New Joint Commission Supervises New Program
Diocesan Press Service. April 4, 1974 [74098]
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Joint Commission on the Church in Small Communities held its first meeting of the triennium at Roanridge, Kansas City, Mo., March 20-22.
The Rt. Rev. William Davidson of Western Kansas was elected chairman, and Lewis Beardsley, Jr., of Montour Falls, N.Y., secretary.
This Joint Commission replaces the former Joint Committee on Non-Metropolitan Areas and it is the official national agency of the Episcopal Church for what is often called the Town and Country Field. It sees itself as concerned with the wide spectrum of small communities, including resort areas, mining and lumbering towns, rural ethnic groups, and others as well as agricultural towns and villages.
The new Joint Commission has a primary responsibility for overseeing the national program adopted by the General Convention in Louisville entitled "New Directions for Churches in Small Communities. "
This program is intended to provide assistance in a variety of ways to dioceses which desire to adopt new methods for the revitalization and strengthening of their work in small towns and rural areas. A stronger emphasis on the theology of the Church as the Body of Christ, the strengthening of lay leadership, the encouragement where appropriate of indigenous and self-supporting ordained ministries, and the development of regional clusters or subdivisions within dioceses are characteristic aspects of "New Directions."
Activities funded by the General Convention and supervised by this Joint Commission include a national conference for Episcopal bishops to be held at Roanridge May 14-16, to which all diocesan bishops have been invited. There are also specific resources for particular dioceses which wish to implement "New Directions " in their congregations.
Extensive provisions are also being made for continuing education for Archdeacons, Rural Deans, and others with regional responsibilities for churches in small communities.