If a mission to create new forms of community in rural America becomes a part
of new rural policy, there are as many as 200,000 congregations with more than 30
million adherents who are potential allies in the effort. It seems to me that this is a
project that is addressable and one upon which we might cooperate.
Conclusion
I began with the presupposition—one appropriate for our setting here in
Providence—that religion should be a full partner in discussions of rural public policy.
Drawing upon the thesis of H. RichardNiebuhr, I shared the concept that the vision of
the kingdom of God has driven much of American history. Then I identified three
forms or foci that this has taken and suggested how each form has contributed to
rural public policy in the past. And, I announced my thesis that current public policy
is not driven by a common vision of the future-state of rural society. I also suggested
that we need to get on with identifying a shared vision that will drive the formation of
public policy in the future.
While the churches likely will need to continue to take the lead in promoting
the Sovereignty-Of-God and reigning-Christ versions of the vision, we certainly could
cooperate extensively around the kingdom-of-God-on-earth focus, particularly as
expressed by the prophet Isaiah in poetic fashion in his eleventh chapter—a peaceable
kingdom, one Characterizedbyjustice, love and hope (Hauerwas 1983).
I continued by suggesting that while many would give “lip service” to the concept
of a peaceable kingdom and some might give strong allegiance to it, in everyday life
we fall short of that ideal by misusing and misunderstanding values. A dynamic
interrelation between visions and values must always exist. Otherwise, we will wrap
our avarice in values, while neglecting the vision. I also placed on the table eight
values that the churches would want to see addressed in public policy debate.
Next, I asked you to recall that your selection of a profession in agriculture
probably involved a sense of calling or mission. I asked you to recommit to working
through your vocation, to enable the kingdom vision to be more nearly realized.
Specifically, I encouraged you to draw upon the vision—and upon the core values of
justice, love and hope that it implies—to formulate, critique and implement policy.
Finally, I proposed a very practical task of creating new forms of community
across rural America. The location of this task is the emerging 30-mile communities
around the Wal-Mart towns. We will need to consider how the core values and the
vision can be expressed therein and how public policy can be put in place to create a
supportive climate for this task.
If you decide to accept this mission, you will find thousands of churches with
millions of members who know of the vision, who subscribe to the values and have
ordered them into personal values. It is they who long for the restoration of community.
They will listen and respond and work with you in the accomplishment of your vocation.
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