{"product_id":"rural-life-and-rural-church-theological-and-empirical-perspectives-9781845539849","title":"Rural Life and Rural Church: Theological and","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe essays brought together here present a broad assessment of the serious issues facing rural life and the rural church today. The authors are drawn from the Anglican, Baptist, Methodist and Pentecostal Churches. The essays explore a wide range of biblical, theological, sociological, and historical concerns and topics. Throughout, the book is informed by a spirit of listening - to church-goers, clergy, church leaders, and local communities.  Rural Life and Rural Church provides an invaluable resource for clergy and lay Christians involved in rural ministry, initial and continuing ministerial education, and Christian men and women living in the countryside.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"An excellent and authoritative account of current research, research that needs to be taken seriously by all who are shaping the future of our rural churches, both ordained and lay. Here is material that will help us cherish the virtue and integrity of our calling; a calling that originated in a small countryside mission beside Lake Galilee.\" From the Foreword by The Right Reverend Mark Rylands, The Bishop of Shrewsbury  \"Rural Life and Rural Church provides substantial evidence of the peculiar joys and challenges of the context it explores - This wealthy resource of serious research and careful theological reflection affirms the rural church and can serve to inform and inspire.\"  -  Theology\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePreface Foreword by The Bishop of Shrewsbury  INTRODUCTION Shaping rural theology  Leslie Francis  PERSPECTIVES FROM THE BIBLE Israelite Wisdom and pastoral theology in the rural church  Gareth Lloyd Jones, University of Wales, Bangor  The invisible countryside of the New Testament  William Strange, Archdeacon of Cardigan Sheep and goats: pastoral imagery in the bible and today Richard France, Anglican clergyman  PERSPECTIVES FROM ORDINARY THEOLOGY Ordinary theology for rural theology and rural ministry Jeff Astley, North of England Institute for Christian Education The kneelers are most impressive: reflections on reading a visitors' book  Norman Morris, Rector of Wentnor, and Lewis Burton, retired Methodist minister Ordinary prayer and the rural church: an empirical study of prayer cards  Tania ap Sion, University of Warwick  THEOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES Encountering new age spirituality: opportunities and challenges for the rural church  John Drane, St John's College, Durham God in creation: a reflection of Jurgen Moltmann's theology  William Kay, Glyndwr University, Wales Belonging to rural church and society: theological and sociological perspectives  David Walker, Bishop of Dudley  HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES Blackshawhead: a local case history in rural church categorisation  Lewis Burton Is the rural church different? The special case of confirmation  David Lankshear, University of Warwick Rural Anglicanism: one face or many?  Carol Roberts, Parish of Bangor Pastoral fragments: discovered remnants of a rural past  Trevor Kerry, University of Lincoln  LISTENING TO VISITORS I was glad: listening to visitors to country churches Leith Littler, St Mary's Centre, Wales, Leslie Francis and Jeremy Martineau, Centre for Studies in Rural Ministry Sacred place and pilgrimage: modern visitors to the shrine of St Melangell  Michael Keulemans and Lewis Burton Visitor experiences of St David's Cathedral: the two worlds of pilgrims and secular tourists Emyr Williams, Glyndwr University, Wales, Leslie Francis, Mandy Robbins and Jennie Annis, St Mary's Centre, Wales  LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY Social capital generated by two rural churches: the role of individual believers  Keith Ineson, Churches Together in Cheshire, and Lewis Burton Local festivals in two Pennine villages: the reactions of the local Methodist church congregations Sue Pegg, Methodist minister, and Lewis Burton Extended communion: a second best option for rural Anglicanism?  Stella Mills, Staffordshire University  LISTENING TO CHURCHGOERS All types are called, but some are more likely to respond  Leslie Francis, Mandy Robbins, Angela Williams, Benefice of Llandegfan with Llandysilio, and Rhys Williams, Diocese of Bangor The social significance of Harvest Festivals in the countryside: an empirical enquiry among those who attend David Walker Psychological type profile of volunteer workers in a rural Christian charity shop  Leslie Francis and Sue Pegg  LISTENING TO CHURCH LEADERS Deployment of the churches' ministry  Lewis Burton Views on baptism and confirmation in the Church in Wales: are rural clergy different?  Keith Littler Children and communion: listening to churchwardens in rural and urban Wales  Ann Howells, Parish of Llandybie, and Keith Littler  SATISFACTION AND STRESS IN MINISTRY Burnout and the practice of ministry among rural clergy: looking for the hidden signs  Christopher Rutledge, St Mark's, Talbot Village How happy are rural Anglican clergy?  Christine Brewster, St Seiriol's Centre Perceptions of stress on those in rural ministry: listening to church leaders  Paul Rolph, Glyndwr University, Wales, and Jenny Rolph, The Olive Branch Christian Counselling Service","brand":"Taylor \u0026 Francis Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50578551243095,"sku":"9781845539849","price":36.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781845539849.jpg?v=1746099798","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/rural-life-and-rural-church-theological-and-empirical-perspectives-9781845539849","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}