Beyond the Town The following was published on the Revive Rugby website.  I convene a rural group within this mission orientated ecumenical group of churches.  You can find out more at www.reviverugby.net. Revive Rugby includes many churches that are outside the town boundaries where God is also at work. Approximately one person in six now lives in the rural areas of the UK. Uniquely in the world there continues to be inward migration into rural areas. While there is a fairly stable core population in most villages, there is also a substantial amount of change that takes place producing special challenges for rural churches.   Both ministry and mission in rural areas are very different to towns and cities and call for special training. Because the issues are so distinct Revive has a Rural Group and the leaders of the rural churches meet four to six times a year. Most rural congregations are small so to be effective the style of worship has to change. Where it is more informal, intimate and engaging it not only works better it also enables better spiritual growth individually and collectively. It is sometimes better to think of worship in small numbers as requiring a style more usual to a home group.   In a village most people are known; there is no anonymity and mistakes have to be lived with – sometimes for a long time. These are just some of the factors that make evangelism difficult. But it is not impossible and there are many creative activities going on at this time.   Rural churches have high impact in their communities. It is not unusual to have 5% of a community attending a church. Imagine that happening in the town! Furthermore special festivals, weddings, baptisms, funerals, and Remembrance Sunday can engage with the majority of the village community. So rural churches have opportunities for mission that would be unimaginable in a town. Recent research revealed that the churches in rural areas contribute 70% of the social capital (that which enables communities to stick together).   Of course rural communities have their problems but they are often more hidden and demand a discreet response.  Rural churches also have problems.  High on the list is the maintenance of what is often an inappropriate, old and expensive building. Those of us who work with small rural churches often use a catch phrase, "Tangerines are not small oranges".  A small village church is not a failed urban church.  It is different.  Tangerines are preferred by many.  They are usually sweet, easy to get into, and great for sharing. Rural communities are becoming more suburban in many ways but they retain some unique features that call for appropriate enculturation on the part of those that minister the gospel there, and their message and ministry needs appropriate contextualisation.  When we get it right it is an exciting place to be.  But whether or not things are going well rural church leaders need to fellowship and network with others in similar situations, and Revive Rural Group offers that possibility.

Barry Osborne, 30/07/2011

Throwing Stones

Here's the monthly article for the August edition of our local Parish magazine.

I am writing this at the time when the News of the World affair has been dominating the news. The newspaper has been closed, Andy Coulson arrested, the judgement of the Prime Minister called into question, and an outraged public are crying out for Rebekah Brooks’ resignation. I am aware that by the time you are reading this there may be further developments to shock us or it is just possible that we might have forgotten the current hue and cry.

While indignation over alleged gross illegal misconduct is understandable, and it is right for offenders to be held to account there does appear to be a level of self-righteousness and some opportunism among the voices baying for blood.

It reminds me of the time when a crowd brought to Jesus a woman caught in an act of adultery.  Under the Law of Moses this was a capital offence and the punishment was stoning.  The witnesses to the offence were required to be the first to throw stones (literally).  Jesus takes time to write in the dusty ground.  Some surmise that he might have listed other sins.  When he spoke he simply said, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”.  The crowd gradually left, from the eldest to the youngest.  Her sin was not excused, but it was forgiven and she was told never to sin again.

It seems to me that there is something dangerous within the current atmosphere – a human weakness that is quick to join the mob and condemn, but slow to admit our own faults.  The way in which we judge others will be the standard by which we will be judged ourselves.  
The Bible is not soft on crime; just strong on putting right the causes.  That seems a better way; and one worth exploring.