Editorial

The change to Taylor and Francis’ publishing policy that has lifted the fixed limit of 70 pages for each issue of Rural Theology has allowed us to expand two features of the journal. First, we have been able to increase the number, and thus the variety, of book reviews. Our current target is to include at least 20 book reviews in each issue. I am grateful to our faithful group of reviewers for stepping up to this opportunity. Second, over the years there has been a positive response to our section on standing theology and our target is now to include three examples in each issue. I would welcome enquiries from potential book reviewers and potential contributors to the standing theology section.

Rural Theology set out to provide international, ecumenical, and interdisciplinary research perspectives on matters of relevance to rural church and to rural living. In this issue, we are pleased to include research perspectives from the USA and Poland, as well as from the UK. We are pleased to welcome researchers rooted in the Roman Catholic Church and the Seventh Day Baptist Church, as well as the Anglican Church.

Within the UK context, Andrew Village presents and discusses research conducted by the dioceses of Exeter and Truro in 2023 as part of a review of ministry and training for ministry. By so doing he is making available for a wider readership insights generated in a local context. I welcome that. I suspect that there is a lot of good research going on in local contexts with relevance to the rural church and to rural living. Rural Theology is the forum within which such sharing and discussion can take place. I invite other researchers to follow in Andrew Village’s footsteps.