Home > Denominational Ministries > Church Growth & Evangelism > Ministries > Special Focus Ministries > Town & Country

Commission on Town & Country Ministries

The mission of the Covenant Commission for Town & Country Ministries is to assist town and country churches and clergy in ministering to congregation and community.

The Town & Country Commission:

• Serves as liaison between rural churches, conference superintendents, and the Covenant church.
• Encourages continuing education regarding rural ministry concerns, Midwinter Conference, and offerings within the local conferences.
• Coordinates with North Park Theological Seminary regarding rural ministry concerns and meets with seminarians encouraging their consideration of town and country ministry.
• Administers a seminary debt reduction program for pastors entering rural ministry.  Dusty-Larson-Award-app-2008.doc
• Publishes a newsletter to communicate items of interest to rural churches.
• Works with North Park Theological Seminary to offer a class on rural ministry.

The commission meets two times a year (spring and fall) in locations to facilitate visits to town & country churches.

Recommended book list:

• Just Shy of Harmony by Philip Gulley, Harper, 2002
• Rural Congregational Studies: A Guide for Good Shepherds by L. Shannon Jung, Abingdon Press, 1997
• No Little Places: Untapped Potential of the Small Town Church by Ron Klassen, Baker Books, 1996
• Rural Ministry: The Shape of the Renewal to Come by L. Shannon Jung, Abingdon Press, 1998
• Discovering Hope: Building Vitality in Rural Congregations by David Poling, Augsburg Fortress, 2001
• Dynamics of Small Town Ministry by Lawrence Farris, Alban Institute, 2000

These books are available for purchase at the Covenant Bookstore. For additional information on these or other available resources, contact the Covenant Resource Center at 800-338-IDEA (800-338-4332).

Want to read interesting articles about Town & Country churches?

Donate 125 Minutes to Celebrate 125 Years 

Growing Into My Call - by Kristen Rae Nelson

Big News, Small Towns - by Thais Carter

Iron River (MI) Church Celebrates 125 Years 

Lost Ring Leads to Renewal of Vows 

For questions regarding the Town & Country Commission, Contact Chris Hagberg: phone 773-907-3347; fax 773-784-4366; email chris.hagberg (at) covchurch.org.