Revd Murray George - Rural Life and Ministry Advocate

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Murray George is a minister in Saffron Walden, Newport and Clavering in Essex. He became Rural Life and Ministry Advocate for the Eastern Synod, a part-time post, in March 2010.

Murray says: our Synod has the largest proportion of rural churches in the whole of the URC. As advocate, I am keen to find ways to support churches in towns and villages across the Eastern Region. I am particularly interested in exploring ways in which rural churches, large or small, can strengthen links with their communities. I am also eager to help churches explore any new opportunities for outreach and service in their communities and beyond.

I am developing a rural ‘resource bank’ which I will put on display at every Rural Roadshow and I am happy to assist churches in selecting resources appropriate to particular contexts. I will also be happy to come out to churches to explore particular issues. As part of my role I feel it is important to develop an understanding in all churches of how much rural issues affect our society, whilst highlighting how rural churches and communities face unique challenges and problems.”

Murray can be contacted by email or by phone: 01799 523504, or I can be followed on Twitter@GeorgeRAeastURC

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Rural Vision Day

Rural Vision Day Saturday 24th March 2012 - St Michael's VA Junior School Bowthorpe Norwich.

A dynamic day to explore new ways of being church and how to begin forming them. A day full of opportunities to re-imagine church, dream dreams, ask questions, share your story, discover resources and build relationships.

Download: Programme

Rural Matters in the Eastern Synod

Rural Matters is a new quarterly publication. Whether you live and worship in one of the villages or hamlets in the East of England, or indeed in one of the towns or cities in this region. Each edition will highlight coming events of interest to people throughout the Synod.

Download: Rural Matters 2nd Edition
Download: Rural Matters 1st Edition

Rural Officer

The United Reformed Church along with the Methodists employ a rural officer to serve our churches. This is currently Revd Graham Jones who is based at the Arthur Rank Centre at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire: A Christian Charity Serving Rural Churches and their Communities.

They have an excellent web site dedicated to the needs and issues of rural churches and aim to equip and resource them. This is a constantly changing website with up to date worship materials available.

Website: The Arthur Rank Centre

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Rural Evangelism Network

Bringing together Churches and Mission Agencies - sharing insight and experience.

Website: Rural Evangelism Network

The Localism Act (2011) and National Planning Policy Framework

The Localism Act is a very significant piece of new legislation in its own right. Combined with the draft National Planning Policy Framework it could provide significant opportunities and challenges for rural communities across the country. As the last paragraph of the following summary states the Act could effect a significant change in national life, passing power to a local level, creating space for local authorities to lead and innovate, and giving people the opportunity to take control of decisions that matter to them.

Here is a summary of each for your information:-

Download: The Localism Act (2011) - a summary

Download: National Planning Policy Framework - a summary