Seek the Welfare talks online

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

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

Cheapside Debates at St Mary le Bow

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

New E-learning Courses from the Woolf Institute

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

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

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

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

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

November 21-27 is Inter Faith Week 2010

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

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

To help publicise the week you can download a flier here

Solidarity with Victims

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

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

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

Two Recent Titles from Grove books

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

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

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

Jim Wallis to speak at PEN conference

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

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

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

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