The Church Addresses the Rural Life Context

The Church's Commitment
The 1999 Churchwide Assembly passed the Economic Life Social Statement, "Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All." The statement reflects the ELCA's commitment to: "pray for and support those who farm the land; pursue new ways for consumers to partner with small farmers in sharing the risks and yields of farming."

"We call for: changes to assure that farmers will receive a greater proportion of the retail food dollar; adequate prices for agricultural products so that farmers can be compensated fairly for their labor and production costs; sustainable agricultural practices that protect and restore the regenerative capacities of the land, rather than practices that deplete the land; more just working conditions for farm workers, especially immigrants, and opportunities for them to acquire their own land; and greater entry-level opportunities for the next generation of family farmers."

Through collaboration, the Lutheran Office of Governmental Affairs (LOGA) and the Rural Ministry Office have determined that advocacy efforts need to be directed. Because of the complexity of the issues coupled with the urgency felt by those in rural America, it was decided that advocacy efforts fall into three key areas.

Advocacy Key Area 1:
The need for a public policy that alleviates the great difficulty caused by abnormal price
fluctuations.

Advocacy Key Area 2:
The questions and concerns regarding bio-genetic engineering and the foods produced
thereby.

Advocacy Key Area 3:
The legal, moral, and philosophical questions surrounding the concentration of the entire food producing and processing industry in the hands of very few multi-national corporations.

Through the initiative of the Great Plains Coalition recognizing that 51.2 percent of ELCA congregations are in small town and rural settings, a resolution was passed at the Churchwide Assembly in 1997, requesting the development of a plan to establish a rural and small-town ministries "desk" at the ELCA Churchwide office. As a result, the position was created and the ministry is housed in the Division for Outreach and is located at Grand View Lutheran Church in Des Moines, Iowa.

An advisory committee of eighteen persons from various rural contexts and settings meet to set policy and direction for the rural ministry office. The advisory committee is appointed by the presiding bishop. The rural ministry office serves from the perspectives of education, advocacy and spirituality.

The Church's Response to Rural Life
Complicated, emotional, complex, multifaceted, multi-ethnic, traditional - these are a few adjectives describe rural life. How can the Church respond? Again, the responses are multi-faceted. We can:

Find, equip and retain gifted pastors, rostered leaders, and lay people who want to serve in rural and small town ministry.
Connect rural and urban people around the issues of faith and life as they relate to land, food and other resources.
Help rural and small town congregations find and live a new vision for their community's future.
Raise concern for the quality and safety of the food that is being produced.
Voice concerns within the faith community.
Support the development and education of pastors and encourage rural congregations to become more inclusive and grown in awareness and acceptance of cultural diversity in a rural setting.
Express opinions from a rural life perspective within the faith community.
Surface models of outreach that are accessible and replicable for social ministry organizations.
Advocate for the farming and ranching way of life that provides a just living wage.
Raise awareness among governmental officials about rural life issues.
Encourage congregations in their work on environmental issues and the care of creation.
Develop evangelism resources for and with rural congregations.
Aid multi-point congregations in their development, operations and relationships.
Affirm the ELCA's commitment to ministry in rural America.

Voices from Rural People
"We love the land. We try to care for it in a way that honors the Creator and makes it worth passing on to our children. We want the church to be here for them, too."

"Our town is changing, and so is our church. It used to be we were almost all farmers and ranchers. Now there's mining and manufacturing. And commuters, and retirees. And we're trying to be the church with all of them."

"The population of our rural community is decreasing, and it's not easy to reach out to those who are left when our two-point parish has a different pastor every three or four years. We need someone to train lay people for effective, long-term ministry."

"I think it would help if we could see more rural people and situations in our church's publications, programs and leadership."

"Rural people want to be understood and respected as an important part of this church." "When you get right down to it, things have been tough in much of rural America. But we still have things to celebrate and a lot to share with the rest of the church."

"Our town is becoming multi-cultural; how do we reach out to new immigrants?"

"My pastor grew up in a suburban area and just doesn't understand us. How can we train pastors for rural and small town settings?"

"So many of the Vacation Bible School and Christian Education materials don't fit our small church. Where can we go to get help for these materials?"

"How can we keep our children in rural America? It seems as if our children are the greatest and most precious export rural America has given to the United States."

More Information
The Rural Ministry Resources and Networking office maintains a variety of printed materials, books, videos and audiotapes that are available. In addition, the Director gives presentations, workshops, continuing education, and speeches on rural life and rural ministry issues. Please contact the office with your requests, questions, concerns or suggestions.