By The Rev Robert Miller

The following dioceses were represented: Birmingham, Clifton, East Anglia, Hexham & Newcastle, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Northampton, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Shrewsbury, Southwark, Wrexham. The Conference received with enthusiasm news of the appointment by the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales of the Bishop of Lancaster as its lead bishop for rural affairs. It was grateful for the bishop's willingness to accept this role. It recognised with gratitude the efforts of Mgr Summersgill and Mgr Faley in achieving this appointment. Conference listened to a number of distinguished speakers on various rural issues. Of particular interest was a talk byCanon Andrew Bowden, Chair of CTE's Churches' Rural Group, on how the other churches support rural ministry. Graham Harvey, of The Archers, spoke about his new book on farming methods. Dr Jill Hopkinson spoke on the government's rural statistics. Matt Griffiths of Cafod, Chris France of Exmoor National Park Authority, and Nick Viney of Farm Crisis Network were among other speakers. Conference members agreed that a conference in 2007 was desirable, to take place near Preston, Lanes. It should be open to all Catholics who wished to attend. This will take place Feb 12-14, 2007 (details from the above address).

Conference proposed for the consideration of the Bishop of Lancaster;
1) That the two people representing the Bishops' Conference on the Churches' Rural Group (CRG) should receive a formal appointment from him on the Bishops' behalf;
2) That the Bishops be encouraged to consider appointing one or more National Rural officers who would support the Bishop of Lancaster; be the Bishops' representative(s) on the CRG; convene the annual rural conference; liaise with diocesan rural advisers; keep the Bishops apprised of significant rural issues. The meeting agreed that the appointment of a rural officer should be honorary, with no dedicated time commitment nor added measure of bureaucracy. The appointment of two national officers would ensure continuity and share the load;
3) That each diocesan bishop be encouraged to appoint one or more rural advisers to be aresource when seeking advice or forewarning on rural issues. Conference agreed that an appointee should be the right person rather than a priest willing to add the role to his existingportfolio of duties. The role could properly be assigned to a lay person and might involve an ecumenical appointment where other churches already have such people in post.