Rural LIfe
Rural Ministry
& Small Member Churches
From a nation of family farms and small communities, Canada has evolved into a dominantly urban landscape. Many of our resources flow from the farms to the cities -- and this includes people.
The role of a supportive and empowering ministry in agricultural and natural resource-based communities has never been more crucial. This revitalization of spirituality is needed to bring awareness and acceptance back to the basics of land and life. The movement includes many 'new' Canadian-grown concepts such as 'Alive & Kicking', 'The 100 Mile Diet' and 'Farms Feed Cities' to name a few.
If you have questions, ideas or suggestions about Rural Ministry or want to help, please send an email to matthewPlease enable javascript.londonconference [dot] ca or southbuxtonpcPlease enable javascript.yahoo [dot] ca.
Ruth Skillings
Rural and Small Member Churches Committee:
Chair
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Eric Skillings
southbuxtonpcPlease enable javascript.yahoo [dot] ca
Secretary
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rtskillingsPlease enable javascript.aol [dot] com
Members
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Ruby Vaughan
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Wendy Milliken
wendy [dot] millikenPlease enable javascript.springfieldunited [dot] ca
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Sheryle Steadman
ruthvenPlease enable javascript.x5ca [dot] net
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Joanne Dobbin
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Margaret Hearn
UCW Representative
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Marjorie Jackson
skillinePlease enable javascript.mnsi [dot] net
Corresponding Member
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Matthew Stevens
matthewPlease enable javascript.londonconference [dot] ca
The latest Rural Life resource of The United Church of Canada to help Revitalize Rural Ministries uses seven lenses for assessment. Alive and Kicking brings together the history of rural ministry in the United Church, current research on rural ministry, and stories of rural congregations across Canada. If your church is lost without a sense of direction, or your community doesn't know your church exists, or even if your church is vibrant, but something is still missing this is the program for you. Contact southbuxtonpcPlease enable javascript.yahoo [dot] ca for more information. Believing that feelings of isolation and despair can be overcome when people of the land gather to share stories about positive possibilities, the Canadian Rural Church Network is an organization of persons (lay and clergy) who have a passion for enhancing the quality of life in rural communities. We want to support each other, articulate our rural stories and spiritual values, affirm the Church's role at the heart of small communities and advocate on behalf of the rural perspective here and around the world. What basic values do we build our lives on as rural people? How do these values inform us as we make our decisions and choose how our days will be lived out? In the Prairie Forum On Church and Community (on the Agri-Ville website) Joyce Sasse writes about community rituals, about the Gospel of Mary Magdalene and about feelings of frustration shared by clergy and their rural parishioners. Through her column n 'Spiritual Vignettes' Rural Matters & Cyberspace Rural Matters & Cyberspace Queen's Theological College - Rural Ministry Program Over ninety-eight percent of Queen's Master of Divinity graduates serve rural congregations when they leave the College. As a result, the College has long offered courses in Rural Ministry and, in 1996, held its first Rural Ministry Symposium. Today's rural communities, rural congregations, and rural leaders face unprecedented crises and challenges. Queen's Theological College offers resources to help address a situation calling for cooperation among rural organizations and rural leaders. The Rural Ministry Program offers a degree or diploma program. Download the brochure here. Province of Ontario - Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Rural Ontario is much more than just a pretty place. It is home to more than four million people and also home to agriculture, forestry, mining and manufacturing. These sectors contribute greatly to our quality of life. Strong rural communities are the key to a strong, healthy province. To make sure that all Ontarians enjoy the same opportunities and quality of life, whether they live in small towns or big cities, we have developed programs and resources for Rural Ontario. These help rural communities and businesses learn how to take advantage of new opportunities. We also have regional teams in place to help you use them. Statistics Canada - Rural & Small Town Data & Resources Statistics Canada occasionally issues bulletins that describe trends and changes in rural Canada. Some of the topics include: Rural Labour Markets, Seniors in Rural Canada, Changes in Rural Demography, Comparison of Rural & Urban Low Income Living, Internet & Broadband Use in Rural Municipalities, Rural Tourism, Health among Rural Canadians and more. Canadian & International Rural Church Network
From Agri-ville - Joyce Sasse's Spiritual Vignettes
there are stories that reflect the spirit of the people who live close to the land. She encourages participation, questions and insights. Share your stories. Take part in discussions.
Resources & Links for Rural & Small Member Churches
The latest Rural Life resource of The United Church of Canada to help Revitalize Rural Ministries uses seven lenses for assessment. Alive and Kicking brings together the history of rural ministry in the United Church, current research on rural ministry, and stories of rural congregations across Canada. If your church is lost without a sense of direction, or your community doesn't know your church exists, or even if your church is vibrant, but something is still missing this is the program for you. Contact southbuxtonpcPlease enable javascript.yahoo [dot] ca for more information. Believing that feelings of isolation and despair can be overcome when people of the land gather to share stories about positive possibilities, the Canadian Rural Church Network is an organization of persons (lay and clergy) who have a passion for enhancing the quality of life in rural communities. We want to support each other, articulate our rural stories and spiritual values, affirm the Church's role at the heart of small communities and advocate on behalf of the rural perspective here and around the world. What basic values do we build our lives on as rural people? How do these values inform us as we make our decisions and choose how our days will be lived out? In the Prairie Forum On Church and Community (on the Agri-Ville website) Joyce Sasse writes about community rituals, about the Gospel of Mary Magdalene and about feelings of frustration shared by clergy and their rural parishioners. Through her column n 'Spiritual Vignettes' Rural Matters & Cyberspace Rural Matters & Cyberspace Queen's Theological College - Rural Ministry Program Over ninety-eight percent of Queen's Master of Divinity graduates serve rural congregations when they leave the College. As a result, the College has long offered courses in Rural Ministry and, in 1996, held its first Rural Ministry Symposium. Today's rural communities, rural congregations, and rural leaders face unprecedented crises and challenges. Queen's Theological College offers resources to help address a situation calling for cooperation among rural organizations and rural leaders. The Rural Ministry Program offers a degree or diploma program. Download the brochure here. Province of Ontario - Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Rural Ontario is much more than just a pretty place. It is home to more than four million people and also home to agriculture, forestry, mining and manufacturing. These sectors contribute greatly to our quality of life. Strong rural communities are the key to a strong, healthy province. To make sure that all Ontarians enjoy the same opportunities and quality of life, whether they live in small towns or big cities, we have developed programs and resources for Rural Ontario. These help rural communities and businesses learn how to take advantage of new opportunities. We also have regional teams in place to help you use them. Statistics Canada - Rural & Small Town Data & Resources Statistics Canada occasionally issues bulletins that describe trends and changes in rural Canada. Some of the topics include: Rural Labour Markets, Seniors in Rural Canada, Changes in Rural Demography, Comparison of Rural & Urban Low Income Living, Internet & Broadband Use in Rural Municipalities, Rural Tourism, Health among Rural Canadians and more.
London Conference - Alive & Kicking
Canadian & International Rural Church Network
From Agri-ville - Joyce Sasse's Spiritual Vignettes
there are stories that reflect the spirit of the people who live close to the land. She encourages participation, questions and insights. Share your stories. Take part in discussions.
