resolution

Ministries of Rural Chaplains

2016 Book of Resolutions, #3395

Whereas, the General Conference for the past five quadrennia has affirmed the Rural Chaplains Association and the ministries of rural chaplains, and called on The United Methodist Church to prepare and certify rural chaplains as a significant means of enabling renewal in towns/villages and rural churches and communities globally; and

Whereas, the Rural Chaplains Association has women, men, laity and clergy members, both United Methodist and ecumenical, in the global community; and

Whereas, rural chaplains are lay and clergy persons who have sensed the call to live in, work with, and advocate for town and rural persons, families, congregations and communities; and

Whereas, special emphasis is placed on advocacy for justice issues among all people, regardless of ethnicity, gender, age or economic status; and

Whereas, rural chaplains meet annually for encouragement, networking, resourcing, and support by means of focus events to enrich person-related chaplaincy-type skills, biblical understandings and experiential exposures related to issues such as immigration, migrant workers, farm works, rural businesses and communities; and

Whereas, rural chaplains work with other prophetic persons/groups on the local level who are committed to long-term involvement aimed at developing local and outside resources to assist with transformation of the lives of rural congregations and communities; and

Whereas, the Rural Chaplains Association continues to work to expand its international/global linkages in order to expose participants to cultural, economic, political, ecological, and religious life of rural people from places around the world;

Therefore be it resolved, that The United Methodist Church com- mend and reaffirm its commitment to the Rural Chaplains Association as rural chaplains continue to carry out their ministries of care, of justice, and of nurture with people in rural areas and town and village communities; and

Be it further resolved, that the General Board of Global Ministries be encouraged to continue an active and ongoing relationship with the Rural Chaplains Association.

ADOPTED 2008
AMENDED AND READOPTED 2012, 2016
RESOLUTION #3395, 2012 BOOK OF RESOLUTIONS
RESOLUTION #3396, 2008 BOOK OF RESOLUTIONS

See Social Principles, ¶ 162P.

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