Evangelical Anglican parishes from all over Australia are receiving extra funding for rural ministry from Bush Church Aid (BCA).
BCA has committed half a million dollars to more than a dozen rural Anglican parishes over the next three years.
The National Director of BCA, the Rev Canon Brian Roberts says "rural decline' happened 25 years ago and country Australia is now in growth mode.
At the recent BCA Council National Annual Meeting, Mr Roberts explained that rural decline is a myth for most rural and country towns, citing ABS statistics to show a growth in most centres with a population over 1500.
Figures show that up to 40 per cent of the people in traditional rural towns have arrived in the last five years, mainly from urban Australia, looking for a country lifestyle.
Many of these towns have shown population increases of 30 per cent over the last decade.
"The indications are that these newcomers were very urban in makeup," Mr Roberts says.
"They measure things in megabytes not country miles and therefore have little interest in our traditionally shaped country parish churches."
Mr Roberts says effective mission will be difficult if only carried out from traditional church bases.
"We must leave our comfort zones and engage with them in their networks, forming new expressions of church with them.”
Victoria sees rural growth
Located in one of the fastest growing regional centres in Victoria, the parish of Sunraysia South was created earlier this year because the Diocese of Bendigo was keen to explore another way to produce effective ministry in the Sunraysia area.
Bishop Andrew Curnow also proposed the creation of a new parish nearby - at St Mark’s, Red Cliffs - with the help of BCA.
The Red Cliffs parish was created in February 2007, giving people two parishes to choose from in the area, each with its particular ministry style.
The new rector of Sunraysia South, the Rev Dale Barclay says the church could not have afforded a full-time minister without the assistance of BCA.
"One thing that kills country churches is the fundraising mentality where all the effort goes into keeping the parish open," he says.
"BCA's support means we can focus on ministry without the worries of financial pressures."
BCA has made a four-year commitment to Sunraysia South, giving the parish $50,000 in 2007, with decreasing amounts in the following three years.
While the Bendigo Diocese has a tradition leaning more towards high Anglicanism, Mr Barclay says Bishop Andrew Curnow has been supportive of his church's evangelical ministry.
"The Bishop recognises the need for a church like ours in the area,” Mr Barclay says.
“We have had a few people join us because of our style.”
When Mr Barclay started at Sunraysia South there was an average of 25 people attending on a Sunday. Now the average attendance is around 40 to 50.
"Because the church now has a full-time minister, people are more committed and more regular at church," he says.
"The main goal for me this year is to present the gospel to as many people as possible in the church and make sure people understand what a Christian is. The next stage will focus on sharing the gospel."
