Rural parishes engaging in change
James Collins comments on some of the big changes in rural parishes.
Many of our rural parishes and their surrounding regions have experienced great changes in the last few decades.
Financial constraints have led to various amalgamations with other parishes and other administrative arrangements. Some have also been unable to maintain a full-time stipendiary priest (nor, in other parishes, a part-time priest for that matter). The cost of maintaining a rector is an unsustainable burden on a numerically declining parish community.
Demographic changes - that is, rural decline - have led to a decline in some local populations, followed by an influx of other people who have no link with the parish.
These are the sea-and tree-changers and early retirees.
These regions have experienced significant demographic change which, when linked to significant cultural change, has led to a situation where people are less inclined to join community groups or where the phenomenon of 'believing' but not 'belonging' is evident.
The current drought conditions being experienced in many regions of Tasmania add to the pressure on our rural parishes and their surrounding regions.
Wierenga, who summarises much of the literature on the subject of the rural situation in Australia, defines 'rurality' as 'broadly' referring to '... all areas outside of capital cities and major urban conglomerates' (Wierenga 2001: 7).
Many of these rural parishes have sought to engage with this change and they will face on-going pressure to continue to re-invent themselves as circumstances continue to change. It would seem, based on past experience, that in this process of engagement there is hope for continued healthy existence.
This process of re-invention requires creativity and imagination along with hard work.
Many of our rural parishes which have sought to engage in this process of re-invention have done so by moving from an inward focus (by raising a stipend to sustain a full-time stipendiary priest), to an outward focus (by seeking the welfare of those with whom they share their lives). Their real concern for the 'other' contributes to their health as churches - an outward focus leads to inner health.
A biblical reference which highlights this change in focus is to be found in Jeremiah 29:7 which states that a community of faith are to '... seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you... and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.'
This approach to engagement with the context in which they are located means that the ordinary things of life are able to be invested with a meaning which transcends their very ordinariness.
While change undoubtedly impacts on urban parishes too, our rural parishes have shown amazing resilience to engage with the issues of change - particularly the Enabler Supported Ministry parishes which I have had the privilege to enable - and to faithfully continue on their journey of loving God and their neighbour.