More than 120 veterinary surgeons, nurses and students gathered at the Hayes Conference Centre in Derbyshire in mid March for a Veterinary Christian Fellowship (VCF) conference called to consider professional attitudes to a range of ethical issues as viewed from a Christian perspective.
During the course of the weekend, delegates tackled the subjects of ethical relationships with each other, their business colleagues, their clients and, on a wider scale, with the environment.
Stimulating debate were two keynote speakers, both veterinary surgeons: Phelim Doherty, a church pastor from Northern Ireland, and David Watson, editor of vetpulse.tv and a Reader in the Church of England.
They both emphasised the importance of adhering to the roots of the Christian faith, whether addressing the day-to-day dilemmas in everyday practice life or engaging with global issues such as climate change or the credit crunch.
The busy conference programme also included periods of worship and prayer, and time to hear of the progress being made by the Fellowship’s missionary vets, who live and work with livestock farmers in such far-flung places as Bolivia, Tanzania and Thailand.
There was a deal of fun to be had too, with many acquaintances to be renewed, activities for the children, and students spinning their less sprightly peers in an alarming fashion at the ceilidh on Saturday night.
The VCF has active student groups in all the UK veterinary schools and has set up a mentoring scheme. It is also establishing a network of regional fellowship groups across the country so that vets and nurses can share their concerns and interests with sympathetic, caring colleagues.
For further information about the VCF and its activities, visit its website www.vcf.org.uk or contact Ali Budgell at secretary@vcf.org.uk.
