Commission on Rural Work
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official6183
- Date
- 1943 September
- Source
- General Synod. Minutes
- Type
- Resolution
- Mover
- Bishop of Athabasca
- Seconder
- Rev. R.F. Palmer
- Prologue
- The resolution of the Rural Deaneries of Peace River and Grande Prairie suggesting a Commission on Rural Work was presented by the Bishop of Athabasca.
- "The Rural Deanery of Peace River along with representatives of the Rural Deanery of Grande Prairie in the Diocese of Athabasca respectively suggest and request that the General Synod of the Church of England in Canada meeting in Toronto in September 1943 should appoint a Commission on Rural Church Work in Canada with special reference to the Church of England.
- 1. We would humbly suggest that this Commission should consist of three Bishops, three Priests and three laymen to be appointed by the General Synod in session this Fall, with power given to this Commission to increase its numbers by additional members, the same to be approved by the Primate. The Primate and the Secretaries of the three Boards of the General Synod would be ex officio members of this commission.
- 2. This Commission should give immediate attention to the formulation of plans for a survey of Rural Life and rural conditions in Canada with special reference to the ministrations of our Church in these rural areas, including the problem of education in rural areas, the important matter of the use of leisure in these areas, the home life, opportunities for advanced training of talented and ambitious young people, the stipends of the Clergy, the condition of the Rectories in which they live, the problem of transportation as they serve their people, the special training of clergy for rural work, etc, etc.
- 3. This Commission should examine carefully the great and important problem which deals with the place of the farm in our economic life, the financial returns for the labours of the farmer, the conditions under which he lives, etc, etc. This is one of the most important problems facing Canadian life today.
- 4. This Commission should have the power to co-operate with other Christian bodies within the boundaries of the Dominion as they study these and kindred problems.
- 5. Other nations and other parts of our Empire throughout the Church have given and are giving special attention to this vast and extremely important subject. Our Sister Church in the United States held its first Rural Church Conference in 1923. In 1924 a Division of Rural Work of the National Council was organized and a full-time secretary of Rural Work appointed. A special publication was issued regularly - The Rural Messenger. In 1925 the General Convention of the Episcopal Church appointed standing Committees on Rural Work. In 1928 a Joint Committee on Rural Work was appointed and in 1931, it gave a printed report which is a most valuable document.
- In the USA the National Roman Catholic Rural Life Conference has been held annually for twenty years and this Church is giving very special attention to this Ecclesiastical and National problem.
- In England at the beginning of this year of 1943, the Church of England along with other Church bodies has instituted a Rural Reconstruction Inquiry. This movement was inspired by the Oxford and Edinburgh Conferences. It is undertaken because the Council believes that all attempts at the social reconstruction of England will be finally void without a revival of the life of the countryside. This involves an awakening of interest among country folk in the needs of the family, the problems of industry, the claims of culture and the place of religion.
- The ultimate purposes of the effort are said to be two: first, to secure that as much thought and energy are applied to the problems of villages as to those of towns; secondly, to "aid the Churches to relate their message and activities more closely to the needs and opportunities of rural communities."
- Text of motion
- That the Resolution be received and considered clause by clause. CARRIED in both Houses.
- 1st Clause was amended by adding "and three women" after "laymen."
- Clause 1 - CARRIED in both Houses as amended.
- Clauses 2 and 3 - CARRIED in both Houses.
- Clauses 3 and 4 - CARRIED in both Houses.
- Subjects
- Church of England in Canada. Commission on Rural Work
- Rural churches - Anglican Church of Canada
- Agriculture - Canada
- Agriculture - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Farmers - Canada
- Farmers - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Christianity and agriculture - Anglican Church of Canada