An exciting new pilot project is just getting started in rural parishes across three
deaneries in West Worcestershire. Germinate involves setting up a ‘learning community’
made up of around 35 people from across the parishes (including the incumbents).
This group commit to meeting together for two days every six months over two years,
to share experiences and ideas and come away with a plan of action for each benefice.
The first of these meetings will take place on 16 & 17 October. 

The pilot project is being run in association with The Arthur Rank Centre – the resource
centre for rural churches and mission agency CPAS. The aim of the Germinate learning
community is to reflect on what God is already doing, ask what the Church could be
doing in the local area and then plan what will be done. Each two-day gathering is
based on a particular theme: The journey of the churches involved to date; leadership;
discipleship; mission and then a final session to reflect on what has happened over
the two years. 

Archdeacon Nikki says: “Our hope is that this project will both inform how rural
mission and ministry across the diocese adapts in our ever-changing context and
culture, as well as influencing the wider church in due course. If the pilot is successful,
we will definitely look at doing something similar in other areas of the
Diocese.”

Please pray for all who are
involved in this exciting new
project and for those who
are members of our rural
churches. 

Stourport Deanery – Rural Dean: Mark Turner; Lay Chair: Andrew Quinn 

Diocese of Spokane (USA) Bishop James Waggoner
Diocese of Sheffield: Bishop Steven Croft with Bishop Peter Burrows (Doncaster) 

Diocese of Sodor & Man: Bishop Robert Paterson 

Church of Greenland: Bishop Sofie Petersen