Centre for Rural Community Leadership and Ministry
Training Programs - Upcoming Courses
STM Courses in Rural Ministry and Community Development:
1. Qualitative Research Methods in Rural Contexts
SA481 Qualitative Research Methods in Rural Contexts
Dr. Lynn Caldwell
July 13 – 15 1.5 credits
This course will focus on critical issues, questions, and decisions involved in designing and carrying out qualitative research projects in rural contexts. The focus will be on engaging students with information about qualitative research in a broad sense, as well as with questions and resources particular to their own identified research interests and contexts. Specific methods for community-based research will be presented and a researcher’s roles and responsibilities in selecting appropriate methods will be discussed. Attention will be given to critical questions about data generation, collaboration with and reporting to community members and research participants, and interpretation of research materials and experiences.
Hosted by St Andrews College, Saskatoon
Sponsored by Saskatoon Theological Union and CiRCLe M
For details contact:
St. Andrews College Registrar: 966-5244;
email: standrews.registrar@usask.ca, or
College of Emmanuel & St. Chad Registrar: 975-1588;
email: colleen.walker@usask.ca, or
Lutheran Theological Seminary Registrar: 966-7856;
email: susan.avant@usask.ca
Rev. Dr. Dittmar Mundel.
Nov 22- Nov 26, 2010,
Camrose, Alberta
This course will examine the ecological, economic, political, social, and spiritual health of rural communities in an integrated and experiential way.
To provide an experiential basis, the students in small teams will spend a part of their time preparing to do a rapid diagnostic of nearby rural communities, learning to detect what hinders or promotes the health of the community. Part of our time will be spent in reflecting upon what we have seen and experienced as well as in both sociological and theological analysis. As tools for reflection, students will learn to use a variety of popular education techniques such as photovoice, casual conversations, role play, community mapping, and developing a ‘tree of life’ of the community. To deepen our reflection we will attempt to bring in a variety of local “experts”, from area farmers and business people to university profs in areas such as ecology and politics.
For details contact one of the STU registrars:
College of Emmanuel & St. Chad Registrar: 975-1588;
email: colleen.walker@usask.ca, or
Lutheran Theological Seminary Registrar: 966-7856;
email: susan.avant@usask.ca
OTHER COURSES
1. Peer Mentoring for Clergy New to Rural Settings
Starts Fall 2010
CiRCLe M is offering a Peer Mentoring program to help clergy make a gracious and informed entry into their new rural site by connecting them with a local guide to their community’s history and cultural dynamics. This two-year program begins in Summer 2010.
Starting ministry in a rural parish can be daunting for someone who has never served a rural parish before. Even those who have previously done so, quickly recognize that rural communities and congregations are highly unique with complex social networks that must be navigated with care. It takes considerable time to know a community and for them to get to know and trust you.
In this program, Clergy will be paired with a local mentor who can help them come to understand the history, key players and important customs of the community. Clergy will be assisted to identify an insightful, long-time member of the community with whom they can form a mentoring team. This person may be a professional—a teacher or doctor, for example—but will not be a member of the clergyperson’s congregation. This allows for some freedom and confidentiality in their conversations.
Once a mentor has been identified, clergy-mentor teams will come together for a two-day training event that will help them get to know each other in a structured way and provide some tools for intentionally exploring the life and culture of their community. It will also help to set expectations for the mentoring relationship. During the two years of the formal mentoring relationship, teams will be brought into contact with each other once a year face-to-face, and at other times by email, conference call, or other means. They will celebrate their rural ministry experiences and share mentoring strategies.
Participants will be responsible for their transportation. Accommodation can be arranged very inexpensively. The training itself will cost each team $450 per year. In some cases subsidy for training and other costs is available from grants that support this program.
If you are new or about to move to a new ministry, give us a call and we will include you in a group.
Contact Cam Harder, Executive Director of CiRCLe M: 306-966-7867 (Saskatoon); email:crharder@sasktel.net.
Sponsored by CiRCLe M.