Faith and the Future of the Countryside - 2010

3 – 5 November 2010 at The Hayes, Swanwick, Derbyshire

A major ecumenical conference exploring the sustainability of rural communities and their churches, and making recommendations for their future.

This event will also mark 20 years from the publication of Faith in the Countryside and the completion of the Archbishop’s Commission on Rural Areas. Four conference themes of rural communities, economy, environment and rural church reflect the breadth of issues covered in the original report.

Four Keynote addresses to include:

Professor Michael Winter University of Exeter

Professor Mark Shucksmith University of Newcastle.

Up to 20 seminars within four themes. Seminars to include:

Rural church

* spreading the Gospel in a small rural village – Anne Richards
* what future in the countryside for non-conformists – Gill Crippen & Nicholas Wood
* emerging from the Rural Church – Stephen Skuce

Rural communities

* what are sustainable rural communities – Michael Winter
* creating communities of mental health and wellbeing – Lorna Murray
* mainstreaming rural policies: myth or reality – Frances Rowe

Environment

* ethical challenges to land based industries – Sir Brian Heap
* environmental Crisis – incarnational response in an age of rapid change – Adrian Hough
* climate change and rural communities – Martin Hodson and Margot Hodson

Economy

* the sustainability of rural economies – Neil Ward
* rural oikonomia and a theology of enough – John Wibberley
* planning, power and values – Mark Shucksmith

Poster session to include:

* the rural church building faith, hope and community
* priesthood and presence in rural multi-parish ministry
* mission: the heart of the rural church
* rural spirituality
* affordable housing in rural areas
* issues of agricultural justice

exhibitions • market place • fringe meetings