North America has entered more deeply into a chronic agricultural crisis. Our rural communities are suffering; rural land, air and water are at risk; rural producers are receiving record low prices for their commodities; and local businesses are at risk. Our farm and rural familes, many of which struggled to survive through the crisis of the 1980s, again find their livelihoods and futures seriously threatened.

Our Christian churches have heard the suffering of our rural people. This persistent suffering places our local church communities at serious risk. Our Christian leadership needs to rise to address this urgent, resurging crisis in rural North Ameria. We need intentional compassionate outreach and ministry. We need to address boldly the economic forces at work in destroying local communities.

It is time to speak the truth to power; to bring the Gospel of Jesus to bear on global economic and social policies impacting our local, rural life. The Rural Church Network of the United States and Canada requests that each denomination makes this concern of highest priority.

Issued by:

The Rural Church Network of the United States and Canada

Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, November 18-21, 1998