As the church seeks to respond to the human needs arising in our ever-changing society, it must constantly reassess its role in nonmetropolitan areas. At this critical juncture in the history of our country, the nature of the church's mission in town and country is a subject of great debate. For both urban and rural America, this CARA (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate) study advises that the church's role in an era of change requires both theological and ethical analysis of the sociological facts so that the church can make an adequate response to the dilemmas of our communities. While the scope of this response will differ in the urban and nonmetropolitan areas, its nature is the same. This includes sustaining the community; helping the diocese or the parish to interpret its responses and catalyze this response; and, through its preaching and sacramental ministry, uniting all men with God and with one another more effectively. It is within this perspective that the 8 articles in this book are presented. The articles result from 2 projects: the Office of Pastoral Studies at St. John's School of Divinity, Collegeville, Minnesota, and the Micro-City Project. Intended as an introduction to the small community today and its projected future, these lectures provide an understanding of the change affecting small communities as well as ideas that might help the individual face the realities of change so that he can evaluate and plan in a spirit of hope rather than defeat. (LS)