The Rural Community Care
Task Force

In May, 1994, the Rural Community Care Task Force of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches replaced the Oklahoma Agriculture Coalition Committee.

Background & History

Dramatic change has occurred in rural areas during the past 25 years. Typically, communities have lost population, local businesses. and churches. The process accelerated in the 1980's as American agriculture suffered broad economic crises. For many rural areas, agriculture as an industry and its people were the backbone from which the community derived its structure. Traditional political and geographic boundaries may no longer adequately define a community.

Many agricultural people sought part-time and/or non-farm employment. Farm populations have aged significantly. Fewer individuals now support much needed local services such as schools, fire and police protection, hospitals and other care units. and fewer man-hours are available to provide the volunteer efforts important in rural areas. ne result of this rural transition is more often than not a social and economic loss to individuals and a diminished quality of life. With this there follows the spiritual loss. As individuals feel more isolated, they often feel a diminished sense of spirit and self-worth. The community, as a whole, experiences a similar sense of loss. Our rural communitites have some unique patterns of interaction and cooperation that build up unity and pride. They also have suffered from divisions on government, school and farming issues which can split them down the middle. Today, many rural communities in Oklahoma have lost their sense of community.

Since the 1980's, various ad hoc groups have worked to alleviate some of the problems facing farm families. This Task Force came about as an outgrowth of these efforts and recognition that the broader community is impacted by these dramatic changes.

A group of interested people representing clergy, farmers, mental health professionals, OSU Extension, and Oklahoma Department of Agriculture were called together by Reverend J. Frank Mitchell. This meeting, chaired by Bishop Dan E. Solomon, was held on May 8,1994.

As a result of this meeting. a five-person task force was fonned.These five individuals met and discussed what could be done to help rural communities through these transitions. When this task force met, they wrote a background statement of rural communities, a vision statement, and objectives relating to the role of a coalition.to address these felt needs in rural communities.

This task force asked the Director of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches to invite several denominations to meet with them, brainstorm, develop a mission statement, do some visioning, and write goals and objectives. In February, 1995, the group identified a set of challenges and drafted a preliminary mission statement, objectives, and goals. At the May, 1995 meeting, the mission statement was revised and the group decided to organize itself into a task force. The assignments were made to revise the goals of this Task Force.

Mission Statement

The Rural Community Care Task Force will actively seek and encourage partnerships to positively shape the future of the places where people live and work and hope.We will encourage and challenge local congregations to consider partnerships and to share resources both for the health of their communities and to hold a vision of hope and mission beyond themselves.

Vision

The Faith Community needs to be a part of the whole effort in revitalizing our rural communities. We can do this by participating with other organizations that are involved in rural life and by helping them with quality of life concerns, economic development, and other areas boosting morale and self- worth.

Our vision is the prosperiong of rural communities in behalf of the quality of life of their residents. This is very important to the future of Oklahoma. These communities must have economic viability. spiritual vitality, and a sense of material connection and self-esteem.

Goals

1. Seek out and make available/accessible human and funding resources to rural communities.

2. Promote a new sense of community and interdependence in rural areas.

3. Train and affirm persons in ministries in rural areas.

4. Design models for use by the Faith Community - for releasing new hope in rural areas.

5. Initiate an emotional support group for the community - targeting the youth of the community.

Committee Members