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Group Name: RURAL AND SMALL CHURCH
Subject: FOR RAISING ISSUES FROM SMALL AND RURAL CHURCH FOR ALL TO DISCUSS !
This is not a meeting just for those from Rural and Small Churches orTown and
Country Churches. Instead this is a meeting to raise issuesrelated to Rural and
Small Church life, for discussion by the entire largerchurch. (Pun intended)
IN fact I hope we have some folks from large andurban parishes join in the
dicussion. I believe we in rural ministry andthose in urban ministry are
struggling withmany of the same issues answerscan be found by working together.
Anyone can join in, from anydenomination, but let's keep the personal chit-chat
to a minimum. Possible issues for discussion: In the first note, I raise
religiousfreedom verses Public Safety by examining issues rising out of the
AmishCommunity. Other issues may include: BGH and genetically altered food;
theeffect of the "Walmarting" of America; Ministry in transitionalneighborhoods
(see note 2); Ministry in tourist communities; Withdenominations looking to lay
people to be the pastors of small churches inthe future, questions are raised of
how much training should they have,what would be the differences between
ordained and lay clergy, and whatwould relations be between the two groups and
what is the meaning ofordination. Different forms of rural life have different
issues, thisisthe place to raise them. I am an ordained UCC pastor, serving a
town/country yoke in central Wis. I've been in this kind of ministry for 20
years. I feel it is my callfrom God, to serve these kinds of churches. I am
now struggling with thepersonal issue of leaving this form of ministry because I
can't afford tostay at this salary level, below conference guidelines. Are
there othersout there facing these same kinds of issues?
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