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Leading Multi-Parish Benefices

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About|Details|What our students say|Tutor(s)|Related short courses

Home Short Courses Ministry Leading Multi-Parish Benefices

Leading Multi-Parish Benefices course

Autonomy or shared purpose?

Session 1: Telling a different story of autonomy and shared vision.

The Revd Sharon Roberts shares her experience as a headteacher in setting up and leading a multi-academy trust, shares insights from organisational theory and considers how this learning applies to multi-parish ministry and may also help to mitigate some of the challenges of leading across multiple sites and congregations.

Session 2: Listening to the voices in the benefice and what a shared vision might look like.

From research with six different benefices, Sharon shares the learning from her MA research about how we listen well, shape a shared vision and what the key ingredients for a shared vision might be.

Session 3: Shared purpose

The Revd Canon Jo Neary looks at the mixed ecology of multi-parish benefices and reflects on mission as a point of shared purpose. She shares learning on multi-parish mission and church growth.

Session 4: The national picture: Sharing stories and best practice from around the country.

Sharing our own experiences and next steps.
There will be input from tutors, time for discussion and feedback, practical examples and time to share our own experiences and good practice.

About the tutors

Sharon Roberts is currently a curate in a rural multi-church benefice. Prior to this, she was Director of Education in a large multi-academy trust of 30 schools. Sharon recently completed an MA dissertation entitled:  Developing a Shared Ecclesial Identity in Large Rural Benefices: An Investigation.

Jo Neary splits her time between Sarum College as Tutor in Rural Mission and Ministry Team Vicar/Pioneer Priest in the Beaminster team in the Diocese of Salisbury.

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Details

Dates & Times

24 Sep 2025
Expired!
10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Category

Ministry

Tutor(s)

The Revd Jo Neary
Guest Tutors

Course code

2631

Other Notes

This is an onsite day course that will be held at Sarum College. The course fee includes lunch and refreshments.

Free places are set aside for those eligible for Salisbury CMD, Bristol CMD and  Bath & Wells CMD.

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What our students say

Riveting!

Book of Revelation course

Someone on the course said it was ‘riveting!’ This was exactly what I felt. The course was a total joy because of the tutor’s handouts, excellence and Sarum College hospitality.
Mark Oakley

Faith is an imaginative adventure

The Very Revd Dr Mark Oakley

I admire the work and tone of Sarum College very deeply. It is a community that takes theology and spirituality seriously, not as hobbies but as pursuits into understanding, and engaging in, a complex world.

Sarum College reminds us that faith is an imaginative adventure and that it is shaped by a questioning joy.

Vibrant approach to theology

Fr Azariah France-Williams

I’ve been particularly struck by the refreshing approach to theological education here. In a world, and indeed within parts of the church, where faith can sometimes feel stagnant or out of touch, Sarum offers a vibrant and relevant alternative. The courses encourage a bold exploration of profound ideas, connecting with truths that lie beneath the surface and fostering genuine personal growth, which feels particularly significant as I approach my 50th year. This counter-cultural spirit, which embraces depth and challenges ageism and fear, is truly remarkable. Sarum is a place where individuals can be transformed by engaging with a living and breathing faith.

 

 

Well worth taking the time

Disability Theology: Theory and Practice

I took time to attend the course out of a busy working week and it was well worth taking that time. I have so many things to ponder and reflect on from this course and a helpful further reading list to keep me going for a few months! Thank you Sarum College

 

Netflix, Theology and Pastoral Practice

Peter Butchers on his MA in Theology, Imagination and Culture student experience

How do cultural tropes, like those found in Black Mirror, help bridge the gap between what academic theology espouses and what the everyday Christian believes? In his research as a student on the MA in Theology, Imagination and Culture, Peter Butchers explored platonic philosophy, digital theology and eschatology, and pastoral practice around death and dying.

Read more 

Rewarding Sabbatical Stay

The Revd Greg Syler, is Rector of Ascension & St. George’s, Resurrection Parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, DC USA, spent part of his ministry sabbatical at Sarum College in spring 2022.

His account of the experience begins: ‘I loved spending nearly three weeks of my ministry sabbatical at Sarum College earlier this year.

Not only did I rest, and rest well in the comfortable care of the Sarum College staff, I experienced very significant renewal and fresh insights.’

Read more

Tutor(s)

The Revd Jo Neary

Tutor in Rural Ministry and Mission

Guest Tutors

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