UMRA news & updates

April 2023

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 In Cooperation
churches and their pastors. by Debra Ketcham

We provide advocacy at General Well, most things come back

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 -
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
around again. The 70’s styles I
grew up with are the styles of
young people today. Many
young adults are drawn to the
mid-century homes I and
maybe you grew up in.
Currently, our district in West
Ohio Conference is putting the
churches in circuits as a way to
bring people to Christ for the
transformation of the world.
From the beginning of Methodism, churches were in
circuits. Churches shared pastors. Churches cooperated
and collaborated together in mission and ministry.
Cooperative ministries brought churches together in
rural areas, around lakes, whole counties, and even
crossing state lines, becoming Cooperative Parishes.
Some of these groupings of churches encompassed 5, 7,
13, or more churches with a common focus for mission
and ministry together, for others. Some have continued
to thrive in Appalachia and other areas.
Yet over time, many churches wanted their own pastor,
and eventually the cooperative mindset shifted to
 smgrlg51@yahoo.com individual churches with their missions and ministry. As
Treasurer - Judy Hill time went on, conference leadership reframed the
judyh@plainstel.com
cooperative model to form a pastor package, not a focus
on cooperative mission and ministry. Once again,
circuits with collaborative and cooperative foci may be
our future, as large segments of our counties and country
are void of UM churches.
The underlying reason for the new focus on circuit
ministry is to learn from each other’s strengths and
giftedness. Together we can attain more than we can
individually as believers, and as churches. Together we
can continue or develop vital ministries. We learn
together, grow together, bless more people together, and
make Christ more visible in our communities, with the
intention of introducing more people to Christ.
For far too long, churches in the same area have not
operated as a body of Christ. We have become too
independent in our thinking, and forgotten to invite
others, and their giftedness, to join us in mission and
ministry, so as to make a greater kingdom impact.
I invite you to consider the blessing of working with other
churches, in witness, service, shared pastors, shared
space, shared programming, or shared congregational
ministries. The re-formation of parishes and circuits will
likely redefine mission and ministry. May we allow God
to open our eyes to the possibilities; and may we have the
mind of Christ and bring forth a harvest of believers,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.

A Lesson from a Well Crew

by Alan Rice

A team from Yadkin Well was just here. The breaker tripped Sunday night
leaving us without running water. They thought the problem was
discovered and solved when they started pulling the pump up and found
a wire with the plastic coating worn bare. Near the short circuit was a
place in the pipe that developed a leak as well. Those two fixed, everything
was reassembled and put in place to test. The water came on and ran
well. Everyone was satisfied.

The only issue was the pump was still running when there was not a faucet, toilet or anything else in the
house calling for water. Several theories as to why were put forth. The crew settled on one involved pulling
the hundreds of feet of pipe up so as to inspect the check valve at the pump. In the process of pulling the
pipe yet another leak was discovered. The rubber torque preventer that is supposed to prevent the pipe
and wires attached from being twisted against the well casing, was broken down and useless. Then at the
pump head, they discovered there was in fact no check valve. After adding a check valve, installing a new
rubber torque preventer and repairing the pipe leak; again everything was reassembled and put in place
to test. The water came on and ran well. Everyone was particularly well satisfied.

Except that the connections to the bladder tank was somehow found to be loose and was now leaking.
Come to find out the galvanized connector had rusted though. With the lower pressure it was just holding
on. Replacing that connection led to inspection of the other galvanized components from 1984. Oh
my, upon inspection they were found to be almost entirely clogged with iron from the well. They were
replaced with brass and plastic. All put back together, the breaker was switched on again. No, leaks.
Everyone was content.

That is, until someone walked outside and found that another valve at the top of the well was now spraying
water. That valve too was replaced. After that with more watching, the Yadkin Well team for the last time
moved beyond content to job completed.
Had they been content and complacent after repair scenario number one, the well would have worked for
a while with the pump always running, before they would be called back to replace the expensive pump
burnt out from constant use. Or had they been pleased with the full stream from the well but not bothered
to check for new leaks inside the basement at the tank, a disaster of the tank connection utterly failing
allowing that full stream to run full force in the basement until some calamity called attention to the
problem. Or they put the cover back on the well head without checking once again, the spray could have
filled the top of the well and put all the electrical connections under water, causing that breaker to again
trip and leave us without running water.

I share that with you to say I learned something valuable from the well crew. That is to be content does
not mean to be complacent. I confess I am in a place of increasing contentment. I am not chasing after
those who expressed interest in a potential RFD consultation. I an learning to be satisfied with this new
situation that is not a serial solving of issues to the keep the power on and the flow not interrupted. I am
learning with Paul “I have learned to be content” (Philippians 4:10) Yet with the Yadlin Well Crew
and with Paul we are called to “press on” (Philippians 3:14) Content but not complacent.

As I move to mandatory retirement in June, I will be contributing to a super majority of the executive
board who are retired. I understand this is to be a comfortable place, as season to be content. Yet I lift my
voice to urge that we not become content and complacent. I confess I understand UMRA to be more
fragile than hale, more reclining than straining forward, more reminiscing than reinvigorating. I am
praying that our senior love of the Lord, our neighbors and our fellow UMC rural Christians is not
declining. For sure we know Love, Love divine, all loves excelling. 16 We have come to know love by this:
that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow
Christians… 18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth. 1 John
3:16-18 NET

Though I will not be present physically for the meeting in Columbus. I will be praying, understanding that
there remain great needs in the rural churches and communities. I profess conviction that we
at UMRA still have a calling to respond with active, advocating love. The work is not completed. By the
grace of God, may our faith be at work through love, Jesus love in deed and truth. Indeed no matter or
age or status, may we each and all be content but not complacent.

The United Methodist Rural Advocates Board will be meeting in Columbus later in April.

Faith and Leadership

by Randy Wall, UMRA Chair

My friend and fellow UMRA national board member, Rev. Dr. Alan Rice, recently sent me an interesting
article about rural churches that appeared in a Duke University Divinity School publication, “Faith and
Leadership”. (You can read the article at this link: https://faithandleadership.com/rural-
churches-are-economic-powerhouses-their-communities#.ZBHRjUXmu7U.mailto ) In a
study of 87 churches, they discovered that the average economic impact of each of these churches in their
rural communities was an average of $735,000 a year. These churches were all not only rural, but some
of them were quite small in membership with only about 25 members. Yet, they were impacting their
communities in not only ministries, but also in dollars and cents.

Think about the things that your rural church or rural churches in your community do and the
opportunities they offer. They sometimes serve as community meeting spaces. For example, two rural
churches I had the pleasure to serve were voting places for the community and also was a common
meeting space for a local Homeowners Association. Community groups also commonly meet in churches
such as scout groups, AA groups, and the like. The church is also a common sponsor for child care
ministries like preschool programs and “Mothers Morning Out” programs. Of course, it is common for
rural churches to be a place where people come together for major life events like funerals and weddings
and it is not uncommon for people to travel from other places who spend monies for food and lodging.

Every once in a while, I will hear someone bemoan the fact that churches do not pay property taxes in
their community because they are a non-profit organization. Some denominational leaders wonder
about the vitality and health of churches when they are in a rural community with few in
attendance. While that may be true, we also need to realize that rural churches have a positive impact on
their communities in a myriad of ways including the local economy. The number of people in the
community and the people sitting in the pew do not tell the whole story. Thanks be to God for the many
ways that rural churches are serving for the betterment of their community.

Rural Churches Should Consider Parish Nurse

by Mel West
As the frontier Church moved across the USA in the 18th century, it did a highly
commendable work of establishing programs and institutions to meet the social needs
of the time – churches, schools, colleges, hospitals, and homes. When I went to
Missouri University in 1941, I met my wife-to-be in Hendrix Hall, a dormitory for
women built in 1914. named for a Methodist bishop, and built to serve young women
who came to the university which had no dorms. It closed in 2021, having served over
100 years.

Today’s church located in declining rural areas is confronting a long list of social
problems calling for its attention—steady population decline, the problems associated
with the development of “big-AG,” brain-drain, poverty, food deserts, political
polarization, Covid-19, hospital closures, the lack of available health care, and the
steady decline of the Church itself.

Which need to tackle first?

Which of these social (and I say, spiritual) needs should be given attention by a Church
fighting for its own survival? I suggest the rural church give attention to health care,
and consider the Parish Nurse Program, and for the following reasons:

(1) Some 200 +- rural hospitals have closed since 2000, and are expected to close at the
unprecedented rate of 20 a year. A map shows that the vast majority of the closures
were in the eastern half of our country. Missouri lost two rural hospitals in 2021, in a
mid-state area. The closure removes an important link in the chain of social services.

According to the Center for Healthcare Quality 631 rural hospitals are at risk of
immediate closure or in the near future, roughly 30% of all rural hospitals. The
American Hospital Association reports that the key issues threatening rural hospitals
are “low reimbursement rates, staffing shortages, low patient volume, continued
financial shortages from the COVID-19 pandemic, and aging infrastructure.”

The closure of a rural hospital often leaves behind a bankruptcy situation, unpaid staff,
a divided community, and an empty building. Chartis Center for Rural Health lists the
states of Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Florida and Georgia as
being the most financially vulnerable to closure.

(2) Other impacts of the loss of a hospital are many and varied. Pregnant women must
often go many miles for the basic services needed during the pregnancy, and then be
miles from care when birthing time comes. Babies and small children are far away from
pediatric care, as are the elderly for their needs.

When emergency needs occur, such as heart attack, stroke, work injuries, automobile
accidents, etc. the immediate help needed may be either inaccessible or too far away. A
helicopter trip can cost thousands of dollars. An ambulance is slow and ties up
equipment that may be needed elsewhere.

More common problems such as colds or flu, high blood pressure, vaccinations, minor
injuries, mental health and such often go untreated. to emerge later as serious
problems.

Consider the Parish Nurse Program

A Parish Nurse program combines ministry with the art and science of nursing, ever
mindful of the strong relationship between faith and health. Churches are, and always
have been, places of healing. Through faith, nurses understand the meaning of health,
harmony of body, mind and spirit and living in a relationship with God and each other.

Devotions
by Orrinda Stockton, Treasurer
 The mission of UMRA is advocating for the vital
importance of the ministries of small membership and
rural congregations of the United Methodist Church.
Advocacy is a powerful tool for bringing about change in
the world. It involves speaking out on behalf of those
who are marginalized, oppressed, or in need, and
working to create a more just and equitable society. As
Christians, we are called to be advocates for the poor, the
vulnerable, and the oppressed, and to work to bring
about a more just and compassionate world.

The Bible is full of examples of advocacy, from the prophets who spoke out against
injustice to Jesus himself, who spent his life advocating for the marginalized and
oppressed. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable about the final judgment, in which he
says, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of
my family, you did it to me" (Matthew 25:40). This passage reminds us that our actions
have real-world consequences, and that we are called to work on behalf of those who are
in need.

Advocacy can take many forms. It might involve speaking out on behalf of a particular
issue, supporting organizations that work to bring about change, or engaging in political
advocacy to push for policies that will help those in need. But whatever form it takes,
advocacy is about using our voice and our influence to make a difference in the world.

One of the challenges of advocacy is that it can be overwhelming. There are so many
issues and causes that need our attention, and it can be difficult to know where to start.
But as Christians, we can draw on our faith and our values to guide us in our advocacy
work. We can ask ourselves, "What would Jesus do?" and seek to follow his example of
compassion, justice, and mercy.

We can also draw on the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to be
advocates for change. In Romans 8:26-27, Paul writes, "Likewise the Spirit helps us in
our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit
intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what
is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will
of God." This passage reminds us that even when we don't know what to say or do, the
Holy Spirit is with us, guiding and empowering us to make a difference in the world.

Loving God: As we seek to be advocates for change, help us remember that our ultimate goal is
not just to bring about temporary relief, but to work towards a more just and compassionate world.
We are called to be agents of your love and grace and to work towards a future where all are
treated with dignity and respect. And as we engage in advocacy, help us do so with humility,
compassion, and a deep commitment to justice and equality for all. Amen.

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

Whether you currently face the prospect of closing a ministry or want to be prepared for the future,
"Ending with Grace" is an excellent opportunity to enhance your leadership skills and develop a deeper
understanding of end-of-ministry care.

The first session is Tuesday, April 25th. If you want to learn more and haven't enrolled, use the link
button to navigate to the course page, see what is being offered, and enroll. I look forward to seeing
you in class!
Rev. Peter Soli

Ending with Grace Spring '23

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 programs 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, Communications Director,
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 $35.00
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.