Food, Fasting and Faith

Just as Lent was beginning and Christians were being called to fast, the Danish Government issued a ban on ritual slaughter, citing animal rights.

Jewish and Muslim lobby groups cried fowl and  the Agriculture Minister then apologised for not having consulted faith groups before the ban!

In the UK the president-elect of the British Veterinary Association, John Blackwell, was interviewed on Radio 4 re his challenge to ritual slaughter on the grounds of animal welfare.

The Joseph Interfaith Foundation issued a statement in response to his comments and a week later The Tablet carried an article on the subject which neatly summed up the debate; can faith groups who established a humane ways of securing a meat supply centuries ahead of society at large be encouraged to look again at their practice in the light of research which suggests further improvements are necessary to ensure the animal welfare.

Given that practices in meat production are flawed, becoming a vegetarian for Lent( if not permanently) seems like a good option.

Download a briefing paper with links here

Mitzvah Day in Whetstone

Guest Blog by Revd Dr Gregory  Platten

 In my early months as Vicar of All Saints, Friern Barnet, I was approached by our neighbours at the Sha’arei Tsedek Synagogue to take part in Mitzvah Day, along with friends from the Muslim Community and Education Centre (MCEC) in Palmer’s Green. Mitzvah Day (Hebrew for command) is a Jewish day of social action and outreach, but it has branched out, seeking to build friendships between other faith traditions with ‘Mitzvah Interfaith Day.’

Our task, which was agreed mutually, was to work together to collect donations of food from the public outside Waitrose in the High Road, Whetstone for Homeless Action in Barnet, and also to collect donations of clothes from our three communities. The clothes would be given to Homeless Action in Barnet and the North London Hospice.

It fell on Sunday, 17^th November this year, and our three communities worked well together. The planning, though, began months before, and relationships were built through meetings and discussion. A visit by members of All Saints’ Church and Sha’arei Tsedek Synagogue to the MCEC on the evening of 10^th November, the week before, cemented these new bonds. It was a hugely enjoyable tour, during which we offered generous hospitality; we also spent the evening planning the tasks of the following week, with the great assistance of Daniela Pears of the Mitzvah Day Foundation.

Our Mitzvah Interfaith Day itself attracted a good number of volunteers from all three communities: from teenagers, to children, and older adults: Waitrose customers and passers-by-commented on how surprised and delighted they were to see young people and adults from the three Abrahamic faith communities united for the common good, and for the benefit of the least well-off in our society. As the shop collection carried on, other teams from the three communities were sorting clothes and packing them at All Saints’ Church Hall, so that they could be transported to the various charities.

We were overwhelmed with the generosity of donations. I think I speak for all three faith communities, too, when I say how much we have all gained from working closely together, united not by dialogue about difference, but in common purpose for God’s poorest ones in our locality.

It is a great way of building local links with other faiths, as you plan and work together. There were practical frustrations and problems, all of which were overcome, and through which stronger relationships emerged. It is highly likely that we will unite again, perhaps on Mitzvah Interfaith Day next year, perhaps sooner.

Further possibilities of connection and contact have also emerged. There is something unique about working together logistically and practically; it offers opportunities that cannot be found in the (extremely valuable) work of dialogue and theological discussion. In the end, working practically for the common good as one,  there is a feeling that one is able to fulfil God’s will for the poor in a tangible and immediate way.

June Update

It would be easy to assume that the news this month has been mostly bad. That’s because the extraordinary attracts our attention and the ordinary is easily overlooked. It has been a great consolation that people of faith coming together in quiet acts of solidarity is now quite ordinary. That doesn’t mean it is unnecessary. I am grateful to the Archdeacon who emailed his Area Deans suggesting they remind clergy colleagues that it might be a good time to check how their Muslim neighbours are feeling; and suggested other Archdeacons in his Diocese might like to do the same.

I’ve chosen the blog pic from among those taken at the big IF rally earlier this month when 45,000 people of all faiths and none came together to demand of government four achievable actions that would make huge strides to end world poverty. Julie Saddiqi, Executive Director of the Islamic Society of Britain spoke alongside Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, Movement Rabbi, Reform Judaism, and Dr Rowan Williams, Chair of Christian Aid.  Thanks to Julie Siddiqi for permission to use the picture.

Indeed it is a good time to remind ourselves that building relationships of trust takes time and patience but when we look back or when, if rarely, tragedy strikes all the effort is seen to be so worthwhile.

Talking of building relationships Theos, The Contextual Theology Centre and Contending Modernities have just published ‘Making Multiculturalism Work’ by David Barclay which can be downloaded via this link.

St Peter’s Walworth have long had a relationship with Old Kent Road mosque. They now have a Near Neighbours grant to begin a new group in the Autumn which will meet to explore their respective spiritual traditions (especially contemplative prayer), then come together to share silence followed by refreshments and a chance to get to know one another.

Dr Chris Hewer, ‘Understanding Islam’ tutor and author, has been working with Ahl ul-Bayht TV to produce a series called The Big Picture. The titles of each article/broadcast are available now and each week as an episode is aired the title will become a hyperlink to the article. The broadcasts will be uploaded as you tube clips to view - all on his website via the link above.

In other news....

The European Network on Religion and Belief – ENORB is an Anti – Discrimination Network which covers the Religion and Belief strand of the European Fundamental Rights and Equalities policy. It is a voluntary network with no funding but has a website and has just published a review of the previous 12 month’s work and reports from recent seminars on their website.

The Church Buildings Council and The Prince's Regeneration Trust have produced a Business Planning Toolkit to help faith communities deliver successful regeneration projects. The kit will be launched in Norwich on 4th July but watch the PEN blog for how to obtain a copy once available.

Essex Mind and Spirit have published the report of their 4th Tackling Mental Health in Multi Faith Contexts conference at www.essexmindandspirit.moonfruit.com  

The latest news from CUF includes the report ‘The Human Cost of Welfare Reform’ and news of their Tackling Poverty Together conference to be held in London on 13th November at which Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will be speaking

Events this month are on the news and events page of the PEN website here.

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



 

'Prison' - the play

Initiatives of Change present a showing of 'Prison' the one man play by Charlie Ryder
at The Initiatives of Change centre 24 Greencoat Place, Victoria, London SW1P 1RD
Date: Tuesday 20 November, 6.30 for 7pm (evening ends at 9pm)
Preceded by refreshments and followed by a Talkback panel discussion featuring:-
Charlie Ryder,
Micheal Kavanagh, Acting Head of Prison Chaplaincy
and Andrew Hillas, Assistant Chief Officer for Restorative Justice, London Probation Trust.
The Forum will be chaired by Anita Amendra, Sustainable Communities Project Manager, IofC UK.
RSVP to: reception@london.iofc.org  Tel: 020 7798 6000

Charlie Ryder is a Director, Producer, Filmmaker and Puppeteer. He currently works as an Outreach Worker at HMP Wormwood Scrubs Community Chaplaincy providing mentoring to support prisoners
on their release from prison.

The play is a true story told using puppetry, masks, physical theatre and dance to shine a light on his
eight months in prison after being involved in a violent protest against racism in October 1993. A moving performance depicting one man's traumatic story of prison.

Sharing Eden - Westminster Cathedral Interfaith Group

Sharing Eden: Green teachings from Jews, Christians and Muslims, is the title of a handbook written by Natan Levy, David Shreeve and Harfiyah Haleem. The book ‘sets out to show how respect for the environment is at the heart of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths’. It combines practical action points and ideas with reflections on key texts from sacred texts and from the wider writings of each tradition. Further information is available from www.sharingeden.org

The Westminster Cathedral interfaith group will be considering Green teachings from Jews, Christians and Muslims in a new series on “Faiths and the environment”. The group has been meeting for 6 years and the meetings will be held on the third Wednesday of the month from 4p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Hinsley Room, Morpeth Terrace on the right of the main entrance to Westminster Cathedral.  All are welcome and it would be helpful if you could read the book beforehand. Copies are available at £4.99 from http://www.sharingeden.org/  bookshops or Amazon.co.uk. The authors will be attending some of the sessions. Dates are October 17, November 21, January 16, February 20 and April 17. All are welcome Contact John Woodhouse 0790 8888 586 preferably by text for more details.

Tax Justice Bus Comes to Spitalfields

This autumn, Christian Aid and Church Action on Poverty are joining forces to take the campaign for Tax Justice on the road, with a seven-week Tax Justice Bus Tour.

The bright red London bus is touring the length and breadth of Britain and Ireland, to promote the simple message: It’s time for Tax Justice for the poorest communities at home and globally.

On Thursday 13th September the bus comes to Christ Church Spitalfields. The Contextual Theology Centre is facilitating a Community Conversation around how local congregations might take practical steps towards economic justice. A panel of contributors chaired by Revd Canon Dr Giles Fraser will  kick start the discussion.
Board the bus from 6.30pm, main event in the church  runs 7-9pm

Panelists:-

Savior Mwamba – Executive Director, Centre for Trade Policy and Development, Zambia
Stephanie Lis – Institute of Economic Affairs
Revd Dr. Sabina Alkire – Director, Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative

Tax dodging costs lives. It effectively amounts to robbing the poor – in the UK and in poor countries – of the money that should be spent on education, health and welfare.

Lots on in September

Loads of events coming up in September some of which didn't make it in to the August update so here is a diary and some reminders.........

Sunday 9th September Fez: City of Saints - a Radical Middle Way Film, 11.30am Rich Mix Cinema, 35-37 Bethnal Green Road London E1 6LA

Monday 10th September - 12th September  Southlands College, University of Roehampton, 80 Roehampton Lane, London SW15 5SL Women, Authority and Leadership in Christianity and Islam bringing together academics and community organisers to explore key issues concerning the role of women in Christiainity and Islam today More information and link to booking Last Booking Date for this Event 3rd September 2012

Wednesday 12th - Thursday 13th September  Media City Uk, Salford Quays - BBC Religion & Ethics invite you to join RE:THINK 2012; a brand new festival designed to explore the essential issues of faith, philosophy and ethics across the multicultural landscape of Britain today.The festival promises to inspire with searching and provocative debate and will feature special festival editions of some of the BBC’s best-known religious output.  Sessions include:
• Professor Richard Dawkins in conversation with Dr Jonathan Sacks, The Chief Rabbi
• The Moral Maze (special Festival edition)
• The Big Questions with Nicky Campbell (special Festival edition)
Further info and bookings rethinkfestival@bbc.co.uk

Wednesday 12th  JustShare Lecture, 6.05pm at, St Mary le Bow Church EC2V 6AU "There is no wealth but life - the contrasts between financial, social and ecological wealth" with Molly Scott Cato

Thursday 13th Sept  St Ethelburga's Using personal storytelling in palliative care Reviewing the defining stories of our life is a natural and inescapable process when we are approaching our own death. This sensitive and highly rewarding training workshop with personal story experts - Roi Gal-Or . Aimed at hospice chaplains and others who work with the ill or dying. Info and booking

Sunday 16th September is Awareness Sunday 2012 www.awarenesssunday.com see how you can make a difference.

Wednesday 19th September 8.30pm The Ismaili Centre, 1 Cromwell Gardens, South Kensington, London SW7 2SL  The Awareness Foundation Annual Lecture Faith and Politics with Rabbi Shaul Rosenblatt, Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi & The Revd Nadim Nassar. Book  020 7730 8830 or lecture@awareness-foundation.com

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

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.

Bridging the Great Divide: the Jewish-Muslim Encounter

No two religions are closer together than Judaism and Islam, yet today, ironically, no two religions are further apart.
This 15 week e-learning course is taught in partnership with the School of International Service at the American University in Washington. It will explore the history, culture and theology of Muslims and Jews, reflecting both on similarities and differences as well as the major challenges.
Assisted by leading scholars in the US and Europe with a wealth of experience in this field, the course will also offer strategies for building bridges between the communities.

Applications are now being accepted for the course starting
week commencing 27 August 2012. The closing date for
applications is 6 August 2012.

Course Structure
Bridging the Great Divide is a 100% e-learning programme, delivered at Honours Level. Students who successfully complete the course as part of their degree programme through the
American University will receive three credits from the American University.
Those who enrol through the Woolf Institute will be awarded a certificate of completion from the two institutions.
The e-learning approach allows you to study wherever and whenever you choose via the internet. You will work with American University and Woolf Institute scholars, who will support you through the course and alongside fellow students with whom you will be able to discuss ideas on their online forum.

Fees and Bursaries
The normal course fee for the American University is £2500 but 10 bursaries will be available to Woolf Institute students who will pay only £450 each. Bursaries
are available depending on academic merit and financial circumstances.

For further details and application
form: http://www.woolf.cam.ac.uk/courses/mj.asp.

Mayor of London Election 2012

Time for a Christian Contribution 18th April 6-8pm St James's Piccadilly

What will be the big issues be in this election? How can we work together for a better London?

Come and hear from the candidates for Mayor of London and ask your questions. Bring your friends and neighbours from your parish encourgae theme to register, ask questions, and vote.

With Boris Johnson, Ken Livingstone, Brian Paddick , and Jenny Jones, chaired by journalist and priest Geroge Pitcher.

The Rt Rev Peter Wheatley, Bishop of Edmonton said: “This is a great opportunity for churches to engage with the mayoral candidates and hear them respond to our questions and concerns. It will help us make an informed and effective choice for Mayor when we vote on 3 May.”

Dr Dave Landrum, director of advocacy for the Evangelical Alliance said: “The Church in London is growing and it’s bringing huge benefits and hope to the capital’s communities. As London votes for a leader this is a chance to see the candidates engage with Christians and encourage them to carry on that relationship when the winner takes office.”

Rev Lucy Winkett, Rector of St James’s Piccadilly said: “We are delighted to be hosting this live debate on the issues of the day, affirming the vital contribution people of faith make to public life.”

Find out more and submit your question in advance at http://www.votelondon.org.uk/

London Citizens has also launched a What Londoners Want Campaign - part of its ongoing work with religious and civic groups to hold the Mayoral candidates to account on issues such as the Living Wage, street safety and affordable housing - which is building up to a 2500-person Mayoral Accountability Assembly at Westminster Central Hall on 25 April.

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 Faith Week 2012 & A Year of Service

In this Diamond Jubilee year, there will be a special extended Inter Faith Week running from 18 - 27 November, reflecting the fact that there are likely to be additional activities taking place. The opening Sunday of the Week will again coincide with Mitzvah Day.

Also in 2012 a special project called ‘A Year of Service’ will be taking place. In each month, for A Year of Service, faith communities will be hosting a day or days of volunteering and inviting people of other faiths and non-religious beliefs to join in. There will also be workplace volunteering opportunities. The Year provides an opportunity for marking in a practical way the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen – of whose reign service has been a key theme.

The days around which the programme is built have been chosen reflect both religious festivals and dedicated faith-based special volunteering ‘Days’. Other faith groups around the country can choose to hold their own volunteering events linked to other days.

See press release from DCLG issued on 13 January by the Government In this, Eric Pickles said: “Faith is a great motivator, and throughout the year people from different faiths regularly give something back, volunteering for projects that benefit individuals in need or their local neighbourhood… We want to help them do what they do best, recognising that just a little support can make a big difference. The Year of Service is a chance to link these great efforts together throughout the year… [projects will be] led by individual faith communities but involving people of all faiths and none.”

Further information about the project can be found at http://www.ayearofservice.org.uk/. The site, which is owned and managed by Mitzvah Day for A Year of Service, will include ideas for activities, case studies of existing projects and background information on why volunteering is important to each featured faith community.

Call to Change - Responding to the Economic Crisis

The Contextual Theology Centre, PEN's parent organisation, in association with The Church Urban Fund and Premier Christian Radio has launched a new website Call to Change
The site gives a call to pray, listen and act re economic issues, principally the widening gap between rich and poor in society. The site includes material that can be used in Lent, or at any time to enable parishes to engage with the wider community and discern how the current crisis is impacting locally. There is also a link to CUF's own Lent course 'Are We Washing Our Hands of England's Poor?'

The next two JustShare events also address economic questions. Wednesday 22nd February, 6.05pm JustShare Debate: 'Commodity Trading: Helping or Harming Developing Economies?' Speakers: Deborah Doane, Director of the World Development Movement, and Anthony Belchambers, CEO of the Futures and Options Association. Chair: Lydia Prieg, new economics foundation. Wednesday 29th February, 6.05pm JustShare Christian Social and Political Thought Lecture for Fairtrade Fortnight 'Fairtrade and Christian Attitudes to the Market' Paul Chandler, CEO of Traidcraft
Both events are at St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside EC2V 6AU

Grove books have just circulated a list of their titles (mainly in their ethics series) which are also pertinent:-
Young People and Money;
The Entrepreneur and the Church;
Globalization:Unravelling the New Capitalism;
Corporate Ethical Accounting:(How) Can Companies Tell the Truth?;
Usury Friendly? The Ethics of Moneylending - A Biblical Interpretation;
The Ethics of Businesss Competition:The Law of the Jungle;
Consumerism;
Rebuiliding Trust in Business - Enron and Beyond;
Transforming Capitalism - Entrepreneurship and the Renewal of Thrift;
The Ethics of Executive Pay:A Christian Viewpoint;
Fairtrade as Christian Mission
order online http://www.grovebooks.co.uk/ or by email sales@grovebooks.co.uk from Susanne. Titles, normally 28 pages, cost £3.95 post-free in the UK.

Responding to the Riots update

Bookings are now being taken for Reclaiming London Together, the conference being hosted by Faiths Forum for London and The Fayre Share Foundation on Monday 5th March.
Speakers include Camila Batmanghelidjh, founder of Kids Company; London Mayor, Boris Johnson and The Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark.
The event takes place at Stamford Bridge Stadium.

For the provisional programme click here Advance booking is essential. Young people are particualry invited to attend and gain free admission, (cost for adults £15) Click here for registration.

Meanwhile The Churches Response to Public Disturbances published by The London Churches Group is available to download as a pdf here

London 2012, the Mayoral Elections and Faith Communities

Wednesday 15th February
3.30- 5.30pm
CAN Mezzanine, 32-36 Loman Street, London SE1 0EH

An opportunity to hear from Transport for London, and LOCOG and opportunity to put some concerns to them.

Introduction to the 2012 Mayoral Elections. Hope Not Hate and responding to The Far Right in the 2012 Mayoral Elections.

A speaker for Luton Council of Faiths will talk about lessons learnt from theEDL demonstrations in Luton. Again there will be opportunity for questions and answers.

Advanced registration is essential Please notify info@faithsforum4london.org if you plan to attend - otherwise you will not get in to the building.

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.