Rural ministry is a rich and rewarding ministry which is typically deeply embedded in place: from remote coastal locations to fenland or upland villages; from deep and remote rural locations to market towns to small villages and hamlets.
The Rural Ministry Track is open to all St Hild Students, whether you are taking accredited modules, studying internally or auditing. You do not have to take the Rural Ministry modules, but they are available to all St Hild students at any of our Centres.
St Hild Rural Ministry Track
There are unique opportunities for mission as communities can be open to the importance of churches in community life, holding the story of the place, and in many rural villages, the only public space is the church, making it an important community resource. However, there are challenges which come with sparse populations and thinly spread teams and other resources for churches, and multiple congregations or parishes sharing one paid minister, with reliance on voluntary ministry of lay people and retired clergy. Rural ministry can feel isolating, and so this track aims to bring us together to support and inspire one another.
Who is it for?
The Rural Ministry Track is open to all St Hild Students, whether you are taking accredited modules, studying internally or auditing. You do not have to take the Rural Ministry modules, but they are available to all St Hild students at any of our Centres.
It is open to those formally training for lay or ordained Baptist or Anglican ministry, as well as to independent students engaged in ministry in their local church of any denomination. Most will be located in Rural churches already, although some may want to join because they are considering whether God is calling them to Rural ministry in the future.
When is it?
The Track meets five times a year on a Tuesday evening on Zoom. We will hear from inspiring speakers who are engaged in Rural ministry or Rural community life. In the second half, we will meet in small groups to share the joys and challenges we are experiencing in our Rural ministry, and to pray for one another.
Each year, a Rural Mission and Ministry module will be offered at either Level 4/5 or Level 6/7, alternating between the two each year. Each module is available in two formats:
St Hild Lincoln centre: six Thursday evenings on Zoom, plus two Saturdays in person in Lincoln
Fully online: ten Thursday evenings on Zoom
The aim of the Rural Ministry Track?
The Track, both the Tuesday evening sessions and the modules, aims to provide those in or considering Rural ministry with tools to understand Rural communities and with ideas for different approaches to mission that they can try out in their contexts. Students are encouraged to share what they are finding helpful and things they are struggling with, and to support one another as we grow in this wonderful ministry
St Hild Rural Ministry Track
This specialism is available to all students at any St Hild Centre.
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We have been so excited about the opportunities which the Rural track is starting to bring for our students who live and serve in rural contexts to support one another and encourage one another in their ministries. Rural ministry is full of opportunities, but can be hard, so this track aims to help students to feel part of a community, inspired by great speakers and by one another.” – Revd Canon Dr Sarah Lawrence, St Hild Lincoln Centre Head
Is something stopping you from taking the leap?
Come and talk to us about special needs adjustments, options for grants and scholarships, and also childcare and travel concerns – we want you here and will find a way to help!