January: Jewels and Trinity Institute

Network members have asked us to publicise two events coming up quite soon after the Christmas/New year break:-
Jewels in His Crown Day Conference:Which way the Asian Church? Which models are working in London?Saturday 23rd January, 9.45am to 1.00pm at St Peter's Church, Vere Street, London W1G 0DQ. Case studies, discussion and reflection, led by Pall Singh (East West Trust), Kumar Rajagopalan (London Baptist Association) and Robin Thomson (South Asian Concern). Full details and booking from via www.jewelsinhiscrown.co.uk Details of the summer Jewels conference on the PEN News and Events page soon.
Archbishhop Rowan Williams and Cambridge economist Sir Parta Dasgupta will be keynote speakers at the Trinity Institute Conference in New York on Thursday 28th and Friday 29th January. A live webcast will be streamed to the Wren Suite at St Paul's Cathedral so that a London audience can join in. Questions will be relayed and answered in real time. The Conference will run both days from 2.00pm until 10.00pm London time (with intervals and break-out groups) and represents a major opportunity for theological reflection on the shape of our common economic future. Download a brochure from www.stmarylebow.co.uk or email matthewpower@stmarylebow.org.uk for an application form.

Adam Atkinson and Ghazal Tipu on Social Justice

Over the next few weeks we will be posting material on the PEN website from our autumn seminar series - examples of local good practice which the Network is keen to share!  Here, Adam Atkinson from St Paul's Shadwell (a church plant from HTB in East London) discusses the church's work in London Citizens with Ghazal Tipu, a local Muslim leader.

This week: Moon, Blond and Milbank on Faith and the Credit Crunch

The next JustShare Debate takes place at St Mary-le-Bow Church in the City tomorrow (8th) at 1.05pm to tackle the question ‘How will the Recession impact Corporate Social Responsibility?’ The speakers will be Professor Jeremy Moon (Director of the International Centre for CSR at the University of Nottingham) and Nick Wright (Head of Community Affairs at UBS); the Revd Paul Zaphiriou will chair.

The Contextual Theology Centre in conjunction with St Mellitus College and Kings College London are hosting Back to Basics or Business as Usual? A Christian Response to the Recession, at St Paul’s Onslow Square SW7 on Saturday 12th December. Speakers include 'Radical Orthodox' theologian John Milbank, Philip Blond (whose new think tank, ResPublica was launched last month) and Andrew Dilnot (formerly of the Institute of Fiscal Studies). Full details here.

'Ten commandments of mission'

How can Christians and Muslims talk about their faith to each other in a way that is just, truthful and compassionate? This is the topic addressed by the Christian Muslim Forum in its recently-launched ethical guidelines for mission.  The Forum is now seeking sign-up from Christian and Muslim organisations and individuals.  Feedback on the guidelines can be given on the Forum's Facebook page and Discussion Board.

In the footsteps of Jellicoe...

The Jellicoe Community has launched a blog - on which you can follow the news of a growing team of interns who are engaged in work with Christian congregations in multi faith contexts. Dedicated to 1920s slum priest Basil Jellicoe, the community is another project of the Contextual Theology Centre.  Students are currently focused on preparations for London Citizens' assembly - bringing together 2000 people from churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other civil society organisations in the city's poorest neighbourhoods. 

Eventful week

This Saturday (14th) sees the last of this term's PEN Seminars - and our theme is 'Praying and Worshipping'.  We will be meeting at the London Inter Faith Centre with coffee from 9.30am and a packed programme of practical stories and theological reflection from ten until one.  Speakers include Fergus Capie (director of the Centre and incumbent of St Anne's, Brondesbury), Anders Bergquist (Vicar of St John's Wood and formerly Vice-Principal of Westcott House), Michael Camp (Area Dean of Bromley) and Helen Sanderson (of the Recovering the Calm Project at St Ethelburga's).  Please email Susanne Mitchell if you plan to attend.

The seminar is on the eve of Inter Faith Week.  As you can see, it will be an eventful time in Greater London!

Engagement with Integrity

Twenty-five people from across PEN's four dioceses came to Saturday's seminar on 'Sharing the Faith: Engagement with Integrity'.  Stories of parish engagement were blended with theological reflection, discussion and fellowship - and information on the wealth of training resources available to congregations in multi faith contexts.  But what came across most clearly was that these congregations, their commitment and experience, is the greatest resource.  We will be posting materials from the event online soon, so that this resource is available more widely - both to others ministering in multi faith contexts, and to those whose experience of religious diversity comes mainly via the media or workplace.

The final autumn seminar, on 'Praying and Worshipping', is at the London Inter Faith Centre on the morning of Saturday 14th November.  Email Susanne Mitchell to book a place.

The picture above is taken from the Southall Group Ministry's Christmas Procession of witness

Sharing good practice

PEN's autumn seminar programme provide a unique opportunity to share good practice and discuss concerns with Christians ministering in multi faith contexts across Greater London.  The programme (details are here) has covered five key areas of ministry. The final two seminars - on Sharing the Faith and on Praying and Worshipping - will begin with a theological reflection (by Mark Poulson and Anders Bergquist respectively) and continue with local stories, information from training providers and an 'advice surgery'.

Business as usual?

Christian leaders have joined their Muslim and Jewish colleagues to say 'no' to 'business as usual' in the wake of the credit crunch.  The Guardian carries a report of this multi-faith initiative, while the Contextual Theology Centre will be co-hosting a major study day on Saturday, 12th December at St Paul's Church, Onslow Square.   Confirmed speakers include John Milbank and Luke Bretherton.  Full details here.

Faiths in London's Economy has also issued a theological response to the credit crunch, and is engaged in ongoing work on the issue.

Archbishop's sermon and talk at PEN launch

The talk and sermon given by Archbishop Rowan at the launch of PEN are now online.  Click here for the talk - a response to a study day on 'The witness of congregations in multi faith contexts' and here for the sermon.  The launch of the Network brought together those ministering in multi faith contexts across the four sponsoring dioceses.

Welcome to the PEN blog

Welcome to the new blog for the Greater London Presence and Engagement Network (PEN).  It is a sister to http://www.londonpen.org/ - a website with a more comprehensive list of resources for Christian ministry and mission in multi faith contexts.  While the main site will have an overview of all the resources available, this site will contain the latest news and events, and occasional contributions from guest bloggers.  We'd welcome your feedback on both sites!  Contact us at pen@theology-centre.org

Ken Leech reader: 'A real treasure'

Prayer and Prophecy: The Essential Kenneth Leech

Edited by David Bunch and Angus Ritchie (Darton, Longman and Todd, Pbk 19.95, ISBN 978 0 232 52765 0)

Kenneth Leech is one the great prophetic voices in contemporary Anglicanism, and the vitality and relevance of his work is as keenly felt as ever. Prophecy and Prayer brings together his essential writings on theology, spirituality and politics. The increased awareness of the role of faith communities in civil society and politics (particularly in inner-city areas) makes Leech's work of considerable contemporary interest. The book is launched in celebration of Fr Ken's 70th birthday, with a foreword by Alasdair MacIntyre.

'A real treasure' - Archbishop Rowan Williams
'Read this Book' - Church Times