Notes from the Rural Mission Task Group meeting in September 2026.
We held this meeting to give serious time and thought to a Rural Mission COnference to be held in the Diocese of Durham in 2027.
- Opened with prayer.
- We initially tried to focus on the purpose of the conference – why would anyone want to come. We have reflected on: the sense of loneliness in rural clergy – the fear of being compared to others and seen to have fallen short – and the fear of not being good enough for the ministry we’re in. We concluded that it would be good to have something that combined a social element, and a celebration element but without creating a ‘if you do it like these successful people, you too can be successful’ agenda.
- Our initial agenda ended up like this: Opening worship – Fun thought provoking exercise – Introduction to rural mission conference – “Hearing” exercise – Lunch with the Bishop of Durham – Q&A with Bishop, including a vision for rural ministry – “Listening” exercise (i.e. where next?) – Closing worship.
- We felt a chaplain at the event would be good
- We looked for a location – and settled on one of three: Bishop Auckland – perhaps Auckland Palace, Brancepeth Castle, or Sedgefield
- Guest list – personal invite – lay and ordained leaders?
- Timing? 10am to 2pm weekday: post-Easter 2027
- Create an “I am here” map
- Things to consider as next steps
- We might need a chaplain for the event
- Can we get a flyer out for the Clergy Study Day
- Graeme to seek a diary date from the Bishop of Durham, to speak to venues about pricing.
- We closed with prayers and the Grace