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God in creation: a reflection on Jürgen Moltmann’s theology
Abstract
Jürgen Moltmann’s fine book God in Creation makes a
contribution to one type of rural theology. Although the book is concerned with
the totality of the relationship between God and the created order, it is,
nevertheless and consequently, a stimulus to reflection on a theology of the
environment and a theology of the rural church. The book itself was delivered in
1984-85 in the Gifford lectures (which tend to deal with science and religion)
and this article places it both within the biography of Moltmann himself and in
relation to his intellectual oeuvre.
Social capital generated by two rural churches: the role of individual
believers
Abstract
Extended interviews were conducted in 2003 with eight people
who had affiliation with two churches within a large village. The interviews
were analysed to assess whether these individuals were contributing to the
social capital of their own church-related community (bonding social capital),
and whether they were contributing to the social capital of the wider community
(bridging social capital). The data demonstrated a positive answer on both
accounts.
Terrain, architectural style and theology: chapel design in Pennine hill
villages
Abstract
The external appearance and inner ordering of a church or
chapel building are the result of a number of factors which affect both the
plan-ning of the building and its subsequent construction. An illustration of
how these factors interact is drawn from existing local Methodist chapels in one
area of the Yorkshire Pennines. The resulting conclusion of this exercise
suggests that it could be instructive to see how the factors influencing the
erection of church buildings elsewhere vary according to local conditions.
Martin Coppen
Abstract
While parochial ministry is perceived as limited by geography
and resi-dence, this paper explores the requests for pastoral ministry of a
rural church made by non-residents – ‘extended parishioners’. Reflections on why
such requests are made leads to a consideration of their ‘sense of place’.
Theological discussion follows in terms of alien residence, set-tling and
hospitality, and some implications suggested for the practice of rural ministry
and the wider church.
RESEARCH REPORT
Psychological type preference of rural churchgoers
Charlotte L Craig
Abstract
A sample of 2,658 people attending church services in 95
congregations across the United Kingdom completed the Francis Psychological Type
Scales. The data demonstrated that rural churchgoers achieve higher scores on
sensing, while urban churchgoers achieve higher scores on intuition. No
significant differences were found between the scores of rural churchgoers and
urban churchgoers on the scales of extraversion and introversion, thinking and
feeling, or judging and perceiving. It is suggested that rural churchgoers’
preference for sensing may reflect a more conservative approach to issues of
faith and belief.