Greater London Presence & Engagement Network

Inter Religious Relations Courses

2012-01-24T14:09:00.010Z

PEN's sister organisation, St Philip's Centre Leicester have asked us to publish a reminder of the courses; MA, Diploma, Certificate, they have on offer as they are recruiting now for courses beginning September 2012.

Living in a world of many faiths challenges us on many levels. How can we live together in a world of many religions and world views? Are religions on a global collision course? What does inter-religious dialogue mean? Explore these and other questions through part-time
postgraduate courses at St Philip’s Centre, 2A Stoughton Drive North, Leicester LE5 5UB

Who is it for?
Members of faith communities who have a practical or theoretical interest
in relations with people of different faiths; Those working for secular or religious agencies, private or public, where faith issues are significant; Specialist ministers in inter-faith relations; Anyone interested in extending their grasp of a lively field of enquiry

Library facilities
St. Philip’s Centre has an excellent library. Books can also be borrowed from De Montfort University. There is also an excellent library at the Islamic Foundation at Markfield. Membership of DMU library gives eligibility for membership of the SCONUL scheme, which affords borrowing rights for most university libraries in the UK.

Funding
Some bursary assistance may be available through St Philip’s Centre.
Please contact the Dean of Studies.

Tutors
Dr Angela Jagger, Revd Canon Dr John Hall and Revd Canon Dr Alan Race, together with a number of other invited academics, deliver the teaching programme.

How to Apply
Application is made through the St Philip’s Centre. For further information and applications, please contact the Administrator/Registrar, Maureen Hebblewhite: admin@stphilipscentre.co.uk or Telephone: 0116 273 3459

Full details are on the St Philip's website
St Philip’s Centre is an Associate Partner with De Montfort University

Westminster Faith Debates; The place of religion in public life today

2012-01-17T14:53:00.005Z

Between 2007-2012 £12m was invested by two research councils, the AHRC and ESRC, in the largest-ever funded research programme on ‘Religion and Society’.

Now leading academics will present findings arising from that research, for response by public figures. Together they will open up debate about the place of religion in public life today. The series of debates on religion in public life, running from February to May 2012 take place at RUSI, 61 Whitehall, SW1A 2ET, Wednesdays fortnightly, 5.30-7pm.

The series is organised and chaired by the Rt Hon Charles Clarke, Professor Linda Woodhead and Dr Rebecca Catto, in co-operation with Theos.

1. RELIGIOUS IDENTITY IN ‘SUPERDIVERSE’ SOCIETIES
8th Feb
Trevor Phillips, Dominic Grieve, Kim Knott, Therese O’Toole
2. WHAT’S THE PLACE OF FAITH IN SCHOOLS?
22nd Feb
Richard Dawkins, John Pritchard, Jim Conroy, Robert Jackson
3. WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED ABOUT RADICALISATION?
7th March
Mehdi Hasan, Ed Husain, Mark Sedgwick, Marat Shterin, Mat Francis
4. WHAT ROLE FOR RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS IN AN ERA OF SHRINKING WELFARE?
21st March
David Blunkett, Peter Smith, Adam Dinham, Sarah Johnsen
5. WHAT LIMITS TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM?
18th April
Lisa Appignanesi, Maleiha Malik, Peter Jones
6. WHAT ARE THE MAIN TRENDS IN RELIGION AND VALUES IN BRITAIN?
2nd May
Aaqil Ahmed, Cole Moreton, Linda Woodhead, Grace Davie

Please email p.ainsworth@lancaster.ac.uk to register for the debates you would like to attend, and visit http://www.religionandsociety.org.uk/faith_debates for further details.

Interaction Days in January - March

2012-01-16T17:09:00.007Z

Interaction Days are one off interfaith volunteering events designed to give young people (16-25) the opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and discuss interfaith and ecological issues in an open an inclusive environment. They are held throughout London’s hidden nature reserves and natural parks, with activities to date including habitat building, scrub bashing, pond-wading and vegetable gardening, along with interfaith games and activities – all good old-fashioned fun for a good, local cause.

The dates of future Interaction Days are:
- Sunday 22nd January 2012 down at Kentish Town City Farm.
- Sunday 12th February 2012 at the hidden Westbere Copse.
- Wednesday 22nd February 2012 at the incredible Grade I listed Highgate Cemetery.
- Thursday 1st March 2012 at the London School of Jewish Studies.

All days run from 10am to 3pm, are open to everyone and include an hour lunch break with interfaith activities, discussions and games. Lunch and refreshments will be provided by Interact!

To get involved, please log on to the Interact website and fill in the online application (scroll down to the bottom of the page for the link), or email Richard@interact-uk.org.uk / call 0207 482 4020.

January Update - News, Issues, Links and Events

2012-01-12T13:40:00.010Z

Welcome to 2012 with an esoteric pic - the clue is in the heading......

News
Once again there has been violence and retaliation between Christians and Musims in North East Nigeria. The Christian Muslim Forum issued a statement on 9th January. The Anglican Communion Network for Inter Faith Concerns (NIFCON) also covered this, and unrest in Egypt, in its latest Digest.
The Inter Faith Network for the UK has published its latest e-bulletin which includes a round up of events in Inter Faith Week

IssuesPoverty and homelessness are issues of national concern and a campaign and awareness raising week has been identified, 28th January - 5th February. Locally the Newham contribution to the campaign, Towards a Whole Society, will take place from 6-8pm on Thursday 2nd Feburary - venue tbc. Contact Revd James Ramsay to express interest or for more details.
We reported on follow up to the riots last summer and now give addvance notice of Reclaiming London Together, a day conference (9am - 5pm) on Monday 5th March organised by FaithForum4London and Fayre Share Foundation. Contact info@fayresharefoundation.org for more.

LinksThe Tony Blair Faith Foundation and Tzedek have teamed up to launch INFACT, an 8 week training programme for 16-25 year olds to help them devise campaigns that will achieve the Millenium Development Goals. The launch date is Sunday 5th February and details are available from charlotte@tzedek.org.uk
Not a new organisation but new to PEN is The Wyndham Place Charlemagne Trust whose first 2012 'Trusting Conversations' will be held in the Tent at St Ethelburga's on Thursday 19th January 5.30 - 7.00pm. The conveseration will explore the seeming contradictions and the emotional language which surround the Euro and the Eurozone for example surrounding financial regulation. You need to book via wpctrust@gmail.com or telephone 01993 881 366

Events not mentioned above so in date order.......
A few places left for Multiculturalism: a Christian Retrieval Friday 20th January, 10 - 12 noon at the Hurtado Jesuit Centre 2 Chandler Street, Wapping E1W 2QT see earlier PEN blogTuesday 31st January the annual Boyle lecture at St-Mary-le-Bow
Saturday 4th February 9.15 to 5pm Belief and Being in School II at Methodist International Centre, Creating a Faith-Friendly Learning Environment. Organised by the Christian Muslim Forum
Wednesday 8th February 6.30 - 8.00pm at The Education Centre, Southwark Cathedral, next to London Bridge a meeting re 2012 London Inter Faith Walks July 14th and 15th. Hosted by South London Inter Faith Group but we would like to hear about any such walks being planned. Contact thorleysarah@yahoo.co.uk if you are interested.

A Christian retrieval of multiculturalism?

2012-01-11T13:46:00.005Z

There are still some places left at PEN's January event - a session with Jonathan Chaplin of the Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics to discuss his recent Theos report, which argues for a Christian retrieval of multiculturalism. The two-hour event will be on Friday 20th January at 10am (with coffee from 9.30am) at the new Hurtado Jesuit Centre (at 2 Chandler Street, Wapping E1W 2QT). It is an excellent setting for the event - as UK home of the Jesuit Refugee Centre, and a member of London Citizens.

To book a place, contact Angus Ritchie (director [AT] theology-centre.org)

Looking ahead...

2011-12-23T07:58:00.000Z

This is the final post on the PEN blog for 2011, and we hope readers have/had a happy and blessed Christmas!

2012 will begin with two exciting events on issues which are very much in the headlines...

- on 20th January, Jonathan Chaplin will be in East London (10am to 12 noon, venue tbc) to discuss his recent Theos report, arguing for a 'Christian retrieval of multiculturalism'. David Ford (Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge has hailed the report as "a superbly perceptive and constructive contribution to the debate about multiculturalism in Britain" and says it "should be read by all who want civil society to flourish." More details from Angus Ritchie (director [AT] theology-centre.org)

- on 30th January, the Contextual Theology Centre and St Paul's Institute are co-hosting a study day for clergy and the representatives of Christian social justice organisations. Entitled Where do we go from here? Engaging congregations in effective action for economic justice, it will build on the ongoing work of both Centre and Institute - and the increased energy and focus created by the Occupy Camps. Speakers include Peter Selby (former Bishop of Worcester), David McNair (Christian Aid) and Angus Ritchie and Sabina Alkire (Contextual Theology Centre). The event will be at St Paul's; more details from Robert Gordon (institute [AT] stpaulscathedral.org.uk)

Finally, you may be interested in the Christmas letter to Prof Richard Dawkins, penned by our Director in response to his open letter in the latest New Statesman...

O Little Town

2011-12-12T17:42:00.005Z

A quick mention of resources in relation to the approaching festival..........

From Theos comes a report by Stephen R Holmes on The Politics of Christmas in which he argues that the Vicotrian domesticised Christmas to a family centred feast replacing the previous style of celebration with possible anarchic reversals of autority structures. A closer examination of the texts reveals that the 'silencing of politics' at Christmas is decidedly odd.

A timely reminder to reconsider themes of asylum seeking, taxation, political oppression, occupation and unrest in our Christmas celebrations.

Paperback ISBN 13 978 0 9562182 7 8 £5 Stephen R Holmes is Senior lecturere in Theology at the University of St Andrews Email hello@theosthinktank.co.uk for more.

And if that gets you thinking about church and politics and The Holy Land it may be worth reminding you of the resources on the Anglican Communion website called The Holy Land Information pages.

If you are planning a pilgrimage next year Palestine Initiative for Responsible Toursim (PIRT) is worth a look at.

Communicating the Word

2011-12-12T16:20:00.008Z

In the All Saints Update we alerted you to the forth coming publication of this book..... subtitled 'Revelation, Translation, and Interpretation in Christianity and Islam', this is the latest publication from the annual Building Bridges Seminar series and is the writing up of the 2008 meeting.

Edited by The Reverend Dr David Marshall with an Afterword by Archbishop Rowan Williams.

"Islam and Christianity alike give a high valuation to the conviction that God speaks to us. Grasping what that does and does not mean ...is challenging theological work." says the Archbishop in his closing reflections.

paperback ISBN 978-1-58901-784-9 £17.25 direct from http://www.press.georgetown.edu/
or via Georgetown University Press c/o NBN International, Airport Business Centre, 10 Thornbury Road, Plymouth PL6 799 Tel: 01752 202301
If I have understood correctly quoting discount code TY62 will get you a 30% discount ( which makes it £12.08) from either of these suppliers - other suppliers are not bound to honour that.

See film clips from the 2011 Building Bridges Seminar, in Qatar, around the theme of Prayer, on the website of the Berkley Center for Religion, peace and World Affairs, Georgetown University who now administer the dialogue.

Three Fast Approaching Events

2011-12-05T13:47:00.004Z

It's that time of year when it feels like the diary might explode but we wanted to flag these up.....

Tuesday 6th December (Happy St Nicholas Day to Dutch friends) at 1.05pm JustShare Debate at St Mary-le-Bow EC2V 6AU Inequality and Exclusion: Inevitable Consequences of Economic Development?' Speakers: Dr Bingqin Li of the LSE Dr Stephen Davies of the IEA Dr Faiza Shaheen of the nef.

Thursday 8th December same venue 6.45pm A JustShare City talk City Talk: ‘No care plan at the inn: the role of Christian solidarity in homelessness services’ will be given by Alison Gelder (Director of Housing Justice).

Thursday 13th December on a lighter note The Awareness Foundation invite you to their Christmas celebratin of carols, readings and music 7.00pm at Holy Trinity Sloane Square This is a fundraiser and tickets are £20 for adults and £10 for children (5-14). All are most welcome.

Jim Wallis: "terrific" faith & finance resource

2011-12-02T07:55:00.004Z

Jim Wallis - founder of Sojourners and spiritual adviser to President Obama - has given a warm endorsement to the Contextual Theology Centre's resource pack on faith and the financial crisis:

Bless you for doing this pack. It looks terrific... The protestors are creating space for conversation, so why don't we enter that space and have that conversation with them? Christians have Biblical principles and historical practices - we can help restore the balance that's gone terribly wrong. We can play a critical role to restore some balance to an economic system that's been skewed to the wealthy and powerful against the poor. We can change this. The young people are offering us a chance - let's not be afraid. Let's have a dialogue and play our prophetic role in the issues they're raising.

Angus Ritchie (Director of the Centre and co-author of the pack) has been reflecting in the Church Times on how faithful Christian witness on these issues can be strengthened and not diluted by engagement with other faiths - in An Advent call to act on the debate about money

Focus on London 2011 - Poverty: The Hidden City

2011-11-28T14:29:00.003Z

Written by Rachel Leeser of the GLA Intelligence Unit, this latest in the Focus on London series presents a detailed analysis that reveals the scale and distribution of poverty in the capital. Beginning with a 'what we mean by "living in poverty"' section, it outlines the complexities of the picture. Information is presented in a form that is digestable even for statistic phobic. Not only does it underline the scale and distribution of poverty in one of the richest cities in the world it throws new light the simplistic 'north south divide' analysis often applied nationally. Download the pdf

Also see our earlier blog on Responding to the Financial Crisis and the parish resource published by the Contextual Theology Centre.

Responding to the financial crisis

2011-11-24T15:55:00.000Z

The Contextual Theology Centre has just launched a new resource for parishes - equipping churches to engage the wider community in conversations on faith and the financial crisis. The pack is endorsed by both the Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral and the co-ordinator of faith liaison at the Occupy LSX camp outside.

The Centre's research blog has a digest of theological reflections on the camp and the issues it raises, and will soon include some reflections by its Director Angus Ritchie on Christian engagement with Islam and Judaism on faith and finance.

November Update

2011-11-22T16:06:00.005Z

It is inter faith week! (and Prison's week) so first up a reminder of events at the London Inter Faith Centre; youth dialogue on Friday 25th November with the Al Khoei Mosque in conjunction with the Christian Muslim Forum (full details) and an inter faith pilgrimage walk on Sunday 27th. See LIF's events page

The walk links nicely with a recent page on The London Boroughs' Faiths Network all about the Olympics - one of the events is the South London Inter Faith Group's focus on faith trails across the city. Read more and see a very useful time line for next July.

Also for inter faith week but running until 4th December is the Three Faith Forum's exhibition Faith in the City at RED Gallery, 3 Rivington Street EC2A 3DT times vary and there are special events on particular days.

Which links nicely with a more personal exhibition by Nicholas Nash at St Mary-le-Bow this week from 7.30 each morning until 6.00 in the evening except 4.00pm on Friday.

Also at St Mary-le-Bow Friday 25th November at 6.00pm the Cheapside Debate in Prisons Week – speakers will be Professor Andrew Coyle (Director, International Centre for Prison Studies) and Helen Kersley (head of nef’s Valuing What Matters programme); Joshua Rozenberg (journalist and broadcaster) chairs. All welcome, refreshments afterwards.

Monday 28th November St Peter’s Church, Liverpool Grove, LONDON SE17 2HH a seminar with Michael Mata, 'Learning from a Social Earthquake - What can we learn from the Los Angeles experience?' How churches and faith groups work together to build community in LA. This event is hosted jointly by the Diocese of Southwark and the Mission and Public Affairs Division of the Church of England.

Then on Wednesday 30th November The next JustShare lecture, also at St Mary-le-Bow is intreagingly titled 'The Spirituality of Economics' given by Kathy Galloway (Christian Aid Scotland).
Alternatively on Wednesday 30th November this time at Heythrop College is the last in the present series of lectures from the Centre for Eastern Christianity. 'The Syrian Orthodox Church and its Diaspora:modern history and contemporary challenges' from 4-6pm given by Sebastian Brock, Reader Emeritus in Syriac Studies, Oriental Institute, University of Oxford.

One Voice Europe was recently in town and have offered to set up sessions for Church youth groups about the current situtation in the Holy Land (with Israeli and Palestinian contributors via Skype) contact sharon@onevoicemovement.org.uk if you are interested.

From Churches Together in England comes an invitaion to view some videos on Christian Muslim Engagement - a resource for inter faith week and beyond.

Our friends at St Ethelburga's have some volunteer opportunities.... see the link on their 'Get Involved' page.

STOP PRESS for those who have arrived by an emailed link please see the new parish resource to enable them to engae with the wider community about faith and the financial crisis available from the Contextual Theology Centre news page

All Saints Update

2011-11-01T19:46:00.008Z

It is a busy time of festivals among many faith groups. Last week saw celebrations for Diwali. The Archbishop of Canterbury sent greetings to Hindu communities in the UK. Read the message and news of the launch of the Hindu Christian Forum.
Staying with Lambeth, The Revd Dr Toby Howarth, Secretary for Inter Religious Affairs to the Archbishop of Canterbury and National Inter Religious Affairs Adviser for the Church of England
gave the 2011 PEN lecture at St Marylebone Parish Church last night. We hope to bring a recording of this to the PEN website in the coming days. You are invited back to St Marylebone next Monday 7th November for the 2011 Marylebone Service (an Interfaith Celebration of Marylebone - the international village). Please be seated by 6.40pm and RSVP to parishoffice@stmarylebone.org

EventsThe latest in the series of St Paul's Institute debates takes place st St Mary le Bow on Friday 4th November, 6.00pm entitled 'Microinsurance: protecting the poor in emerging markets’. Chaired by the Revd Raymond Singh (Vice Chair of the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility) see details.
Tuesday 8th November 2.00 - 4.00pm The Centre for Christianity and Interreligious Dialogue, Heythrop College is hosting a lecture 'The Prophet Jonah: An Odyssey through three religions' by Professor Anthony H. Johns. In the Australian National UniversityCampion Room, Heythrop College.
Wednesday 9th November Power, Poverty and the Church at St John's Waterloo. Details were in the September update or book here
Thursday 17th November 4.30-6.15 p.m. Friends House, Small Meeting House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility's open debate 'Vulnerable Workers, Trafficking, Pornography and the Economics of Exploitation: London 2012 and beyond' Also at 6.15pm on the same evening Theos launches the report Turbulent Priests: The Archbishop of Canterbury in Contemporary English Politics contact Theos for an invitation.
Inter Faith Week is 2oth to 26th November also see The Inter Faith Network for the UK E- Bulletin

Books and Publications
The report on the research project 'The Mosque in the Comunities' is now avialable from Faith Matters.
See our blogs on Jesus Through Asian Eyes and The Story of REinspired
Also recommended The Price of Freedom Denied: Religious Persecution and Conflict in the 21st Century published by Cambridge University Press
The latest in the series which report on the Building Bridges dialogue process (this from the 2008 round) will be published shortly by Georgetown University Press edited by The Revd Dr David Marshall Communicating the Word: Revelation, Translation, and Interpretation in Christianity and Islam has an Afterword by Archbishop Rowan Williams.

Which brings us back nicely to where we began ........Happy All Saints tide

Changing the world...

2011-10-25T18:40:00.009+01:00

The call to make the world a better place is inherent in the Christian belief and practice. But why have efforts to change the world by Christians so often failed or gone tragically awry? And how might Christians in the 21st century live in ways that have integrity with their traditions and are more truly transformative? In To Change the World, James Davison Hunter offers persuasive -and provocative - answers to these questions.

Tim Keller: "No writer or thinker has taught me as much as James Hunter has about this all-important and complex subject of how culture is changed."

Charles Taylor: "brimful of insightful challenges to our conventional understanding of things, and of inspiring suggestions for a new departure."

Hunter argues that we need a different paradigm of Christian engagement with the world, one he calls "faithful presence"--an ideal of Christian practice that is not only individual but institutional; a model that plays out not only in all relationships but in our work and all spheres of social life. He offers real-life examples, large and small, of what can be accomplished through the practice of "faithful presence." Such practices will be more fruitful, Hunter argues, more exemplary, and more deeply transfiguring than any more overtly ambitious attempts can ever be.

Along with Generous Love: the truth of the Gospel and the call to dialogue, Hunter's new work is being discussed in this term's Book Club at the Contextual Theology Centre. As PEN is a project of the Centre, it is no coincidence that the Book Club programme deals with subjects so close to its heart.

Meetings of the book club are at 7.30pm at the Contextual Theology Centre in Limehouse, and all are welcome.

Tuesday 8th November - Generous Love

This short booklet is available as a PDF.

Tuesday 6th December - Part 1, To Change the World

Tuesday 10th January - Part 2, To Change the World

The book is available to order from any good bookshops. It's full title is To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World.

The Story of REinspired

2011-10-25T16:57:00.004+01:00

In this book REinspired tells the story of how a group of churches in Earley and East Reading developed a way of working with primary schools to support the teaching of RE. The material covers the background of how the project developed and explores the principles REinspired has worked to - including stories of how students have engaged with the materials, and how churches from a wide ecumenical base have been involved. It then provides a practical guide to enable others to use the model to develop links between their own church and local schools.

Published by the Barnabas imprint of Bible Reading Fellowship at £8.99 (also as a downloadable pdf). Visit www.barnabasinchurches.org.uk for more.

Also visit REinspired at www.re-inspired.org.uk

Jesus Through Asian Eyes

2011-10-25T16:37:00.006+01:00

This is the title of a really useful new booklet produced by South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance.
Subtitled '15 frequently asked questions' 'Jesus through Asian eyes' aims to dispel common misconceptions that Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Buddhists have about the Christian faith. The A5 booklet is intended to be informative, engaging, enlightening. It handles questions with respect for otheres beliefs.
The booklet costs just 50p per copy and is available from m.raithatha@eauk.org. It comes with guidelines on how it can be used for group discussions.

September Update

2011-09-29T18:12:00.004+01:00

September has sped by so quickly here's a round up of what's happening next ..........

Courses The new academic year is picking up pace. The e-learning programme offered by The Woolf Institute - Jews, Christians and Muslims in Europe: Modern Challenges, begins earlier this year. Details in our blog you need to register by 14th October, the course begins on 7th November.

Festivals It’s also a particularly busy time for festivals across many faiths. I have started blogging key points from the messages of greeting the Archbishop of Canterbury publishes with links to the full text on his website. For those in Southwark Diocese (available to all but they have the Southwark logo on the back in addition to the Church of England’s) don’t forget you can purchase packs of greetings cards to send to faith leaders and communities (from the Diocesan office, email john.beaumont@southwark.anglican.org).

Events It would be churlish to suggest the only important upcoming event is The 2011 PEN lecture on 31st October but please do publicise it.
St Ethelburga’s has a very interesting autumn line up. Although ‘The Spirit of Hijab’ clashes with the PEN lecture, note that it is the first in promised series so why not sign up for details of more. Secondly the ‘Conversations for the Soul’ is of particular interest for Chaplains.
The next JustShare event at St Mary le Bow is Tuesday 18th October at 1.05pm - Talk for National Ethical Investment Week: 'The Ethics of Investment Banking' with John Reynolds.
The next Theos discussion is on Thursday 20th October entitled ‘Is there a future for Multiculturalism?’ The event will be held at LSE in partnership with the LSE Forum for Religion. For details and invite contact alanna.macleod@theosthinktank.co.uk

Looking further forward CUF, Church Action on Poverty and St John’s Waterloo (SE1 8TY) begin what they hope will be biannual series of day seminars on Wednesday November 9th , 10.00am – 3.30pm, Power, Poverty and The Church. Speakers include Dr Luke Bretherton, Canon Paul Hackwood & Baroness Maeve Sherlock (tbc) for more and booking : http://powerandpoverty.eventbrite.com/

Pastoral Having just received their latest newsletter it seems a good time to plug the support group for those in a Christian Muslim marriage or seeking to care for those who are or who may be considering such a marriage http://www.mcmarriage.org.uk/

Michaelmas Blessings (and there's a clue to the picture!)

Jews, Christians and Muslims in Europe:Modern Challenges

2011-09-29T13:45:00.002+01:00

This three-part course offered by the Woolf Institute focuses on the relationships
between Jews, Christians and Muslims and their impact
in modern Europe, looking at their history, culture and
issues of citizenship. The course is taught at a final-year undergraduate level.
Applications are now being accepted for the next course commencing 7 November 2011.
The closing date for applications is 14 October 2011.
For more see here

Archbishop of Canterbury's Rosh Hashanah message

2011-09-29T10:44:00.002+01:00

The Archbishop of Canterbury has issued his annual greeting to Jewish friends and fellow workers on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah 2011.

In it he speaks of the challenges that continue to face Jewish communities, in the UK and elsewhere. Changes engulfing the Arab world "will undoubtedly bring fresh concerns - as well, we hope, as opportunities ."

The message also speaks of the conference hosted earlier this year at Lambeth Palace on the position of Christians in the Holy Land. The Archbishop expresses appreciation for the part played by leading members of the Jewish community in Britain and friends from Israel through their contributions to the discussion and the emotional energy required to ensure all voices were heard and respected.

The message and greetings can be found here

PEN Lecture 2011

2011-09-26T09:22:00.005+01:00

What do we bring to the party?
The Mission of the Church in a Multi Faith Neighbourhood

Given by
The Revd Dr Toby Howarth
Secretary for Inter Religious Affairs to the Archbishop of Canterbury and National Inter Religious Affairs Adviser for the Church of England

The Revd Patrick Morrow, The Revd Dr John Perumbalath,
The Revd Mina Smallman & The Revd Ruth Worsley
will respond followed by questions from the floor

Monday 31st October 7.00pm
Light refreshment served from 6.30pm
St Marylebone Parish Church
17 Marylebone Road London NW1 5LT
Admission £5 Booking via pen@theology-centre.org

Two on the Bible

2011-09-25T18:04:00.003+01:00

As 2011 enters its final quarter the celebrations of the 400th Anniversary of The King James Bible show no signs of flagging.

St Paul's Forum events this Autumn take the theme, The People's Bible: Lovers, Poets, Sinners, Pilgrims. The public debates (Tuesday 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th & Monday 31st October, and Tuesday 8th November) look at Eve, Moses, Job, Mary, Judas and Jesus. The meditative services on Sunday evenings (6.00 - 6.45pm) in October reflect on Cain and Abel, Sarah and Hagar, David and Jonathan and Jacob and the Angel. For full deatils or a copy of the full programme email forum@stpaulscathedral.org.uk All these events are unticketed and free.

Westminster Abbey meanwhile has a series of lectures, The Law The Bible and Politics on Wednesdays at 6.30pm on the 5th, 12th, and 19th October. With Lord Judge (Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales), Lord Bragg (author and broadcaster) and Nick Spence (research director of Theos) are the speakers. These events are free but a ticket is required from kjblectures@westminster-abbey.org or 020 7654 4832 also see related events at www.westminster-abbey.org/events

Archbishop of Canterbury's Eid message

2011-08-30T16:33:00.005+01:00

The Archbishop of Canterbury has issued his annual greeting to Muslim friends and fellow workers on the occasion of Id Al-Fitr 2011.

In the message Dr Williams pays tribute to Tariq Jahan, father of Haroon Jahan, for his immense dignity in calling for peace after his son's death in the unrest in Birmingham earlier this month. Referring to Mr Haroon's words as 'a gift in Ramadan', The Archbishop says Mr Haroon was 'able to give voice to the conscience of Britain in a way that people of all faiths and none could recognize'.

The Archbishop reminds us that as the Prophet Jeremiah's called for people to pray for peace and well being on the city in which they lived so we should remember that our peace and security is bound up with that of our neighbours and that God is concerned for the peace of all.

Read the full text here

Conference on Inter-faith Relationships

2011-08-25T17:01:00.018+01:00

Explore how Christians can relate and work with people of other faiths.

The Conference is jointly hosted by Faithful Friends and The Rt Revd. David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking who will introduce the day.

Faithful Friends which has been working to build friendships between people of different faiths in Forest Gate, East London for a number of years.

Fr Barnabas Matloob and Revd Pat Mossop will give an account of its development. The theology behind this ministry will be considered by Revd Chigor Chike and Mr Andy Lie.

Partner members of Faithful Friends who will offer their experience of the value of working in this way include Alama Sadiq Querish (Muslim) , Dr Muhammad Nqvi (Muslim) Talok Singh Sura (Sikh) Sheikh Adul Karim (muslim and Sampath Kumah (Hindu). This will be followed by a question and answer session.

Lunch is provided and Halal food will be available.

Afternoon speakers include Dr Philip Lewis who will share his experience and expertise on Christian Muslim realtionships in Bradford and nationally.

Thursday 22nd September

Venue: Emmanuel Church, Forest Gate E7 8BD
Time: 10.30am - 3.30pm
Booking and further information:
The Revd Chigor Chike 07905155494 or chigor.chike@cky.com

August Update

2011-08-25T11:09:00.018+01:00

We did think about having a month off from blog updates in August but there is so much going on in September it needs publicising NOW! So from the top.......... picture credit John Furse, Cley Norfolk

Thursday 1st September 7 - 9.30pm, St Mark's Myddleton Square London EC1R 1XX. Fr Laurence Freeman (Director of Meditatio - the outreach of The World Community for Christian Meditation) in conversation with Lama Geshi Tashi who is from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. They will consider the topic Emptiness and Poverty of Spirit: What Christians and Buddhists can learn from each other.

Saturday 10th September 2 - 5pm hosted by St Ethelburga's and St Barnabas Community Fete The Human Library - don't take out a book take out a person, and hear their story (bring 'em back after half an hour!). The venue is ‘Bowstock’ on Wennington Green, at the crossroads of Roman Road and Grove Road, E3. This is 7 mins walk from Mile End tube station (Central line, District line & Hammersmith and City line). See also events on StEthelburg's website.
Also on Saturday 10th September The Asian Mission Partnership day trailed in our July Update.

Sunday 11th September Ten years on from 9/11 The Awareness Foundation has called for this to be Awareness Sunday, a time for remembrance, reconciliation and renewed efforts to build reatlionships between the faiths. Also see the Foundation's website for details of the screenings of the film Aaks Al Seir (Against the Current) on 10th & 15th September.
Sunday 11th September is also Racial Justice Sunday for which posters and resources can be downloaded from the CTBI website. This years theme is on tackling human trafficking.

Monday 12th September - Friday 23rd September 10am - 6pm London Inter Faith Centre’s Art of Identity Project -London teenagers from across five world religions explore aspects of their identity, including faith, through the visual arts. The exhibition at Lumen URC Centre, 88Tavistock Place, WC1

Wednesday 14th September 6.05pm, St Mary le Bow. The monthly JustShare lecture on Christian Social & Political Thought will address the subject: ‘What has the Bible ever done for us? The influence of the Bible on British Politics’, and will be given by Nick Spencer of Theos.

Saturday 17th September Commisson4Mission study day on the value of public art at St Paul's College Square, Harlow CM20 1LP - with input from the Bishop of Barking and a cream tea! Details in the Commission4Mission blog or contact jonathan.evens@btinternet.com
Also on art and faith on Saturday 17th September - 29th October Come and See Chislehurst, a chance to see The Methodist Art Collection in the newly refurbished Chislehurst Methodist Church.

Monday 19th September 7.00 - 8.30pm The St Martin in the Fields 2011/12 Education Programme kicks off this year's theme Radical Compassion, the Gospel and Social Justice with a talk by Nicholas Sagovsky on Compassion and Justice.

Wednesday 21st September, 10am - 4pm Toynbee Hall. Religious diversity in modern Britain: how an history inform the present? The Rt Rev Adrian Newman, Bishop of Stepney is amongst the speakers. Again trailed in the July Update

Thursday 22nd September 10.30am - 3.30pm Conference on Inter-faith Relationships hosted by Faithful Friends and The Bishop of Barking at Emmanuel Church, Forest Gate. See seperate blog for details.

Saturday 24th September 10am - 1pm The Christian Council for Monetary Justice CCMJ event for Moving Planet day at St James Piccadilly - Identifying money power; behind climate change. Contact peterchallen@gmail.com for details and booking.

Monday 26th September 6.00 - 9.00pm at The Royal Foundation of St Katharine E14 8DS Faith and Food Growing, a Networking Event for Capital Growth with input on how to start a food growing project, container and seasonal gardening.

Thursday 29th September Trustee Fair training and advice event for charity trustees. See July Update

And looking on in to October ..............
Friday 7th October 10.30am - 3.30pm This year's National Estate Churches Network (NECN) conference will be held at Carrs Lane Church, Birmingham on the theme Knocked About but not Beaten Doreen Massey will be speaking.

Saturday 8th October and Sunday 9th October The Christian Muslim Forum conference for teachers and teaching assistants in all curriculum areas Belief and Being in School II at the Methodist International Centre NW1 2EZ.

For those interested in Creative Arts in Worship Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th October at The Hayes, Swanick ArtServe's Annual Conference; Discovering Gifts, Discovering God
And a really advance notice for International Conference on Multi-Faith Spaces 21st – 22nd March 2012, University of Manchester. Further details can be found at www.manchester.ac.uk/mfs

Other News
The Awareness Foundation recently launched a new resource Speak Out - How to Articulate Your Faith and Why. More details from St John Wright on 020 7730 8830 or email him at education@awareness-foundation.

Conflict and Change have published dates for their courses this Autumn. Courses are free to those in Newham or available at a special rate to those in neighbouring boroughs. They are happy to negotiate a charge for coming to your area with their expertise.

Last month we recommended checking out the blog of London Boroughs Faiths Network They have just put up the film clip of waltham Forest's Inter Faith Pilgrimage. We plan to add the film clip to the PEN website as part of a longer item on the Forest Women's Interfaith Network a member group of WIN.

Job Opportunity
Milton Keynes is looking for a Director of Ecumenical Mission. The closing date is 7th October so plenty of time to pass on details to anyone you think might be interested. The profile, information and application form are all available from the CTE website

Ten things churches can do about unemployment a resource document published by the London Church Leaders Group

Further responses to London Riots

2011-08-18T17:48:00.009+01:00

The clearing up process continues and the comment becomes more reflective. There are also more stories of how churches and individuals responded across Greater London.

The Bishop of Barking noted "As well as being shocking the events of this past fortnight has also been inspiring and heart-warming. I refer to the instinctive response of the majority of the population who have demonstrated kindness, generosity and voluntary service to their stricken communities. It has been evident that in many cases our Church and faith communities have been at the forefront of this neighbourliness One example has been the Welcome Centre at St Mary’s Walthamstow which opened two hours after a request from our local MP and has provided a café and respite centre for Waltham Forest Police. This follows the closure of Police Canteens in the Borough because of cuts. At its peak the centre served 240 meals in an evening and provided overnight accommodation for Police on long shifts. Ironically the initiative was organised on twitter and brought volunteers from all over London to assist including many who were not church members."

St Peter's Walworth had sixty people to turn up to a meeting where they celebrated what they valued about the area and created some bunting to liven things up! (See picture above) St John at Hackney had over three hundred people at a tea party to reassert community spirit.

Walls of peace and positive messages have been a response in Peckham and Woolwich where Danny Mercer also reminded the community not to prejudge young people.

The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London have both spoken of a need to communicate right and wrong through nourishing relationships. The Chief Rabbi has also commented and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg offers and interesting reflection on the significance of the time of year in the Jewish calendar.

We are already hearing of plans to accentuate the positive about our communities in the coming months perhaps in conjunction with Peace Week at the end of September.

Talking about relationships, our sister blog on The Contextual Theology Centre website Faithful Citizens has rounded up some comments and reflections. The CTC twitter feed has further updates from affected churches and links to more reflections.

London riots

2011-08-11T21:26:00.007+01:00

In the midst of the violence and destruction of the past few nights, London's churches have been places of comfort, prayer and hope. It is at moments like these that the church's local presence and engagement is most severely tested. It has borne striking fruit. Here are just a few of the stories from parishes on the front line:

In Tottenham, St Mary the Virgin on Lansdowne Road has been helping those whose homes and businesses have been affected by the rioting - including distributing meals and providing hot water and mobile phone charging for those left without electricity, to ensure they can remain in touch with loved ones. Churches in Tottenham united with representatives of other faiths at a 300-strong prayer vigil for peace addressed by the Bishop of Edmonton
The role of social media in the riots and the responses has been much discussed. On Twitter, as the riots were at their worst, #prayforlondon overtook #londonriots as the most common 'tag' for comments. Churches such as St Peter's Walworth (http://twitter.com/stpeterwalworth) were tweeting prayer requests and using social media to advertise the times at which the church would be open for prayer. Like many other churches in riot-hit areas, they also played a key role in the #riotclearup
In Hackney, Fr Rob Wickham and the new Bishop of Stepney were on the streets helping those they could as panic and disorder spread. Yesterday, Bishop Adrian preached at a solidarity service at St John-at-Hackney. Hundreds of people gathered - many of them young people who are involved in London Citizens' CitySafe initiative (see this feature on the main PEN website). A similar gathering in Watney Market was chaired by St Paul's Shadwell ordinand Jude Padfield, and drew together over 200 people from local churches and Dar Ul Ummah and East London Mosques. In both cases, the central role of churches in the community response grow out of their ongoing commitment to building relationships and trust across faiths, cultures and age-groups (see, for example, these Jellicoe blogs from Shadwell and Hackney)
This ongoing work is vital as extreme groups such as the English Defence League (EDL) seek to foment division at a time when there has been a striking unity across faiths and communities in cleaning up and working and praying for peace. The Bishop of Stepney and Area Dean Alan Green have played a key role in the campaign to stop the EDL marching in Tower Hamlets - another area where prayer is urgently needed.
There is up-to-date news of vigils for peace, practical support and advice for churches, and messages from the Bishops in a special section of the Diocese of London Website, with a message from the Bishop of Southwark (the CofE's Bishop for Urban Life & Faith) and news of prayer vigils on the Southwark website. Today's speech by Archbishop Rowan in the House of Lords is also online.

Do keep on contacting us - whether with stories to share, or requests for advice and for prayer. We will be blogging and Tweeting on the longer-term issues and how Christians can best respond and bear witness to the Gospel of hope and of peace.

Almighty God and Lord of life,
we pray for the peace and flourishing of our city.
Protect the weak and vulnerable,
comfort all who have lost homes and businesses,
protect and guide the emergency services;
and all for your name’s sake. Amen

July Update

2011-07-21T19:25:00.009+01:00

July is the month of new colleagues. Welcome to Tim Clapton, Near Neighbours Co-ordinator for Eastern London and good wishes to the Very Revd Adrian Newman as he becomes Bishop of Stepney.

The London Inter Faith Centre is running an exciting project with eight local faith based schools and sponsored by Cass Art London. The Art of Identity allows young people to express through art something of the complexity of the different parts of themselves – with faith being one of the significant components. It is hoped that this will become an annual competition. Contact Joseph Voelker, Project Administrator info@londoninterfaith.org.uk for more information.

Wednesdy 27th July The City Talk at St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, EC2V 6AU,will be given by Dr Karambu Ringera, Founder and President of International Peace Initiatives, on "Ubuntu leadership and listening. At 6.05pm, all welcome.

London Boroughs Faiths Network is encouarging us to plan the Olympics and Paralympics and be aware of tie in events. If your not sure why or how to get involved take a look at their what's on page for inspiration. Includes a helpful timeline and details of London Truce.

Faiths Together in Croydon ‘Faith in Film’ DVD project has been created by 25 young people of faith in Croydon who were trained on video production and video editing. The project, involved visits to a church, a sikh temple and a Mosque and encouraged young people to develop their ability to work in a team and to better understand other faiths. View the film.

And looking forward to September ...........

Saturday 10th September, Jewels in His Crown & South Asian Forum present an Asian Mission Partnership day at Elmfield Church, Harrow 89 Imperial Drive, Harrow, HA2 7DX (tube: North Harrow or Rayners Lane) for details and to book go to the Global Connections website.

Wednesday 21st September, 10 - 4pm at Toynbee Hall (28 Commercial Street E1 6LS) Religious diversity in modern Britain: how can history inform the present? hosted by the Building on History Project the event will explore interactions between different religions with special refernce to the East of London as a case study. All those interested in historical and contemporary religious diversity are welcome but places are limited and must be booked. Contact John Maiden j.maiden@open.ac.uk.

Thursday 29th September, in Euston Trustee Fair a joint event by Directory for Social Change and Small Charities Coalition for full programme, booking etc download the pdf

Project Mosaic Young Filmmakers - clips to watch

2011-07-04T15:28:00.007+01:00

Project Mosaic is a
pro-tolerance, anti-hate charity created in memory of New York Firefighter Lieutenant David J Fontana, one of 343 firefighters who died
at the World Trade Centre on 11th September 2001.It uses education to promote interfaith and intercultural tolerance, multicultural good citizenship and integration of immigrant communities, and to combat group hatred and extremism.
Winners of their recent Youtube film competition have been announced. Both clips are inspiriring and excellent to kick off reflection or discussion.

1st prize: “Inspiration Through Faith” by Tariq Chowdhry
Runner Up Prize: “Two White Roses” by Timur Ahmet

To view use the hyperlinks above or go to www.projectmosaic.net/youtubecompetition.asp

Amazing Summer One-off offer! from FODIP

2011-07-04T15:20:00.002+01:00

Would you – or colleagues - like join a session on group facilitation training for inter faith work?
FODIP - Forum for Discussion of Israel and Palestine www.fodip.org - are offering extra places on their course this week – Wednesday 6th July – from 4.15 pm to 6.45 pm In inter faith dialogue facilitation - Refreshments provided, including light vegetarian buffet – (Optional unit from 7.00 – 8.00 pm on an introduction to dialogue on the Israel/Palestine issue) At St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation & Peace, London – and delivered by staff there, together with FODIP. (This is part of FODIP’s training for specialist facilitators, but we would like to expand this group for training purposes.) Open to all; free of charge. To book your place – or for further information, please contact: info@fodip.org

More Job Vacancies

2011-07-04T14:20:00.004+01:00

We have been asked to publicise the following:-

Praxis is currently recruiting for two new exciting posts:
Youth Outreach Worker (Ref: CDOYW11) 35 hours per week, including evenings & occasional weekends. Full Time, initially funded for 2 years. Salary starting at £26,258. The role is to build community voice within new communities, engaging with different groups and community leaders, building their capacity to effectively represent and advocate on behalf of their communities.
also
Services Development Coordinator (Ref: PSDC11) 35 hours per week - permanent appointment
Salary:£34,151 to £36,960. This is a stategic post which will enable the organisation to re-align its existing services to meet the requirements of the 'Personalisation Agenda' and to develop our practice in working with clients with community care needs.
For full details and an application pack please visit www.praxis.org.uk/recruitment or email recruitment@praxis.org.uk Praxis is based at Pott Street, London E2 0EF Tel: 020 7729 7985

Faiths Forum for London and The Fayre Share Foundation
seek to appoint a Senior Project Officer to implement an innovative programme of Inter-Faith and cross-sector social engagement in London Salary ca £32k; fixed one year contract(renewable) Further details here or from: info@faithsforum4london.org Application by letter (max 2 sides A4) and CV; to be returned to info@faithsforum4london.org by 11 July, 12 noon.

New worker for 'Near Neighbours' programme

2011-06-29T01:57:00.001+01:00

The Revd Timothy Clapton (above) has been appointed Co-ordinator of Near Neighbours (Eastern London) – a project that will deepen relationships between the area’s many faiths and cultures. The Near Neighbours programme has secured £5 million of Government funding to work in four areas of England. It taps into the Church of England's unique parish system, which has presence in all neighbourhoods - and as the national Church, an ethos of care for all residents. In eastern London, it is being run by the Contextual Theology Centre (CTC) and builds on the work with local parishes through the Greater London Presence and Engagement Network (PEN). It will work across nine boroughs - Greenwich, Hackney, Islington, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.

From the autumn, a new Near Neighbours Fund will be launched. Faith and community groups will be able to bid for funding in partnership with the local parish church, with grants of up to £5000 being made to individual local interaction projects. A wide range of community, education, environmental, arts, and sports activities will be eligible, as long as they encourage involvement by local people from different faiths or none.

“I’m delighted that Tim is joining our team,” said CTC Director Angus Ritchie. “He has a great deal of experience of bringing together people across faiths and cultures to act for the good of their area. In east London, parish churches are the heart of a web of relationships in very diverse neighourhoods. Near Neighbours will help local people to deepen these bonds of trust and friendship – small-scale action which adds up to a big impact on our society.”

Tim Clapton said "I am really looking forward to being part of this exciting initiative - learning from the excellent work people are already doing across faiths and cultures, and helping it to grow and to be shared more widely."

June Update

2011-06-16T15:04:00.008+01:00

Well the weather may not be scorching at the moment (isn't rain inevitable around Wimbledon fortnight?) but the month of June is hot with events and new resources.

First off, congratulations to Prebendary Philippa Boardman on her MBE.

Picking up where we left off last month:- read the statement published at The Christian Muslim Youth Forum event on Trade Justice. There is still time to apply for the vacancy at the Christian Muslim Forum.

Moving on but still related to CMF, Friday 24th June a day conference at St Anthony of Padua Community Hall, 115 Headley Way, Headington, OX3 7S on Minding the Gap? Caring, Faith and Diversity. Details and booking.

Theos - the public theology think tank, has a vacancy for an executive assistant, deadline 19th June. Also from Theos. two publications:- Freedom and Order: History,Politics and the English Bible by Nick Spence and Turbulent Priests, a report on the political interventions of the last three Archbishops of Canterbury.

Another new publication: - Discovering Through Death - beliefs and Practices by Suleman Nagdi from The Muslim Burial Council of Leicester (mbcol). This is one to have on the shelf to refer to but also give to healthcare professionals, police officers, teachers and lawyers in your community.

Talking of lawyers, this year the Annual Lambeth Inter Faith lecture was given by Professor Malcolm Evans, Professor of International Law at Bristol University and entitled Advancing Freedom of Religion or Belief:Agendas for Change.

Which leads nicely to working for social justice and JustShare's ongoing summer programme:- Tuesday 28th June, 1.05pm at St Mary-le-Bow JustShare Debate: 'Can you keep a promise? Spending 0.7% effectively on aid in the real world' The UK government has committed to spending 0.7% of gross national income on development aid. Is this enough? Too much? Is committing to a target level of spending sensible? How will the money be spent? Is aid effective anyway? Join Christine Allen, Director of the Catholic NGO Progressio, and Michael Green, author of Philanthrocapitalism, as they explore the issues. Also Wednesday 6th July at 6.05pm , same venue, JustShare Lecture on Christian Social & Political Thought
‘Good News for the Poor? Christianity and Overseas Development’
By Loretta Minghella OBE, Director of Christian Aid.

News in from Network members:- The Greenwich Peninsula Chaplaincy has just published its latest news letter and Malcolm Torry is writing another book this time on 'Managing Religion' - one to watch for. 4th - 17th July Commission 4Mission is exhibiting in the Crypt space of St Martin in the Fields. FiLE is working on an exciting initiative coming out of their seminars last Autumn. Check out their website for developments or see Revd Jonathan Evens blog Between. He's also blogged details of a Big Society event coming up in Redbridge on Tuesday 5th July...actually that blog links back nicely to the Theos report on Turbulent Priests see above.

Further ahead ........Wednesday 19th - Friday 21st October Love thy Neighbourhood: Creating sutainable Christ-like community work, Hothorpe Hall, Leicestershire. Lead by Livability's Community Mission Team, deatils and booking via the link
and farther afield ..........The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel, EAPPI, is recruiting for 2012 but applications must be in by 23rd June. Details at www.quaker.org.uk/applyeappi

Last but most certainly not least this month, the interviews for the Near Neighbours Coordinator (CTC) post have taken place and we hope to blog an annoucnement about our new colleague in the next few days. Enjoy the strawberries!

Near Neighbours Vacancy at Christian Muslim Forum

2011-05-26T15:54:00.002+01:00

Near Neighbours Project Worker (Muslim)
Salary: £22,000 per annum (plus pension), half-time post
Three-year contract, working 18 hours per week

Are you ... keen to work nationally and regionally with Christians and Muslims; committed to building better relationships and leadership in inner-city neighbourhoods ... experienced in project working and event organising ... excited by building networks and making contacts? ‘Near Neighbours’ is an initiative of the Church of England and the Church Urban Fund - to initiate and strengthen relationship and action across faiths and cultures. The Government has offered £5m over three years for this programme. The Christian Muslim Forum is delivering Near Neighbours leadership training, in partnership with the Presence & Engagement Centres, in Birmingham, Bradford, Leicester and London.

The Chrsitian MuslimForum is looking for a Project Worker who will:
• Lead on the delivery of leadership training
• Organise training events and commission training resources
• Build up the Forum's network of contacts with leaders, activists and volunteers,
• Work closely and liaise regularly with P&E Centres

Tips for Applicants
• Please ensure that you at least fill the text boxes with information to support your application, use additional pages as necessary but no more than two extra pages per question
• Provide detailed responses of what you have done previously with specific examples and outcomes, do not offer generic observations
• Ask a friend to review your application before you submit it
• Do not send a separate CV
Application forms and further details are online Please send your applications (email preferred) to (or request further information from): Julian Bond, Director, Christian Muslim Forum, 70 South Lambeth Road, Vauxhall, London, SW8 1RL. T: 0207 820 0444, julian@christianmuslimforum.org

Closing date for applications: midnight on 10 June 2011 Interview date: 23 June 2011
* Please note that due to the joint faith ethos of this organisation, this appointment is only open to Muslims and has attached to it a genuine occupational requirement under paragraph 7(3) of the Employment Equality Regulations 2003.
To view the job description click here.
Download an application form here.
To view the Near Neighbours Programme Description click here.

Exciting Addition to Generous Love

2011-05-26T12:41:00.004+01:00

Now there's and attention grabbing headline! 'Generous Love:the truth of the Gospel and the call to dialogue' was published by the Anglican Communion's Network for Inter Faith Concerns (NIFCON) in 2008 as 'an Anglican theology for inter faith relations'. It has been selling like hot cakes and spawned many study sessions and workshops. Now the online version has blossomed into a fantastic i-book resource.
As well as written material it incorporates some video and audio resources, and is designed to be adapted and added to so as to meet future needs.
Clare Amos, Director for Theological Studies in the Anglican Communion Office and Coordinator of NIFCON suggests this exciting developoment offers a new model for educational communication around the Communion and acknowledges the importance of context in relation to our engagement with people of other faiths: the situation in Pakistan, for example, is very different to the context in Britain, while that for Anglicans in Egypt, Nigeria, India or the United States is varied yet again.
Notice of the launch comes with a request to Anglicans around the world to share material (particularly video and audio) which illustrates their engagement with people of other faiths. Contact The Reverend Rana Khan for more information.

May Update

2011-05-05T15:13:00.005+01:00

Recruitment is under way for the post of Near Neighbours Coordinator (CTC) in eastern London details are on the main website. The deadline is noon no Monday 23rd May 2011.

A recent conversation reminded me of the importance of celebrating and publicising the work we do. With a bit of practice it really isn't too much work to get in to the habit of sending regular items to your local paper who are often keen to receive items and if notified in advance may send a photographer. The Church of England is currently offering very reasonably priced training sessions in many aspects of communications from print to all aspects of web and social media. Don't forget to include PEN in your publicity networks.

There are lot of events coming up through May and June some of which are advertised in previous blogs:-
Monday 9th May Route 2050 Climate Action Programme
3.00 - 6.30pm St Peter's Eaton Square SW1
At St Mary le Bow Church, Cheapside, London EC2V 6AU The JustShare debate on Tuesday 10th May at 1.05pm is "War and Water: a future of insecurity?" and The JustShare lecture series continues on Wednesday 11th May at 6.05pm with Responding to the Big Society given by The Revd Dr Angus Ritchie, Director, the Contextual Theology Centre
Tuesday 24th May The Living Wage and The Church workshop at London Diocesan Church House at SW1P 4AU
You are also reminded to check out May events at St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace.

Saturday 4th June 11.00am - 5.00pm at St James Piccadilly, Refugee Protection:Policies by number or a creative welcome?
Wednesday 8th June 9.45am - 3.30pm at Salvation Army HQ EC4V 4EH Beyond Disability:creating a more inclusive and enriched Church
also on Wendesday 8th June Christian Muslim Youth Forum Trade Justice Event at Lambeth Palace.
and an international conference Tuesday 28th - Thursday 30th June, 16 Goulston Street, London E1 7TP The Power of Religion: Towards Peace and Moderation or Violence and Extremism hosted by London Metropolitan University Centre for the Study of Religion, Conflict and Cooperation.

Picture by Jason Sokol

Trade Justice event from Christian Muslim Youth Forum

2011-05-05T10:23:00.010+01:00

A young people's forum to learn about and exchange views on Trade Justice, Wednesday 8th June 2011 9.00 am - 12.30pm (followed by lunch).

Hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Revd Dr Rowan Williams and featuring Maulana Shahid Raza, Chair of MINAB.

Visit http://www.madeineurope.org.uk/ or http://www.christianmuslimforum.org/
to find out more or contact: yasmin@madeineurope.org.uk or info@christianmuslimforum.org
Application deadline 11th May 2011

London travel expenses will be reimbursed and lunch is provided.

Situation vacant: Near Neighbours co-ordinator for east London

2011-05-04T19:33:00.000+01:00

The Contextual Theology Centre is seeking to recruit a Co-ordinator for the Near Neighbours programme in East London - an exciting three-year, full-time post. Details are online here - the application deadline is noon on 23rd May.

Beyond Disability: Creating a more inclusive and enriched Church

2011-04-18T17:00:00.010+01:00

Wednesday 8th June 9:45am - 3.30pm

At Salvation Army HQ, 101 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4EH

The aim of the day is to help Christian groups and churches better understand physical and learning disabilities and develop positive and appropriate responses to disabled people. We will explore the need to value inter-dependence and to work hard to ensure churches are truly inclusive communities. The day will include teaching from experienced practitioners,

Cost £30 per person, including hot lunch

Book and pay online, this is essential

For more info contact Jill Clark on 020 7452 2018

This training event is being jointly hosted by Livability and Through the Roof.

Refugee Protection: Policies by number or a creative welcome?

2011-04-18T13:07:00.020+01:00

Saturday 4th June 2011 11am - 5.00pm
At St James' Piccadilly, 197 Piccadilly, London W1J

Churches' Refugee Network with Migrant Voice
Annual Conference 2011

Speakers:-

Anna Rowlands
Researcher in Asylum and Immigration, Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, University of Cambridge

Frances Webber
Human Rights, immigration and Refugee Barrister, GardenCourt Chambers

Full programme and booking

The Living Wage and the Church

2011-04-18T12:23:00.038+01:00

Tuesday 24 May 10:00 am - 2 pm (including lunch)

London Diocesan House, 36 Causton Street, SW1P 4AU

Keynote presentations from:

• Jerold Waltman

Baylor University, Texas and author of “The Case for a Living Wage”

• Deborah Littman

Unison and Vice-Chair of the London Living Wage Campaign

• The Revd Dr Angus Ritchie

Director of the Contextual Theology Centre

• Dr Paul Morrison

Joint Public Issues Team for the Methodists, Baptists and URC

"Our aim is to gather, inspire and challenge church leaders and others to promote the Living Wage in their own churches and the wider community." (Niall Cooper, National Coordinator, CAP)

This workshop is free to attend. For further details and to register online, go to: http://livingwagechurch.eventbrite.com/ or contact Tom Sefton (tom.sefton@cuf.org.uk or 020 7898 1141).

Route 2050 Climate Action Programme

2011-04-18T11:22:00.012+01:00

Monday 9th May 2011 3:00-6:30pm
St Peter Eaton Square, Belgravia,SW1

Keynote by The Lord Bishop of London Dr Richard Chartres KCVO

Responses to Church and Earth - The Church of England’s Plan for Climate Change and the Environment (launched at Windsor Castle with HRH the Duke of Edinburgh and His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon, November 2009)

Climate Action Programme - launch of outputs from:
Environmental Audits
Generic Building Solutions - Schools, St Paul's Cathedral, pasonage houses
Energy-saving Benchmarking

Route 2050 - a 40 year vision and roadmap for long term action

Also, presentation by a London primary school, music, time for networking, and refreshments.

All are welcome, with colleagues, partners, spouses, friends. Admission free.

Make sure you register with:
Brian Cuthbertson, Head of Envirionmental Challenge, brian.cuthbertson@london.anglican.org
More information: (020) 7932 1229

Young People and Religion Day

2011-04-14T17:15:00.004+01:00

At King's College London on Wednesday 18th May is a free event but you must register by Monday 18th April

There are sessions on Religion and Growing up in Britain; Young Religious Identities; Christian Youth now and then and a practioner panel. Speakers, representative of various faiths, are drawn from KCL and univertisties in Leeds, Durham Edinburgh and Newcastle.

Full details and registration form

April update

2011-04-13T09:15:00.001+01:00

Courses in inter-religious relations: Our sister centre in Leicester, St Philip’s has asked me to publicise their courses beginning from September – do-able from London (and now accredited by DeMontfort University) You can download a leaflet with full details.

JustShare Lecture on Christian Social & Political Thought: ‘Let your Yes be Yes – the Christian imperative to change the voting system’, given by Jonathan Bartley (Founder and Co-Director of Ekklesia) Wednesday 13th April at 6.05pm, at St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside EC2V 6AU and at the same venue Tuesday 26th April at 1.05pm, Cheapside Debate‘Value for your vote: the AV arguments rehearsed with questions answered’, featuring Mark Field MP and Andrew Duff MEP.

Scriptural Reasoning - Money, debt and Justice: A limited number of tickets are available from the Contextual Theology Centre for an exciting event with Cambridge Interfaith Programme and Citizens UK. On the morning of May 2nd, 150 Christians, Jews and Muslims will be reflecting on Biblical and Qu'ranic texts on money, debt and justice - before Citizens holds a 2000 person assembly to celebrate ten years of its Living Wage Campaign. The Scriptural Reasoning event is at 11 for 11.30am at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster. To book a place, email Angus Ritchie (director@theology-centre.org)

The Big Society:

- The write up of a recent conference with Community Development South East can be downloaded from Zedakah

- A range of events from the Contextual Theology Centre on this theme in May

Working with Volunteers: Joanna Cox; National Adviser in Lay Discipleship and Shared Ministry recently included several useful resources in her Friday mailing. She gives some advice on the technicalities, as does Your Church and the Law, by David Parrott - see Chapter 19 on Working with Volunteers Please contact Susanne Mitchell (pen@theology-centre.org) for more on this subject.

Transforming Clergy Leadership: Annual Conference for clergy and those who train them is run by The Grubb Institute 6 – 10 June 2011 this year at Sarum College. This comes too late for the early bird booking saving but there are still places

March Update

2011-03-22T10:16:00.004Z

The Revd Patrick Morrow has been licensed as Chaplain and Inter Faith Adviser at Brunel University.

The Series of JustShare Lectures continues on Wednesdays, 6.05pm at St Mary le Bow, Cheapside EC2V 6AU. 23rd March Rt Revd Peter Selby, 'Credit Crunch & Custody: symbols of social dislocation' and 30th March Rt Ann Widdecombe, 'Strangers & Neighbours: wealth and poverty'.

March is Celebrating RE month but attempts to raise the profile and support for RE are ongoing. Such is the concern that the introduction of of an English Baccalaureate will affect the status of RE as a core subject, that an Early Day Motion has been tabled to Parliament. You are invited to support the RE teachers in your community; pray for them and for SACREs; find out more.

On Thursday 17th March a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving for Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities in the Pakistan Government, who was assasinated on 2 March 2011, was held in St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey. The Archbishop of Canterbury led the prayers. There is more on this story and also about Egypt on the latest Christian Muslim Digest produced bythe Anglican Communion's Network for Inter Faith Concerns, NIFCON.

If you've always wondered how The London Assembly works there is just time to book in to the event that will explain all Wednesday 23rd March 1.00pm.

Finally, London Voluntary Services Council, LVSC has been commissioned to develop database of VCS organisations in London that provide public health services to the community. This will provide London’s new GP and public health commissioners with information as to what services are available to commission. This is a great opportunity to demonstrate the impact of your service and improve future funding opportunities. To get involved or find out more contact: Sandra van der Feen, Research & Capacity Building Officer on 0203 349 8936. Email: sandra@lvsc.org.uk responses are needed by the end of March.

C of E launches £5m 'Near Neighbours' programme

2011-02-21T13:39:00.003Z

It is proving an eventful week at the Contextual Theology Centre (PEN's parent body) - with the Centre being one of four hubs for 'Near Neighbours', a £5 million programme to increase engagement between, and social action by, people of different faiths and cultures. It will cover nine boroughs in eastern London, and includes a 'Near Neighbours Fund' which will distribute grants of £250 to £5000. The programme is funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government, and will be administered by a new charity created by the Church of England and Church Urban Fund.

Responding to this news, Centre Director Angus Ritchie said: "This is a real vote of confidence in all that Church of England parishes and chaplaincies do to build relationships, capacity and trust in their neighbourhoods. PEN's work - mapping and sharing the stories of good practice - helped to make the case for this investment. The programme will build on these examples of faithful interaction."

Jürgen Moltmann to give lecture at St Mary le Bow

2011-02-03T10:56:00.004Z

On Tuesday 8th February at 6.15pm this year’s annual Boyle Lecture will be given by renowned theologian Professor Jürgen Moltmann. His subject ‘Is the world unfinished? On interactions between science and theology in the concepts of nature, time and the future’ will receive a response from Professor Alan Torrance. The lecture is open to the public but seating is limited and places are likely to fill up early.
For more details about this event visit the St Mary le Bow website

Owing to the current lack of heating in St Mary-le-Bow, the lecture venue has moved to nearby St Lawrence Jewry, by kind permission of the Vicar. St Lawrence Jewry is on Guildhall Yard EC2V 5AA, and just five minutes’ walk from St Mary-le-Bow. Please note the later start time.

Eastern and Western Christian thought on Islam and Christian-Muslim relations

2011-01-31T15:02:00.006Z

This two day Conference Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th March 2011 is hosted by the Centre for Eastern Christianity
It will bring together experts on Islam and Christian-Muslim relations from a number of Churches, Latin and Eastern Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Ptoestant, to share expereince,mainly from Europe and the Middle East and current research on Christian theological thought on Islam and how this impacts upon the actual relationship between Islam and Christianity.

Venue - The Charlwood Room,
Heythrop College,23 Kensington Square
Kensington, London W8 5HN

Time - 10.00 - 5.00 each day
Registration is required download application form
For enquiries email j.flannery@heythrop.ac.uk

For full list of speakers and topics click here

London Metropolitan University, Annual Chaplaincy Lecture

2011-01-31T10:21:00.002Z

Shaykh 'Abd al-Wahid Pallavicini - A Sufi Master's Messgae
With a response byAbd-al-Haqq Guiderdoni
followed by an open discussion.

Wednesday 9th February 9.30 for 10.00 am.

London Metropolitan University Graduate Centre, GC 18
Tower Building 166-220 Holloway Road, N7 2DB

Everybody is warmly invited to hear this influential and revered leader
of the Sufi School of Islamic Thought.

Light lunch provided at 12.30pm
To book a place email chaplaincy.studentservices@londonmet.ac.uk

Descended from Abraham:

2011-01-31T10:14:00.003Z

Exploring the Common Heritage of Jews, Christians and Muslims
by Dr Edward Kessler, Executive Director, The Woolf Institute

Thursday, 24 March 2011

Doors open from 6:30pm. Lecture starts 7pm.

At the Ramada Jarvis Hyde Park Hotel, 150 Bayswater Road, London W2 4RT

Tickets are free but spaces are limited.
Email info@projectmosaic.net to reserve your place.

Dr Edward Kessler is a leading thinker in interfaith relations, including Jewish-Christian and Jewish-Muslim relations. He is Founder and Executive Director of the Woolf Institute and Fellow of St Edmund’s College, Cambridge. Dr Kessler has written or edited nine books and dozens of articles, and also writes for print and broadcast media.

New Resource from Conflict and Change

2011-01-24T16:50:00.004Z

Conflict and Change is a voluntary organisation building bridges of understanding within and between communities in Newham, East London, one of the most diverse areas of the United Kingdom. In 2010 it celebrated 25 years of bringing Newham people together.

One of its programmes - Faiths in Action now offers a toolkit, available to download from the Conflict and Change website.

What is Faiths in Action?

Since 2009, Conflict and Change has been running training courses for local women to develop the skills to facilitate at inter-faith events. The focus for this particular course has been on training women because it is recognized that interfaith is an area where they tend to have less influence and confidence.

The training takes place over 4 days, and participants then go on to run an event (or events) where people from different faith backgrounds meet to build relationships and understanding with each other through taking part in shared conversation or activity. For dates of the next course see the Conflict and Change website or to view the toolkit, download materials and adapt for your own use see here.

A Christian-Muslim-Humanist 'Trialogue'

2011-01-24T16:29:00.002Z

Tuesday 25th January at St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG 6.30 - 9.15 pm

Can religion and secular values complement each other in the public arena? Or is it impossible?Multifaith dialogue hosted by the Christian Muslim Forum.

Speakers:

Julian Bond, Director, Christian Muslim Forum
Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, President, Christian Muslim Forum and Chair of the Muslim Council of Britain's Masjid and Community Affairs Committee
Peter Cave, Chair of the Humanist Philosophers

Latest in JustShare Programme

2011-01-24T16:14:00.005Z

JustShare Christian Social and Political Thought Lecture

Wednesday 26th January at 6.05pm:
The Revd Chris Brice, founder member of JustShare, Chair of Operation Noah and Priest in Charge of St Martin’s Gospel Oak, is giving the first lecture in the 2011 Christian Social and Political Thought Series. His title is: ‘What right has the Church to interfere in matters of politics and economics? The Gospel according to William Temple.’ Chris will be introduced by another old friend to JustShare, Maria Elena Arana of CAFOD.

All lectures in the series take place at

St Mary le Bow Church, Cheapside, London EC2V 6AU

Other dates and titles to note:-

Wednesday 23rd March
Credit Crunch and custody:symbols of social dislocation The Rt Revd Peter Selby, former Bishop of Worcester
Wednesday 30th March
Strangers and neighbours:wealth and poverty The Right Hon. Ann Widecombe, former MP and cabinet minister
Wednesday 11th May
Responding to the Big Society The Revd Dr Angus Ritchie, Director, the Contextual Theology Centre
All at 6.05pm

Faith & Citizenship in Pakistan

2011-01-06T16:20:00.003Z

Thursday 13th January, 6.30 - 8.45pm
Hosted by St John's Church Waterloo in association with Christians Aware
The Rt Revd Richard Cheetham, Bishop of Kingston and Chairman of the Christian Muslim Forum chairs an evening of presentations and discussion. Contributors are Bishop Mano Rumalshah, recently retired Bishop of Peshawar; Iftikhar Malik, Professor of History at Bath Spa University and author of Pakistan:Democracy, Terror and the building of a nation; Fazana Shaikh, Fellow of Chatham House and author of Making Sense of Pakistan.
The evening begins with refreshments.
Enquiries to awarner@stjohnswaterloo.co.uk or barbarabutler@christiansaware.co.uk

Christians, Confidence and Christmas

2010-12-09T20:55:00.007Z

Christmas comes but once a year and when it does someone starts daft stories about Christmas being banned. So lets get it straight, celebrating Christmas is not offensive to Muslims or any other faith. In fact blaming Muslims for a perceived need to be coy about celebrating Christmas is what's offensive.
This month the Christian Muslim Forum have issued a statement ‘Celebrating Christmas Confidently’. This reiterates and updates something which they first said in 2006 and again 2009. Namely, we do not have to ‘ban’ Christmas for fear of offending others.
At PEN we promote the development of a confident Christian identity. From this base Christians can engage with their neighbours of other faiths. In doing so they discover that rather than being a threat, other faiths can inspire us to go broader and deeper in to our own. They encourage us to be bold in celebrating what we believe.
In Southall, Christians have adopted a traditional Sikh style of celebrating, a street procession, to confidently declare the approach of Christmas and what that means to them. They call it Bethlehem Comes to Southall you can see a picture here.
Southwark Diocesan newspaper The Bridge has done a centre spread 'What Christmas means to me' which includes an interview with some Muslim staff from a Church of England primary school.
This year BBC 1 is screening four episodes of a new production The Nativity, by Tony Jordan, (creator of Life on Mars and writer of Eastenders) The half hour epsiodes will be screened mid-evening in the week leading up to Christmas. Not only is this a bold public celebrating of the Christmas story, Churches Together in England have declared it will be a major opportunity to engage as people come to churches on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, having watched the series and wanting to work out what it means for them.

Seek the Welfare talks online

2010-11-30T22:35:00.002Z

"Inspirational"..."great"..."brain and soul food"... these were some of the responses to the Seek the Welfare of the City conference organised by PEN, King's College London and St Mellitus last week. Many of the talks - including keynote addresses by Bishop Doug Miles and Bishop Richard Chartres, and sessions with Lucy Winkett, Giles Goddard and Russ Rook are online here. Over 250 people attended the event, held at Holy Trinity Brompton and St Paul's Hammersmith, with presentations on the theology and practice of urban ministry.

You can follow the conference Twitter feed here. Luke Bretherton's comments summed up the mood of the conference well: Something rather special emerged as people began to connect outside of stereotypes & listen afresh - together.

Cheapside Debates at St Mary le Bow

2010-11-23T15:29:00.002Z

Tuesday 30th November, at 1.05pm
The question 'Can we afford “socially useless” banking?’ will be debated by Dr Alistair Milne (Reader in Banking at the Cass Business School) and Alderman Roger Gifford (Head of London, SEB). William Chapman (Private Secretary & Chief of Staff, Lord Mayor's Office) will chair.
For more details email Matthew Power matthewpower@stmarylebow.org.uk or visit www.stmarylebow.org.uk

New E-learning Courses from the Woolf Institute

2010-11-11T16:19:00.006Z

The Woolf Institute is dedicated to teaching, research and dialogue in the encounter between Jews, Christians and Muslims. It is an umbrella organisation for the Centre for the Study of Jewish–Christian Relations (CJCR, founded in 1998) and the Centre for the Study of Muslim–Jewish Relations (CMJR, established in 2006). It has just opened bookings for two e-learning courses commencing 10th January 2011

Muslims and Jews:the historical and contemporary encounter and
Jews, Christians and Muslims in Europe:modern challenges.

Both courses cost £300, bursaries are available. Bookings close 3rd Janaury 2011

For more information go to http://www.woolf.cam.ac.uk/ or download a pdf of each course by clicking on the titles above.

Inter Faith Week is almost here .........

2010-11-11T15:04:00.004Z

November 21-27 is Inter Faith Week 2010

This is the second such national celebration of what faith communities have to offer to the wider community. This is a week to tell the positive stories of inter faith relations. Last year there were over 300 events in civic settings, campuses, schools and local communities.

There is a dedicated website at http://www.interfaithweek.org.uk/ Learn more about the aims of the week and links with other faith inspired events. Read up on highlights of the week in 2009. Discover what's happening in your area in 2010.

To help publicise the week you can download a flier here

Solidarity with Victims

2010-11-11T14:42:00.008Z

The Al-Khoei Foundation in London, and the Christian Muslim Forum, are seeking solidarity with victims of the recent terrorist attacks throughout the world, in particular those massacred whilst they were worshipping at "Our Lady of Salvation Church" in Baghdad.
You are invited to attend the ceremony they are organising on Saturday 13 November 2010 from 7pm to 8:30pm at the Al-Khoei Foundation, Stone Hall, Chevening Road, London NW6 6TN
This commemoration is to mourn those who have tragically lost their lives and to condemn the attrocities committed by terrorists who are devoted to destroying all universal values of mercy, peace and compassion. Victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Baghdad, Najaf, Kerbala, Erbil, Basra, Sufi shrines in Pakistan, as well as all other victims of terror will be remembered.

Organisations participating: Imam Al-Khoei Foundation, Syriac Orthodox Church, Chaldean Catholic Church, Assyrian Church of the East, British Muslim Forum, Ancient Church of the East,
Assyrian General Conference, Greek Catholic Church Of Lebanon, Supreme Shi'ite Islamic Council of Lebanon - London office, Awareness Foundation, Christian Muslim Forum

See also the statement issued by The Christian Muslim Forum about the Bhagdad attack.

Two Recent Titles from Grove books

2010-11-11T12:25:00.006Z

Church Schools in a Multi-faith Community - Birmingham Diocesan Schools' Support Officer, Peter French, ponders the theological questions and considers three examples from Bloxham, Sparkhill and Saltley, in the city. It illustrates well how different circumstances evoke different and yet equally appropriate and fruitful models. ISSN 2041 0964 in Grove's Education Series

Friendship and Exchange with People of Other Faiths - Celia Blackden suggests'friendship and exchange' as an alternative model for inter faith relations to that of 'presence and engagement'. This new title in Grove's evangelical series is perhaps considering a context for witness and dialogue at a more personal level. There are a number of interesting cross references including to Inderjit Bhogal, Richard Sudworth, Kenneth Cracknell and Ciara Lubich. ISSN 1367 0840

All Grove titles are £3.95 (less for pre publication subscriptions) see http://www.grovebooks.co.uk/

Jim Wallis to speak at PEN conference

2010-11-03T16:05:00.003Z

The Revd Jim Wallis has just been confirmed as a speaker at the Seek The Welfare of the City conference on 25/6 November. Wallis is best known as the founder and editor of Sojourners magazine, and of the Washington, D.C.-based Christian community of the same name.

Jim will be speaking on the second day of the conference, which also includes contributions from Richard Chartres, John Inge, David Ford and Maeve Sherlock. It is being organised by PEN, St Mellitus College and Kings College London.

That day will also include panel discussion on Christian social & political engagement in multi-faith contexts with case studies from PEN and input from Richard Sudworth (author of Distinctly Welcoming). The panel will be chaired by Dr David Muir (New Testament Church of God)

The event cost £25 for one day £45 for two. To book, and for more details, go to http://www.htb.org.uk/events/seek-welfare-city

Big Society - what does it mean for the church?

2010-11-02T13:46:00.006Z

Does the Big Society offer churches new opportunities for practical action in our communities and neighbourhoods, for mission and transformation? Where does community organising fit? Will churches end up picking up the pieces?

Many feel it is still not clear how community groups can play an effective and valued part in the delivery of the Big Society vision. It is also not clear how it translates to a local level.

Meet with those at the forefront of the debate and action, to engage critically with the thinking behind the Government’s policies and actions relating to the ‘Big Society’, and use this chance to reflect together on the theological implications and action outcomes.

The London Churches Group, Mission in London’s Economy, and the Diocese of Southwark; invite you to a day conference on Wednesday 19th January 2011, 10.00 a.m. – 3.30 p.m. (buffet lunch provided) at Trinity House Conference Centre 4 Chapel Court, Borough High Street, Southwark, SE1 1HW

Speakers:

Andrew Stunell, OBE, MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at Communities and Local Government, whose responsibilities include community cohesion, faiths and Big Society

Jon Cruddas, MP for Dagenham and Rainham

Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive of the Directory for Social Change, whose vision is of an independent voluntary sector at the heart of social change

Richard Farnell, Professor of Neighbourhood Regeneration at Coventry University and Canon Theologian of Coventry Cathedral

Download a booking form here

Faith in the Global Village

2010-11-02T10:58:00.004Z

Islington Faiths Forum invites you to a lecture and debate:

‘Faith in the Global Village – connecting the Local and International in Inter Faith Relationships’
To be held on Wednesday, 24th November 2010, 6.15pm to 8.30pm at London Metropolitan University – In Room SHG-01, Stapleton House, 277 - 281 Holloway Road, London N7 8HN (opposite the Tower Building).

The Keynote Speaker is the Reverend Canon Guy Wilkinson, the National Inter Religious Affairs Adviser & Secretary for Inter Religious Affairs to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Islington Faiths Forum is a community partnership of faith-based organisations working together to assist local community development and the delivery of community support services. They work to support inter faith initiatives & dialogue throughout the Borough and across London.

For more information including a list of the panelists go to www.islingtonfaithsforum.org.uk

To register please email Revd. Fiona Weaver at: f.weaver@londonmet.ac.uk
Registration is necessary as there are a limited number of places available

Inter Faith Week 2010

2010-11-02T10:38:00.009Z

The second national Inter Faith Week runs from 21st to 27th November this year. The aim of the week is not to generate a flurry of special events or activities, rather to publicise and celebrate the year round work and contribution of faith groups.
Churches Together in England have produced a short video to illustrate the ethos of the week and the importance of conveying the positve news stories about faith groups and their interaction with each other and the communities they serve.

Obviously there will be some events timed to coincide with the week.

Take a look at the video but also check out the whole CTE website, details of events and wealth of resources.

PEN Update for October

2010-10-21T11:09:00.011+01:00

PEN Coordinator, Susanne Mitchell is transfering monthly updates from email to blog.........
Autumn is certainly the conference season! A lot of PEN time this month has involved meetings and visits. The national Presence and Engagement task group met in Leicester to reflect, update, and plan ahead. Working in inter faith relations/presence and engagement can be a lonely arena at times and the existence of networks and opportunities to meet with colleagues (who remain 'virtual' most of the time) is greatly valued.
FbRN (Faith based Regeneration Network) took Faith Social Action and Big Society as the theme for its National Conference and afforded another opportunity to think outside of the London box and remember that there is more than one model for effecting change.
Conflict and Change celebrated its 25th birthday. This amazing grassroots, capacity building, life changing organisation is based in Newham but has a growing influence. Training in conflict resolution and mentoring, volunteers who do the mediation also pass on the skills - seeds and mustard trees. Might they be just what you are looking for in your patch?
Listening to individual's stories and visiting projects is always inspirational. I am constantly exploring how best to present them on the website so they become a resource for others.
To round off the month I am looking forward to the opening of the Prayer Space and base for the Greenwich Peninsula Chaplaincy. Another example of patience, collaboration and transformation.

Resources and Events
Look out for two new titles from Grove Books:- 'Friendship and Exchange with People of Other Faiths: A Context for Witness and Dialogue', by Celia Blackden, and 'Church Schools in a Multi-faith Community', by Peter French.
Also, from St Johns (Nottingham) Extension Studies, in the Faith for Life series of workbooks is 'The Cross Cultural Christian', by Stuart Buchanan

Three websites to check out:- Faith Matters, another organisation working towards conflict resolution and cohesion. It currently has available to download 'Our Faiths and Our Shared Futures' a resource from Derby to help develop a local narrative against extremism.
Also, keep up to date with opportunities for churches to make the most of the Olympics in 2012 in terms of outreach, hospitality and service with More than Gold,
Thirdly, New Philanthropy Capital offering a wealth of advice under the strapline 'Helping charities and funders do good, better.

On the subject of doing good better I have available a paper 'The Impact of Equality Leglisaltion on Faith Communities and Faith-based Organisations' which can be emailed (or even posted) on request to
pen@theology-centre.org

The British & Irish Association for Mission Studies, BIAMS, is holding a day conference at St Philip's Centre, 2a Stoughton Drive North, Leicester LE5 5UB on Wednesday 3rd November on Extremism/Mission: Responses to racist, religious and political zeal. See the BIAMS website for details of how to register and speakers etc.

Following on from 'Interfaith Encounter from an Evangelical Perspective', St Ethelburga's is hosting 'An Evangelical-Muslim Dialogue' on Tuesday 23rd November at 7.30pm. Dr Chawkat Moucarry and Rashad Ali will be in conversation. See the St Ethelburga's website for more details.

In Reading, Churches Together in Berkshire are hosting a Youth Inter-Faith Conference on Thursday 25th November from 5.30 until 9.00pm. Dr Eleanor Nesbitt is the keynote speaker at 'Who Am I? Religious Identity and Young People'. Venue is Friends Meeting House, 2 Church Street, Reading RG1 2SB. email ctberks@btconnect.com or call Richard Christopher 0118 966 850 for more details.

Lastly don't forget the PEN conference Seek the Welfare of the City at the end of November - see you there.

Making Money or Making a Difference - are they opposed?

2010-10-21T10:26:00.003+01:00

FiLE (Faiths in London's Economy) is inviting responses ( of 25 words or less) to this question. They will be posted on a new blogspot http://renegotiatingvalue.blogspot.com . This is linked to the Renegotiating 'value' series of seminars exploring the benefit and challenge of faith traditions in leading sustainable business.
The second seminar is on Thursday 4th November at St Martins Hall, St Martins in the Fields (Trafalgar Square WC2N4JJ) between 4 - 6.30pm. Bonus vs Pro Bono seeks to explore the value of inspirational leadership in business with speakers Peter Hyson (Change Perspectives Ltd), Bruce Irvine (Grubb Institute) and Baroness Uddin.
For more details go to http://renegotiatingvalue.blogspot.com to submit a response to the question or to register for the seminar email jonathan.evens@btinternet.com (Registration fee £5)

The Changing Estate

2010-10-05T12:45:00.000+01:00

Effective 'presence and engagement' requires Christians to understand our changing contexts. The National Estates Churche Network invites you to an event on the changing shape of housing estates. The event will be held on one such estate - Temple Hill, Dartford in the Thames Gateway. The Changing Estate runs from 10am-3pm on Wednesday 13th October.

Seek the Welfare of the City: hopeful imagination & prophetic practice in urban mission and ministry

2010-09-09T14:06:00.006+01:00

Booking is now open for this two day event 25th - 26th November 2010.
Earthed in practice this is an oportunity to reflect on urban mission and ministry through a mix of case studies, keynote speaches and panel discussions.

The venue for the first day is Holy Trinity Brompton. The keynote speaker is Bishop Doug Miles, Koinonia Baptist Church, Baltimore. Panel topics are:- Missional church in practice; Christian Social enterprise - developing sustainable & resilient forms of social welfare provision; Urban spirituality and discipleship - beyond the rural and the monastic. The plenary with discussion will be chaired by Jane Williams.

The venue for day two is St Paul's Hammersmith. The keynote speaker is The Rt Revd John Inge. Panel topics are Christian social and political engagement in multi-faith contexts and a roundtable and plenary discussion of Christianity & Contemporary Politics: The Conditions and Possibilites of Faithful Witness by Luke Bretherton.
Worship leaders inlude Rt Revd & Rt Hon Richard Chartres.
A host of experienced practioners and speakers will be contributing including; Francis Davis, Russ Rook, John Hayes, David Ford, Nigel Biggar, Maeve Sherlock and Bernd Wannenwetsch.

The event cost £25 for one day £45 for two. To book, and for more details, go to www.htb.org.uk/events/seek-welfare-city

This event is organised jointly by PEN (as a project of The Contextual Theology Centre): the Faith & Public Policy Forum, King's College London and St Mellitus College (the diocese of London and Chelmsford's theological and ordination training institute) and continues a developing pattern of joint ventures which resource and equip the church across London through theological education.

Sharing the Gospel of Salvation

2010-07-29T13:54:00.003+01:00

Following the General Synod debate in February 2009, the House of Bishops was asked to produce a report on their understanding of the uniqueness of Christ in Britain's multi-faith society. Sharing the Gospel of Salvation is that report.

On Thursday 2nd September, Dr John Azumah, Director if the Centre for Islamic Studies, London School of Theology will give a keynote address responding to the report. A guest panel; The Revd Jan Ainsworth, The Revd CAnon Dr Jane Freeman and The Revd Mark Poulson will share their reactions and all will repsond to questions from the floor. The event is chaired by The Revd Dr Toby Howarth who helped with the writing of the report.

The event takes palce in the Gary Weston Library, Southwark Cathedral at 6.30pm. There will be a nominal charge of £5 payable on the door. It is advisable to book via the PEN Coordinator pen@theology-centre.org or 020 7780 1600

Citizens of Two Kingdoms:Life in the Global Village

2010-07-29T12:57:00.004+01:00

We have been singing the praises of the Awareness Foundation's materials for a while now. Here is an opportunity to sample the course for yourself (or encourage others to).
Over eight Wednesdays beginning Wednesday 15th September, Kings Cross Ecumenical Partnership will host the study course at 'Lumen' United Reformed Church (where Tavistock Place meets Regent Square - WC1H 9RS) from 10.30am until 12 noon. This first module introduces the issues that challenge Christian Faith Communities as citizens of a 21st Century 'global village'.

Participants are asked to commit to the whole course and will receive their course booklet at the first session.

Fr Nadim Nassar, Director of the Awareness Foudnation is to preach to local church and student groups on Monday 18th October at 7 pm at 'Lumen' as part of One World Week activities.

Two New Resources to check out

2010-06-24T14:21:00.009+01:00

The Archbishop of Canterbury's Building Bridges Seminar for Christian and Muslim ScholarsThis annual gathering, hosted by the Archbishop has been running since 2002. Details of the participants, publications arising from the meetings and details of dates and venues are now all on a one stop website run by the Berkley Center, Georgetown University.

Sharing the Gospel of Salvation
Following a General Synod debate in February 2009, the House of Bishops was asked to produce a report on their understanding of the uniqueness of Christ in Britain's multi-faith society. Sharing the Gospel of Salvation is that report which is now freely available on the Church of England website
On Thursday 2nd September, Dr John Azumah, Director of the Centre for Islamic Studies, London School of Theology will give a keynote address responding to the report and a panel of guests including The Revd Mark Poulson and The Revd Canon Dr Jane Freeman will share their reactions and all will respond to questions from the floor. This PEN event will be held in the Gary Weston Library, Southwark Cathedral, at 6.30pm. There will be a nominal charge of £5. To reserve a place or for more information please contact the PEN Coordinator via pen@theology-centre.org or 020 7780 1600

Advance notice of major conference

2010-06-03T14:02:00.002+01:00

As part of the Contextual Theology Centre, PEN is organising a major conference in November. Seek the Welfare of the City: Hopeful imagination & prophetic practice for urban mission and ministry will be held on 25th and 26th November. The first day will be at Holy Trinity Brompton, and the second day will include a keynote address by the Rt Revd John Inge (Bishop of Worcester) and a roundtable discussion on Luke Bretherton's new book on Christianity and Contemporary Politics involving David Ford and Nigel Biggar.

Full details of speakers, venues and how to book will be posted in the summer.

UPDATE: The venues have been confirmed as Holy Trinity Brompton for 25th and St Paul's, Hammersmith for 26th. Bookings will open later in the summer.

New MA in Christian Muslim Relations

2010-06-03T10:56:00.002+01:00

New for September/October 2010 at the Centre for Islamic Studies, London School of Theology. The programme aims at equipping students with the academic, theological, exegetical and practical tools to be active and confident participants in the field of Christian Muslim relations.

The MA can be studied full-time over 12 months or part-time over 24-36 months. Taught study is arranged in 2 semesters per academic year, each 15 weeks. The compulsory core module Engaging with the World of Islam will run throughout the year. (The over all cost of the MA is under £6,000)

The uniquness of this MA programme is a minimum 2 hours per week placement with a Muslim institution such as a mosque or college. Similarly students will undertake placement with selected Christian ministries and interfaith organisations to observe various approaches in Christian engagement.

For more details go to the LST website or contact Lisbet Diers lisbet.diers@lst.ac.uk

Two for June at St Mary-le-Bow

2010-06-03T10:16:00.002+01:00

'Power to the People? A reflection on the general election in City and Nation'is the title of the next Cheapside Debate. Speakers will be Professor Peter Hennessey (Attlee Professor of Contemporary British History, Queen Mary, University of London) and Sir David Clementi (former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, Chairman of the Prudential plc, Warden of Winchester College). Tuesday 22nd June at 1.05pm

The next JustShare Lecture on Christian Social & Political Thought will be given by the Revd Dr Paul Oestreicher (founding Chair of Amnesty International); his topic will be 'Is peace a delusion?' Wednesday 30th June at 6.05pm

Read all about it...

2010-06-01T20:28:00.001+01:00

The Bridge, the newspaper of the Diocese of Southwark, has a centre spread on PEN this month - with examples of good practice from multi-religious contexts and suggested resources. It's a great introduction to what 'Presence and Engagement' is all about - you can read it here.

Pilgrimage for Peace

2010-06-01T20:24:00.000+01:00

The 25th Annual London Multi-faith Pilgrimage for Peace will be held this Saturday (5th June) - beginning at Westminster Cathedral at 9am. You can download a leaflet with the full range of venues and events and a booking form (it is possible simply to turn up on the day, but booking in advance will help those organising - particularly if you wish to come to the lunch and/or afternoon tea). The pilgrimage is sponsored by Westminster Interfaith, an agency of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster.

Busting 10 Myths re Fundraising

2010-05-26T18:02:00.003+01:00

Ensuring a level playing field:funding faith-based organisiations to provide publicly funded services

The Department for Communities and Local Government recently issued a myth busting document because, they say, "a number of myths surround the funding of faith-bases bodies to deliver publicly funded services and can obstruct the fair access of such bodies to public funding and tendering opportunities as part of the third sector.

As well as reassuring for those faith based organisations running projects it is a useful document to put before critics and obstructionists.

The document is downloadable at www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/15073411.pdf

South Asian Concern survey of Churches - Threat or opportunity?

2010-05-26T16:52:00.004+01:00

This is the title on the press release sent out by South Asian Concern on publication of their survey results. The text continues...

Imigration was one of the key issues raised in this month's dramatic General Election. Its impact on British society has been significant, from food and fashion to business and politics. But what about the Church?

While some churches have been revitalised and new ones formed through the presence of ethnic minorities in their local areas, this does not generally apply to South Asians. The vast majority of the 2 million plus South Asisans in the UK regard the Church and Christianity as irrelvant to them*

How is the UK Church responding? Is it foing anything at all? This is what charity South Asian Concern, hoped to discover through its recent survey.

South Asian Concern will use the information from the survey to help churches reach out to South Asians. Ram Gidoomal, SAC Chairman, says "We have the opportunity to engage with the unreached here in out midst and - for some of us - at our doorstep!"

The survey confirms that while some churches are engaging with South Asians in a variety of ways, from Girls' Brigade to Bollywood nights, others are struggling to make inroads in their local South Asian communities.

A lask of understanding of Asian culture, apathy and a lack of resources were reasons given by churches for not being involved in specific outreach to South Asians. Cultural issues that hindered engagement included the common perception among South Asians that Christianity is the same as Western culture, the place of religion in South Asian identity, as well as family and community pressures.

But some churches are overcoming these challenges and seeing fruit. The importance of prayer was evident in the survey, both in motivating churches to reach out and in creating opportunitites. Churches involved in outreach to South Asians were more likely to pray for them. Those not involved were less likely to pray.

Taking time to build realtionships were also key. Visiting people at home was more common amongst churches actively engaging with South Asians than holding English classes or youth clubs. Relationships could help people make the transition from bridge building activities, like parent and toddler groups, to deeper engagement with the church, such as attending worship services and exploring the claims of Christ.

For the survey report including all the data from the returned surveys, please contact South Asian Concern: info@southasianconcer.org Also visit their website www.southasianconcern.org

*There are an estimated 75,000 Christians of South Asian origns in the UK, less than 4% of the total South Asian population.

Presence and Engagement in a Multi Faith World

2010-05-25T19:16:00.004+01:00

St Philip's Centre, Leicester continues its quality training programme with this three day course.

28 - 30th September 2010

How can we learn from other faiths but also be aware of our own distinctiveness?
What is an appropriate approach to mission within a multi faith world?
How do we account for the evident goodness and piety we see in people of other faiths?
What of issues of Truth ... of Grace ... of Salvation?

The Course includes visits in Leicester and to the Islamic Foundation, Markfield.

The cost, including lunch and refreshments is £120 or £156 resident with local clergy (other accomodation at nearby hotel can be arranged by the centre). Contact admin@stphilipscentre.co.uk 0116 273 3459 for bookings and more details.

St Philip's Centre, 2A Stoughton Drive North, Leicester LE5 5UB
easy bus ride from Leicester station

InSpiRe:The Centre for Initiatives in Spirituality and Reconciliation

2010-05-25T18:59:00.005+01:00

The Centre, based at St Mary's Univeristy College Twickenham, announces its inaugural conference 29th June - 3rd July 2010
In conjunction with St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, London; The Centre of Religions for Reconciliation and Peace at The University of Winchester and Pax Christi, UK.

The conference will explore the promise of spirituality in the service of reconciliation with special reference to contemporary issues. It will be a forum for those working in these areas and provide an opportunity for scholarly interchange.

Speakers include Profs Paul Clarke, Dan Cohn-Sherbok, Mary Grey, Lisa Isherwood, Nur Masalha, Rabbi Michael Lerner and Dr David Tombs.

For costs and booking contact InSpiRe Administrator, Dr Stephen Bullivant inspire@smuc.ac.uk and for more on the centre see www.smuc.ac.uk/inspire

Interfaith Encounter From An Evangelical Perspective

2010-05-25T18:31:00.003+01:00

Thursday 8th July at St Ethelburgas's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG

A stunning line up of speakers contribute to this day long (9.30 - 16.15) event which seeks to

open up a space for discussing challenges, opportunities and concerns of engaging in interfaith dialogue
understand Evangelical approaches to other faiths
look at biblical and theological foundations for interfaith encounter
get to know Evangelical interfaith activities
support Evangelical parishes in building relationships with other faiths

Event fee: £7/£15 (incl. lunch, tea/coffee)
To register contact Christoph Kiworr christoph@stethelburgas.org 020 7496 1617
or online at http://stethelburgas.org/consultation

This event is being held in connection with Edinburgh 2010 a multi-denominatioal and international project set up to commemorate the 1910 World Missionary Conference. The centenary Conference takes place in Edinburgh 2 - 6 June. The St Ethelburga's event is part of the 2010.global initiative.

Space for Grace

2010-05-25T18:14:00.004+01:00

Thursday 24th June

St Augustine's Church

117 Queen's Gate

London SW7 5LW

The speaker, Giles Goddard, is vicar of St John's Church Waterloo and chair of Inclusive Church. His overriding hope is that the gospel of God's generous welcome through Jesus can be heard loud and clear in London. He has written "Space for Grace - Creating Inclusive Churches" about his experience in an inner city parish near the Elephant and Castle. He formerly worked for housing associations, and he believes that faith should be lived out not just through church but through social action, living for justice, arts and politics.

6.30pm for 7.45pm. Entrance is £7 including supper

This is a Nested event. Contact Julian Whiting, Events Director, for more information julian@nested.org.uk 07899 723620

Urban Church Buildings as Liturgical and Community Space

2010-05-25T17:48:00.003+01:00

Saturday 12th June 10.30am - 12.30 and lunch

What theological assumptions lie behind the different ways Anglican parishes order and maintain their buildings? How does the Holy - sacred, the numinous - relate to mission and community engagement? How do theology and the pastoral, liturgical, management and financial realities of parish experience bear on each other?

Four brief presentations from East London parishes:-

St Luke's Great Ilford (early 20th century building, community centre of site)

All Saints, West Ham (large Norman church, construction of community facilities in progress)

St Barnabas Manor Park (large church designed by Sir Ninian Comper)

St Michael & All Angels, Manor Park (1980s purpose-built church and community centre, replacing a large Victorian church)

will be followed by an overview of how church buildings have been adapted for community use in the Borough of Newham.

Common theological threads will be drawn from the ensuing discussion and may form the basis of future related events. Although the presenters are clergy it is hoped that lay people will also attend and contribute.

St Barnabas Church, Browning Road, London E12 6PB
( Tube - East Ham on the District line or Manor Park or Woodgrange Park mainline stations or 147 Ilford to Canning town bus.)

The event is free as part of St Barnabas' patronal celebrations.
Please contact James Ramsay ramsay.jas@gmail.com for further details or to express interest in attending (this will ensure adequate catering)

London Inter Faith Centre Open House

2010-05-25T16:43:00.005+01:00

Sorry, this event has had to be cancelled due to insufficient take up.

For over ten years the London Inter Faith Centre has offered a two year certificate in inter faith relations. On Tuesday 8th June there is an opportunity to

find out more about the course

share experience of and insights in inter faith expereince

enjoy music from Mo Nazaaam of 'Berakah'

To ensure there are enough refreshments to go around plese email Joe on info@londoninterfaith.org.uk if you are planning to attend.

The centre is at 125 Salusbury Road, London NW6 6RG

The One with the Rabbi, Priest and Imam(chaired by an Agnostic) .......

2010-05-25T16:14:00.007+01:00

King's College London's Denmark Hill Chaplaincy presents Difference and Damnation:Why We Do NOT believe the Others are Bound for Hell.

A controversy-facing discussion with Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers (West London Synagogue), Imam Mamadou Bocoum (Muslim College) and the Revd. Patrick Morrow (campus chaplain) chaired by agnostice Philosopher Dr Mark Vernon.

Thursday 3rd June 5.30 - 7.00pm The Wolfson Lecture Theatre, Western Education Centre 10 Cutcombe Road London SE5 9RJ (by King's College Hospital) Vegetarian refreshements served from 5.15pm.

Congregations, Citizens and Politics

2010-05-17T21:02:00.000+01:00

Churches involved in Citizens UK had an eventful General Election - working with mosques, synagogues and temples to advance a broad-based agenda of social and economic issues. The alliance held a 2500-person assembly with the three main party leaders just days before the election.

The Jellicoe Blog contains video footage of the assembly - and ongoing coverage on the long-term work of holding the politicians to their promises. There will be opportunities to reflect on the engagement of churches in citizen organising at two forthcoming talks. Dr Luke Bretherton (who negotiated with David Cameron at the assembly) will give a lecture at Heythrop College on 20th May, while Revd Angus Ritchie (who presented the case for a Living Wage to Gordon Brown) will lead a seminar at the Royal Foundation of St Katharine on 21 June.

New book on Workplace Chaplaincy

2010-05-11T14:09:00.005+01:00

Bridgebuiders: Workplace Chaplaincy – A History
Malcolm Torry (Canterbury Press, Pbk £19.99, ISBN 9781 848250369)

‘Workplace chaplaincy’ is the term that covers the church’s outreach to the economy. Today, it takes many forms and is supported by many local ecumenical partnerships. Chaplains can be found in supermarkets, at airports, in industry, among glittering tower blocks in business districts.

Malcolm Torry tells the stories of the movement’s origins, starting with the first record of priests in a place of work – on board naval ships in the reign of Henry VIII. He traces the established church’s often tenuous relationship with the working classes and the profound changes in that relationship that occurred during World War 1 and 2, the subsequent growth of industrial mission, and today’s challenge of an increasingly secularized society.

Published in partnership with the Industrial Mission Association, this is a theological handbook for all involved in contemporary mission among people at work, or in any way concerned about how faith impacts on the economy, workplace ethics, unemployment, recession and other key issues affecting peoples’ lives today.

Jewels in His Crown the National Event

2010-03-30T17:45:00.002+01:00

Following the Day Conference in London in January there will be a Jewels in His Crown Weekend Conference: Which Way the UK Asian Church? at The Hayes, Swanwick 25-27 June 2010 This is an all-age conference for everyone engaged in ministry amongst British Asians and Asian Churches and it will look as different ways for worship, such as - Multicultural Church, Asian Fellowships, Youth Culture, Christ Followers, House Church, Satsang, Traditional Church, Yesubhaktas and Followers of Isa Al-Masih. Speakers Pastor G I Ebenezer, Kumar Rajagopalan, Clive Thorn. Details and postal booking http://www.jewelsinhiscrown.co.uk/ Online booking: www.globalconnections.co.uk/jihc

Election 2010

2010-03-29T12:11:00.007+01:00

Archbishop Emeritus, Desmond Tutu once said "When people say the Bible and politics don't mix, I don't know which Bible they are referring to. It's not the one I've been reading." Which suggests that to ignore politics altogether on the grounds that we are far too busy (Bible reading) is not an option. How might we encourage ourselves and congregations to engage positively with the General Election in the face of media overkill? There are number of resources available:
Faith in Politics: Preparing Churches for the General Election 2010 (on the CTBI website) is a good place to start. From there you can download a guide to planning a hustings meeting or explore how to phrase questions to candidates on the doorstep.
King's College London's Faith & Public Policy Forum runs a series of seminars. The next is on Tuesday 13th April 2010, entitled Muslim Londoners:Tackling Terrorism and Islamaphobia with speaker Dr Robert Lambert MBE. Click link for more dates and details and transcripts of previous seminars.

If books are your thing there are a number of recently published topical titles:-

Richard Harries (former Bishop of Oxford, now Lord Harries of Pentregarth) offers Faith in Politics? Rediscovering the Christian Roots of our Political Values
(Darton Longman and Todd ISBN 978-0-232-52787-2)
From the same publishers comes
Faithful Citizens: A Practical Guide to Catholic Social Teaching
and Community Organising by Austen Ivereigh
(ISBN 978-0-232-52789-6)
Nick Spencer and Jonathan Chaplin's God and Government is published by SPCK, with foreword by the Archbishop of Canterbury (ISBN 978-0-281-06071-9)
Also from SPCK Votewise Now! - helping Christians Engage with the Issues, edited by Rose Lynas with foreward by Joel Edwards

For a shorter read visit the Diocese of St Alban's website and read Bishop Alan Smith's article Don't be apathetic:vote! which concludes with a topical prayer

Archbishop Rowan on uniqueness of Christ

2010-03-18T18:50:00.000Z

In a lecture given in Guildford Diocese earlier this month, Archbishop Rowan reflected on, and reaffirmed, Christian belief in 'the uniqueness and finality of Jesus Christ':

We are very rightly suspicious of proselytism, of manipulative, bullying, insensitive approaches to people of other faith which treat them as if they knew nothing, as if we had nothing to learn and as if the tradition of their reflection and imagination were of no interest to us or God. God save us from that kind of approach. But God save us also from the nervousness about our own conviction which doesn't allow us to say that we speak about Jesus because we believe he matters. We believe he matters because we believe that in him human beings find their peace. Their destinies converge and their dignities are fully honoured. And all the work that we as Christians want to do for the sake of convergent human destiny and fullness of human dignity has its root in that conviction that there is no boundary around Jesus – that what he is and does and says and suffers is in principle liberatingly relevant to every human being; past, present and future.

The full lecture is here

Up and Coming in April & May

2010-03-09T10:52:00.003Z

The Numbers Game: Britain's Changing Demographic and its Implications for Christian-Muslim Relations Saturday 24th April Centre for Islamic Studies, London School of Theology, Green Lane, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 2UW. Speakers: Ben White - "Britain's Changing Demographics: Discerning Facts from Fears"; Dr Jenny Taylor - "The impact of Immigrant religious Activism and Government Policies on Interfaith Relations"; and Dr Jabal Muhammad Buaben "The Numbers Game: A Muslim perspective on Immigration and Integration. Registration at 9.30 and the conference finishes at 15.30. The cost is £20 to include cooked lunch (£10 for senior citizens or for groups fo 6 or more). The day will be chaired by The Rt Revd Michael Nazir-Ali. For further information or to book contact Lisbet Diers on 01923 456160 or lisbet.diers@lst.ac.uk

BOOK LAUNCH

Bridgebuilders: Workplace chaplaincy - a history, by Malcolm Torry. Monday 26th April 6.00pm at Trinity House, 4 Chapel Court, Borough High Street, London SE1. Published by Canterbury Press it will cost £20 but is available for £15 on the night.If you would like to attend contact Revd Malcolm Torry on 0208 858 3006 or malcolm@torry.org.uk

Test of Faith THE TOUR comes to London on Wednesday 19th May. Presented by Paternoster and the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion the Test of Faith explores the science-faith debate. Scientists and theologians unpack key issues. The London venue is the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity, St Peter's Vere Street, London W1G 0DQ. Tickets, £5 from www.faraday-institute.org/pentecost or 01223 741 281

Guidance on Far Right Political Parties

2010-02-15T15:23:00.001Z

Drawing on experience from a wide range of contexts, the Church of England has published some very helpful guidance on Countering far right political parties, extremist groups and racist politics. It includes practical advice on holding election hustings; dealing with elected representatives of extremist groups, and developing long-term strategies - as well as statements by the Church of England's leaders and governing bodies, and suggested reading.

Building up Believers from Different Faith Backgrounds

2010-02-15T15:18:00.001Z

Global Connections - part of the Evangelical Missionary Alliance - is holding a conference in Wembley on 25th February on Crossing Frontiers: Growing in a New Faith. Details are online here

Living with other faiths Training Morning

2010-02-01T18:21:00.006Z

Thursday 11th February in the Chapter Room, Southwark Cathedral, close to London Bridge Station.A morning with The Revd Jonathan Evens, author of Living with other faiths, to explore ways of using the material. The session will begin prompt at 10.00am and end at 12 noon. Refreshments will be served mid morning. There will be a charge of £5 payable on the day.
Please advise PEN Co-ordinator, Susanne Mitchell if you plan to attend.
Email pen@theology-centre.org or telephone 0207 780 1600.
All are welcome especially if you are involved in preparing or leading bible and other Christian study groups.
We have recently mailed clergy in all four of our sponsoring Dioceses (Chelmsford, London, Rochester and Southwark) so that every parish should have access to at least one copy of these resources on a CD ROM. The CD contains other Presence & Engagement Resources. Further copies are available from Susanne, contact details above.

Engagements for January

2010-01-07T15:51:00.003Z

The PEN Coordinator is continuing a programme of visits across Greater London collecting stories from parishes and chaplaincies to share via our website. We will publish details of some PEN events here in the next few days. Meanwhile we are happy to flag up the following from network members:-
Storytelling at London Inter Faith Centre
Sunday 17 January, 3-5 pm
Hanna Yaffe, the Israeli musician and storyteller, will be joined by a Christian colleague and by a Sufi colleague. They will share some of their exciting recent work at a storytelling session at the Centre. All welcome; no charge. For further information, please contact info@londoninterfaith.org.uk
and at the same venue
Healing Families – Healing Communities
Monday 18 January, 10 am – 2 pm
Workshop on whether our scriptures and faith traditions can offer constructive help or support to the troubles facing families in today’s world. Led by Shaykha Halima Krausen, Imam, German-speaking congregation at Hamburg Mosque and by the Revd Dr Ann Jeffers, Senior Lecturer, Heythrop College, University of London. All welcome; no charge. Organized by the Christian-Muslim Forum in connection with An-Nisa Society and the London Inter Faith Centre. To book a place, email info@christianmuslimforum.org or ring 020 7820 0444.
Two JustShare Events
Tuesday 26th January, 1.00pm, debate, ‘Could the Recession slow down climate change?’ at the church of All Hallows by the Tower, Byward Street, EC3R 5BJ. The speakers will be Greg Barker MP (Shadow Minister for Climate Change) and Mark Lynas (Environmentalist and author of High Tide, Fragile Earth, Carbon Counter and Six Degrees).
Wednesday 27th January, 6.05pm Lecture in the series - Christian Social & Political Thought, at St Mary-le-Bow. The Revd Canon Professor Nicholas Sagovsky (Canon Theologian at Westminster Abbey) will address the topic ‘The City of God and the City’.
All welcome at both events contact matthewpower@stmarylebow.org.uk for more information.

January: Jewels and Trinity Institute

2009-12-17T15:54:00.004Z

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

2009-12-16T16:29:00.003Z

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

2009-12-07T14:34:00.001Z

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'

2009-12-01T13:17:00.001Z

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.