#ruralpresence - Seedtime

(this post was 1st published on the Rural Presence Blog)

Reflecting on what it means to lead churches in a rural context. 

The Germinate Leadership course from Germinate: the Arthur Rank Centre is an 18-month programme that "combines leadership theory, theological reflection on the nature of leadership in ministry, the development of co-consultancy groups and practical leadership issues including conflict resolution, team building and group dynamics, and the importance of deepening emotional intelligence." 

This latter area - a session on emotional intelligence - from consultant Jill Garrett of LT Consulting - was one of the best elements in the residential gathering I attended and provided some valuable insight into my own practice as well as helping to understand others I work with. 

Also excellent was the session on models and skills for leadership in rural churches from Amiel Osmaston, until recently Ministry Development Officer for the Diocese of Carlisle and contributor to to Reshaping rural ministry (the lecture was largely based on her chapter in this book - well worth a read). 

Course members are a mix of lay and ordained, from different denominations and levels of experience of rural church. And this is one of the course's strengths: the opportunity to meet and share with people from across the country, so you get a wider perspective on the present realities of rural ministry. The co-consultancy groups look to be a helpful addition, as does the provision of a mentor for the duration of the course. 

If you're interested, apply , the next round starts in September 2018.

#ruralpresence - #Community owned businesses that use #rural #church #buildings help sustain the church @GerminateARC @heritagelottery @PlunkettFoundat @UniofNewcastle

 

(this post was 1st published on the Rural Presence Blog)


This research used 5 full case studies and 2 shorter ones to consider whether community owned businesses can help sustain rural places of worship.  Social enterprises, (more recently called community businesses/co-operatives), are trading organisations with social and community objectives.  Any surplus funds they generate is used to fulfill social purposes.   Examples are community owned shops or pubs or broadband and energy schemes.

The research was commissioned by the Heritage Lottery Funding in 2012 supported by a steering group comprising: Plunkett Foundation; Cathedral and Church Buildings Division of the Church of England; Germinate: The Arthur Rank Centre; Newcastle University.  A report was published March 2017.  

Headlines from the research are:

• Social enterprise had a positive impact on the long term sustainability of the place of worship. This was through increasing use, additional income generation and the involvement of more people.

• The needs of the wider community must be the starting point for considering the potential of a social enterprise. Solutions that are solutions for community needs and problems are more likely to be successful than those which are merely solutions for the problems of a place of worship.

• The benefits and wider impacts of a social enterprise extend beyond meeting the initial service need or resource provision.

• High quality advice, support and promotion are needed to ensure good practice is shared and built on.

• There are three challenges to address in the use of social enterprise in places of worship:
  
  (a) The social enterprise should meet the community’s needs and not be developed
  solely as a solution to problems of a place of worship;
  
  (b) Recognising and addressing the tensions that may arise in using a spiritual
  place for secular purposes;
  
  (c) The process for working through the planning system and listed building
  consent, including denominational systems.

#ruralpresence - @GerminateARC Toolkit - using your #church #building to offer an open #welcome

(this post was 1st published on the Rural Presence Blog)

Open Welcome is a new resource from Germinate: The Arthur Rank Centre.  

It is designed to help rural churches consider how they might use their building to offer welcome and hospitality to those in their community, both residents and visitors.

Church buildings have the capacity to move people.  So we need to view them as more than just bricks and mortar. 

The 8 page Open Welcome document is a free, practical resource covering topics like opening the building, welcoming visitors and telling the story.   

It is divided into the sections described below and it can be downloaded here. Introduction Section 1 - Why open your buildings Section 2 - Extending the welcome Section 3 - Telling the story Section 4 - Practical steps Useful information and resources