Resources

Consultation on Rural and Smaller Church Ministry
August 2003

On August 25 and 26, 2003, the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and Calvin Theological Seminary sponsored a Consultation on Rural and Smaller Church Ministry at the Prince Conference Center.

Our purpose was to bring pastors and consultants to Calvin so that professors, staff, students, and denominational representatives could listen to them talk about issues related to ministry in smaller or rural churches.

We learned a number of things that will influence future educational events. Here are a few:

—Rural areas are changing due to increased technology in agriculture, increased development of homes and businesses in rural areas, and increased crime.
—Rural people tend to be cautious, traditional, and independent. They also often feel that they have little control of their lives due to difficult economic conditions.
—When rural people move to urban areas, they think "We have a lot to learn." When urban people move to rural areas, they think "We have a lot to teach."
—Rural churches come in all sizes, and small churches come in a great variety as well.
—75% of seminary students come from urban and suburban backgrounds, but 75% of seminary students begin ministry in rural settings.
—Rural ministry is cross-cultural ministry.
—Rural churches are in some ways better suited to reaching out to and enfolding new members than their larger counterparts.
—Rural churches often have an impact on their entire communities.
—Rural pastors (like most pastors) struggle with feelings of inadequacy, fueled by the unquestioned American value that "bigger is better" (bigger churches, bigger cities, bigger staffs, bigger salaries).

“I really enjoyed our time together and felt we learned some valuable things. I want to bring the message back here that the church does care about our place in the kingdom and the CRC.”
Jerry Buwalda, Corsica, SD
Consultation on Rural and Smaller Church Ministry (Grand Rapids, MI)