Rural Churches in the USARural Churches in the USA

Ed KailEd Kail

Alvin LuedkeAlvin Luedke

David RuesinkDavid Ruesink

Three Rural ScenariosThree Rural Scenarios

Metro Rural – within metropolitan Metro Rural – within metropolitan “laborshed”“laborshed”

““Wal Mart Rural” – regional service Wal Mart Rural” – regional service centers with diversified economic centers with diversified economic basebase

Ag-dependent Rural – Towns, villages, Ag-dependent Rural – Towns, villages, counties tied to agriculture and counties tied to agriculture and related related businessesbusinesses

Metro RuralMetro Rural

Socio-economic-demographic trend is UPSocio-economic-demographic trend is UP Rapid changeRapid change High mobilityHigh mobility Rural communities become bedroom townsRural communities become bedroom towns Immense challenges for “local old-timer Immense challenges for “local old-timer

insiders”insiders”

““Wal-Mart Rural”Wal-Mart Rural”

Trends are mixed, unstableTrends are mixed, unstable Change depends upon strategic choices of Change depends upon strategic choices of

leadersleaders Churches mimic the communityChurches mimic the community Future lies with Future lies with regionalregional mindset mindset

Ag-Dependent RuralAg-Dependent Rural

In persistent decline for 50+ yearsIn persistent decline for 50+ years Restructuring of agriculture removes local Restructuring of agriculture removes local

economic bases for communityeconomic bases for community Fewer farmers, but more people:Fewer farmers, but more people:

– Economic refugeesEconomic refugees– Retirement lifestyle destinationsRetirement lifestyle destinations– Immigrants from all over the worldImmigrants from all over the world

Phenomenon: Rural SuburbiaPhenomenon: Rural Suburbia

The fragmentation of rural communities: The fragmentation of rural communities: from “gemeinschaft” to “gesellschaft”from “gemeinschaft” to “gesellschaft”

Drivers: Mobility, communications Drivers: Mobility, communications technologies, globalization of economicstechnologies, globalization of economics

““Suburban” lifestyles predominate, even in Suburban” lifestyles predominate, even in rural locationsrural locations

““Rural” often ignored, left behind, Rural” often ignored, left behind, designated as “quaint”, disempowered by designated as “quaint”, disempowered by larger systems.larger systems.

An Important Dynamic: An Important Dynamic: Social PositionSocial Position

(From (From Making Your Small Church EffectiveMaking Your Small Church Effective, Carl Dudley & Doug Waltrath, Carl Dudley & Doug Waltrath

DominantDominant DenominationalDenominational DistinctiveDistinctive ““Domesticated”Domesticated” (EK)(EK)

Crisis: OLD ChurchesCrisis: OLD Churches

Congregations in place for 150+ yearsCongregations in place for 150+ years Decline/Death phase of institutional life Decline/Death phase of institutional life

cycle.cycle. Primary dynamic: INWARD focus, passive Primary dynamic: INWARD focus, passive

toward outside/communitytoward outside/community Demographic projection: By 2020, 75% of Demographic projection: By 2020, 75% of

the people we currently have will be the people we currently have will be GONE.GONE.

The Quest:The Quest:

Revitalization/Renewal/Resurrection is Revitalization/Renewal/Resurrection is URGENTURGENT

Seeking the “Magic Formula” – resources, Seeking the “Magic Formula” – resources, processes, models, informationprocesses, models, information

Needed: Resources for Needed: Resources for ruralrural contexts. contexts.