stop showcases that provide small bites of ideas for ministry and mission in action and cover such themes as Rural Chaplaincy, Rural Alpha and Eco Church.

The day begins at 9.30am with coffee, followed by Prayers with Bishop Karen.
Then Revd Dr Mark Betson, the Church of England’s National Rural Officer, will deliver a keynote talk on what makes successful rural ministry and mission.

His talk aims to cover areas such as ecumenical and collaborative working, along with the need for strong links with both schools and community. The talk will be based on research, told through practical examples.

Before lunch, there will be Rural Hope’s own ‘Question Time’ session. Dr Jill Hopkinson, Rural Ministry Tutor at Sarum College, will chair a panel of rural experts who will answer questions from the floor.

During the lunch break, as well as at other times during the day, there will be chance to visit the Rural Hope Marketplace, where there will be stalls set out on a range of subjects, from Farming Community Network, Germinate and ‘THRIVE’ to the Sarum College Bookshop.

After lunch, there will be a chance to attended two workshops from a range of four:
‘Worship through schools’ (emphasis on Prayer Spaces and similar ideas); ‘Church is not just for Sundays’ (tried and tested ideas for rural fresh expressions); ‘Fostering Collaborative Ministry’ and ‘Missional Communities in a Rural Context’.

The day will finish at 4pm with some final worship.

Sarah Keen, Rural Hope Project Manager said: “The aim is to make the Day as interactive as possible and give participants the opportunity to gain as much information as they can in a lively manner. The afternoon, in particular, will put them in the driving seat in choosing what they want to learn about.”

Funded by Rural Hope and held at on Saturday 14 September at Kingston Maurward College near Dorchester, the Day will target both those benefices who are already keen to be involved with ministry and mission initiatives and those who have a heart for mission but have not yet made a real start. Thus, it will be both a celebration of rural ministry and an outreach opportunity.

Invitations will go out to all rural incumbents. Rural ministers will be asked to bring up to five other participants, of whom some must be lay colleagues. It will be on a first come, first served, basis as the venue has a limit of 200 people.

Visit the Rural Hope page