Rural Mission
The National Rural Officer for the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church
The Revd Elizabeth Clark
Email: elizabethc@germinate.net
Tel: 024 7685 3081
Rural Mission Sunday
Sometimes rural churches can feel overshadowed by the larger urban churches. Rural Mission Sunday (first held in 2015) provides a real opportunity for rural churches to celebrate who they are and give thanks for their community.
Germinate: The Arthur Rank Centre
Resources for flourishing rural churches and communities
Germinate: The Arthur Rank Centre is an independent ecumenical charity that helps UK rural communities flourish by inspiring, encouraging and equipping local churches. We do this in three distinct but overlapping ways:
- Church Life: supporting congregations with resources for worship, discipleship and the maintenance and creative use of buildings
I am always dipping into your worship resources, confident that there will be something new and fresh I can use.
- Mission: helping communities flourish by equipping rural churches to identify and meet local physical, social and spiritual needs
Our church members have been keen to find ways to respond to the needs of this rural area and we've benefited from excellent help and advice from Germinate: The Arthur Rank Centre
- Training: developing leaders and church members through training programmes, events, conferences and learning communities
Energising, creative, inspiring…exciting to be part of this!
Take a look at our wide range of materials designed to support, inspire and help rural churches bring transformation to their communities.
Church Life
Supporting congregations:
Worship - a wide variety of materials for rural worship
Discipleship - resources you can use in your church community
Buildings - resources to help you maintain and get the most out of your building
Mission
Helping communities flourish:
Equipping for Rural Mission - a toolkit to help your understand your local congregation and community better
Journey to Faith - rural evangelism training for local churches
Rural Mission Sunday - an annual event celebrating the life of rural churches
Germinate Enterprise - a programme which helps rural communities thrive through enterprise development
Rural Isolation - a practical resource for churches
Training
Developing leaders and church members:
Germinate Leadership - a personal development programme for lay and ordained rural leaders
Rural Ministry Course - a three day course for those new to rural ministry
Germinate Groups - learning communities for rural multi-church groups
Germinate conference - our biennial day conference for all those in rural mission and ministry
Sign up to our monthly e-news for details of our latest resources and sources of funding.
Published three times a year Country Way magazine is packed full of real life stories, resources and practical support for rural congregations and clergy.
Masses of individual case studies, 'how to' articles, theological reflections, worship resources, papers, etc. Use the powerful search facility to find exactly what you need.
For more information, email info@germinate.net or phone 024 7685 3060.
Other Sources of Help
Farming Help
The ARC works closely with three organisations working under the Farming Help umbrella who seek to support those involved in the farming industry:
The Farming Community Network (FCN) is a UK network of volunteers from the farming community and rural churches, providing a helpline and visiting service to farming people and families facing difficulties. They provide pastoral and practical support for as long as it is needed, helping people to find a positive way forward.
The helpline is open from 7am-11pm daily. Call 03000 111 999
Email here or visit here.
The Addington Fund provides homes for farming families who have to leave their farm and by doing so will lose their home. In times of emergency and where hardship prevails Addington may be able to support a farm business with a short term grant and in certain counties may be able to accommodate farm workers through its Affordable Rural Housing Scheme.
Visit here or phone 01926 620135
Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) is a grant-making charity that provides confidential help to retired and working farming people in financial difficulty. Support includes one-off and regular grants, replacing essential household items, funding for disability equipment, care home fees, relief farm staff and training grants to help people develop skills to bring in off-farm income.
Visit here or phone 01865 724931