Our third Rural Ministry Colloquium of the year is now available for download on iTunes U.

This month’s speaker is Thriving Rural Communities director Rev. Jeremy Troxler, who shares his thoughts on how to cultivate humility.

According to Jeremy, we gain humility when we accept that we are prideful, that we sometimes will fail, and that we truly need God. To combat the inherently human need to put ourselves first, he advocates the cultivation of “beautiful, secret disciplines.” These practices, kept private, might include committing to being truly present in every conversation, or leaving the best seat in the room for someone else, or suppressing the urge to have the last word in a discussion.

This humbleness before God is essential in a rural ministry, which typically occurs far from the crowds and the spotlight of a larger church.

The Rural Ministry Colloquia are monthly lunch-time gatherings at Duke Divinity School where a pastor, scholar, layperson, or practitioner is invited to address an issue related to rural life or ministry and then lead a discussion on the topic. These events are open to the public.