Leslie J. Francis, David W. Lankshear, Ursula McKenna
{"title":"Building a Relational Culture and Empirical Theology: Exploring the Impact of Congregational Bonding Social Capital on Perceived Faith Development and Perceived Church Growth","authors":"Leslie J. Francis, David W. Lankshear, Ursula McKenna","doi":"10.1080/14704994.2023.2255805","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14704994.2023.2255805","url":null,"abstract":"Building on recent interest to assess and encourage a relational culture within the Church of England and drawing on the Signs of Growth survey conducted within the Diocese of Southwark, this study examines the association between congregational bonding social capital and both perceived faith development and perceived church growth among 7,924 weekly churchgoers between the ages of 20 and 69 who had been established in their church for at least three years. The data confirmed that a relational culture goes hand-in-hand with personal faith development and with potential for church growth.","PeriodicalId":41896,"journal":{"name":"Rural Theology-International Ecumencial and Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135854360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Research in Rural Ministry from Across the Pond","authors":"Malcolm Grundy","doi":"10.1080/14704994.2023.2257378","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14704994.2023.2257378","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACTThis paper evaluates a recent study on rural ministry emerging from the USA and assesses its relevance for the rural Church more widely, with specific reference to the UK. The study has the challenging subtitle, ‘moving from anecdotal assumptions to data-derived opportunities’. It is the work of someone who grew up in the farming community and worked as a farmer before becoming a rural minister and then undertaking serious academic research into the connections between rural living and rural ministry. The paper argues that there are two groupings of lessons to be learned from this study. It is worth giving serious attention to research conducted in other cultural contexts and it is worth encouraging others to invest in research of this nature. The rural Church needs such research and the rural Church can benefit from it.KEYWORDS: ResearchRural ChurchMinistryMissionUSA Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationNotes on contributorsMalcolm GrundyThe Revd Canon Dr Malcolm Grundy, grew up in a small rural village, was Team Rector in a market town, and an archdeacon with an area covering the western side of the Yorkshire Dales. Until recently he was a Visiting Fellow in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at York St John University.","PeriodicalId":41896,"journal":{"name":"Rural Theology-International Ecumencial and Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136213897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring the Psychological Type Profile of Rural Anglican Congregations Nurtured in the Catholic Tradition: A Pilot Study in Wales","authors":"Richard Vroom, Leslie J. Francis","doi":"10.1080/14704994.2023.2249660","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14704994.2023.2249660","url":null,"abstract":"The present study draws on data provided by 75 adult churchgoers attending five rural Anglican congregations in Wales, nurtured in the Catholic tradition, who completed the Francis Psychological Type Scales. Their profile was then set alongside the profile of 3,302 Anglican churchgoers reported in an earlier study. While there were no differences between the two groups in terms of the two orientations, the two judging functions, or the two attitudes toward the outer world, there was a significantly greater proportion of intuitive types among the congregations nurtured in the Catholic tradition (32% compared with 20%). This finding is consistent with the view that the Anglo-Catholic tradition appeals to and sustains intuitive types. It also demonstrates that a Church capable of embracing both the Catholic and the Reformed tradition is better placed to be inclusive of diverse psychological types.","PeriodicalId":41896,"journal":{"name":"Rural Theology-International Ecumencial and Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136292868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Easter Day 2023","authors":"Neville J. Emslie","doi":"10.1080/14704994.2023.2249662","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14704994.2023.2249662","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACTThis study offers an example of ‘standing theology’ as distinguished from sitting theology and kneeling theology. This sermon was delivered in St Mary the Virgin Church Newington, Kent on Easter Sunday 2023 when the Gospel reading was John 20: 1–18.KEYWORDS: Standing theologypreachingEasterquestions Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationNotes on contributorsNeville J. EmslieCanon Dr Neville Emslie is the Director of Mission and Ministry in the Canterbury Diocese, and Honorary Fellow in Theology and Ministry within the World Religions and Education Research Unit, Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, England.","PeriodicalId":41896,"journal":{"name":"Rural Theology-International Ecumencial and Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136352422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ordination Service 2023","authors":"Susan H. Jones","doi":"10.1080/14704994.2023.2249664","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14704994.2023.2249664","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACTThis study offers an example of ‘standing theology’ as distinguished from sitting theology and kneeling theology. This sermon was delivered in Liverpool Cathedral on Saturday 24 June 2023 on the occasion of the ordination of priests. The preacher had led the ordination retreat earlier in the week.KEYWORDS: Standing theologypreachingpriesthoodordination service Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationNotes on contributorsSusan H. JonesThe Very Revd Dr Susan H. Jones is Dean of Liverpool, England, and Honorary Professor in Cathedral Studies within the World Religions and Education Research Unit, Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, England.","PeriodicalId":41896,"journal":{"name":"Rural Theology-International Ecumencial and Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136352591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ann Casson, Mary Woolley, Sabina Hulbert, Robert A. Bowie
{"title":"Prioritising a Sense of Belonging Within the Rural Nexus: An Empirical Study of Five Rural Church Primary Schools","authors":"Ann Casson, Mary Woolley, Sabina Hulbert, Robert A. Bowie","doi":"10.1080/14704994.2023.2249659","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14704994.2023.2249659","url":null,"abstract":"The rural church primary school exists in a nexus of connections between school, home, and the institutional Church (parochial, diocesan, and national). This article applies Walker’s model of belonging to God through church to the sense of belonging expressed by families whose children attend a rural Church of England primary school. The data drawn from the Faith in the Nexus project undertaken at Canterbury Christ Church University, consists of 24 semi-structured focus group interviews, and 8 individual interviews with school and church leaders from parents, school staff, clergy, and governors across five rural Church of England primary schools. The findings highlight how rural church school families develop and sustain a sense of belonging through events, people, place, and activities. The discussion considers the value of Walker’s model of belonging, the fragility of the rural nexus and a need to acknowledge the relational nature of belonginess expressed by parents and pupils.","PeriodicalId":41896,"journal":{"name":"Rural Theology-International Ecumencial and Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136295295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Personal Trinity: The Christian Poetry of Andrew Young","authors":"Peter Hollindale","doi":"10.1080/14704994.2023.2249661","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14704994.2023.2249661","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACTAndrew Young (1885–1971) belongs to the English tradition of the ‘parson poet’. Poetry written by serving clergy often provides both a personal perspective on Christianity, free of strict orthodoxy, and a reflection of Christianity’s place in the prevailing culture. Most of Young’s work consisted of short poems with only occasional Christian reference. Later in life he abandoned short poems and wrote two long works exploring a visionary afterlife. This paper argues that the key to these two long poems, important but neglected examples of mid-twentieth-century Christian literature, is a personal re-imagining of the Trinity.KEYWORDS: Parson poetrural clergymanGerard Manley HopkinsR. S. ThomasGeorge Herbert Disclosure StatementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationNotes on contributorsPeter HollindalePeter Hollindale, until his retirement, was Reader in English and Educational Studies at the University of York.","PeriodicalId":41896,"journal":{"name":"Rural Theology-International Ecumencial and Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136352431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Easter Day 2023","authors":"John Holdsworth","doi":"10.1080/14704994.2023.2249663","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14704994.2023.2249663","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACTThis study offers an example of ‘standing theology’ as distinguished from sitting theology and kneeling theology. This sermon was delivered in St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Nicosia, on Easter Sunday 2023 when the New Testament reading was Colossians 3: 1–7.KEYWORDS: Standing theologypreachingEasterresurrection Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationNotes on contributorsJohn HoldsworthDr John Holdsworth is Canon Theologian at St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Nicosia, Cyprus, and Visiting Professor in Theology and Ministry within the World Religions and Education Research Unit, Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, England.","PeriodicalId":41896,"journal":{"name":"Rural Theology-International Ecumencial and Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136295552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Theotokos: Reflections of Labour","authors":"S. Anne Lawson","doi":"10.1080/14704994.2023.2249665","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14704994.2023.2249665","url":null,"abstract":"\"Theotokos: Reflections of Labour.\" Rural Theology, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print), pp. 1–2 Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationNotes on contributorsS. Anne LawsonRevd S. Anne Lawson is a vicar of Acton, Church Minshall, Worleston and Wettenhall, and Chaplain to the Cheshire Agricultural Society in the Diocese and Chester, England. This poem draws on imagery from the Catholic and Orthodox traditions, unfamiliar to Western Protestantism. ‘Theotokos’ means ‘God Bearer’ and is usually used of Mary in the Orthodox tradition. The ‘Pietà’ is the image of Mary holding the dead Christ when He was taken down from the Cross in the Catholic tradition. The images of the water flowing from Christ’s side as a symbol of Baptism, and the blood as a symbol of Eucharist are ancient Christian images.","PeriodicalId":41896,"journal":{"name":"Rural Theology-International Ecumencial and Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136295535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Between heaven and earth: new explorations of great biblical texts <b>Between heaven and earth: new explorations of great biblical texts</b> , by Gerhard Lohfink, Collegeville, MN, Liturgical Press, 2022, pp. 350, £31.99 (hbk), ISBN 978-9-81466-732-3","authors":"John Holdsworth","doi":"10.1080/14704994.2023.2255791","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14704994.2023.2255791","url":null,"abstract":"\"Between heaven and earth: new explorations of great biblical texts.\" Rural Theology, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print), pp. 1–2","PeriodicalId":41896,"journal":{"name":"Rural Theology-International Ecumencial and Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135095080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}