The Revd Jo Neary has been announced as Sarum Colleges Tutor in Rural Ministry and Mission in the Centre for Formation in Ministry with immediate effect.
In this role she will be a member of the core ministry team with particular attention to developing the colleges Rural Pathway for ordination and lay ministry candidates as well as other areas of rural focus in our training offer. Alongside this post, J is part time Parish Priest in the Diocese of Salisbury, a reflection of the commitment to partnership working between Sarum College and the diocese.
Jo had been seconded by the diocese to work with Sarum to further integrate practical and ministerial training for the rural church. This permanent role ensures the continuation of that support through Sarum's training programmes for lay and ordained ministers, with practical work experience and encouraging individuals to serve in rural areas.
"Working with Jo is a sheer delight: her teaching is grounded, reflective and informed by experience. The Rural Pathway is an important element of our offer for the formation of a new generation of ministers and Jo has a key leadership role to enable this learning to be shaped for creative, relational mission" said the Revd Canon Professor James Woodward, Principal of Sarum College.
"Jo brings a wealth of ministry experience and missional thinking through being a pioneer minister with experience of urban and latterly rural contexts. She is enthusiastic about formation and seeing people growing in their vocations," said the Revd Paul Burden, Dean of Ministry. "We look forward to working with her on formation, particularly in further developing our training in rural ministry and mission."
"I am really excited to be joining Sarum College as Tutor for Rural Ministry and Mission after 10 months working with Sarum as part of Rural Hope, a diocesan project to support and foster rural ministry. My part-time post allows me to stay in multi-parish rural ministry half the week, which ensures my teaching, learning and reflection is rooted in current, lived rural ministry experience," said Jo "Working at Sarum energises our parish work with up-to-date theological thinking and helps connect parish life into the expertise and wisdom of a widely respected academic institution and established training provider."