Strengthening Rural Communities:

Filling the Glass with Opportunities 

“What would you learn about your community if another church came to town and spent two hours visiting?” 

That question was posed by Keith Zeh, Evangelical Outreach for the ELCA, to the group of ministers who gathered in Paynesville on May 14th.  The Minnesota Council of Churches’ Rural Churches: Community Service and Ministry hosted its first conference where ministers serving churches in Greater Minnesota could explore different ways to build and strengthen service in their communities. 

“Rural” has as many meanings as there are people living in communities that are seen as rural, whether people live in regional centers like St. Cloud or Mankato, or country settings like Canby or Buhl.  At least that’s what participants learned, which, of course, led to a great deal of discussion and insights about the implications of using one word like “rural” generically to describe such different communities in Greater Minnesota.

No matter what the word used to describe the community, there are strengths and weaknesses of churches and communities.  Together, the group identified how those strengths and weaknesses could help to share ways in which the church can serve the local community.  The sharing of insights, the challenging questions, and the exploration of possibilities led participants to wander into a few unknown spaces and places that could strengthen Minnesota’s favorite make-believe “Lake Wobegon” community. 

What all participants held in common, no matter what type of rural community, or what size of church, was that there are plenty of the opportunities for ministry in “Lake Wobegon” that is age-based:

• Services that could respond to the loneliness of the elderly.  Purpose in life for young adults. 
• Reaching out to youth.

The growing diversity in Minnesota’s communities was not overlooked by the participants, as they began to talk through how the church can relate to and with the new immigrant communities, thinking about how to develop cross-cultural, or even multi-cultural opportunities in “Lake Wobegon.”   

So, for instance, as a result of our coming together the “Lake Wobegon” community might consider beginning a community garden that is multi-generational and multi-cultural, tended by the retirees, youth and the immigrant communities.  The celebration could include a wonderful picnic serving the foods grown, connected to a fun canoe trip on Lake Wobegon.  Additionally, the community garden could sell most of the produce that is grown as a way of earning dollars for either a community project, or that could be income for the gardeners/farmers. 

But the possibilities didn’t end there.  The community leaders began to look at one of their greatest assets; the church buildings.  Together, participants explored how they could use buildings that have ample parking and air conditioning, is handicapped accessible, and have plenty of rooms not used throughout the week.  How about if a church building, or two, is used for classrooms to teach English as a second language, or to host a musical concert in a sanctuary. 

Mapping the assets of the local churches in any of Minnesota’s “Lake Wobegon” communities was the tipping point that brought people to begin thinking creatively, moving from a mind-set of scarcity, to thinking from a place of abundance. 

And when participants get back home, what will they do?  Well, the answer to that question is really something that only the participants will be able to provide.  Mapping the assets of the church, and walking the parish were two key elements for future plans in the local communities represented. 

And the Minnesota Council of Churches is willing to work with local churches in whatever type of rural community to facilitate a meeting, or two, of church and community leaders.  Please contact Lynne Holman, Program Organizer, (612-230-3211 or lynne.holman@mnchurches.org) to learn how you can explore the possibilities for the church and community.

This Conference was hosted in partnership with Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches and Fairview Health Services, with funding from the Compassion Capital Fund.

Upcoming Workshop

Rural Churches: Ecumenical Community Service and Ministry

May 21 & 22 in Madelia, MN

Pastors and church leadership are encouraged to attend a 2-day workshop designed to energize ecumenical work to meet community needs through shared service and ministry.  Please tell member churches in your judicatory. 

Visit the Rural Churches - Rural Communities page or contact Lynne Holman at (612) 230-3211, lynne.holman@mnchurches.org

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