The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-12-29
DEMAND FOR WELL
TRAINED MINISTERS
COUNTRY CHURCH PROBLEM
IN SOUTH CARO-
LIMA.

Mr.. @. o. Lyerly, student in the
Lutheran Seminary, and graduate
student in the University of South
Carolina, has recently completed as
his thesis for the Master of Arts de-
gree, the tabulation and analysis Of
the results of survey of the coun-
try church situation in South Caro-
lima.
"In studying the problem of the
country church in South Carolina
there is but little first hand informa-
ton available" Mr.. Lyerly states.
at was necessary therefore to secure
information from those most intimate
ly acquainted with the problem. The
country minister was regarded as the
most logical person from whom such
information could be obtained. In
order to secure such information
uuestionnaires have been sent to two
hundred country ministers. The min
listers included the following denom-
linations: Associate Reformed Pres
byterian, Baptist, Christian, Episco-
pal, Lutheran, Methodist and Presby-
terian. The information sought per-
tanned particularly to educational
preparation; years Of service and
salaries of ministers; the number and
distribution of churches; the number
and frequency of preaching services;
membership and attendance, gains
and losses, and barriers to effective
church work. Replies were received
from approximately so per cent Of
the questionnaires."
The following twenty conclusions
are taken from the summary Of Mr..
lLyerly's paper. While a larger num-
Der than two hundred questionnaires
would give more average results, it
is believed that the data available
constitute sufficient material for many
significant deductions.
l. 40 per cent of the country min
listers do not have diplomas from
colleges and only per cent have de-
lgrees higher than A. B. The demand
for a we'll trained ministry is in
evidence.
i 2. .21 per cent of the ministers in
dicatinp names of colleges, attended
state institutions.
8. Only 48 per cent of the minis
tiers have had a full seminary course.
The training received by men in SEM
linaries in no special way fits them
for distinctively rural work.
| 4. County ministers are, as rule,
all old men. Nineteen years is the
average length of service of such
ministers.
S. The tendency On the part of
young men in the ministry is to go
to the town or city.
| 6. The average salary of the coun-
TRY minister is s1743. The number
receiving salaries over s1743 is forty
three.
| z. 81 per cent of the ministers
| are able to save. Such savings in
most cases are however very meager.
Is ,er cent of ministers live in par
sonages, manses and rectories.
8. 13 per cent of the ministers
engage in occupations other than, and
in addition to, the ministry. Few OF
such men are able to save.
9. In the average country charge
there are 2.7S churches. Only twelve
charges comprise only one church,
while twenty-one charges are compos-
ed of more than four.
10. There are II churches within
two, and 3.8 churches within four
miles of every minister's home. Such
churches are other than his own. y
IL. Few country churches have UP
to-date and attractive buildings. In
most cases equipment is lacking and
the surroundings uninvitlng and re-
pelling.
IL. Country ministers hold an av-
erage of II services each month.
Each congregation has an average OF
2.75 preaching services per month.
13. Seventy-six churches have only
one hundred and thirty-twq services
each month.
IA. The country church in South
Carolina is growing in membership
but slowly.
Is. II per cent of the people in
seventy-six rural districts are church
goers.
16. The membership of the aver
age congregation is one hundred and
| tuenty-aipht OF this number GO Der