Action learning sets and social capital: ameliorating the burden of clergy isolation in one rural diocese

ABSTRACT

Rural clergy often lack colleagues and may struggle with isolation, especially if over-extended in multi-parish benefices. Theory suggests that this sense of isolation could be addressed by launching clergy action learning sets, which have the potential to establish a peer support network through the formation of social capital as a by-product of the pedagogical process. This case study looks at the effect of action learning set membership upon clergy involved in a new ministry development programme in one rural Church of England diocese. Markers of social capital (networks, norms and social trust) were found among set members, some of whom were prepared to draw on the new resource for assistance with problems, while others were ready to support such colleagues. Pre-existing support networks were one reason for clergy not intending to capitalize on the new links; another was the geographically dispersed set memberships. Geography may militate against exploiting social capital, but a distance of many miles between priest and trusted confidant can be advantageous. The study demonstrates that the notion that social capital formed through action learning will ameliorate isolation among some geographically scattered clergy is grounded not only in theory but also in practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Action learning
• deanery chapters
• isolation
• rural clergy
• social capital

Acknowledgements

Grateful thanks are expressed to the staff of the Diocese of Truro and participants in the programme.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Dr Judith A. Muskett is a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in the Faculty of Education & Theology, York St John University working on the project to evaluate the Accompanied Ministry Development programme in the Diocese of Truro.

Professor Andrew Village is Professor of Practical and Empirical Theology in the Faculty of Education & Theology, York St John University, and Principal Investigator of the project to evaluate the Accompanied Ministry Development programme in the Diocese of Truro.

ORCiD

Andrew Village http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2174-8822

Notes

1. Deanery chapters are long-standing contexts, regarded in the nineteenth century as clerical assemblies to emulate those of other professions (Williams 2007). In the Diocese of Truro, there are 12 deaneries of various sizes, the smallest number of parishes being 9 and the largest 27.

When the current Bishop of Truro was new to the diocese, he visited all deaneries and encouraged them to meet weekly in chapter to pray together, read the Bible and plan. Weekly chapter meetings were discretionary and a small number of deaneries took up the idea.

2. A ‘Work Based Learning Groups’ initiative was launched by the Diocese of Truro in 2011 (Vaughan-Wilson 2016), inspired by Balint groups within the NHS (see Salinsky 2009 and, e.g., Travis 2008 on a Balint-style group initiative in the Bristol Diocese). There was no prior history of such peer support groups in the diocese. Members were invited to join the first WBLG by the Bishop. Two further WBLGs met over the succeeding two years. Each WBLG, comprising four to six clergy, had two professional, paid facilitators. Each WBLG lasted two hours and met over eight weeks. Regular attendance was a requirement; and this was mostly successful. The initiative halted as preparations were made for action learning sets within AMD. Now self-facilitated, the first WBLG continues to meet.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by St Luke’s College Foundation [UK Registered Charity 306606].