Social Justice

Rural and Agricultural Issues
Many of the people in the diocese live in rural communities, some in remote villages. Rural ministry is different from ministry in suburban and urban communities. Rural life and community is different.  This needs to be acknowledged and recognised in our approach to ministry strategy in this Diocese. The work of the Rural Officers aims to:

• Keep abreast of national, regional and local, trends in  rural issues including rural proofing and response to rural social exclusion
• Be alert to and raise awareness of changes in farming and agricultural
• keep the Church informed of rural issues and concerns
• build bridges between the Church and rural organisations and communities
• assist clergy and lay people within the diocese to understand rural society as a distinctive context for ministry and contribute to the dioceses policy,and decision making where it affects rural churches and people

To fulfil these aims the Rural Officers work within the Board for Social Responsibility. They liase with local parishes and communities and with farming and rural organisations, including

• the Rural Community Councils in the three counties of the diocese: Oxfordshire Rural Community Council, the Community Council of Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire Community Action
• farming organisations including those working to alleviate stress in the farming industry,
• health and social services including mental health services
• voluntary and community organisations working closely with rural communities

Agricultural Festivals
The four agricultural festivals of the church’s year give the Church an opportunity to make agricultural concerns central to the worship of the local church

1. PLOUGH SUNDAY : First Sunday after the Epiphany  A festival to celebrate the long hours of tilling and preparing the soil before the seed can be sown.  Though in modern agriculture much ploughing has already been done before January this festival in the midst of winter can be an anticipation of the spring to come. In ancient times labourers ‘rested’ during the Christmas break would use Plough Monday to re-awaken landowners interest in them so this is also a festival of human labour. A plough is often brought to church and blessed.
Prayer: God speed the plough

2. ROGATION:  Fifth Sunday after Easter {Easter 6 in Common Worship lectionary}: Named after the BCP lection ‘ whatever you ask in my name the Father will give to you’ {rogare =to ask} this is part of the rogation cycle leading up to Ascension when prayers are said for the whole of life, including the emerging crops on which so much of human life depends.  Traditionally processions {including the ‘Beating of Bounds’} took place today and many churches meet and hold their worship in fields or in barns for this festival.
Prayer: May God’s blessing be upon the fields and on all cereal crops and cornfields of our countryside.  AMEN

3. LAMMAS – 1st AUGUST: The bread made from the first cut of the corn at the beginning of harvest was used as the loaf at Mass – Loaf Mass = Lammas. A day to pray for the success of the harvest, for the hard work of the days ahead, and to recognise that the world belongs to God before it belongs to humankind. 
Prayer: Praise God for the bread given as our daily food, and for that Bread of Life Which we receive at the Lord’s Table

4. HARVEST – 1st SUNDAY IN OCTOBER or thereabouts!
Coming as the last of the four annual festivals in the year marks the completion of the cycle of agricultural festivals for the year. In times of crisis the Harvest Festival is best seen as a time for reflection on the graciousness of God, the partnership between God and humanity in the way the soil brings forth fruit, and in humanity’s care for creation.  The harvest will remind us of the need for justice in the distribution of food throughout the world.  It will also remind us of the dependence we have on those who work in agriculture and food processing.
Prayer: May we always bring forth good things from the land which is your gift and your glory. Amen.

Rural News
A regular newsletter, Rural News, is distributed with the parish mailing. This is edited by a partnership group of the Rural Officers and representatives of the three Rural Community Councils and is also supported by the parish development advisers.

Preaching
The Diocesan Rural Officer is available to preach and speak in parishes, and welcomes invitations.  From time to time other rural officers may be available to preach but this will depend on Sunday responsibilities.