Rural Conference 09

Over 100 People Attend Rural Conference 09

The Synod's Rural Conference 09 was held in St, Andrew's Church in Balclutha from the 25th to the 28th of June.  It was a near thing  -  St. Andrew's was engaged in a major building project and as the first of the conference attendees arrived the tradesmen were leaving.  Some tradesmen came back the next day and during the afternoon workshops there was a sound like a demented dentist drilling into the wall!

Over 100 hundred had registered for the conference and had come from all over the Otago Southland region to hear the key note addresses by David Webber from the Cariboo Presbyterian Church in British Columbia.  (David's address notes are available here.) David presented his talk and then opened up the sessions for comment and response followed by participants sharing stories from their experience.  David is a story teller himself and the conference enjoyed some good stories and laughter.

David spoke from his experience of the Cariboo Chilcotin Church which he and his wife Linda planted 20 years ago. They used the model given in the book of Acts for house churches where the people attended to the teaching of the Apostles, the breaking of bread, fellowship and prayers. He told us that their parish is the size of the North Island and now has a staff of four.  In their early days he and Linda travelled up to four hours to lead a house church which was generally three hours in length before travelling home again.  Now with the extra staff most house churches are within two and a half hour's drive.  David is involved in six per week.

Many at the conference were encouraged to hear of the Webber's experience and felt that what he shared gave promise of ways in which rural congregations here in the south could adapt.  David was adamant that whatever form a congregation took it was still a group that 'attended to the teaching of the Apostles, the breaking of bread, fellowship and prayer.'

Music for the conference was provided by the music group from the Waiau Valley congregation at Tuatapere.  The three women under the leadership of Kelly Pearce lead this part of the conference with great skill and sensitively mixing more traditional hymns with modern as well as introducing some new material.

Twenty workshops were offered during the two afternoons of the conference.  These dealt with matters related to leadership, music, community connection, youth, financial management, involving all ages, and changing land use and farming practices with implications for rural congregations.  It is a measure of the depth of skill in the Synod area that all workshops were led by people from within the Synod.

Alan Kerr started each day with devotions (here) based on the theme of gardens, using the Garden of Eden through to the Garden of Gethsemane. Later in the week, following the conference we were shocked at his tragic death in a road accident.

The conference came to an end with a service of Holy Communion on Sunday morning led by the Synod's Moderator, Christine Hansen. The Moderator of the General Assembly, Graham edding preached and led the communion.

Local parishes catered for the conference and meals were of a high standard as is expected from country people.  

In all, the conference went well with a real 'buzz' among the participants who enjoyed a very stimulating time.