Father Jean-Luc Gebelin leads a cluster of parishes in a large rural area of the Diocese of Nîmes in Southern France. He explained to Mélinée Le Priol how he embraced a more collaborative view of ministry and being Church through the parish missions carried out by visiting religious order priests. La Croix: Your parish extends Read more
A service celebrated the beginning and the end of a rural church. Sacred Heart Whangamomona church is celebrating 100 years on Saturday – but the Mass to celebrate the centenary was the final service at the church. Read more
Rural churches internationally are struggling to find resources. Their ministers often must serve many congregations at once. An organisation called International Rural Churches Association (IRCA) recently held its 6th conference in Christchurch. The group’s chairman, Jerry Marshall, told delegates that rural churches are relevant and “a voice for voiceless.” “Often rural people get drowned out Read more
After an earlier career in the forestry, industry the recently appointed Bishop of Hamilton, Stephen Lowe, seems a natural choice to lead this largely rural diocese. The Hamilton diocese covers the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, East Cape and King Country. “I have a love for the rural areas, both the people and the countryside,” Lowe Read more
The University of Otago and the Bishop’s Action Foundation (BAF) have signed an agreement to undertake collaborative research in public theology, the sustainability of rural communities and helping communities flourish. BAF is an Anglican charitable trust based in New Plymouth to create and support initiatives that meet community needs throughout Taranaki. It works through a community Read more