Project Reconnect: UCA Mid Lachlan Mission Area

Virtual vicars keep church doors open
By SAMANTHA WILLIAMS Regional Reporter
August 16, 2005

THE rural vicars crisis has become so drastic that one denomination has resorted to delivering sermons by DVD in order to survive.
The Uniting Church has turned to digital technology as the key to keeping its church doors open, sending out a 45-minute recorded sermon to far flung communities.
With the cost of having a full-time priest running at around $65,000 a year, many small country parishes can't afford to employ anyone. Other churches have resorted to looking overseas for priests.
Now the Uniting Church at Parkes, in the state's West, has launched Project Reconnect. It produces a weekly service on DVD, which is then distributed to congregations to ensure parishioners can access the church.
Uniting Church rural chaplain, the Reverend Kel Hodge, said the clergy shortage meant it had to look at alternative ways to bring religion to people.
"Communities kept telling us they had ties to their church and that they didn't want to see it closed," Mr Hodge said.
"What we're doing is fresh, on the ground and something that a lot of other churches are not doing.
"This initiative keeps the doors open especially in times of drought when people are under stress.
"We've found people not from a traditional church background are coming through the doors."
While many communities have no hope of paying for a full-time vicar, for only $4 a week, which covers the cost of the DVD and postage, communities can stay in touch with their clergy.
Project Reconnect is an initiative that has ground-welling support with at least 15 churches in NSW receiving the DVD.
It has also attracted attention from churches in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria.
The DVDs are produced by the Reverend Tom Stuart in Parkes and contain a sermon, readings, hymns, a youth message and questions for the congregation to discuss.
"Our parishioners have told us that it is sometimes more vibrant than the normal service," Mr Stuart said.
In Bogan Gate, which has a population of 200, Roslyn Edwards organises the town's service.
Although Ms Edwards is not a qualified clergywoman, she is passionate about her church.
"The DVD was a saviour in light of fact the church might have closed, and once it closes in a small area they generally don't re-open," Ms Edwards said. "It means a great deal when you are drought-stricken."
As Bogan Gate has only a small congregation, Ms Edwards said they swapped alternative services with nearby community of Gunningbland, which has a population of 50.
Ms Edwards stores the TV and DVD player at her home before taking it to church on Sunday.
"We get the DVD a couple of days before Sunday to make sure it works," Ms Edwards said.
"One week they have the DVD player at their church and the next we have it at our church.
"It obviously works well because we have regular people coming back week after week."

A good example of people choosing something for a particular context... would it help elsewhere?
Well maybe BUT the important question is 'what' would help elsewhere? and why?