Rural communities need vibrant churches more than ever: isolation, hidden poverty, poor transport, lack of jobs and opportunities for young people and lack of affordable housing are all challenging issues for rural people. Underlying all this is the need for love, forgiveness and fulfilment that comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ.
However, rural mission is at a tipping point. In order to be vibrant in a multi-church situation there is an urgent need to move away from traditional approaches to leadership and to equip all members of congregations for mission and ministry.
Around the country there are examples of collaborative ministry where lay leaders have been released and equipped, enabling the local church to engage with their communities with purpose and creativity.
This conference will bring together organisations involved in supporting rural mission and ministry across the UK in order to encourage, inspire, inform and equip rural lay leaders and clergy as we explore the way forward. This is an ecumenical event for rural church leaders and clergy; also for rural church members, regional church leaders, missioners, directors of ministry / church development, etc.
You can download details about the conference here.