Our Partners in Town and Country Ministry
The Town and Country Ministries staff works with partners throughout The United Methodist Church, including jurisdictional town and country networks, annual (regional) conferences, districts and congregations to help develop lay and clergy leadership and share information about concerns affecting town and country churches and communities. We also cooperate with other United Methodist and ecumenical rural ministry groups.
News:
- Noted Ecumenical Agency Fighting Poverty In Appalachia Forced to Close its Doors
- Rural Chaplains Meet in Chugiak, Alaska
Cooperative Ministries Interagency Team
This team brings general church agencies together to plan collaboratively for the development of cooperative and shared ministries in The United Methodist Church and ecumenical settings. These ministries benefit from leadership and resource development, research and advocacy - all of which are critical to their growth and success. The Team's responsibility is to address the needs of local churches, conferences, jurisdictions and the Church around the world as they work together to fulfill the mission of Christ through cooperative ministry.
new.gbgm-umc.org/about/us/cim/programs/cooperative-ministries/
Jurisdictional Associations and Organizations
- Northeast Town and Country Association: The Rev. Walter Brown, President, P.O. Box 122 East Poland, ME 04230.
- Southeast Jurisdiction Town and Country Church Link: The Rev. Bill Taylor, President. wrtaylor1@juno.com.
- South Central Web Connection: c/o Carol J. Thompson, cjthompson@gbgm-umc.org.
- North Central Jurisdiction Town and Country Association: The Rev. Dwight Bastain, President. dwight.bastain@fumcwaukesha.org.
- Western Jurisdiction Town and Country Network: The Rev. Don Ford, Chairman. dford87@centurytel.net
Regional Rural Life Centers
- Hinton Rural Life Center provides a variety of resources for local churches, primarily in the Southeastern Jurisdiction.
www.hintoncenter.org - Heartland Network for Town and Rural Ministries provides resources to districts, annual conferences and ecumenical groups; hosts annual a January retreat for Directors of Connectional Ministries and District Superintendents. Contact Judith Heffernan, Executive Director, at Heffernanj@tranquility.net.
- Town and Rural Resource Program provides resources for educational and leadership development programs and funding to local churches and districts in East Ohio and West Ohio annual conferences. Contact The Rev. Tim Reeves, Director, at TARRP1@aol.com.
- Rural Ministry Resources provides resources to local churches and judicatory bodies in the Pacific Northwest by working through the United Methodist, Lutheran and Presbyterian churches. Contact Rev. Joel Aosved, Director, at jlime@garfield-wa.com.
Rural Chaplains Association
This membership organization providing support to laity and clergy who are called to be in rural ministry through an annual Focus Event, newsletter and workshops. A rural chaplain is a volunteer--man or woman, lay or clergy--called by God , graced with gifts particularly suited to ministry in small town and country settings, and certified by the Rural Chaplains Association for rural church and community ministries. Rural chaplains continue in their regular job or profession; they receive no compensation for their chaplaincy.
The association has United Methodist roots, a majority of its members are United Methodist, and the General Board of Global Ministries strongly endorses the objectives of the rural chaplaincy movement. However, the association has no organic or legal ties to The United Methodist Church or any of its parts. The General Board of Global Ministries, through the office of Town and Country Ministries, provides some staff support and program grants to the association, as it does for other independent groups and projects engaged in town and country ministry.
www.gbgm-umc.org/ruralchaplains/
Rural Church Network
This ecumenical membership organization is a forum for sharing among denominational leaders and other town and rural strategic partners working for the wholeness and health of rural communities. Contact: Dr. David Ruesink, Executive Secretary, c/o Rural Sociology Program, RPTS 2261, Texas A&M University, College Station TX 77843-2261. Phone:1.800.471.2568.
www.ruralchurchnetwork.org
United Methodist Appalachian Ministries Network
This diverse group works in three jurisdictions comprising 23 annual conferences in the Appalachian region. Its mission is to enhance United Methodist ministry in the Appalachian region by addressing issues, communicating concerns and facilitating networking, interpretation, resources and advocacy among churches, districts and annual conferences. www.gbgm-umc.org/appalachia/
United Methodist Rural Fellowship
This membership organization provides support to laity and clergy in rural ministry through local groups within conferences, workshops, a newsletter (The UMRF Bulletin) and legislative support and advocacy at General Conference
www.umrf.org
