Looking ahead...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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).