Be it resolved, that each board and agency of The United
Methodist Church, through its boards and agencies at all levels of
organization and district and conference programming
agencies, encourage and assist urban, suburban, and rural churches to
address and respond to the following issues, which while present in rural
society, often are not recognized or acknowledged by the larger society:
*The pPoor self-esteem and mental health
of many rural residents and communities.
*The abandonment of the elderly...
*Homelessness and poor housing.
*The changing role of the family.
*Deterioration of the family,...
*The incidence of alcohol and substance abuse.
*Poor basic government services such as good Inadequate
physical and psychological health care, rural public
transportation, children's services, and legal assistance.
*Rural cCrime and an absence of good police
protection.
*The effects of regional consolidations...
*Lack of consumer goods and feelings that consumers are at the mercy of
businesses and industries.
*Poor sStewardship of the environment, including the
pollution care of the soil, air, and water.
*Ownership and control of land...
*Spiritual irrelevance.
*The changing role of the church within the rural community
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 22288-GM-R204-U
1996 United Methodist General Conference