Agricultural Chaplaincy

Lrac Newsletter LRAC Newsletter – June 2022 Country Mile Coffee Morning

Agricultural Chaplaincy has been at the heart of the District for more than 25 years with Rev Canon Alan Robson serving as chaplain for the majority of these years. Alan is now joined by four part time associate chaplains from the Anglican Diocese of Lincoln and together they are seeking to provide pastoral care as well as a prophetic response to the rural issues of our time.

The work of the agricultural chaplain fits broadly under these fours headings:

Comforter

People in crisis require and request confidential support, guidance and a calm healing presence in traumatic moments. In times of rapid change, families and individuals require compassion and empathy. The chaplain works closely with Lincolnshire Rural Support Network (LRSN) on casework with all the support and protections of LRSN and safeguarding.

Catalyst

Being ‘wide eyed’ to what is changing, fragmenting, or broken in the spiritual landscape or the physical landscape is core to a chaplain’s role. It then requires a social entrepreneurial vision to not only see the reshaping required, but to create possible solutions to challenge or support new landscapes.

Champion

Ensuring that rural voices are heard is crucial on so many levels; emotionally when in a crisis, such as the Foot and Mouth outbreak, flooding, or possible future disease outbreaks, intellectually when challenged upon ethical issues, socially when it comes to climate mitigation or food-related health issues such as the rise in obesity or food poverty and educationally when so many of the populace are so disconnected from the land and its productivity.

Connecting

The chaplain’s role is to create a chain of vital connections by bringing together ‘influencers and advocates’ including local Councillors and MPs, academics and national organisations to see the realities of food chain brokenness, entrepreneurial successes and innovation.

Rev Canon Alan Robson – 07542 272049