Methodist President signs Blasphemy law petition

A Petition on the Blasphemy law in Pakistan has been signed by The Revd David Gamble, President of the Methodist Church. In doing so he has written:'The Methodist Church in Britain is committed to giving due respect to all religions and especially to minority groups. We pray for our sisters and brothers in Pakistan and call for the rights of all to be respected'.

The Petition, the text of which is below, is now available to be signed electronically by clicking on the following hyperlink and following the instructions: http://pakistansignnow.petitionhost.com/


The Petition states:

'Christians and Muslims around the world as well as people of other faiths and those who do not adhere to any religion will have been hearing with real concern, the news of the attacks on the Christian villages of Gojra and Qorian in Pakistan resulting in the deaths of at least seven innocent men, women and children. This was the latest in such attacks over many years and has attracted international condemnation from religious and political leadership in Pakistan and internationally.

One of the causes of such attacks is the ability of extremists and others with private motivations, to incite attacks on Christians and on occasion also on Muslims; and the inability of the police and local judiciary to protect innocent people. The blasphemy laws currently in force in Pakistan provide such people with the means to incite violence and seem to have played a part in the recent incidents which led to the death of a number of Christians.

Following widespread discussions with Christian partners and correspondents in Pakistan, Christian and Muslim organisations in the United Kingdom and with the Pakistan authorities, there is a desire amongst many people to express their concerns to the Government of Pakistan and to press for change in the blasphemy legislation and for the protection of Christians and others who are suffering from its abuse.'

Vasdev Singh Bhamrah (1938-2009)

It is with deep sadness that the Inter Faith Relations Office learned of the passing of Vasdev Singh Bhamrah, Patron of the Wolverhampton Inter-Faith Council (WIFC), on 31 July 2009. Vasdev Singh had been actively involved in the Wolverhampton Inter Faith Group from its earliest days and members of their executive committee were official guests at the Methodist Conference in July.

Vasdev Singh has correctly been called an Ambassador of Peace. The Methodist Church sends its deepest sympathy to his family, members of the Wolverhampton Inter-Faith Council and his many friends.

Guidelines for Christian-Muslim witness

The Christian-Muslim Forum, whose founding patron is Archbishop Rowan Williams, is an organisation that has links to the Methodist Church, and whose mission statement reflects the ethos of the Methodist Church in its relations with people of different faiths. The Chief Executive and Co-Director of the Christian Muslim Forum, Julian Bond, is a Methodist and other Methodist members are actively involved with its work.

Last month the Christian Muslim Forum launched guidelines for Christian-Muslim witness that provide a very helpful basis for dialogue not only between Christians and Muslims, but all inter faith dialogue. For a copy of the guidelines see www.christianmuslimforum.org.

The Inter Faith Network for the UK, with which the Methodist Church is in relationship, have a code of conduct that is supported by all the main Christian Churches. For a copy of their code of conduct see http://www.interfaith.org.uk/.

The Council for the Parliament of World Religions

The 2009 Council for the Parliament of World Religions will be held in Melbourne, Australia in December.The Parliament will run for seven days with approximately 450 events including key note addresses, seminars, conferences, debates, performances, concerts and exhibitions. For further details see www.parliamentofreligions.org.

Inter Faith Relations event at the Methodist Conference

Those who were fortunate enough to attend the Inter Faith Relations fringe event during the Methodist Conference experienced a wonderful evening. It was organised by the Inter Faith Relations Office at Methodist Church House. After a welcome by myself as Inter Faith Relations Officer, Gareth Jones, the Inter Faith Relations Director of the West Midlands Faith Forum who had supported me in the organisation of the event, introduced the four speakers and chaired the evening. Those present then listened to reflections on Inter Faith Relations in the 21st century from the perspectives of the Buddhism, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faiths.

Erik Pearse, Treasurer, Wolverhampton Inter-Faith Council, commented in an e-mail: ‘I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the meeting on Monday and how interesting and well-organised it was. A joy to hear four feminine perspectives, each so very different in their approach. Many thanks again for a most interesting evening’.

You can read another comment on the evening at the blog
http://42.blogs.warnock.me.uk/2009/07/some-beautiful-women.html

A fuller report of the evening will be posted shortly on the Inter Faith Relations pages of the Methodist Church website: http://www.methodist.org.uk/interfaith

President's speech

In his Presidential speech, the Revd David Gamble stated: 'Surely it is in everyone's interest for us to create safer spaces for people of different faith traditions and none to come together and share their experience and understanding and their commitment to a better life for everyone?.. One of the most striking things [in the Gambia] is the relationship between the small minority four per cent Christian and majority Muslim communities. Relationships between people of different faiths is not just a London or larger city issue, its for all of us...'