Rural Realities of Church in Countryside

‘The rural church is facing huge challenges, yet there are many exciting initiatives taking place in the countryside.’ In writing ‘God-Shaped Mission’ Alan Smith is in conversation with ‘Mission-Shaped Church’. He intentionally redresses the lack of rural mission-stories and he sets out to produce a book that will enable rural ministers to consider their particular context for mission and to respond with confidence, creativity and integrity.

Bishop Alan offers us a clear, four part structure. First he sets the scene. He deals with rural reality, deconstructing seven ‘urban myths’ about the countryside. (For instance, Myth 2, ‘Each village had its own resident parson’. He also takes a close look at the theology of mission – and this, I think is the solid heart of the book.

The basis of any theology of mission must be God himself. It is only when our lives are centred on God, when we know that we are loved and have been forgiven, that we are set free from our fears and find ourselves swept up in his divine mission of transformation and renewal. This theological perspective should inform and guide the way that we structure the church for mission.

The second and third sections of the book look at mission and evangelism in rural areas, then at the challenges of communicating our faith in Britain today. There are real life stories of parishes that have responded imaginatively to their context – including illustrations from the Oxford Diocese – and he probes the differences between the rural church and the rest.

Part four reflects on the processes of rural mission. ‘Principles for Mission in the Rural Church: Listening, Learning, Acting, Refocusing’. It is thoughtful, perceptive and overflowing with useable resources and advice. And his final word: ‘If God is not at the centre of all that we do, people will go away disappointed.’

The Revd Janet Russell is parish development adviser for Berkshire