About Us

The purpose of the United Methodist Rural Advocates is:
  • To advocate, educate, inspire, and influence the United Methodist Church around rural issues.
  • To be a fellowship (working network) that advocates, educates, inspires, and affirms rural and small membership churches, rural communities and the entire United Methodist Church.
  • To this end: we will be an advocacy group of United Methodist laity and clergy who are concerned with United Methodism's responsibility within the Church Universal toward nurturing Christian concerns in town and rural churches and communities of the United States and throughout the world; we will interpret the Christian message as it applies to town and rural life; and we will be a voice for the rural church and community particularly in the support of General Conference legislation that will assist small membership and rural churches to minister effectively in their community for the Kingdom of God.

2017 - 2020 Officers                                                   2021-2024 OFFICERS

 Chairperson: Randy Wall (NC)
 Vice-Chairperson: Alan Bolte (MN)
 Secretary: Sue Grace (WOH)
 Treasurer: Judy Hill (CO)
 Membership Director: Carl Ellis (KS)
 Spiritual Director: Peggy Jeffries (MO)
 Communications Director: Michele Holloway (OR)
  Advocacy Director: Mollie Stewart (MS)
​  Immediate Past President:  Roger Grace (OH)

Jurisdictional Members at Large                       Other Members - Board of Directors
​                     2017-2020                                                                            2017 - 2020            

Western Jurisdiction: Orrinda Stockton (Ca-Nv)                                                          Sara Wrona (PA)                                
North Central: Jodi Cataldo (Dakotas)                                                                           Laura Beach Byrch (NC)                  
South Central: Claudean Harrison (OK)                                                                        Erie Stuckett (MS)
Northeastern:                                                                                                                    Alan Rice (NC)
Southeastern:                                                                                                                    David Ruesink (TX)
                                                                                                                                             John Gilmore (LA)
                                                                                                                                             Debbie Ketcham (OH), Events Coordinator 
                                                                                                                                             Andrew Coon (MO)

Members at Large 2017-2020

Judy Heffernan