IRCA

What is IRCA?
IRCA is a network of people with a passion for rural communities based on their passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We seek to be an international community of rural Christians. We share our stories of struggle and our stories of hope, joined by our reliance on the land for our livelihood and by determination and hope because we have faith in God. Our vision is to be a voice for Rural community worldwide.

What is IRCA?

IRCA is a network of people with a passion for rural communities based on their passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We seek to be an international community of rural Christians. We share our stories of struggle and our stories of hope, joined by our reliance on the land for our livelihood and by determination and hope because we have faith in God.

Our vision is to be a voice for Rural community worldwide.

Our Objectives
As God's people we are committed to: Sharing the faith, values and hopes of the Kingdom of God in Rural Communities worldwide. Encourage and promoting the Christian ministry and mission of local congregations through local, regional and national ecumenical gatherings of the Christian Church. On a worldwide basis, in cooperation with other appropriate entities, we work to: Facilitate the sharing of ideas, information and insights. Offer mutual support and fellowship. Represent the needs and concerns of rural communities, churches and institutions to both secular and church decision-making bodies. Encourage and initiate research, writing and the production of other resource materials relevant to rural life and ministry. Arrange continuing programmes for conferences and seminars.

Our Objectives

As God's people we are committed to:

Sharing the faith, values and hopes of the Kingdom of God in Rural Communities worldwide.
Encourage and promoting the Christian ministry and mission of local congregations through local, regional and national ecumenical gatherings of the Christian Church.

On a worldwide basis, in cooperation with other appropriate entities, we work to:

Facilitate the sharing of ideas, information and insights.
Offer mutual support and fellowship.
Represent the needs and concerns of rural communities, churches and institutions to both secular and church decision-making bodies.
Encourage and initiate research, writing and the production of other resource materials relevant to rural life and ministry.
Arrange continuing programmes for conferences and seminars.

Our Statement of Faith
We affirm the central truths of the Christian Faith as expressed in the Bible and historic creeds. We believe the whole creation belongs to God - the land, the waters and all creatures. We believe that God seeks all creation to be cherished. We affirm that, in Jesus Christ incarnate, God's love for all humanity is expressed. The knowledge that Jesus stands beside them can encourage rural people in their struggles. This knowledge is power for personal, social and economic transformation. We believe the Holy Spirit works to bring order out of chaos as the whole creation groans for its fulfillment. The Spirit inspires the church to cooperate in this mission. We acknowledge different emphases within the various Christian denominations. We recognise that some denominations are more at ease than others in drawing on insights from secular theory and practice.

Our Statement of Faith

We affirm the central truths of the Christian Faith as expressed in the Bible and historic creeds.
We believe the whole creation belongs to God - the land, the waters and all creatures. We believe that God seeks all creation to be cherished.
We affirm that, in Jesus Christ incarnate, God's love for all humanity is expressed. The knowledge that Jesus stands beside them can encourage rural people in their struggles. This knowledge is power for personal, social and economic transformation.
We believe the Holy Spirit works to bring order out of chaos as the whole creation groans for its fulfillment. The Spirit inspires the church to cooperate in this mission.
We acknowledge different emphases within the various Christian denominations. We recognise that some denominations are more at ease than others in drawing on insights from secular theory and practice.

Our History
In 1993, a small group of international rural church leaders gathered in England to celebrate 21 years of the Arthur Rank Centre. This ecumenical centre is the focus for the rural work of all the churches of Great Britain and helps the churches understand their rural context much more clearly. Plans were made for a future international conference. 'Rural Culture and Spirituality' was the theme of the conference held in Durham, England in August 1998. About 100 people from a variety of countries attended and at the end of the Conference the International Rural Church Ecumencial Association, as it was then called, was established (IRCEA). The first Secretary of the association was Michael Cruchley, the Director of the Arthur Rank Centre at the time. Lloyd Vidler, a minister with the Uniting Church of Australia, was appointed the first Chairperson. A Council for World Mission school in South Africa in 1999 and a meeting of overseas participants of the Trans-Tasman Rural Ministry Conference in Northland, New Zealand in 2000 helped links develop further. The Rev B.D. Prasada Rao was at each of these and through his efforts and encouragement, the Church of South India became the host for the second conference in Chennai, November 2002. The proposed 2006 3rd conference in Korea did not proceed, but Rev Catherine Christie and the Canadian Rural Churches Network entered the breach and agreed to host the third conference in Brandon, Manitoba, July 2007. The next conference is due to be held in 2010. If you’re interested in hosting a future conference simply email us.

Our History

In 1993, a small group of international rural church leaders gathered in England to celebrate 21 years of the Arthur Rank Centre. This ecumenical centre is the focus for the rural work of all the churches of Great Britain and helps the churches understand their rural context much more clearly. Plans were made for a future international conference.

'Rural Culture and Spirituality' was the theme of the conference held in Durham, England in August 1998. About 100 people from a variety of countries attended and at the end of the Conference the International Rural Church Ecumencial Association, as it was then called, was established (IRCEA).

The first Secretary of the association was Michael Cruchley, the Director of the Arthur Rank Centre at the time. Lloyd Vidler, a minister with the Uniting Church of Australia, was appointed the first Chairperson.

A Council for World Mission school in South Africa in 1999 and a meeting of overseas participants of the Trans-Tasman Rural Ministry Conference in Northland, New Zealand in 2000 helped links develop further. The Rev B.D. Prasada Rao was at each of these and through his efforts and encouragement, the Church of South India became the host for the second conference in Chennai, November 2002.

The proposed 2006 3rd conference in Korea did not proceed, but Rev Catherine Christie and the Canadian Rural Churches Network entered the breach and agreed to host the third conference in Brandon, Manitoba, July 2007.

The next conference is due to be held in 2010. If you’re interested in hosting a future conference simply email us.

News & Prayers through IRCA
Rural Christians around the world share news and prayer requests in a weekly emailing. This prayer link is provided by the International Rural Church Association to help strengthen connections between rural churches. Stories of struggle broaden our perspective. Stories of hope encourage us in mission in our own place. Send us an email to join the network. The International Rural Church Association is a network of rural Christians around the world who seek to support one another in their mission of connecting the gospel and rural life in their own local context.

News & Prayers through IRCA

Rural Christians around the world share news and prayer requests in a weekly emailing.

This prayer link is provided by the International Rural Church Association to help strengthen connections between rural churches. Stories of struggle broaden our perspective. Stories of hope encourage us in mission in our own place.

Send us an email to join the network.

The International Rural Church Association is a network of rural Christians around the world who seek to support one another in their mission of connecting the gospel and rural life in their own local context.

Joining IRCA
If you want to belong to IRCA, simply email us. Individuals, congregations, church boards or synods or bodies associated with rural ministry are welcome to join the IRCA network.