Regional Ministries

United Methodist Appalachian Ministry Network

partnered with the United Methodist Church in all of Appalachia

APPALACHIAN REGIONAL MINISTRIES GENERAL ADVANCE SPECIAL #982041

Purpose:

Appalachia is a political-geographical region that stretches along the Appalachian mountain range from Mississippi to southern New York. Twenty-one United Methodist conferences have areas in Appalachia. More than 8,500 local congregations and 22,000,000 people call the region home.

The Appalachian Regional Ministries General Advance Special (#982041) provides education and training for laity and clergy leaders in the Appalachian region. Quadrennial goals include:

development of education and training modules appropriate to Appalachia to strengthen leadership skills and spiritual formation of church leaders in the region;
advocacy awareness on social, political and economic issues that impact Appalachia;
collection and sharing of data and research relating to churches and the communities in which they minister;
regional assemblies for networking, leadership development, and celebration.

Challenges for the Local Church:

growing number of churches served by part-time pastors or district superintendent placements;
lack of resources in small membership rural and urban churches;
cultural differences across the region that require sensitive leadership.

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