The first national Inter Faith Week in England and Wales is from November, 15th to 21st with a launch event on November 12th. The Inter Faith Week in Scotland is taking place from November 22nd to 29th.
For those of you in the London area, there are a series of events at Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, SE1 9DA, three of which I am involved in organising. These are:
i. The Global Ethic Exhibition, which will be on display from October17th to November 12th.
ii. A Moral Maze style debate: 'Capitalism or Community? What have we learned from the Financial Meltdown?' It will start at 7.00 p.m. The event will be chaired by Rabbi Jackie Tabick. The panel will be Rabbi Janet Darley, Charanjit Ajit Singh, Tarak El Diwany and Paul Morrison, who is a Policy Officer at Methodist Church House. The experts will be Peter Challen, Professor Vince Daley, Duncan Law, Richard North at Atul Shah. Light refreshments will be available.
iii. Inter Faith Prayers for Peace on Remembrance Sunday, November 12, commencing at 4.30 p.m.
Special events, organised by local regional faith councils, are being organised throughout the England, Wales and Scotland. For details of events in your area, go to the relevant website listed below.
Please send reports of events you attend, and photographs if possible, to the inter faith relations office at interfaith@methodistchurch.org.uk so that as many as possible can be included on the Inter Faith Relations pages of the Methodist Church website.
East of England: http://www.eefaithscouncil.org.uk/
East Midlands: http://www.ffem.org.uk/
London: http://www.londoncivicforum.org.uk/
North East: http://www.nerfn.org/
North West: http://www.faithnorthwest.org.uk/
South East: http://www.se-faithforum.net/
South West: http://www.faithnetsouthwest.org.uk/
West Midlands: http://www.wmfaithsforum.org.uk/
Yorkshire and Humber: http://www.yorkshireandhumberfaiths.org.uk/
See also the main Inter Faith Week website http://www.interfaithweek.org.uk/
Wales: http://www.interfaithwales.org/
Scotland: http://www.scottishinterfaithcouncil.org/ The theme of Scottish Inter Faith Week this year is ‘A Place of Home and Welcome’.
Friday, 30 October 2009
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
The British National Party
At a time when the controversy regarding the participation of Nick Griffin on the BBC programme Question Time continues, it is worthwhile remembering that the 2009 Methodist Conference approved the following motion:
SO 361A states: 'The Methodist Church believes that racism is a denial of the gospel. '
Conference notes:
Ca) with warm approval that the Church of England at their February General Synod voted to prohibit members of the clergy from being members of the BNP;
Cb) with deep dismay the recent electoral success of parties with nationalistic ideologies, in particular the BNP;
Cc) the certainty of a general election by June 2010;
Cd) the letter sent by the Equality and Human Rights Commission asking the BNP to make changes to its constitution to comply with the Race Relations Act 1976.*
Therefore Conference resolves:
1 that being a member of an organisation which promotes racism is not consistent with being a Methodist;
2 that the Methodist Council be directed to explore any changes needed to give fuller effect to the principle that being a member of any organisation whose constitution, aims or objectives promote racism is inconsistent with membership of the Methodist Church, or with employment which involves representing or speaking on behalf of the Methodist Church and, if so, to bring proposals to conference of 2010;
3 that the Connexional Team urgently identifies and makes available resources to enable all local churches, circuits & districts to engage with this issue, especially in the approach to a general election;
4 that the Joint Public Issues Team engage with Government and all church members addressing the social and economic issues that have created the current widespread disaffection with the mainstream political process;
5 that all members and officers of the Methodist Church be reminded of the gospel imperative to love and accept all God's children and to reject racism in all its forms. In addition, Conference asserts that those who support racist organisations are also God's children in need of love, hope and redemption.
*
Under the BNP Constitution the membership criteria limit membership to 'The indigenous British ethnic groups deriving from the class of 'Indigenous Caucasian' consist[ing] of members of: i) The Anglo-Saxon
Folk Community; ii) The Celtic Scottish Folk Community; iii) The Scots-Northern Irish Folk Community; iv) The Celtic Welsh Folk Community; v) The Celtic Irish Folk Community; vi) The Celtic Cornish Folk
Community; vii) The Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Folk Community; viii) The Celtic-Norse Folk Community; ix) The Anglo-Saxon-Norse Folk Community; x) The Anglo-Saxon-Indigenous European Folk Community; xi) Members of these ethnic groups who reside either within or outside Europe but ethnically derive from them.'
SO 361A states: 'The Methodist Church believes that racism is a denial of the gospel. '
Conference notes:
Ca) with warm approval that the Church of England at their February General Synod voted to prohibit members of the clergy from being members of the BNP;
Cb) with deep dismay the recent electoral success of parties with nationalistic ideologies, in particular the BNP;
Cc) the certainty of a general election by June 2010;
Cd) the letter sent by the Equality and Human Rights Commission asking the BNP to make changes to its constitution to comply with the Race Relations Act 1976.*
Therefore Conference resolves:
1 that being a member of an organisation which promotes racism is not consistent with being a Methodist;
2 that the Methodist Council be directed to explore any changes needed to give fuller effect to the principle that being a member of any organisation whose constitution, aims or objectives promote racism is inconsistent with membership of the Methodist Church, or with employment which involves representing or speaking on behalf of the Methodist Church and, if so, to bring proposals to conference of 2010;
3 that the Connexional Team urgently identifies and makes available resources to enable all local churches, circuits & districts to engage with this issue, especially in the approach to a general election;
4 that the Joint Public Issues Team engage with Government and all church members addressing the social and economic issues that have created the current widespread disaffection with the mainstream political process;
5 that all members and officers of the Methodist Church be reminded of the gospel imperative to love and accept all God's children and to reject racism in all its forms. In addition, Conference asserts that those who support racist organisations are also God's children in need of love, hope and redemption.
*
Under the BNP Constitution the membership criteria limit membership to 'The indigenous British ethnic groups deriving from the class of 'Indigenous Caucasian' consist[ing] of members of: i) The Anglo-Saxon
Folk Community; ii) The Celtic Scottish Folk Community; iii) The Scots-Northern Irish Folk Community; iv) The Celtic Welsh Folk Community; v) The Celtic Irish Folk Community; vi) The Celtic Cornish Folk
Community; vii) The Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Folk Community; viii) The Celtic-Norse Folk Community; ix) The Anglo-Saxon-Norse Folk Community; x) The Anglo-Saxon-Indigenous European Folk Community; xi) Members of these ethnic groups who reside either within or outside Europe but ethnically derive from them.'
John Denham M.P. speaks at Methodist Church House
The Rt Hon John Denham, MP, Secretary of State at the Dept of Communities and Local Government gave a speech on Inter Faith Relations and Politics at Methodist Church House before an audience who included members of the Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faiths. The event was organised by the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) and chaired by Bishop Angelos, moderator of the Churches' Inter Religious Network. In his speech, Mr Denham reflected positively on the relationship between government and faith communities and how they had worked together in the past, did so today, and should continue to do so in the future. To read a copy of the text of the speech click on the following link: http://www.communities.gov.uk/
Pictured below are Revd Bob Fyffe General Secretary of CTBI, Bishop Angelos and John Denham who answered questions from the audience after his speech.
There was a genuine spirit of dialogue and mutual respect during the question and answer session. It was good to hear the Secretary of State, who at the beginning of his speech described himself as a ‘secular humanist’, reject the idea that there was a secularist conspiracy to marginalise religion: ‘first and foremost, faith must be respected and its power acknowledged by government’. Mr Denham stated that his government believed that Christianity continued to make a distinctive contribution to national life and that the members of the different faith communities had enriched British society. As I listened to Mr Denham's speech I was reminded of the Cantle Report, to which he made reference during one of this answers. In his report Cantle emphasised that it was in towns like Southall and Leicester where different religions are celebrated in schools, the community and local government that there is community harmony. 'Religion is part of the solution, not the problem'.
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Statement from Inter Faith Network for the UK
The first national Inter Faith Week takes place next month. The Co-Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Inter Faith Network for the UK, of which the Methodist Church is a member, issued the following statement on 9 October.
“While inter faith relations in the UK are generally positive there are, from time to time, developments which seek to drive a wedge between our faith communities. These range from demeaning rhetoric which claims that some faith communities are less truly British to demands for restrictions on freedom to worship or on other aspects of practising one’s faith. While these views may be expressed in ways which remain just on the right side of the law they can still be deeply disturbing. There are also periodic reports of attacks on faith community property – from places of worship to cemeteries – and disruptive activities by extremist groups.
As we prepare for Inter Faith Week next month in different nations of the UK the importance of good inter faith relations is very much to the fore. As well as highlighting the positive aspects of working together, it is important that we continue to work, peacefully and effectively, to dispel negative stereotypes; counteract prejudice; prevent disagreement from leading to conflict; and work in mutually supportive ways to ensure that all our communities feel safe, secure and valued.
We must continue to work, with energy and commitment for a United Kingdom where all are free, within the law, to express their beliefs and convictions and practise their faith; where we handle differences well; and, while respecting the right of others to disagree with us, look always for points of commonality and shared values on which we can build together.”
Dr G L Bhan, Co-Chair
Rt Revd Tom Butler, Co-Chair
Dr Manazir Ahsan MBE, Vice-Chair
Hon Barnabas Leith, Vice-Chair
Dr Indarjit Singh CBE, Vice-Chair
Mr Vivian Wineman, Vice-Chair
For more information about the Inter Faith Network for the UK see www.interfaith.org.uk
“While inter faith relations in the UK are generally positive there are, from time to time, developments which seek to drive a wedge between our faith communities. These range from demeaning rhetoric which claims that some faith communities are less truly British to demands for restrictions on freedom to worship or on other aspects of practising one’s faith. While these views may be expressed in ways which remain just on the right side of the law they can still be deeply disturbing. There are also periodic reports of attacks on faith community property – from places of worship to cemeteries – and disruptive activities by extremist groups.
As we prepare for Inter Faith Week next month in different nations of the UK the importance of good inter faith relations is very much to the fore. As well as highlighting the positive aspects of working together, it is important that we continue to work, peacefully and effectively, to dispel negative stereotypes; counteract prejudice; prevent disagreement from leading to conflict; and work in mutually supportive ways to ensure that all our communities feel safe, secure and valued.
We must continue to work, with energy and commitment for a United Kingdom where all are free, within the law, to express their beliefs and convictions and practise their faith; where we handle differences well; and, while respecting the right of others to disagree with us, look always for points of commonality and shared values on which we can build together.”
Dr G L Bhan, Co-Chair
Rt Revd Tom Butler, Co-Chair
Dr Manazir Ahsan MBE, Vice-Chair
Hon Barnabas Leith, Vice-Chair
Dr Indarjit Singh CBE, Vice-Chair
Mr Vivian Wineman, Vice-Chair
For more information about the Inter Faith Network for the UK see www.interfaith.org.uk
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Visit to Touchstone Centre, Bradford
From the 9-10th of September I spent two fascinating days at the Touchstone Centre in Bradford. I hadn't been to Bradford for many years. Walking around Bradford, guided by the Revd Dr Barbara Glasson, its Director, one image remains with me: the scoreboard of the local cricket club in the foreground, and in the distance the dome of a mosque on the left and the spire of a church on the right.
I asked Barbara to share about the work of the Centre; she writes as follows:
So, what is Touchstone? Well, it's a group of people that make a small community base here whilst scurrying about doing other things: Awais working with small groups of women of various faiths, creating understanding and enabling some creative writing workshops, 'Poetry for Peace'. Then there's Deacon Ray, engaged with the student chaplaincy, which is not only ecumenical but also planning the development of an Inter Faith centre in a University complex where students are predominantly Muslim.
In the attic, resides the Beacon project which is an ecumenical initiative working with refugees and asylum seekers, providing front line support, accompaniment at court cases and a band of McKenzie friends who are companions to people struggling to find their way through the legal complexities of being an asylum seeker.
All this is backed up by Ruth and David the Touchstone administrators, and a band of regular volunteers.
Ah yes, and there's me, the new team leader, finding my way through the intricacies of this fascinating city, beginning to work out what it means to be here, how we grow into our status of being 'a connexionally significant project' and discerning how Touchstone can take a step into becoming something new and fresh whilst honouring the wisdom that comes from the past.
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I asked Barbara to share about the work of the Centre; she writes as follows:
If you look 'touchstone' up in the dictionary you will come up with two things, firstly a stone that reveals whether something is real gold or just a base metal - and secondly a fool.
And that's what it feels like to be here. As I sit at my desk looking out across the Bradford back yards and alleys outside my window where a small cohort of chickens scratch about between the wheelie bins. As I watch the Fresher’s nervously arriving at Bradford College and University chatting with the new friends they have come across on their tour round the campus I realise the dilemma of discerning what is 'true gold' in this mix of city contradictions. But then I am new to Bradford and to this office perched in a high Victorian house. Touchstone has the wisdom of 20 years being here in this multi-cultural
and multi-faith environment.
And that's what it feels like to be here. As I sit at my desk looking out across the Bradford back yards and alleys outside my window where a small cohort of chickens scratch about between the wheelie bins. As I watch the Fresher’s nervously arriving at Bradford College and University chatting with the new friends they have come across on their tour round the campus I realise the dilemma of discerning what is 'true gold' in this mix of city contradictions. But then I am new to Bradford and to this office perched in a high Victorian house. Touchstone has the wisdom of 20 years being here in this multi-cultural
and multi-faith environment. So, what is Touchstone? Well, it's a group of people that make a small community base here whilst scurrying about doing other things: Awais working with small groups of women of various faiths, creating understanding and enabling some creative writing workshops, 'Poetry for Peace'. Then there's Deacon Ray, engaged with the student chaplaincy, which is not only ecumenical but also planning the development of an Inter Faith centre in a University complex where students are predominantly Muslim.
In the attic, resides the Beacon project which is an ecumenical initiative working with refugees and asylum seekers, providing front line support, accompaniment at court cases and a band of McKenzie friends who are companions to people struggling to find their way through the legal complexities of being an asylum seeker.
All this is backed up by Ruth and David the Touchstone administrators, and a band of regular volunteers.
Ah yes, and there's me, the new team leader, finding my way through the intricacies of this fascinating city, beginning to work out what it means to be here, how we grow into our status of being 'a connexionally significant project' and discerning how Touchstone can take a step into becoming something new and fresh whilst honouring the wisdom that comes from the past.
There is certainly a foolishness about attempting all this in a place where economic deprivation and inter-faith and inter-cultural friction are never far from the surface. But, having received an unexpected visit from my neighbours this week with the gift of a selection of wonderful curries that they had prepared for their Eid celebrations, I am also coming to see that to be Touchstone also reveals pure gold!
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