Rural Ministries

About one-third of the congregations in the Diocese of Missouri are located in rural communities. These churches can be found as far north as Kirksville, and as far south as Poplar Bluff. We define a "rural community" as a town with a population of 20,000 or less and surrounded by green space.

The joys, challenges, and opportunities for our rural parishes are very different from the parishes based in larger cities like Columbia, Jefferson City, Cape Girardeau, Rolla, and the St. Louis metro area.

The Rev. Annette Joseph is the Diocesan Missioner for Rural Communities. She is tasked with making connections for our rural congregations and lifting up their ministries. She helps introduce new opportunities for our rural communities to grow in faith, regardless of the size of their congregation.

Our rural congregations include:

• All Saints Episcopal Church, Farmington
• Calvary Episcopal Church, Louisiana
• Christ Episcopal Church, Rolla
• Episcopal Church of St. John & St. James, Sullivan
• Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Poplar Bluff
• St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Fulton
• St. John's Episcopal Church, Eolia
• St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Portland
• St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Ironton
• St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Sikeston
• St. Vincent's-in-the-Vineyard, Ste. Genevieve
• Trinity Episcopal Church, DeSoto
• Trinity Episcopal Church, Kirksville
• Trinity Episcopal Church, St. James
• Trinity Episcopal Church, Hannibal