Recognizing Rural Ministry: Moving from Anecdotal Assumptions to Data Derived Opportunities
Ebook
Rural ministry can be a frustrating endeavor. Traditional metrics of success are misleading and anecdotal, one-size-fits-all approaches which often fall flat in the field. In Recognizing Rural Ministry, Carl Greene uses his research to suggest tools to customize your ministry to your community and effectively engage often-overlooked mission fields. These tools come from data-driven academic research presented through the lens of the author's lived experience as a dairy farmer, rural pastor, hospice chaplain, rural layperson, rural policy advocate, and administrator of a network of churches. The book is intended for rural ministry practitioners who want to use current scholarship to better examine the complexity and diversity of rural contexts. The book engages with the rural ministry impact of cultural phenomena such as the rise of the "Spiritual but Not Religious" (SBNR) phenomenon and "early old age" (EOA) demographics. The text also addresses key theories surrounding rural subcultures, demographic tools available to describe rural communities, and the shaping influence of rural community rituals on religiosity. Intended for pastors, seminarians, college students, and rural laypersons who are passionate about adding to their toolbox of rural ministry assessment.
“With today’s changes in rural demographics, including baby boomers in America’s rural areas entering retirement, this book is a must-read for pastors and church leaders. In this volume, Carl Greene addresses both the challenges and opportunities of churches to reach their communities with the gospel and to engage Christians in service. I highly recommend it!”
—David M. Gustafson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
“With this book, Carl Greene makes a two-level case for the importance of recognizing rural ministry. First, not all rural ministry context is the same, and we should recognize that! Second, rural ministry requires some unique tools that more clergy in urban and suburban areas could use to retool their ministry settings. Readers would be wise to add this to their library and put its practical lessons to use immediately!”
—Brian Foreman, coordinator of congregational ministries, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
“In recent years, much has been written about the rural church. In Recognizing Rural Ministry, Carl P. Greene adds to the wealth of research regarding the rural ministry. In this insightful book, Greene carefully examines the social and demographic (especially the aging of the rural population) changes occurring within the rural community and then offers practical principles on embracing these changes as missional opportunities. Recognizing Rural Ministry is a must-read for those seeking to thrive in rural ministry.”
—Glenn Daman, pastor, River Christian Church
- Title: Recognizing Rural Ministry: Moving from Anecdotal Assumptions to Data Derived Opportunities
- Authors: Carl P. Greene, J. Kent Clark
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Print Publication Date: 2022
- Logos Release Date: 2022
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781666749250, 9781666749236, 9781666749243, 1666749257, 1666749230, 1666749249
- Resource ID: LLS:9781666749250
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-14T18:38:44Z
Carl P. Greene is a rural ministry researcher and advocate. Carl has served as a rural pastor alongside his family and has enjoyed life as a dairy farmer in partnership with his father and brother. Greene and his family currently live in the middle of corn and soybean fields in southern Wisconsin where Carl serves as executive director for a network of churches located in the United States and Canada.