448 RURAL SOCIOLOGY 



and social duty in terms of rural life, and applying what is 

 learned in actual social service. To this end, the pulpit, the home, 

 and the Sunday School should definitely cooperate. 



Program 



1. Graded Bible instruction for children ; adapted to the aver- 

 age country Sunday School. 



2. Instruction of adults through consecutive studies in sermonic 

 material. 



3. Mid-week and monthly conferences. 



4. Rural Bible Study. 



IV. THE CHURCH MINISTERING TO ALL THE PEOPLE 



Policy 



While the country church should minister to the efficient and 

 successful, to the end that it may hold the community through 

 competent leadership, it should minister with special zeal to the 

 ineffective, the poor and the degenerate, since they also belong 

 to Christ. The rapidly increasing instability of the rural popula- 

 tion lays upon the church the special duty of religious and social 

 helpfulness to the tenant farmer and the hired man. 



Program 



1. Organize clubs within the church for community service 

 projects ; bring in outside speakers at club dinners, etc., to discuss 

 community work. 



2. Utilize existing women's organizations for larger and more 

 effective service. 



3. Encourage use of the church buildings by organizations and 

 societies. 



4. Give public advocacy to various forms of social service, 

 such as clean-up days, community picnics, play festivals, town 

 improvement, Arbor day, beautifying cemetery or common, etc. 



5. Preach contentment with rural life and adequacy of coun- 

 try as a life investment. 



6. Make church sociables community affairs, if possible, with 

 all welcome. 



