The Rural-Urban Connections Project
To overcome isolation many people in rural churches experience and to make people in urban
churches
aware of how urban and rural issues intersect, The Fig Tree is
expanding
its circulation and coverage. Inland Northwest church leaders
have
voiced concern about issues facing small and rural churches on
leadership,
trust, survival, individualism and mission. They are also
concerned
about such issues as poverty, land use, water rights, global trade,
farm
workers, farm policy, racial diversity, and economic justice. Improved
communications among rural and urban people of faith can help churches
minister more effectively.
The Fig Tree, a
monthly
ecumenical/interfaith newspaper circulating in the Inland Northwest,
provides
a forum for exploring such issues and building connections. A
recent
retreat on “Food, Faith and Sustainable Farming” led to a series of
articles
and contacts in rural communities. The interest generated makes
evident
the need to expand coverage of and outreach in rural areas.
By fostering communication among faith and nonprofit groups, The Fig Tree increases understanding
and involves people in their communities. Awareness engenders
personal
contacts, resource sharing and mutual encouragement. It takes
only
one or two people to pick up an idea and gather a few more to multiply
the influence of an article. Empowerment is hard to measure, but
we see growth and fruit from seeds The Fig Tree plants.
In 1984, the Spokane
Council of Ecumenical Ministries started The Fig Tree as a
communications
ministry to cover religion news in the region. Most ecumenical
publications
focus on public relations, so The Fig Tree was an unique from the
start.
In 2001, The Fig Tree became an independent nonprofit organization,
providing
regional religion and nonprofit news. By covering “faith in action,” it
inspires people to work together for the common good.
Because ecumenism in this
region is
diffuse, there is much to cover and more need for
communication
among the various ministries and nonprofits in urban and in rural
life.
The editor brings both expertise as a professional journalist and
sensitivity
from local, regional, national and global ecumenical experience. She coordinates the work of a contract and volunteer team which will be
expanded to carry out this project.
We anticipate that increased
coverage of
rural issues will educate people in urban areas to develop solidarity
with
farmers, farm workers and people concerned about sustainable farming
and
sustainable small towns. We also hope the coverage will increase
solidarity among rural communities.
Believing we have a uniquely
effective
tool to inspire and connect people in rural
and
urban churches, we seek to develop more readers in rural and small-town
congregations. Currently, we send at least one copy to each
church
and area nonprofits, bulk quantities to Spokane area churches and
nonprofits,
and copies to individuals who request to be on the mailing list. Many
say
The Fig Tree provides coverage that rings true to their experiences and
needs.
By increasing readership through distributing 1,000 to 2,000 more copies in the first year, we
can
expand our effectiveness. Based on our estimate that three people
read each copy, we could thus increase our outreach by 3,000 to 6,000 a
year. Like public broadcasting, The Fig Tree is available free
with
an invitation to sponsor. Over the long term, we expect to
broaden
our base of support, so that rural circulation will be self-supporting.
In summary, by connecting with
people in rural communities, we expect to build understanding, cooperation and
common action that will strengthen communities in our region.
Copyright@ The Fig Tree, 2019