Present without a Presence ..........some thoughts

A guest blog by Rev’d Craig Barber – Chaplain London Met University.

One of the great joys of University chaplaincy is the incredible diversity of activity that one finds oneself engaged in.
The pressures upon students, staff and related stakeholders in the wider community arising from ongoing periods of change experienced by Higher and other sectors of Education create something of a maelstrom. Being at the centre of this is part of the University the chaplain's role. More specific to London Met, the ever revolving door of students from many nationalities and faiths flowing in and out from semester to semester and the demands they bring in terms of advice, wellbeing, academic retention, employability demands and general life and faith support create an incredible pressure for any chaplaincy team (ie myself and a part-time colleague who himself has the pressure of being URC chaplain ‘at large’ across London) to carry. It is a joyful ministry – working with younger people always is but it is also an intense one encountering individuals at their most vulnerable, away from home or country, family and cultural/faith norms and in a fast moving and steady paced environment. 

That is something of the context in which I find myself fulfilling the call to be attentive to the presence of God. Attentiveness is vital in the role of university chaplaincy. Being able to read the various situations one finds oneself in and often having to contribute to decision making that falls way outside what one would consider the Priestly task is all about viewing the world of the University through a different lens – ensuring that the whole development of the student is a life building and changing experience rooted in the self as whole. Naturally like those engaged in other forms of ministry and support the demands are too varied and often just too much! Individual student and staff contact, management team meetings, policy development and research all eat away at that precious attentive task. I suppose it’s rather Benedictine to suggest that although at times these tasks are tiresome, they are of themselves prayer and presence. Somehow infiltrating the institutional structures in a slightly subversive manner to do your bit to ensure the care and development of the individual spiritually, academically and socially. All this is often undertaken out of sight of most people both within the University and The Diocese. It is a ministry of shadows – offering an ever presence without always being able to be physically present. (This is particularly true at London Metropolitan University with several campus sites to cover and 17,000 students or so with all students living off-site). It is a ministry of self-realisation – reading the context in all its complexity and realising that it isn’t possible to effect or affect as one may desire. A humbling Ministry as one struggles to create a legitimacy for chaplaincies existence both inward and to the wider Church. A ministry that relies upon a deep seated prayer life and daily sacramental encounter be that through The sacraments or in touching the lives of fellow humankind.

Fr Craig – Lead Chaplain c.barber@londonmet.ac.uk

Churches Reaching Out to Muslim Neighbours

Guest blog from a Curate in West London

Change of Attitude toward Muslims: From Fear to Love         

                                

The life of the late Nelson Mandela reminds us that we have a choice in reacting to those different to ourselves with either fear or love; and yet sadly many Christians follow the Western media’s lead in associating Muslims with fear. However at the centre of the Christian faith is not fear but the love of Jesus (1 John 4:18) and the wonderful privilege of sharing that love of Jesus with all peoples including our Muslim neighbours (Matt 28:18-20).

Mahabba means ‘love’ in Arabic and fittingly is the name used by a national network of Churches working to share the love of Jesus specifically with their Muslim neighbours. Through training courses such as ‘Friendship First’ and regular prayer meetings many Christians are learning to transform their fear into love and form deep friendships with their Muslim neighbours. Through these deep and loving friendships we have found that many Muslims are keen to discuss who Jesus is and furthermore when offered, some who wish to experience the love of Jesus for themselves and to follow Jesus.

For those who would be interested in getting involved, or coming to visit a Mahabba group in your area, or simply would like to find out more please do visit http://www.mahabba.co.uk/ or contact directly info@mahabba.co.uk

Community Heroes Awards - a story

 With thanks to Kate Alan of BATCA for this guest blog

The  ‘Community Heroes’ award events run by the Balham and Tooting Community Association are a marvelous opportunity to honour unsung heroes – people from all faiths and cultures who serve others tirelessly, often with little recognition. BATCA is a network of faith and non-faith bodies that works in Balham and Tooting to bring the different side s of the community together.

The awards began in 2007 and are now in their fourth round. This year’s awards celebration will be held on Thursday 28 November (see below).  We expect to welcome a two hundred strong crowd from across the community. It’ll also be a seasonal celebration, with food and entertainment at no charge to celebrate the major faith festivals of Eid, Diwali, Hannukah and Christmas.

This is how it works: the public are invited to nominate outstanding individuals and teams. The nominations are assessed by a panel of independent judges, who have included among others our local MPs, the editor of the local newspaper, and leaders of key organisations such as the police,  fire brigade and our local hospital. This avoids favouritism and the result has always been that the award recipients reflect all faith, ethnic and cultural groups.

The presentation evening has a great feel to it. It’s led by a lively compere  (Cof E clergymen seem to have the worst jokes).  The awards are presented by local VIPs such as the Mayor of Wandsworth, Councillors  the MP, the borough police commander and so on.  A little bit is said about each recipient and their organisation. Usually, there's generous publicity in the local press.  Entertainment plays an important part, with community and church choirs, and Bollywood and Bhangra dance part of the mix.

Previous recipients of awards have been mostly volunteers, including a brownie leader, a chair of school governors, local environmental activists, a refugee charity volunteer, those looking after old people through their church, a mosque bereavement officer, and many more. Team awards have gone, for example, to the Talking Book service for blind people and a group of young Special Constables. Those honoured in their job roles include an old people's centre manager, a milkman who always looks out for his customers and makes sure they’re all right, an Asian women's charity organiser and a local pharmacist whose shop is a community hub.

Celebrating outstanding volunteers strikes a chord in all communities. People from all backgrounds have responded each time and come together for an inspiring and fun evening of community spirit.  ‘When is the next one?’ is the call each time!

   BATCA Community Heroes Awards and Seasonal Celebration

Thursday 28 November at 7.00pm

Jasmin’s Function Rooms, 202 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7TG

For more information, email Secretary@batca.org or contact Kate Allan at

allanraallan@aol.com or 020 8870 1550

Highlighting a New Course in Practical Inter Faith Work

Maggie Hindley at the London Inter Faith Centre (seen here with friends of LIF) is excited about the new course the centre is running from Tuesday 8th October for clergy and laity.

The key is in the title - this is about PRACTICAL inter faith work - and it's ecumenical.

Each of the ten sessions (one per month) takes place in a different venue and begins with an introduction to that venue's work and context. 

Participants will be enabled to develop a piece of inter faith work in their own locality and gain tools to help reflect on their own engagement.

The course costs £300, which covers travel costs from home (within reason) and a hot vegetarian lunch each session as well as speakers’ expenses and materials.

Participants are encouraged to apply for denominational grants.

The fee can be paid in installments by arrangement.

Bursary help is available for people unable to find the whole cost. Maggie says the centre's policy is that nobody should be excluded from taking part for reasons of cost.

The Course runs for Ten Tuesdays from  10am – 4pm on the following dates:-

8^th Oct, 5^th Nov, 10^th Dec, 14^th Jan, 11^th Feb, 11^th March, 8^th April, 6^th May, 10^th June, 7^th July

Participants are to commit to a minimum of seven out of the ten sessions.

To register or find out more contact maggie.hindley@londoninterfaith.org.uk or rev.hillel@aol.com or telephone 020 3732 1765 or visit the centre's website www.londoninterfaith.org.uk 

Making Sense of the Census

Earlier in 2013 PEN hosted an afternoon around the 2011 census data; what it does and doesn't tell us and what to do with the information. We are very grateful to Louise McFerran from the Church of England's Research and Statistics Department who gave of her time and experise. For those who weren't able to attend here are the key points:-

• Understanding the community we serve is key to ministry and mission; it requires a mixture of observation and background research.


• Headline statistics can be found on the Church of England website (this link opens on the page with a download of provisional parish figures).

• The dip in those identifying as Christian is not as large as it was feared it might be. There is a significant increase in ‘no religion’.

• When looking at  the stats remember that Parish and Deanery boundaries are rarely coterminous with eg Borough Wards so ‘mind the boundaries’

• The Church of England is producing parish profiles for every Parish giving census information feedback and they will be creating some Deanery profiles too. Diocesan headlines are available on request.
• Longer term the national Presence and Engagement website will have a postcode tool to look at faiths breakdown integrated with the CUF poverty indicators tool.

• Other handy sources -  Tear Fund Inside out course  and the Contextual Theology Centre has produced a resource for parishes called ‘Mercy, Justice and Evangelism’ which enables congregations to engage with some of the issues raised by the census material. Please note this is a draft document and we would like feed back from parishes that use the resource so as to improve it. Email pen@theology-centre.org or telephone 0020 7780 1600 xtn 3 and speak to Susanne Mitchell



 

Two New Resources Launched by the Christian Muslim Forum

The Christian Muslim Forum recently launched two important new resources the use of which extends beyond bilateral faith relationships.

When Two Faiths Meet; Marriage, Children and Pastoral care - Ethical Principles
This is a ten commandments for good practice along the lines of their previous Ethical Witness Guidelines and then some. For over fifteen years the Inter Faith Marriage Network and the Muslim-Christian Marriage Support Group have worked to address some of the pastoral and practical issues that arise when couples come together from different faith backgrounds. This new resource offers reflections on the Ethical Principles and guidance on how they might be implemented locally. It can be downloaded or
if you would like a hard copy please contact the Christian Muslim Forum know. Copies are £5 each and for each copy sold theywill give £1 to the Inter Faith Marriage Network. Read what the Independent had to say about the launch 'How Christians and Muslims can marry – the official guide'.

The Edge Report 2012  Explores Christian and Muslim Women's Perspectives as illustrated in a number of projects and conversations happing through 2012 in seven towns and cities where Near Neighbours operates. Their expiences show that "though we might fear coming to the edge of our comfort zone, our knowledge, our expereince, if we push out we can indeed fly." These women found that the co-operations powerful friendships formed could be transformational to their communities. Download the report or contact the Christian Muslim Forum for a hard copy.

St Martin in the Fields Autumn Education Series

All lectures take place at St-Martin-in-the-Fields Church from 7.00pm to 8.30pm. They are free and no booking is required. There will be a retiring collection to cover some of the costs of the programme. For more information go to www.smitf.org


Image is copyright The Estate of Stanley Spencer 2012 . All rights reserved DACS.

New Term - Resource Reminder

Whether you are involved with a Church School or your parish is developing links with the local state school it's important to keep up to date with developments in religious education.

The Religious Education Council has a wealth of information, links and resources on its website from the recently launched All Party Parliamentry Group on Religious Education to what students think about the subject and why it has value in the curriculum. Like all good organisations they have a monthly news bulletin. Check the website and consider adding RE teachers specifically to parish intercessions from time to time.

Another resource this time aimed specifically at primary school children is Open the Book. This charity provides volunteer actors to present bible stories in a lively and engaging way in a ten minute format that fits in to the colletive worship slot. The scheme has been running since 1999 (so they must be getting something right) and their in put comes at no cost to the school.

Engaging with Muslims

A day event for Christians to explore why and how Christians engage with Muslims

10.00 to 16.00, 10 July 2012

Methodist International Centre, nr Euston 81-103 Euston Street London NW1 2EZ

Themes:

· The Bible and Engaging with People of Other Faiths

· What should we know about London Muslims?

· Mission and Dialogue

· The Big Picture: Christians and Muslims Globally and Locally

Speakers:

· Fr Nadim Nassar, Director, Awareness Foundation

· Jonathan Smith, Lokahi Foundation

· Revd Rana Khan, Lambeth Palace

· Revd Julie Aylward, Borstal Baptist Church

£10 (£5 concessions), lunch included

Bookings: www.christianmuslimforum.org/engaging-with-muslims

Christian Muslim Forum 0207 729 6830, info@christianmuslimforum.org

May Update

First up to get us in the mood for May and things celebratory Faith Through a Lens National photographic competition is a chance to win £1,000 worth of audio visual or photographic equipment for your faith group, charity or comunity group. In association with A Year of Service

News
The best material from the last 5 years of the Archbishop's inter religious speeches and dialogues have now been collected in to two special pages on the national Presence and Engagement Website The page Archbishop of Canterbury's Dialogues has the long transcripts of his meetings with the Buddhist and Hindu community recently and a shorter transcript of his speech to the Sikhs.The page Archbishop's Inter Religious Lectures The Archbishop's Inter religious Lectures links to the Archbishop's major speeches on his website.


Resources
See our earlier blog for some London 2012 Games related resources - Golden Rule; Prayer Vigil and bunting!
The Awareness Foundation has a new workshop helping Chrisitans to articulate their faith and understand the value of doing so Speak Out! is Free and easy to use.
Keele University  and the Dialogue Society are launching a new masters degree in Dialogue Studies. For details visit www.dialoguesociety.org/MA
A new online resource for those interested in Scriptural Reasoning is available from Cambridge Inter Faith Programme contact SRonline@interfaith.cam.ac.uk or visit the website.
The Maimonides Foundation is launching a new project for young people called ‘Interfaith Explorers’.  The project includes: a six week programme of cross-curricular activities; faith and cultural resources for pupils to explore online; a national competition providing opportunities for pupils to showcase their learning; prizes for winning schools; free teaching resources for primary schools; and support for pupils to develop skills, attitudes and values that build respect and understanding.  For further information, visit www.interfaithexplorers.com
Just a reminder to check the St Ethelburga's website - they have a new conflict coaching service available.


Events
St Mary Le Bow City Talks Tuesday 22nd May at 6.30pm  the Revd Gill College - ‘Voices from the margins – a report on Faith, Hope and Love amongst people who are homeless’. All welcome.


Wednesday 23rd May JustShare, the LSE, Penguin UK and St Paul’s Cathedral jointly present a free public debate at the Cathedral starting at 6.30pm (doors open at 6.00pm) with Harvard Professor and author Michael J. Sandel and Bishop Peter Selby. Tickets available on the door, but you should arrive early.

Friday 1st June  To mark its fifteenth anniversary, The Three Faiths Forum will run a variety of events for schools across London on 1 June. 3FF’s award-winning workshops (being offered for free and discounted rates for the day) will give students opportunities to learn about faiths and beliefs and improve intercultural communication skills. Schools on 3FF’s Faith School Linking programme will also celebrate the new relationships their students have forged.To find out more or to get involved, visit 3FF’s website: http://www.3ff.org.uk/3ffday.The next PEN event Tuesday 19th June Our Common Witness - day of dialogue in Radlett for Christians a Jews. Still places available book via pen@theology-centre.org


The International Council of Christians and Jews hold their annual conference in Manchester from Sunday 1st July to Wednesday 4th July this year. The last time they came to this country was 1991. This is a unique chance to meet on our doorstep the key players in Jewish-Christian Relations throughout the world. The thene is New Neighbours, New Opportunities:The Challenges of Multiculturalism and Social Responsibility. Visit their website for details.  Registration closes on 1st June.


The Ammerdown Centre near Bath is running a Three Faiths Summer School on the subject of ‘Pilgrimage’ from 3 to 9 July. The course, led by Rabbi Dr Michael Hilton, the Revd Dr Liz Carmichael and Sheikh Bashir Ahmad Dultz, is described as offering an opportunity to mix and relax with people of other faiths, to share and discuss, to learn and grow, to laugh and cry and to worship together.  The full residential cost is £485, but there are bursaries available for people on low income which reduce the cost to £323, and a limited number of free places are available for young people and students (maximum age 25). Visit the website or email centre@ammerdown.org. 


CHRISM (Christians in Secular Ministry) Sumer Conference July 13th-15th Ministry outside the Walls.The Kingdom is among us – at work, rest and play.Sharing experiences of Ministry and the Kingdom, wherever you have found it.Woodbrooke Quaker Adult Study Centre, Bournville, Birmingham



Advance notice and Call for Papers Monday 10 - Wendesday 12th September  Women, Authority and Leadership in Christianity and Islam  - Southlands College, University of Roehampton, London SW15 4EE
Abstracts of 250 words by 31st May to Caroline Matthews  c.matthews@roehampton.ac.uk or Lucy Parsons l.parsons@roehampton.ac.uk Conference fee, Non-residential £150/Residential £250 (10% reduction for thow who register by 31 May) Bursaries are available, details on request - bookings via http://estore.roehampton.ac.uk

The Games are Coming

Now that the Olympic torch is wending its way about the country it seems like a good time to mention a couple of resources and related events.

Churches Together in England have pulled together a number of resources around The Golden Rule 2012;
all of which can be downloaded from here The Golden Rule is the expression of the basic tennet 'Do unto others as you would have them do to you' as found in many if not all faiths.

The original Greek Olympics were preceded by a Sacred Truce, which enabled competitors to reach Olympia without being attacked and return safely afterwards. The 'Olympic Truce' is now enshrined in the United Nations expectations for the Games. From  11pm Friday 8th June to midday on Saturday 9th 2012 there will be a Vigil of Prayer in St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square. The vigil is divided in to  twelve hour sessions, led by different individiduals and groups and will include music, drama, silent reflecton and vocal prayer. For details of the programme and how to take part visit  http://www.peacelegacy.org.uk/ All are welcome, so do join in and encourage others to do so.

If you are organising a games related event in your area you might like to invest in a London 2012 Games Community Celebration pack (see picture above). For £99 (inlcuding vat) plus delivery you get 50 hand flags (10 each of five different colours, polyester) Two x 15 metre bunting strings (30 pennants per string, polyester) Flag and flagpole with fixtures (76.2cm x 1.5m flag, polyester) One horizontal banner (50cm x 2.5m, polyester) or you can buy the hand flags separately. Order 9 packs and get a 10th free! but hurry, orders will only be taken until June 15th. Go to www.gameslookbook.com/community to order. (You will be asked to register your details, including the group or organisation you are purchasing the Community Celebration Pack products for.)

April Update

Dodging the showers (more like deluge) here is the round up of news, events, resources and advance notices for April........

News
Faith Matters latest newsletter includes information about their Sikh and Muslim Media monitoring research. They are also begining to gather views on the experience of interfaith marriage.The Awareness Foundation's Director, The Revd Nadim Nassar, has launched a new blog. Follow it here


The Christian Muslim Forum's Director, Julian Bond, is becoming a Pedalling Pilgrim from Leighton Buzzard to Cheltenham (and back) partly in celelbration of the Forum's sixth birthday but also to raise funds for future work sponsor him here


The Department of Business, Innovation & Skills and Cooperatives UKare running the Buy Better Together Challenge to inspire new models of community buying in a way that secures better deals on goods, equipment and services. The Challenge is open for applications until the 15th May and there is a £60,000 pot going towards training and mentoring for  projects that grab the judges attention, £15k will go to the overall winner.


Theos is posting the Westminster Faith Debates as podcasts 


Events
Monday 23rd April 10.30am - 4.00pm St George's Day Celebration and exploration of English identity 
Tuesday 24th April 6.15pm The Lady Chapel, Westminster Abbey, Christian Faith and Public Policy  lecture Faith, Gender and Equality (also in the same series Faith and the Constitution Tuesday 1st May)
Wednesday 25th April 6.05pm St Mary-le-Bow Cheapside, The JustShare Debate 'Business vs NGOs who Does Development best?'
Conflict and Change have just published their summer course dates 1) Conflict and Me: an introduction to conflict resolution(2-day) May 15th & 23rd 9.30am-4.00pm
2) Communicating through conflict (1-day) May 29th 9.30am-4.00pm
3) Dealing with difference: prejudice and how to overcome it (1- day) June 12th 9.30am-4.00pm
4) Introduction to Volunteering at C&C and Taster Session
(1-day) June 19th 10.00 am – 3.00pm (no charge)
5) Training for Trainers (3-days) 6th, 7th and 14th July 9.30am-4.00pm
For more information or to book contact Tanya, Sonia or Zakir on 020 8552 2050 or email



Resources


The North Kent Council for Inter Faith Relations has slightly revised and reprinted its Guidelines for Spiritual and Pastoral Care of Patients and Relatives, which does what it says on the tin. They have also made an electronic version available to hospitals and similar organisations for restricted intranet use within the purchasing organisation. Contact the secretary Mrs Farida Usman 01474 363052 for further information.


Advance Notice and Reminders
There are still places left at the The Friends of Biblelands lecture Wednesday 2nd May 2012 at St St Jmes Piccadilly. See earlier blog HRH Princess Badiya Bint El-Hassan is the speaker and Professore David Ford will repsond. The Rt Revd Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Woolwich chairs the evening.


Also on Wednesday 2nd May at 6.05pm St Mary-le-Bow the JustShare lecture by the Revd Rachel Carnegie, the Archbishop of Canterbury's International Development Secretary 'Keeping Faith in Development.' What is the role of faith-based development agencies today in a largely secular world? What are their strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats? With time for your own comments and questions. Anthony McKernan of Anglican microfinance charity Five Talents will be in the chair. Please register to attend. 


Wednesday 23rd May  6pm for 6.30pm - 8pm another JustShare event hosted by St Paul's Cathedral in collaboration with the London School of Economics and Political Science, JustShare and Penguin UK. Is there something wrong with a world in which everything is for sale? Do market values dominate too many spheres of life? What are the moral limits of markets? Noted public philosopher and Harvard Professor Michael J. Sandel will explore some of these pressing questions and Bishop Peter Selby will respond. Copies of Michael Sandel's new book What Money Can't Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets will be available on and there will be plenty of time for questions from the audience.This event is free but a ticket will be required. Reserve your ticket by emailing your name, postal address and phone number (please note: this information will be sent to the LSE events team so that they can mail out tickets on the 10th May). Tickets will also be available on the door.


Tuesday 19th June 10.00am - 3.30pm at Christ Church Vision Hall Radlett A day of Dialogue for Christian Clergy, Rabbis and Lay Leaders 

IKETH - (Interreligiöse Konferenz Europäischer Theologinnen) Annual Conference 5th - 8th  July 2012 in Cologne Violence against Women - the Lesser Sin? On Religious Legitimation of Violence against Women  more details on the blog soon or contact Susanne in the meantime.

Contextual Theology Centre events on Mission

Mission is the main focus of the Contextual Theology Centre's Eastertide programme.  Details of these events, and the regular pattern of prayer at the Centre are online.

On Saturday 28th April, Centre Director Angus Ritchie is speaking on Mission: Mercy, Justice and Evangelism at a study morning in Tower Hamlets, to which all are welcome.  A breakfast workshop on this theme will be held in Shoreditch later in the spring, so watch this space...

On Tuesday 22nd May, Angus will be joined by Church Urban Fund CEO Tim Bissett at an event on Growing Church through Social Action, reflecting on new research from the Fund on this issue.  This is part of a wider residential event for members of PEN's team - but this particular session is open to all.  Please book places with Susanne Mitchell.

Building Bridges Seminar 2012

The 11th Building Bridges Seminar will take place in London in 2012The Public Lectures will take place on 23rd April in the Great Hall, King’s College London, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS
2011 seminar in Qatar picture courtesy Nicola Green

The theme will be Death,Resurrection and Human Destiny in Christian and Muslim Perspectives
Speakers include The Rt Revd Prof Tom Wright, University of St Andrews; Prof Mona Siddiqui, Edinburgh University The Rt Revd Dr Geoffrey Rowell, Diocese in Europe; Prof AsmaAfsaruddin, Indiana University;The Revd Dr Harriet Harris, Edinburgh University; Dr Sajjad Rizvi, Exeter University
For full detail see http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/resources/networks/building_bridges
If you would like to attend email tess.young@lambethpalace.org.uk

Come to the Edge - Christian and Muslim Women critically thinking together

This two day residential conference is hosted by the Christian Muslim Forum

Date: 19th and 20th March 2012 - from 10.45am on day 1 to 4.00pm on day 2
Venue: King's Park, Action Centres UK Ltd, Kings Park Road, Moulton Park,
Northampton, NN3 6LL
Cost: Waged £20, Unwaged £10 - yes it is that low cost AND residential

Booking: http://www.christianmuslimforum.org/

What is women's contribution to community building?
How can women move from the private to the public sphere?
'Culture' versus 'religion': What does this distinction represent?
How might women help devlop leadership skills amongst young people?
What are women looking for in a 'role model'
Are comunity relations beoming harder?

Keynote speakers: Aina Khan, Senior Consultant Solicitor,
Dr Frances Ward, Dean of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich,
Julie Siddiqui, Executive Director of teh Islamic Society of Britain,
Prof Tina Beattie, Director of the Digby Stuart Research Centre for
Catholic Studies at Roehampton University.

Inspiring speakers, a thought provoking theatrical performance, interactive workshops and much more.......

Inter Religious Relations Courses

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

Interaction Days in January - March

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

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.

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...

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.