RSSE History

RSSE History

Rural Social Science Education was developed in response to the expressed needs of urban raised, rural pastors. Bob Greene, an Episcopalian rural pastor and the visionary for the RSSE program, along with Dave Ruesink, then a Cooperative Extension rural sociologist, approached the Texas Agricultural Extension Service of The Texas A&M University System, the Texas Conference of Churches, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, the deans of the theological seminaries in Texas, leaders of national denominational agencies, and other interested groups. They received strong affirmation to develop a program to meet these needs. Initial funding was obtained from Trinity (Grants Program of Trinity) parish in New York, from Texas denominational agencies, and others. Since that time, funding has come from The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Meadows Foundation, the Abell-Hanger Foundation, and the Swalm Foundation.

Bob (Greene) and Dave (Ruesink) helped to guide the RSSE program into a study which features a process pioneered for theology by The University of the South and a similar program of extension education in England, that of education by reflection. This process allows participants the unique opportunity to develop hands on projects which help them to truly discover the uniqueness of their community.

From it's first study group in 1989, RSSE has now offered courses in about three quarters of the United States and is expanding internationally. The original Design Team, comprised of ecumenical leaders from across the state of Texas, helped to develop the program from it's infancy. Today RSSE is guided by dual teams of individuals on the Advisory Team and the Program Team, each team specializing in specific areas of the program, to continue the strong growth and further develop RSSE to meet the needs of rural community leaders.