National United Methodist Rural Advocates

August 2018 In This Issue:

EQUIPPING LAITY

A POEM BY MEL WEST

HAYSTACKS

DARK NIGHT

LEGISLATIVE
CONSULTATION

PRAYERS

SCHOLARSHIPS

MEMBERSHIP

WE ARE ... EQUIPPING THE LAITY FOR

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.
PRAYING
by Rev. Debra Ketcham
In the late nineties, the church I attended hosted
homeless families for one week, every 8 weeks. I was the
host on Sunday nights as the families arrived, getting
them settled in, showing them around, and helping the
volunteers get the food out at the appointed time. The
over-all coordinator was also there and he would pray
before the Sunday night supper.
After about year, the over-all coordinator had a
scheduling conflict right before the meal one Sunday
evening. As he walked out the door, he said, over his

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
Chair - Randy Wall -
RandyLWall@aol.com
Vice Chair - Alan Bolte
revahb@gmail.com
Secretary - Sue Grace
smgrlg51@yahoo.com
Spiritual Dir - Peggy Jeffries
peggyx15@yahoo.com
Comm Dir - Michele Holloway
chele101953@gmail.com
shoulder, "Don't forget to pray before the meal."
"What?!," I replied. "Can't you wait until you pray?" He
replied, "Just say a prayer," and out the door he went.
I had never prayed aloud except for a rote or pre-
printed prayer. I was in a panic! I went around the large
church kitchen asking each person, 'Would you like to
pray before the meal?" Each person calmly replied, "Oh,
you can do it." The reality was, no I couldn't!
As our guests and volunteers held hands in a large
circle, I hoped beyond hope one of the homeless parents
was a 'good' prayer. I asked, "Would anyone like to pray
for our meal?" There was silence. I quickly said a silent
prayer to God, asking for God to save me. Then an eight
year old girl spoke up, "I will!" and prayed a very basic
prayer, as I finally exhaled in relief. I wondered why I
couldn't do that.
A few days before our next rotation, the coordinator
informed me he wasn't going to be there any longer on
Sunday nights. I was fully in charge. Again he said, "Don't
forget to pray before the meal!" That evening, I offered a
very child-like prayer, as my first time praying out loud.
Each time I got a little bit 'better'.
That experience left me confounded. 'Why was
praying out loud so difficult? Why didn't anyone teach me
to pray out loud? Why did we rely on only a few leaders
and mostly the pastor to offer prayer?'
Well, a few years later I received my call to ministry.
Guess what? I would have to pray. The public prayers I
offer are a reflection of how I talk to God. They may not
be as eloquent as others, but they are prayers just the
same.
My lack of experience with praying out loud has also
become part of my ministry of equipping the laity, one by
one. My expectations of each officer/chair/team leader is
simple: Open the meeting with a devotional and short
prayer. To close the meeting - ask for someone else to
pray us out. As expected, many of them were as petrified
as I was originally, when asked to pray. So, I tell them my
story and even suggest for the first time or two using a
printed prayer.
Another way I encourage spoken prayer is at Bible and
book studies. I begin with prayer, but at the end, I ask for
someone to pray us out. Someone generally does. As the
 Advocacy Dir - Mollie Stewart
Molliecstewart0128@gmail.com
Membership - Carl Ellis
ckellis70@gmail.com
Treasurer - Judy Hill
judyh@plainstel.com
Visit our webpage @
http://www.umruraladvocates.org/
weeks go by, each person is asked to pray at least one
time. Between the leaders learning to pray, if they weren't
already comfortable with it, and the participants praying,
we now have quite a few people able to pray when asked.
We also have invited folks to publically pray during our
worship services. We did this at a former church I served.
Each worship service was enhanced by the various styles
of praying. The four selected worked in a rotation, with the
5th Sundays for them to figure out.
We now have begun this at my current church, in our
traditional service. The four selected - 2 women, 2 men -
have their specified week. Already people are enjoying
the various styles of praying. We are all blessed. In our
contemporary service most of the band members have
prayed
Yes, there are a multitude of books, workshops, and
spiritual retreats on how to pray. But in my experience,
the best approach is helping your church to 'just do it!'
May we all be blessed with the many voices and prayers
of our congregations.

Deb is the pastor of Lewistown-Trinity UMC, Lewistown, OH and is

the event coordinator for UMRA.

DOES A CHURCH GO TO HEAVEN?

a poem by Mel West

One by one
like their members,
they are dying.
Those rural churches called Asbury,
Mt. Moriah, Bethel, Flat Ridge,
Turkey Creek, Zion, Elm's Grove,
Cross Timbers, Doe Ridge, Blue Springs,
Pleasant Hill, Bald Knob and Hope.
They are leaving us.

On their walls hang photos of

large Sunday School classes,
of beloved past pastors,
of sons and daughters gone to war,
of daughters and sons lost in war,
of confirmation classes of youth,
 of certificates for mission donations.
Also there hangs the last Sunday's
attendance - S.S. 4, Worship 5.

Outside and behind is the cemetery.

The oldest grave dates 1878 -
a mother who died in childbirth.
The last stone dates six months ago,
her great, great, great grand-daughter.
The stones tell of the history
of the community - of wars,
of epidemics, of marriages, and
of times of affluence and of poverty.

Sit in a pew inside in the quiet

and listen to the Spirit tell of the past -
of weddings, of revivals,
of dinners-on-the-ground,
of beloved pastors,
of Sunday School meetings,
of community sings,
of 4-H clubs and quilting bees,
and of the people of faith.

The church building may be torn down,

or left as a community building,
or used for a once-in-a-year reunion.
But the church lives on,
in the lives of those it sent forth,
in the lives of those touched by its mission,
in the families whose marriage bonds it sealed,
in the hurt and lost it healed.
The Church has life eternal.

THE DEMISE OF HAYSTACKS

by Dr. Alan Rice
 Do you remember haystacks? Along with pumpkins, black cats and witches flying on
broom sticks, haystacks were the de rigueur for Halloween crayon drawings in 1950s
southern rural Appalachia. Haystacks were also high value targets for climbing children;
but only once at Grandma Buchanan's. Only once, because when Grandma saw the
offense or the evidence of trampled hay, she became scary. No! We did not realize the
work it took to rake and pitch the hay up against the pole until it formed a hay stack. No!
we did not understand that the cows needed to be able to eat the hay in the winter and
they could not do that if it was trampled and rotting on the ground. No! We would never do
it again! Who knew haystacks could be such a source of conflict.
The demise of labor intensive haystacks was bemoaned by few. Square bales of hay
were a great improvement. It was still sweaty, itchy work to load the bales on a wagon and
then stack them up, usually in the loft of a barn.

There was little lament over the gradual disappearance of square bales either. They
have been largely replaced by much larger round bales that do not need to be put in the
barn nor touched by hands. They are moved by a tractor.
 Like haystacks, small rural churches are largely a strategy of the past. After all, they
are not efficient, too labor intensive and not a strategic use of dwindling resources. But
from the rumbling around the nation from small towns and rural areas, apparently many
did not know that like haystacks, hayseeds, hicks, or hillbillies could become such a
source of fierce conflict.
Unlike haystacks, the conflict is not simply ignorance about the transgression of
trampling on other's hard work. It is not education but ethics that are at the core. For the
small/rural church, the ethical construct is that small matters, rural matters and neither is
subject to devaluation because others are not mindful of the intrinsic worth of simply
being.
In contrast, denominational officials are guided by outcome. No doubt faith must be
authenticated by works or outcomes. But must congregations be authenticated by their
ability to fund at least, in part, a seminary graduate; to contribute to the upkeep of the
ecclesiastical machinery and that in addition, to providing for operations and mission? If
this is not an outcome based ethics of value, it is at least the duty-based ethical construct
of obligation.
These two ethical constructs not only steer denominational evaluation, but as well can
stigmatize those who fail to measure up. Value based evaluation should find mega
churches meritorious as they excel at having. Seven day a week program churches
likewise should find commendation with an obligation based valuation of doing. But the
small, the rural, the fellowship and kinship congregations are somehow convinced that
these two constructs are not the basis for what is meaningful or most valued. Their
primary ethical construct is virtue -being is what matters. Who knew being in Christ could
be thought to be not enough?
What is known is that value conflicts in the USA and denominations are raging over the
rights of immigrant, LGBTQ persons, women, and the rights of unborn babies. What is
seemingly unknown is the value conflict of the rights of the small and rural church. When
an ethic of value or obligation becomes the basis for action; the construct leads to
devaluation of the organization worth and de-obligation of resources. Only the sufficiently
large congregation, located in non-rural areas with significant income, can measure up in
evaluations of labor hours per member, or market potential or effective rate of return for
the investment for expensive ecclesiastical machinery. Simply put to the hayseed, hicks,
 or hillbillies, round bales are the only practical way to go. Who could question this strategy
is the right thing to do?
Let it be noted that the questioners are not folks with pitchforks. Nor are they by nature
evil or selfish. Their contrary opinion is that indeed rural people or folk who have chosen a
small church are of greater worth than the sum of their outcomes. Their ethic is that being
is primary. In Biblical terms, fruit is the authenticator of the heart that the person has. No
doubt, there must be fruit or the branch is cut off or the tree cut down. But the fact that an
orchard has only six trees is no call for destruction. An alternative call to action is to deploy
the gardeners who agree three years of barrenness is a problem. But with a prayer and
shovel in hand according to Jesus' story, this gardener says, "'Let's give it another year. I'll
dig around it and fertilize, and maybe it will produce next year; if it doesn't, then chop it
down.'" Luke 13:8-9 MSG
As in Jesus story, is the pressing need for the small, rural church, the deployment of
loving gardeners; those more concerned about the tree than the three years of no fruit:

 Gardeners with a virtue ethic that declares "being" is the beginning.

 Gardeners with a faith working through love strategy that invigorates.
 Gardeners abiding and thriving with calloused hands and knees in the rural or small
garden.

Specifically instead of metaphorically, the deployment needed for the small and rural
churches begins with those who want to be there because of the trees. Serving the rural or
small church is not for those wanting to serve because of the number of congregants, the
location of community amenities or the strength of the budget and compensation package.
The measure of outcome for these pastoral leader/gardeners will not be dollars earned or
distributed but in the satisfaction of lives transformed and fruit born from being in Christ.
No! this not advocating for the return of haystacks. Yes, it is a call to stop exploitation
of haystacks as training ground for those climbing to better locations. Yes, it is a plea to
re-create a deployment model not dependent upon a non-rural population density coupled
with moderate or higher median household income that are prerequisites to sustain a
compensated professional clergy. Yes, it is a plea to consider again a model akin to the
circuit rider who came quarterly not to be the leader, but to guide and encourage the
gardener and congregation to bear fruit from abiding in Christ.
Hand-pitched stack, square bale or round bale...if it is not hay, the size or shape does
not matter. Likewise for congregation, being in Christ is the authenticator: 26 for in Christ
Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27 As many of you as were baptized into
Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no
longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; (there is no longer rural or
urban, there is no longer poor or wealthy) for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:26-28 NRSV

Alan is Executive Director of RFDCDC

THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

from Randy Wall, UMRA Chair
 Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
We people on the pavement looked at him:
He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,

And he was always human when he talked;
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
"Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich - yes, richer than a king -

And admirably schooled in every grace:
In fine, we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,

And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet through his head.
- Edwin Arlington Robinson

I was saddened to hear of the death and apparent suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony
Bourdain a few weeks ago. I did not know either of them personally. I had watched
Anthony Bourdain's show on CNN a few times. The death of Kate Spade and Anthony
Bourdain provoked two thoughts in me. First, it reminded me of the above poem that I
studied in college. Richard Cory: gentleman, rich, and schooled in every grace. Richard
Cory puts a bullet through his head and takes his life while the world around him is
oblivious to all going on internally within him.

The second thing that the death of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain made me think of
was a time when I was in a very dark place in my life. Over 25 years ago, I thought about
taking my life. Unlike Richard Cory, there were people that noticed the bad emotional and
spiritual condition I was in. One of those people was my late Mom. I remember being on
the phone with her late one night sharing my despair. Mom made me promise not to
take my life and to call her in the morning. I am not sure Mom slept much that night, but
if she did she awoke to a new day and her oldest son alive though not well. The second
person that noticed my plight was my friend, the late Sam Dixon (who died in the Haiti
earthquake a few years ago in his capacity with the General Board of Global Ministries).
Sam saw my pain, cared for me, and prayed with me during those dark days in my life. I
miss my Mom and miss Sam, but will always be grateful that they noticed my plight and
stood with me as God's instruments.

There is no question that there are many people in our country who face mental health
issues.

The CDC reports that 43.4 million adults suffered from some sort of behavioral health
 issue in 2015 alone. For some people, this might be a short term issue like losing a job or
ending a relationship. For other people, this might be a long term issue such as bi-polar
disorder. A recent study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds that a
majority of non-metropolitan counties (65%) do not have a psychiatrist and almost half of
the non-metropolitan counties (47%) do not have a psychologist. Of course, there are
other mental health professionals such as licensed professional counselors but even they
are limited in many rural areas. (For full disclosure, let me note that I am not only
ordained clergy but also a licensed professional counselor in North Carolina.)

There can be no debate that there are many folks who suffer mental health issues in this
country, and that the treatment providers are minimal in rural areas. One of the things
that can be done by the body of Christ is simply noticing and being our brothers' or
sisters' keeper. As I write this, I know there are a lot more Kate Spades and Anthony
Bourdains out there who are in a place of despair. Like Richard Cory, perhaps there are
no people who notice. I hope not. I pray that there is a woman like Shirley Perry Wall
Wyrick and a man like Samuel Dixon who does and stands with them as they walk through
that "dark night of the soul." Maybe you are that person that God wants to use. Let it
be, Lord. Let it be.

UMRA LEGISLATIVE CONSULTATION

By Deb Ketcham, Events Coordinator
UMRA 2018 Legislative Consultation
for Laity & Clergy
Oct. 2 - 5, 2018 in Minneapolis, MN

Registration Deadline August 28!

It is only two months before lay and clergy with passion, ties, and service in and through
the rural and town & country churches join together in Minneapolis, MN for the UMRA
Consultation which happens every four years.

Together, we will hear what is going well in rural and town & country churches. We will
offer up our concerns, assets, strategies, and hopes for how God will empower the church.
We will discuss the impact The Way Forward will have on small, rural, and T&C churches.
We will break down into interest areas and discuss the places where the Book of
Discipline hinders success for small and rural churches and places where new legislation
will enhance. We will learn how to properly write legislation for General Conference 2020
and form a team of advocates for General Conference 2019. Those with a passion for
missional outreach will plan a mission opportunity that will again impact the GC delegates,
as they reach out in mission and ministry.

Your input is important! Come and be a part of moving the small, rural, and town & country
churches forward in mission and ministry! This is an excellent opportunity to network with
others who have similar passions and dreams across the U.S. The Legislative
Consultation is a way to become equipped in writing legislation for your own conference to
help make a transformational kingdom difference in your area.

The brochure is attached. The registration deadline is Aug. 28th!! Partial payments may be
made, due August 28th!

Rev. Debbie Ketcham, National UMRA Event Coordinator

Click this link for the 2018 Legislative Consultation brochure for more details. The
registration deadline is August 28, 2018. See you in Minneapolis this October!

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FROM NORTH CENTRAL JURISDICTION TOWN AND

COUNTRY MINISTRIES FOR FIRST TIME ATTENDEES!

The Loren E. Maxwell (Clergy) and The Charles Guthrie (Laity) Scholarships
Since the United Methodist Rural Advocate Legislative Consultation is Oct. 2-5, 2018,
those in rural or town & country portions of North Central Jurisdiction may not be aware
that The NCJ Town & Country Association is offering scholarships for registration, room,
or meals for first time attenders. You may request up to $250.00. Contact Rev. Debra
Ketcham at revdsk@frontier.com for information regarding NCJ Scholarships.

ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE

In most conferences, Ministerial Education Funds are available for clergy - ordained, local,
and lay assigned. If you haven't used your allotment for this year, consider requesting a
scholarship from your local Board of Ordained Ministry MEF to attend legislative
consultation.

UMRA SCHOLARSHIPS
A limited number of scholarships are available through UMRA to attend Legislative
Consultation. See attached document: Scholarships

RURAL CHAPLAINS AND PEACE CONFERENCE

by Carl Ellis, Membership Chair
The Rural Chaplains Association is doing great work on behalf of rural communities
across America.

For additional information on Rural Chaplains Association, please contact Judy Matheny,
administrator, jcm2174@gmail.com

For information on the Interfaith Peace Conference check out www.facebook.com/

LakeJunaluskaPeace Conference

Save The Date: November 21-24, 2019

Interfaith Peace Conference/ Theme: Peace and the Arts
 Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God."

From The Message "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead
of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are , and your place in God's
family.

PRAYERS
by Peggy Jeffries, UMRA Spiritual Director
"The rain falls on the just and on the
unjust." Except not this year. This year
the rain all seems to be falling in one or
two places, and leaving the rest of us to
dry up. Our grass seems to have
already gone dormant, dust is
everywhere, and let's not talk about
crops and livestock. Much of California
and Oregon are on fire. In Australia
they're shooting their herds rather than
let them die from dehydration. England
is not getting their normal rainstorms, but Arizona is. In the meantime
Pennsylvania is about to float away, along with a few other states. And
weather people tell us it will only get worse.

Does this mean God hates us? No, although I doubt that God is happy with
what we've done to the planet. In Genesis God tells Adam and Eve, and
Noah and his family to care for the earth. We
are inheritors of that command, and yet there are
islands of trash and plastic floating in our
oceans, glaciers melting north and south, and
water consuming islands and communities
worldwide And yet so many just sit back and do
nothing, as though the problem were going to fix
itself. The Earth is crying out. Will we respond,
or sit in silence until there's nothing left?

Creator God, we confess that we have been more of the problem than the
solution when it comes to caring for the earth. We enjoy our relatively cushy
lives. We enjoy the lifestyle gas and plastics can give us. We enjoy our nice,
 long showers. But we are finding that the earth cannot sustain our lifestyle.
The earth cannot continually renew itself, and if it loses the ice caps we will
be in all kinds of trouble. Help us to find ways to make changes not only in
our lives, but also in the politics of our nation that we as a people may take
better care of the earth you have given us.

CERTIFIED LAY MINISTERS

Congratulations, West Ohio

The West Ohio Conference recognized 13 newly credentialed Certified Lay Ministers
on June 5, 2018. One was unable to be present. 12 are pictured here.

NETworX INFORMATION
Submitted by Debbie S. Rice, Ph.D., MSW
Director of NETworX USA
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
RURAL ADVOCATES SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
by Judy Hill, Treasurer
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
Cell Phone: 970-630-0320

SHARE YOUR STORIES

We Want To Hear From You
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 $40.00

Two Easy Steps to Membership

1. Please fill out membership form:

http://form.jotform.us/form/51087588857170Â

2. Pay Membership Dues through PayPal

For more information or membership, contact:
Email: ckellis70@gmail.com
Carl Ellis
590 120th Street
Fort Scott, KS 66701 785-445-2595

A Note from Carl K. Ellis

Membership Secretary

Five Reasons to Join UMRA

5. Network and collaborate with other rural groups and agencies around issues of concern for the rural
church and rural places.

4. Utilize technologies which will help us build relationships, share information and resources, and connect
rural leaders.

3. Discover and learn about sustainable, effective, replicable, generative ministries.

2. Be part of an organization which creates and advocates for General Conference legislation that has had a
positive effect on the rural church; such as NOW (Nurture, Outreach, Witness) leadership format,
development of "Born Again in Every Place," and the Certified Lay Minister. An Organization which will
continue to create and advocate for General Conference legislation that may affect ministry in town and
churches and their communities.

1. Together we can make a difference as we advocate for the work of Jesus Christ in rural and town and
country communities.

UMRA membership provides not only voice and vote in the organization, but also includes a subscription to
the UMRA E NEWSLETTER.

Michele Holloway, Editor

chele101953@gmail.com
971.225.8402

Advocating for the work of Jesus Christ in rural communities.