446 RURAL SOCIOLOGY 



6. Cooperation among the churches. 



7. Division of labor. 



8. Administration and finance. 



9. The preacher and his helpers. 



10. The preacher, a community builder. 



11. The country church circuit. 



Under each one of these heads there is : 



1. A statement of general policy : 



Intended to apply to the church as a whole, or to any church. 

 This policy is expected to be broad enough on the one hand to 

 make the church "function," and on the other hand practical 

 enough to serve as a guide for local church work. 



2. A program for the local church : 



This is by no means complete, but is a list of specific things 

 that might be done by the local church. Probably no one church 

 will do all of them, but every church can do some of them. Each 

 church should adapt its program to its own needs and conditions, 

 but should always test the program in the light of a broad policy. 



3. Suggestions and examples : 



Under this head there is given a list of practical helps, either 

 indicating literature or mentioning actual instances that show 

 the practicability of many of the items in the suggested program. 



I. KNOWLEDGE 



Policy 



a. Country church leaders, both preachers and laymen, should 

 have a clear view of the fundamental aspects of the rural problem, 

 and should broadly define the relationship of the church to that 

 problem. 



b. The country church should make a survey of its field, to 

 discover neglected individuals and families, to ascertain the con- 

 ditions which determine its work, and to learn what movements 

 are entitled to its guidance, interest, and support. Two or more 

 churches serving the same community should cooperate in such 

 a survey. The main results should be made public, but the rights 

 of privacy should be duly guarded. 



