Thriving Rural Communities
 A Revival for Rural Churches Challenges Persist, But So Does Good News |
The Thriving Rural Communities Initiative is a partnership of Duke Divinity School, The Duke Endowment, and the North Carolina and Western North Carolina Annual Conferencesof the United Methodist Church whose mission is to share and strengthen the gifts of North Carolina’s rural clergy, congregations, communities, and creation in the name of Christ.
The story that is often told of rural North Carolina’s churches and communities is a story of scarcity and loss. Rural manufacturing jobs and family farms have disappeared at an alarming rate. The poverty rate is significantly higher in rural areas – especially for children. Many rural churches and clergy have experienced the fallout of these challenges. Churches have struggled to pay their bills, retain consistent pastoral leadership, and reach out to their communities. Numerous congregations describe crises of confidence about their ability to make disciples of Christ and to contribute to the welfare of their neighbors.
The Thriving Rural Communities Initiative was begun in the conviction that there is another story to be told about North Carolina’s rural churches and communities. Despite real hardships, Thriving Rural Communities believes that the rural places of North Carolina are communities of great beauty and abundance that offer promising opportunities for faithful and fulfilling ministry. Thriving Rural Communities points to a vision of rural life and ministry where the story of rural North Carolina is God’s story of promise and life. We work to share and strengthen the gifts of rural North Carolina’s rural clergy, congregations, communities, and creation so that we might see the following “fruits” of our labors:
- A renewed appreciation for the great gifts, vocations, and possibilities of rural churches & communities
- A growing core of gifted and well-formed leaders who see rural ministry as a life-giving vocation
- Greater shared wisdom about the unique blessings, challenges, and practices of rural life and ministry
- Fruitful leadership programs in place for laity and clergy committed to serving rural places
- Faithful growth in grace in the lives, congregations, communities, and creation of rural North Carolina
- Transformed institutions that more effectively empower the mission of Christ in town & country settings
To make this vision a reality, the Thriving Rural Communities Initiative focuses its work upon four major areas, seeking to: