Rural Church Links

Listed below are web sites that provide valuable information for rural and small churches. Note: The inclusion of a web site does not constitute an endorsement or an agreement with the content of the site. Rather, the web sites are listed because they provide helpful information in understanding the trends, issues, and demographics affecting rural areas. This page is very much a "work in progress," so check often as we add more content.

America Religious Data Archive - Provides religions membership data for counties and states.

Center for Rural Affairs - The Center for Rural Affairs, a private, non-profit organization, is working to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities.

Center for Rural Ministry - The Center for Rural Ministry has provided educational opportunities for clergy and laity in Central Missouri for over 100 years. MSR Center for Rural Ministry provides a wide variety of faith-based programming and is also involved in several rural focused projects: Certificate in Pastoral Ministry, Continuing Education Seminars and Workshops, Rural Parish Nurse Project, and the Rural Church Research Project. MSR Center for Rural Ministry is fully ecumenical in its board composition, program ministry, and mission. The listings above are current MSR Center for Rural Ministry projects and resources.

Economic Research Service of the U. S. Department of Agriculture - Provides demographic and economic information related to rural areas.

Rural Information Center - Provides information services for rural communities, officials, organizations, and citizens.

Small Membership Church - The small-membership church page features various topics of interest to small-membership church leaders.