THE church has a vital role to play in helping communities accept migrant workers who come to live and work in rural areas.
That was the message from representatives from rural churches of all denominations who took part in discussions at the 2020 Vision for Rural Britain conference.
The conference acknowledged that without migrant workers, farms and rural businesses might suffer. Delegates identified opportunities for churches among migrant workers and now plan to encourage rural churches to take a positive stance in their own communities.
Jenny Carpenter, secretary of the Churches Rural Group for the Arthur Rank Centre on the Royal Showground, Stoneleigh, said: "At a time when itinerant workers are being portrayed as a problem or even a threat, we hope the rural churches can play a leading role in helping communities recognise the important contribution these people are making to the rural economy, and to welcome them."
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