Spencer Library: Reimagining Church: Reclaiming Rural/Small

Studies

Find books, curricula, prayer, music, and worship elements (including a full sermon), and community organizations and businesses grouped to help congregations take next steps in antiracism work, creation care, and addressing intergenerational mental health and well-being in the WaterThreads - Woven Together: Water, Community, Well-Being. Available online and via requested download for member congregations - who should email: ministrylab@unitedseminary.edu - for access.

New Visions for Rural Congregations

7 Suggestions for Outsourcing Your Church’s Staffing Needs

How can outsourcing fill church staffing needs? Greg Rogers shares seven suggestions for outsourcing staff drawing from Oakmont Baptist Church’s response to unexpected yet urgent staffing needs.

The Rural Church’s Gifts of Intimacy and Diversity

by Michael Adam Beck and Tyler Kleeberger in Lewis Center for Church Leadership

Describes how the unique demographics of rural churches bring not only the potential for intimacy and neighborliness but also an inherent diversity that forces smaller churches to do the hard work of creating unity amid differences. Read more now

The Resilient Small Church

By Lovett H. Weems Jr. On May 24, 2022Leading Ideas

Photo by Wirestock from freepik.com

We often think of large churches as strong and small churches as weak. But Lovett H. Weems Jr. ...explains how in some circumstances smaller churches can be less vulnerable and fragile than larger ones.

The Small Churches Big Impact Collective shares best practices, ministry innovations, compensation concerns and more through their Facebook page, website and blog, and podcast.

3 Unique Gifts of the Rural Congregation

Not Dead Yet

by Dorothy Butler Bass

[Read this one for a little hope and affirmation!]

“Building Thriving Rural Congregations” featuring Allen Stanton

How can rural churches break free from false narratives and unrealistic metrics? Allen Stanton lays out a new vision for healthy rural congregations as valued stakeholders and potent agents of change within their communities.

Episode 86: “Daring to Think Forward in a Time of Accelerating Change” featuring Dwight Friesen

How can churches get ahead of the curve by learning to anticipate change rather than always responding to change after the fact? Dwight Friesen shares ways to cultivate the imagination and skill set needed to think forward.

Stewardship & Building Use

Flipping the Script on Church Owned Property

How can local churches reimagine property stewardship so that a building can fund a church, rather than a church needing to fund a building? Tom Sine and Dwight Friesen offer examples of churches that have discovered innovative ways to leverage their property to fund their church and ministry.

Church Anew's Mark Elsdon is confident that We Aren't Broke.

Joerg Rieger and Tripp Fuller, founder of the Home-brewed Christianity podcast, host an online course: Capital Change: The End of Religion and Business as Usual.

Multimedia

Small Church Q&A with Tanna Muse

Most church leaders find themselves serving a small(er) church. In this conversation, we talk about the unique opportunities and challenges of small church ministry.

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The Small Church Ministry podcast with Laurie Acker – for example: 5 Fresh Ways to Structure Children’s Ministry If You’re Short Volunteers Or Just Need A Break.