This is a text-only version of an article first published on Tuesday, 5 May 2015. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
The Buckingham Archdeaconry is pleased to announce the appointment of the Revd Valerie Plumb as full time Area Dean for Rural Mission and Development.
The Revd Valerie Plumb plants a tree.
This is the first such appointment in the Diocese of Oxford. Valerie will be working with the churches and clergy of the Mursley, Buckingham, Claydon and the western part of Aylesbury Deaneries, to encourage creativity, offer support, advice and encouragement and develop strategies to serve and enliven the rural church for the future. She will also bring the rural perspective further into the work of the Area Team and the DAC. Valerie is currently working as a busy Rector of six churches and seven parishes set in rural West Somerset in the Diocese of Bath and Wells, where she has served for almost six years. She comes with a passion for rural ministry and mission and is excited about the possibility of re-imagining and helping others work towards to a fresh and creative ecclesiastical mind-set for the church.
She brings experience of nearly 15 years of parochial ministry, predominantly set in rural environments.
Alongside this she has worked in multiple chaplaincy roles, and been involved in various deanery and diocesan activities.
Throughout this time she has continued to work towards a shared understanding of mission and of developing new ways of communicating the message of Christ in contemporary society. She says: "I am looking forward to the privilege of working with others in practical and innovative ways to create sustainable, realistic, and relevant strategies that will help provide support and hope for the future of our rural church. "The Ven.
Karen Gorham, Archdeacon of Buckingham, whose vision it was to create such a role says" "This is a timely appointment. The rural church has often been seen as the poor relation, with limited resources and small congregations. Instead, I see it as a valuable resource providing great opportunity to make a real difference to the quality of community life in our market towns, villages and hamlets. Investing in someone to have the time to work with each of those communities in exciting new ways will I hope be transformative. I am grateful to all those in Buckinghamshire who will be supporting this venture. "The Revd Canon Glyn Evans, the Diocesan Rural Officer writes 'This is an exciting new post in this diocese. Valerie will bring a pioneering energy and proven skills in rural church development.
The task is to build on the good work done in the past in the deaneries and to strengthen the confidence of the local rural churches, enabling them to move forward into growth and new ways of working. Valerie will be licenced to the role on 22 nd September.