A comprehensive new resource for small-town ministry.
Pastoral care in rural communities is different from care in other locales. The challenges of physical isolation and social visibility in small towns shape the practice of care in particular and unique ways. Despite these differences, rural churches and communities also hold a particular wisdom from which the rest of the church might benefit - including insights into what it means to care for one another and a heightened sense of community and interrelatedness, which is both a great challenge and a great gift. Grounded in research in a variety of rural and small-town contexts, Practicing Care in Rural Congregations and Communities will be an essential guide for all ministers, regardless of location.