The Committee recommends concurrence as amended as follows:
Whereas, town and country churches make up two thirds of the congregations in the United Methodist Church;
Whereas, ministry in town and country settings are faced with declining population, poverty, presence of hate groups, loss of jobs, economic decline, and sense of hopelessness and despair;
Whereas, in town and country settings there are opportunities to impact life through the collective work of the Church and the faithful servants who live, worship and witness in those settings;
Therefore, be it resolved, that the 1996 General Conference of The United Methodist Church mandate a comprehensive national plan for town and country ministry. This plan is to grow out of a process overseen by the General Board of Global Ministries' National Division, or its successor agency, and involving local church and annual conference leadership in conjunction with appropriate staff from general church agencies including, but not limited to, Discipleship, Church and Society, Religion and Race, Higher Education and Ministry, Communications, and Council on Ministries or successor agencies
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Calendar Item Text: 575-NonDis1996 United Methodist General Conference