About the STAR Coalition

Across the United Church of Christ, some of our most faithful and creative ministries are rooted in places often overlooked—small towns and rural communities. The Small Town and Rural (STAR) Coalition was formed to ensure that these ministries are seen, heard, and supported.

The STAR Coalition brings together leaders and congregations from small and rural settings to share their collective wisdom, strength, and creativity. These churches face unique challenges, but they also carry deep traditions of resilience, hospitality, and innovation. The Coalition lifts up these gifts, offering a space where experiences are shared, strategies are exchanged, and voices from small places shape the wider church.

Now, we’re asking for your support.

A resolution is being introduced to formally recognize the STAR Coalition as an official group within the United Church of Christ. This recognition will not only affirm the value of rural and small-town congregations, it will also strengthen their connection to the National Setting and open new pathways for collaboration, support, and visibility.

Your support of the resolution helps us ensure that vibrant ministries in rural and small-town settings are not just sustained but celebrated as vital to the life of the wider church.

Let’s make space at the table for all voices, including those from the prairie, the holler, the desert, and the small towns in between.