UMRA news & updates

June 2022

WE ARE ...
THE UNITED
METHODIST
RURAL ADVOCATES
You would not ignore a community
more than seven times larger than
New York City. Yet the rural
population in the United States, with
over 60 million people, is often
overlooked because they are not all
living in the same area.

Whether your church is urban or

rural church, large or small, the
UMRA invites you to join our
association of clergy and laity in
reaching out to meet the needs of
people from rural communities, their
churches and their pastors.
We provide advocacy at General
Conference and Annual
Conferences to affect rule
changes that enable churches to
better minister in their
communities, provide
educational opportunities for the
leaders of rural churches to better
serve their church bodies, and
support church leaders in
personal growth and ministry.
Officers
2021-2024
Chair - Randy Wall -
RandyLWall@aol.com
Vice Chair - Peggy -
peggy4249@yahoo.com
Secretary - Doug Flinn -
doug.flinn64@gmail.com
Spiritual Director -
Orrinda Stockton -
ostockton@hotmail.com
Communications Dir -
Michele Holloway -
chele101953@gmail.com
Advocacy Dir - Mollie Stewart
- Molliecstewart0128@gmail.com
Membership - Sue Grace
Days of Transition
by Rev. Dr. Alan Rice
These are days of transition for RFD NETworX,
Consulting, and me. For NETworX, the prayer is for
this faith endeavor evolve into more than it can be
with RFD. For Consulting, it is for a faithful finish to
the large senior living project at Cornelius Woods.
Personally, it is the realization that in 12 months, I
will reach mandatory retirement in June 2023.
I suppose all of this has sparked a profound lesson on
transition from thirty years ago. Rev. Neil Smith died
unexpectedly while serving at Tyro UMC. His last
consciousness was in the church office. Neil’s last
words were What a lovely day to die. Just over
six months later, I was appointed to Tyro. Four years
later, a new office area and fellowship hall were
completed. The office area Neil and I had used
became a hallway to the new section.
I was struck then and now by the thought that all of
our offices are no more than hallways. For Neil, it was
the passageway to glory. For me, it was to the
superintendency and now to RFD. Yet for both of us,
indeed all of us, our corridor of being in Christ is by
faith, a grace upon grace series of transitions. Ever so
thankfully, it is not by strength nor wisdom and is
despite the amalgam of mistakes, missteps, and
trespasses.
 smgrlg51@yahoo.com
Treasurer - Judy Hill It is God’s ongoing gift that we grow
judyh@plainstel.com into real maturity by the power of the
indwelling Holy Spirit—that measure of
development meant by the “fullness of
Christ.”
Ephesians 4:13 JB Phillips

Like Paul, I know I have not obtained it yet. But

likewise, I am eager to press on. I am hungry for many
more days of transition toward greater
transformation. I do not want this to be scaled back
by age, interrupted by retirement, or cooled by
diminished love of Jesus. Humbly and joyfully, I am
also confident that God yet has a plans for you and me
to remain vitally attached to the Vine and to be
fruitful.

Thanks for all you have already done in Christ, for all
you are and all you shall be!

Learning the Language

and Culture of Rural Churches
by Randy Wall, UMRA Chair
When June comes near and as the Annual Conference Session
approaches, I find myself thinking back to 1974 when I was first
appointed as a United Methodist pastor. I was young and just a few
semester hours shy of my bachelor’s degree when I got the call that I
was being appointed to serve as a pastor of a 3 point United
Methodist charge in a rural area of eastern North Carolina. There
was so much that was new to me in those early days of pastoral
ministry. While my grandparents lived in a rural area, I did not. I
grew up in a small North Carolina town. Though I was licensed to preach (or was a candidate for
ministry as they call it today) and had served on church staff for two years, I was new to the role of
pastor.

After I had been there a few weeks, I heard some of the folks in the church talking about doing a
“pounding” for their new pastor. When I heard the word “pounding”, it brought thoughts of being
pommeled or beaten up. I wondered what I had done so badly that they were going to pound
me! I soon discovered that while I thought “pounding” was a bad thing, it really was a good thing
because one day they placed before me “pounds” of sugar, flour, and other household goods that
made the grocery bill much lighter.

In the Fall, we prepared for Homecoming and Revival Services at the 3 churches. We had Revival
Services for 3 weeks in a row and 3 straight Sundays of Homecoming Services. While the
congregation might have been revived, this new pastor was pretty tired after those 3 weeks. As
that first Homecoming Day approaches, some of the folks in the church talked about “pastry”. As
a small town city boy, my idea of pastry was doughnuts, chocolate eclairs, and the like. I soon
discovered that what they called pastry was what we called at our house chicken and dumplings.
I share these memories of my early days of pastoral ministry not to simply remember, but to make
a point. I am certain that there will be many pastors heading into their first appointment after
Annual Conference who have never lived in a rural community. Perhaps they like myself grew up
in a small town or in an urban area. If you have a new pastor coming to your congregation this
year, be kind to them. With kindness and gentleness, help them to learn the “rural ways” of your
church and community and to learn the personality of your congregation. Pray for them before
they even come to your community and encourage them once they do.

If you are one of those newly appointed pastors going into a rural community and to a rural church
for the first time, try to educate yourself about the rural church and rural community where you
will have the privilege to live and serve. The community and the congregation might be different
than your experience so take the time to learn in the weeks leading up to that move. When my
oldest daughter was in the Peace Corps in Africa, she spent her first 3 months learning the language
of the people and their culture where she would serve in Zambia. When my daughter, Ginger, and
her husband were preparing to go to Mozambique to work at the U.S. Embassy and live there, they
spent months learning the language and the culture. If you are a new pastor heading into a rural
church for the first time, learn all you can about the language and culture of the rural place you
will be serving. You will be a better pastor for having done so and the people will appreciate your
efforts.

Getting Back To...

by Rev. Deb Ketcham, Event Coordinator

Did you think I wanted to say ‘normal’? I hope not. Although we all
wish we could go back to some of what we thought was normal, or
enjoyed pre-Covid, is that really where you want to be – to go back,
and start over 16 months ago? Yes, some loved ones may still be with
us, we may have our old job back - however the birth of babies, a
graduation, a wedding, or an achievement would not exist, maybe
ever.
I miss what I thought was the ‘good ole days’, that ended abruptly,
however, Covid told us much about ourselves, family, friends, and
organizations. Covid poked holes and made large crevices, even landslides out of the cracks and
gaps of our ‘old normal.’ What we thought was important, and how strong we thought our
relationships were, and our dependence upon the things that we had, challenged us to see life in
a new way.
Two years ago, we began to see if our priorities, our family, and our friends truly defined us. Our
confidence in our ‘things’ may have shifted to the realization that we have too many
things. Maybe, for the first time, we saw that our church did not have much impact upon your
community or world. Covid revealed to us what was true and not true in glaring ways.
Our daughter recently listened to a podcast that said many of us were languishing, meaning
living in a state of decreasing vitality, grief, and being dispirited – meaning a lack of enthusiasm,
and being overwhelmed. I found that a good descriptive of me and the church I serve over much
of the past 2 years. We kept up with our missions and ministries. We didn’t miss a Sunday
because of Zoom, but the weariness, even after months of being back together, lingered far too
long. I wasn’t depressed. I just missed feeling energized and vibrant. My church missed it too.
After a 2 year hiatus, we had our Strawberry Festival last month. As folks waited for the doors to
open, one right after another told me how excited they were when they saw the ad we were
having the Festival again. Folks talked about how nice the church was, how friendly the people
were, and the good things others had said. As the event progressed, folks who had never joined
us for this annual dinner commented how much fun folks were having in the kitchen – their
smiles, laughter, and joy. - That was it – JOY. - That’s what had been missing. Sure there was a
spattering, but being together, working together, there was great joy. We had finally jumped the
hurdle and were re-energized. Praise God!
Although it seemed we went back to ‘normal,’ we had moved ahead by leaps and bounds. In the
past seven years, I had never seen that kind of joy and comradery in the kitchen. I had not seen
the entire space energized by both patron and worker. I’m glad we didn’t go back to normal, for
we would not have been the blessing we were, nor been blessed by those who came. All enjoyed
the event with excitement and joy.
I invite you to move beyond the memory of what was, to what will be, so we can all continue to
move forward, to grow, to thrive, to stretch, and to re-energize, so we can be a blessing, and be
blessed.

Devotions (from Good Morning, Church!)

by Rev. Dr. Carl Ellis, May 27, 2022

We celebrate Mother's Day, Memorial Day, and Father's Day during May and June.

However, each holiday is no longer a day of remembering for many people. Think about
Memorial Day weekend. Many people no longer remember those who died serving our country.
Instead, Memorial Day is the weekend that starts summer vacations. For those who have jobs
that allow, it is a time for traveling and enjoying time off.

Maybe we have forgotten we are only here because God has created the world, and God has given
us all we have. So we take a few minutes to worship and give thanks to God and then spend the
other 23 hours free to exercise our freedoms.

Some use their freedoms to complain about people who don't take time to worship God. I will
never forget attending a worship service while camping, surrounded by trees, a flowing river,
fantastic music, and friendly people. The minister never spoke about being surrounded by God's
creation. Instead, he used his sermon to complain about those who were not there.

Maybe we need to rethink why we celebrate Mother's Day, Memorial Day, and Father's Day.
Perhaps these, and many other holidays, might be times we remember the sacrifices of Jesus,
parents, and soldiers rather than a time to take a holiday or complain about those who don't
show up to give thanks and worship.

Let us take time to remember God, our creator. Take a few moments to watch the sunrise or
sunset. Take time for family worship. Remember everything we have, especially the forgiveness
and love that comes from God and Jesus, who sacrificed his life for us.

Celebrate Mothers Day, Father's Day, and Memorial Day every day. Let us remember those who
came before us who made sacrifices so we could be free.
Remember, celebrate, and imitate those who sacrificed and paid it forward so we could be free.

Isn't paying it forward part of the church's vision? We are disciples of Jesus who paid it forward
so we could know God's love and experience the freedom of forgiveness. The church is here today
because of the many who sacrificed for all who came after them.

We are here because of those who have gone before us and who paid it forward through their
sacrifices.

Now it is our turn to pay it forward, to remember, and reconnect with those who sacrificed so
that we might imitate the selflessness of those who came before us.

Take time to remember.

Take time to celebrate.

Take time to imitate.

And pay it forward.

"Reprinted by permission of The Academy for Small Membership Church Ministries (https://www.tasmcm.org/)."

NFAMLP ANNUAL MEETING

The National Fellowship of Associate Members and Local Pastors will be gathering in 2022 on
September 14-16 in Branson, MO. All local pastors, student pastors, associate members, are
invited to attend. For more information, see the brochure here.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

The national organization, United Methodist Rural Advocates, is pleased to announce we have a limited
number of scholarships to offer for attending programs or trainings that can enhance rural ministry. An
applicant can be considered for a scholarship of up to the lesser of $400 or one half of program/event fees,
etc. It is through the UMRA IGNITE fundraising campaign that these scholarships are being offered.

Please contact Treasurer Judy Hill to learn more. Contact information is listed below.

Judy Hill, Treasurer UMRA

3642 Road D
Joes, CO 80822

Email: judyh@plainstel.com

RURAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

• NETworX WEBINAR sponsored by UMRA. Information may be found on the

UMRA website under events. http://www.umruraladvocates.org/vision--
mission-webinar.html
 •
• ACADEMY FOR SMALL CHURCH MINISTRIES in affiliation with UMRA. Check
out tasmcm.org for ongoing and upcoming training opportunities.

Training beginning in July and August:

Discovering Your Call to Ministry
When Jul. 17 - Aug. 27, 2022
Registration deadline Jul. 10, 2022
Fee$100
Scholarships are available. Contact the Rev. Dr. Carl K. Ellis for information.
Contact Rev. Dr. Carl K. Ellis

Foundations for Ministry

When Aug. 29, 2022 - May. 6, 2023
Registration deadline Aug. 22, 2022
Fee$300
Scholarships are available. Contact the Rev. Dr. Carl K. Ellis for information.
Contact Rev. Dr. Carl K. Ellis

NETworX INFORMATION

NETworX-Securing Well-being Together

Measurable outcomes, measured at six-month intervals

throughout NETworX participation, include:
• Increase in income to at or above 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines,
• Decrease in use of public assistance,
• Decrease in revolving debt from credit cards, rent-to-own, or predatory
lending,
• Increase in assets,
• Increase in safe, supportive, and nurturing relationships, and
• Increase in perception of overall quality of life.
If you are interested in hearing more, contact Alan Rice, a member of the UMRA Executive
Committee at 336-239-1526 or visit www.NETworXUSA.org

SHARE MINISTRY/BEST PRACTICES STORIES WITH US

Are there ministries and outreach in your churches that you want others to know about?
We celebrate the truth that rural/town and country churches are vital and active within
their communities and we want to share that information around the country. Do you
have a story of joy or hope that you would like to have shared here? There are others
who could greatly benefit from what has worked for you and even what hasn't worked
but that has allowed you to grow. Send stories to Michele Holloway
at chele101953@gmail.com and your stories will be published in upcoming editions of
this eCommunication.
This newsletter is published every other month: February, April, June, August, October,
and December. Please send all submissions to the above email address no later than the
25th of the month prior to publication.

UMRA MEMBERSHIP

Memberships are available in the following categories:

Limited Income (What you can afford.)
Student $10.00
Basic One-Year $30.00
Church One-Year $50.00
Advocacy Membership One-Year $250.00
Membership Letter and Form - click here
Two Easy Steps to Membership
1. Please fill out membership form:
United Methodist Rural Advocates Membership
2. Pay Membership Dues through PayPal
For more information or membership, contact:
Email: smgrlg51@yahoo.com
Sue Grace - Membership Secretary
2755 Independence Ct,
Grove City, OH 43123
740-707-2901
UMRA membership provides not only voice and vote in the organization, but also includes a subscription to
the UMRA E NEWSLETTER.

United Methodist
Rural Advocates
Click links to the right to find us.