August Update

If it's August it must be Greenbelt. 

Presence and Engagement did not have a stall this year but that doesn't mean we weren't there. Task Group member, Revd Bonnie Evans Hills, demonstrated Scriptural Reasoning with friends invited by the Coexist Foundation.
An Associate Partner of this year's festival, Coexist sponsored a number of talks and sessions on topics around inter faith relations. Read more about Scriptural Reasoning and the texts considered at Greenbelt 

And in other news..............
Taking advantage of the relative peace an quiet the PEN website has been under going a series of updates. So.....the place to look for NEWS is back on the webpage.

Headlines this month are

• New term New Courses and - loads of excellent talks to inspire and expand your little grey cells
• Update on the Census figures - You can now find figures for your parish via your Diocesan website
• London Boroughs Faiths Network's new home - and an invite to visit
• Launch of Sophia Hubs  
• MP launches Community Noticeboard for Constituents - why not get yours to do the same

EVENTS share the news page(scroll down) but now appear in easy to follow calendars, one for the next month and one for happenings further ahead. Do still check the blog from time to time for events that appear at short notice.

RESOURCES have an added heading - artefacts. At a recent 'Theology on a summer's Evening' session, in a series on Relationships and Marriage, contributions from Jewish and Muslim guest speakers were enlivened by an opportunity to look at a ketubah, demonstration of how a tallit is used for the wedding canopy and samples of wedding service booklets from ceremonies for three or four different faiths. The Croydon Faith Education Resources Library is the only featured resource in this section at present but if you have other suggestions please contact pen@theology-centre.org  

In Our Time

An Exploration of the Dynamic Relationship between Christian Ecumenism and Inter
Religious Dialogue, its opportunities and challenges in the 21st Century

Thursday 12 September 2013, 11.00-16.00 at Heythrop College, 23 Kensington Square, London W8 5HN

Speakers:  

Revd Dr Keith Clements;  
                                  Dr Anthony O’Mahony; 
                                                                 Professor Peter Riddell

The Ecumenical Movement “Oikumene” refers both to the unity of all Christians and also of the reconciliation of the whole created order. Christians are called to pray for unity, and work so that the prayer of Jesus might be fulfilled “that they may be one”. However, with some of the enthusiasm for Christian unity dimmed and with some theologians speaking of “an ecumenical winter”, there has been some suggestion that the ecumenical endeavour has moved on and inter religious dialogue has become the fresh urgency. This thinking, however, may be misplaced. Inter religious dialogue, far from replacing ecumenism, is in fact a dynamic expression of the ecumenical movement that seeks not only the unity of all Christians but the reconciliation of all creation to God.
In this day conference we shall be exploring this theme in greater depth. In particular we will consider the following questions:

• What is distinctive about Christian ecumenism and why does it matter?
• What does inter religious dialogue tell us about Christian (ecumenical) self-identity?
• How does current Christian thinking develop and resource itself in a context that is both religiously plural and ecumenical?
• How ecumenical approaches relate to bi-lateral dialogues between denominations and faiths.

For further information or to register your attendance, please contact Revd Peter Colwell peter.colwell@ctbi.org.uk 

Ramadan, Eid and Looking Ahead

Although the Holy month of Ramadan ended a week ago it's not too late to celebrate the festival of Eid, which marks its completion.

Saturday 17th August in Trafalgar Square 13.30 - 18.00 with food from a variety of Muslim cultures and a full on stage programme courtesy of the London Mayor.
Full details here

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, issued his first message of Eid Greeting to Muslim communities on 7th August, describing the work of building Christian Muslim friendships as "joyful". The full text is on his website here

Meanwhile Professor Adam Dinham, Director of the Faiths and Civil Society Unit at Goldsmith's College, London, considers the possible effects of Ramadan coinciding with the Higher Education exam season for the next four years and whether and how academic institutions should respond. Full article here

Archbishop of Canterbury visits faith communties in Southall

Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby travelled to Southall this week and visited a Church, a Hindu temple, a Gurdwara and a Mosque. He witnessed presentations about inter religious work given by the community, and plans to found a new inter religious centre on the site of the old St John’s Church.

In his speech, Archbishop Justin stated: “Diversity is a gift, not a threat; it is a hope, not a danger. The kind of country I want to live in has as one of its best examples what goes on in this area. I don’t want to live  in something that is mono-cultural.”

After his visit to the Central Jamia Mosque, the Archbishop also condemned the recent wave of attacks on Muslims following the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby. He said, "I want to acknowledge the pressure that our Muslim friends and colleagues have faced over the last few weeks. There have been terrible attacks, I know that the vast majority of those in this country and especially people of faith would join me in condemning utterly any act of violence against anyone because of their faith.”

Full text of speech
The picture show Archbishop Justin meeting school children visiting the Sikh Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha  
Copyright  Marc Gascoigne.

Ramadan Invitations

SOAS (School of African & Oriental Studies, Univeristy of London) students are providing a ‘Ramadan Tent’ on campus to mark the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, Ramadan.
Ramadan, or Sawm, is one of the five pillars of Islam, which requires practising Muslims to fast from sunrise to sunset. Currently in the UK about 3am to 9pm. It is a complete fast which means no food or liquids.

During this month, it is said, the gates of mercy are opened and the gates of hell are sealed, and rewards for good deeds performed in this month are multiplied, sins forgiven and supplications responded to and answered.
  ‘Ramadan Tent’, a student-led project by both Muslim and non-Muslim students, and volunteers, invites the general public, students and staff to share the breaking of the fast, known as iftar, each day.
The purpose of the project is to give people a better understanding of the spirit and essence of Ramadan and create greater cross-community cohesion and understanding.

Project Manager and MA International Studies and Diplomacy graduate Omar Salha said: “SOAS celebrates diversity and cultures from around the globe and for that reason it makes sense to host ‘Ramadan Tent’ here and cultivate a healthy, nurturing relationship with the community.“This campaign is aimed at bringing the true spirit of Ramadan to life for all: the spirit of community, unity, compassion and mercy.”

Follow ‘Ramadan Tent’ on Twitter: @RamadanTent, #SOASIftar, #SOASRamadan or facebook.com/SOASiftar.

More generous invitations to break the fast ('iftar') with Muslim friends during the month of Ramadan:-
Wednesday 24 July The Old Kent Road Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre, 365 Old Kent Road, SE15 5JH has invited all who are interested to break the fast and to arrive at around 8pm. The invitation is to St Peter’s Church, Walworth, and other local churches. A walking party will be leaving St Peter’s Church at 7.30pm. You are welcome to just turn up, but it would be very helpful if you could let Sirol Davies (Diocese of Southwark)  know by email siriol.davies@southwark.anglican.org  or text 07913 470 816

Siriol reminds potential guests,

“This will be a great opportunity to witness a little bit of Ramadan and to enjoy the friendship which exists across our faiths. The generosity and hospitality of the local Muslim communities in making these invitations is a great example to all of us. Any visitors to the iftars are invited to fast for all or part of the day if they wish to.

Saturday 27th July 2013 The Sufi Centre for Spirituality and Cultural Advancement (CSCA) would like to cordially invite you to join them in this blessed month of Ramadan to break bread and share ’One Meal For All’. The event will be at 7.30 pm at the Manor House, Manor Lane, Feltham, TW13 4JQ If you plan to attend, please contact Farzana Kosa in advance farzana@spiritandculture.org.uk 

Saturday 27th July The Muswell Hill Bravanese Somali community in conjunction with Imam Al Khoei Islamic Centre, NW6 6TN, cordially invites you to the Big Iftar (fast breaking) function, 8.30-10pm. This event is a demonstration of solidarity with the Bravanese Somali community, whose venue was sadly burnt down a few weeks ago. It offers them the opportunity to put on their  large annual Iftar as they have done in previous years. You are asked to notify the Al Khoei Centre (020 7372 4049) if you intend to go along so they can make appropriate catering arrangements.


Sunday 28 July At Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, SE1 9DA, the South London Inter Faith Group is marking the end of its photo-exhibition there celebrating 16 years of inter faith walks. All who are interested are invited to view the exhibition (7.30pm), to hear a short explanation of Ramadan and Iftar (8.30pm) and to join Muslim brothers and sisters for the call to prayer and iftar (around 9pm – 10pm). Download the flyer here. The Exhibition is open to the public every day from now until 28 July.

All Mosques are eing encouraged to offer hospitality to non Mulsim in the final days of Ramadan as part of the Big Iftar. Find a Big Iftar event near you If you can't get to an event this weekend why not sign up for another event promoted by HOPE not hate - Dine@Mine initiative where Muslim households host a meal for non-Muslims. You can sign up here

July Update

Update

Last time we flagged up the launch of the Business Plan Toolkit. If you have an historic building in need of restoration and a vision to develop its use for the community, a business plan is a must to win friends and influence people i.e secure funding. You can now down load a ‘how to’ guide via this link. 

News

Sophia Hubs  - A new faith-based business hub was launched recently at St John's Seven Kings. (see picture) The Seven Kings & Newbury Park Sophia Hub is the first pilot of what will become a network of Hubs building on the community engagement of faith communities.Whilst there are increasing numbers of faith-based social enterprises starting up around the country, and a new emphasis on missional entrepreneurialism, there is as yet very little joining up of the different projects and adding up of their value to advocate for greater investment and support. The Sophia Hubs network will provide a network organisation for existing faith-based business incubators as well as developing a model for starting them up and providing services to enable that process which builds on existing community engagement. 

People can get involved with the pilot as business mentors, start-ups, investors, management group members and timebank volunteers. An initial Sophia Course will aim to empower people in making connections with their faith and wisdom traditions, understanding the basics about social enterprise and considering the local context, identifying resources and issues of shared local concern to generate ideas for new social enterprises. For more info contact : sophiahubs@yahoo.com   tel: 07766 451316.

Events
Tuesday 16^th July until 28^th July  Southwark Cathedral. Exhibition on South London Inter Faith Group’s Inter Faith Walks see the events page on the PEN website.

Friday 19^th July 4pm at Lumen URC 88 Tavistock Place WC1H 9RS.  SYRIA How Can we Help & How best pray for its people? – Meet Mary Mikhael spokesperson for the Evangelical (ie Presbyterian) Churches of Syria and Lebanon and until recently President of the Near Eastern School of Theology in Beirut .

Resources
Initiatives for Change is a worldwide movement of people of diverse cultures and backgrounds, who are committed to the transformation of society through changes in human motives and behaviour, starting in their own lives. Read their latest newsletter, and you can subscribe to receive regular bulletins via the same link.

ARC The Alliance of Religions & Conservation has republished  Faith in Conservation by Martin Palmer & Victoria Finlay (first published in partnership with the World bank in 2003). The book can be downloaded from the ARC website.  ARC's biggest projects currently are The Green Pilgrimage Movement (including Hajj); Wildlife, forests and faith; and Family Education and Water.

Courses

Now is the time to plan your studies (and encourage others) in the new academic year. King's College London and the Westminster Abbey Institute, The London Interfaith Centre and St Ethelburga’s have new programmes for 2013-14. Details on the Courses pages of the PEN website in the next couple of weeks.

Vacancy with JustShare

JustShare the coalition of churches and charities committed to global development and social justice is seeking a new Coorinator ................

JustShare Co-ordinator (part time)


Up to £22, 000 pro rata (dependent on experience) for 2 full days, or their equivalent each week (15 hours). The appointment is for one year only with the opportunity to extend if funding becomes available.

JustShare has a proven record of engaging the City of London on issues of globalisation and economic justice. It organises debates, lectures and seminars.

The Co-ordinator will be employed for two full days, or their equivalent each week (15hours), to enable the JustShare coalition to alert the institutions, businesses and enterprises of the City to the plight of the world’s poorest communities and the impact of their own assumptions and actions – chiefly by organising a programme of debates, lectures and other campaigning events.

To apply, please send your CV and covering letter, along with the name of two referees to the Rector of St Mary-le-Bow, the Reverend George Bush: grbush@london.anglican.org. References will only be taken up if you are successful and the post is offered to you.

Applications by Monday 22nd July. Interviews Thursday 1st August   A full job description can be downloaded from theJustShare website.