What is a "rural chaplain"?
A rural chaplain is a volunteer--man or woman, lay or clergy--called by God , graced with gifts particularly suited to ministry in small town and country settings, and certified by the Rural Chaplains Association for rural church and community ministries. Rural chaplains continue in their regular job or profession; they receive no compensation for their chaplaincy.
Who "certifies" rural chaplains?
Certification as a rural chaplain is made by the Rural Chaplains Association (RCA), an independent ecumenical group that sets the standards and guides the volunteer applicants through the steps of becoming rural chaplains. The association is in the process of becoming incorporated.
How many members does the Rural Chaplains Association have?
As of March 1997, the association had 149 certified chaplains serving in communities across the United States. Candidates are processed through petitioner and probationer phases to certification.
What are the origins of the association?
The association's "Process for Certification of Rural Chaplains" states: "The concept of rural chaplaincy emerged from work done by the Center for Town and Rural Ministry in Ohio in the early 1980s, followed by involvement and encouragement of Upper Sand Mountain Parish in North Alabama. A recommendation was made by the United Methodist Rural Fellowship that an association for rural chaplains be organized. From its beginning, the RCA has functioned from an ecumenical perspective, and now includes members from several faith persuasions."
What is the relationship to The United Methodist Church?
The association has United Methodist roots, a majority of its members
are United Methodist, and the General Board of Global Ministries strongly
endorses the objectives of the rural chaplaincy movement. However,
the association has no organic or legal ties to The United Methodist
Church or any of its parts. The General Board of Global Ministries,
through the office of Town and Country Ministries, provides some staff
support and program grants to the association, as it does for other
independent groups and projects engaged in town and country ministry.
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