Rural Life Sunday
This Special Sunday of The United Methodist Church supports small member churches. The Michigan Conference celebrates it on the 2nd Sunday of September. This offering is administered by the Town & Country Ministries of the Michigan Conference Board of Global Ministries. These funds support grants, scholarships, training, and resources for pastors and churches of under 200 members. Contributions should be sent to the Ministry Shares Lock Box, P.O. Box 72472, Cleveland, OH 44192-0002.
Resources for celebrating Rural Life Sunday are available from Discipleship Ministries and Resource UMC.
Scholarship Application Form
Education is vital for leaders working in a rapidly changing culture. The Ed Mohr Memorial Scholarship is named for a much-loved Licensed Local Pastor who was an enthusiastic supporter of town and country ministries.
Who can apply for this support? Pastoral students working toward an MDiv may apply for $1,000. Those enrolled in the Course of Study may apply for $500. Click here for the application form.
Grant Application Form
Churches of 100 members or less may apply for Town & Country Ministry Grants of $1,000. Any need the church may have — building repair or maintenance, technology and communications upgrade, or program funding — are all valid asks. Click here for the request form.
Contact
Rev. Carol J. Freeland
5445 W. Wilson Road
Clio, MI 48420
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 313-231-0300
Who we are and what we do
Nearly 20% of Michigan’s population lives in rural areas. The state devotes nearly 10 million acres of land to farming. There are 563 churches in the Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church. Eighty percent of the congregations in our United Methodist family in Michigan are 200 members or fewer. A group devoted to the needs, issues, empowerment, and training of the people in rural and small membership churches is of vital importance to the health and strength of the conference. Town & Country Ministries is that group.
Circuit Rider Retreat
For over 50 years, the Michigan Area has sponsored the Circuit Rider Retreat. Held in November, the retreat is designed for pastors and spouses serving smaller, single, and multiple-point churches.
The 2025 event will be held at the Comfort Inn in Birch Run, MI, Nov. 3-5. The keynote speaker is the Rev. Rick Blunt, now retired after 39 years of ministry. His topic is, “Preaching & Worship in the Small Rural Church.”
Click here for detailed information and registration. Registration deadline is October 15, 2025.
Additional Resources
United Methodist Rural Advocates supports the work of Jesus Christ in rural communities. UMRA encourages lay and clergy leaders in their ministry.
The Rural Chaplains Association promotes connections among persons living and serving in rural areas and provides training and learning experiences for leadership.
The Academy for Small Membership Church Ministries offers courses and programs to provide practical knowledge and skills that can be readily applied in local church ministry. Their goal is to empower people who serve a small membership congregation.