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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.

Book Event

Early bird in person ticket #2631 £65

In person early bird discount ticket This is a discounted early bird ticket offering the course for £65 rather than £70. This limited offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount. This course will be held onsite at Sarum College. The course fee includes lunch and refreshments.

Available Tickets: 10

The Early bird in person ticket #2631 ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

Early bird in person with B&B the night before ticket #2631 £140

This is a discounted early bird ticket offering the course for £140.00 rather than the normal £145.00. This offer expires 60 days prior to the event and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount. This course will be held onsite at Sarum College. The course fee includes lunch and refreshments. The extra B&B on 23rd September 2025 includes accommodation in an en-suite room and breakfast the morning of the course. If the ticket you wish to purchase is showing as not available, please contact me on bclover@sarum.ac.uk, as we may be able to accommodate your request.

Available Tickets: 2

The Early bird in person with B&B the night before ticket #2631 ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

In person ticket #2631 £70

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

Available Tickets: 35

The In person ticket #2631 ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

In person with B&B the night before ticket #2631 £145

This course will be held onsite at Sarum College. The course fee includes lunch and refreshments. The extra B&B on 23rd September 2025 includes accommodation in an en-suite room and breakfast the morning of the course. If the ticket you wish to purchase is showing as not available, please contact me on bclover@sarum.ac.uk, as we may be able to accommodate your request.

Available Tickets: 3

The In person with B&B the night before ticket #2631 ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

Details

Dates & Times

24 Sep 2025

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

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.

Book this course

What our students say

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.

Stimulating and Challenging

What is Successful Ageing? led by James Woodward

I enjoyed the course immensely from beginning to end – the seamless interweaving of knowledge, ideas and research and the linking with belief and faith.

The content was stimulating, challenging, thought provoking and I was greatly appreciative of the contributions and questions from other participants, your considered and sensitive responses and integration with your presentations.

Thank you!

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.

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.’

The Road Not Taken

Sarum Graduate Mike Truman

January 2022

Five years ago, I told my Warden of Readers that I would not be renewing my licence when it expired in 2019, as I thought my faith was becoming too unorthodox for a Church of England licensed lay minister. As someone who knew me well, she challenged me to actively explore what I did still believe. Thus started the journey that ended last August with the dissertation completing my MA in Theology Imagination and Culture (MATIC) at Sarum College.

Leading Multi-Parish Benefices