Broad Street

All Saints', Wrington 
Being a farmer today
Harvest-tide, 2007

  
“ The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and take care of it ”
Genesis 2:15

            BEING A FARMER TODAY

On Sunday 23rd September 2007 at the Harvest Thanksgiving Service in All Saints', Wrington, three farmers - Alison Clark, Freddie Ford, and Haydn Garrett - all living and working in the village, gave these "verbal snapshots" of what being a farmer today feels like for them.

The National Chairman of RABI also gave some examples of the work they are engaged in.

So strong was the reaction to these presentations that it was decided to publish them for the benefit of a wider audience to see something of the very serious problems that the farming community is facing today.

This was in the context of reminding ourselves of the "Five Marks of Mission of the Anglican Church." These were developed by the Anglican Consultative Council between 1984 and 1990. They have won wide acceptance among Anglicans, and have given parishes and dioceses around the world a practical and memorable "checklist" for mission activity.

The last two "Marks" are particularly relevant in the world today. There is deep injustice in many countries. There is also mounting evidence of the problems caused by global warming through our exploitation of the natural world and pollution of the environment, with its potential for dire and irreversible effects on farming and fisheries around the world.

Lastly, our farmers in this country are facing enormous problems through factors quite outside their control. Those of us who value the countryside must make a real effort to be better informed about these issues and then act appropriately.

The Five Marks of Mission of the Worldwide Anglican Communion

• To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom

• To teach, baptise and nurture new believers

• To respond to human need by loving service

• To seek to transform unjust structures of society

• To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth

   Alison Clark