January Update

The trouble with January is its nasty tendancy to be over before you've got a grip on it. Here to help is a reminder or notice of to dos this month........

Events in January
Monday 21st January,  at St Ethelburga's Centre 6.00pm The Need for faith Inspired Non Violence:The legacy of Martin Luther King   a speical public seminar led by Dr. Qamar ul Huda from the United States Institute for Peace Details and Booking 

Wednesday 23rd January,  at St Mary-le-Bow EC2V 6AU 6.05pm JustShare Lecture given by the Rt Revd Julius Makoni, Bishop of Manicaland (formely at World Bank and HSBC): ‘Zimbabwe’s Prospects: Politics, Foreign Investment and the role of the Church.’

Sunday 27th Janaury is Holocaust Memorial Day, and annual day to remember those communities which were destroyed during the Holocaust and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. The Holocaust Memorial Trust's theme for 2013 is Communities Together - Build a Bridge. Find out about events close to you here

Wednesday 30th January, St Matthew's Conference Centre, 20 Great Peter Street, Westminster, London SW1P 2BU 12.30-1.45 lunchtime panel session: Can Israel live with itself? how can Israel build trust between its citizens – Jews, Christians, Muslims and others....hosted by FODIP and UK Friends of Merchavim Vegetarian lunch provided. Book via info@fodip.org or more details

Deadlines Approaching for summer bookings!
The Cambridge Inter-faith Programme Summer School 2013
in August 2013, the Cambridge Inter-faith Programme will bring together an international group from Islamic, Christian and Jewish backgrounds, for three-weeks of immersion in inter-faith education and encounter.  All the costs of tuition, accommodation, on-site meals, activities and visits will be covered by the Cambridge Inter-faith Programme. Students will be asked to pay a deposit of £250 - refundable at the end of the Summer School - and will need to source their own funds to cover their travel to and from Cambridge. Applications are due by Friday 1st February 2013. More information  and see filmQuestions Without Borders: Dual Narrative Study Tour of Israel and the West Bank
Fodip Study Tour 12th - 22nd AugustTour leaders will be Pasha Shah and Rabbi Warren Elf, both Fodip Trustees and veterans of previous tours.Itinerary will include opportunities to experience worship with local Christians, visits to places of special interest, meeting the people and hearing the narratives. Fodip will be working with MEJDI, an experienced company whose ethos perfectly theirs.
Cost: £1650 which includes: return flights, including taxes, all accommodation on a half board basis, 2 resident guides throughout, all transport while on the tour in a private bus, speakers and entrance fees where appropriate. More details Places are filling up fast

LENT is very early this year.......for those who are not already super organised........

The Awareness Foundation is offering its Living in a Global Village course for FREE. The 5 session, course examines how we can affirm our faith in the midst of a new, globalised world. Complete packs with all course materials for up to 20 participants, plus Teaching DVD and Course Leader's Guide are available from education@awareness-foundation.com or 020 7730 8830 This clip tells you more.

The Contextual Theology Centre has teamed up with the Church Urban Fund to produce a Lent course called Seeing Change which enables congregations to listen and respond to local experiences of the economic crisis. (Down load the Leaders Guide & Holding a Money Talk resources or see the foot of the linked page)

Events in February and beyond
Tuesday 5th February, St Ethelburga’s Centre, 78 Bishopgate EC2N 4AG, The Edge: Faith , Fear and Friendship, Contextualising Islam and Christianity in the UK, 10am - 4.30 pm. This event is hosted by the Christian Muslim Forum as the next phase of their "Come to the Edge" programme. It will be women only from 10am until 3.00pm. The speakers are Revd Dr Catriona Laing, Parish of St Barnabas, Dulwich, London and Sughra Ahmed, Policy Research Centre, Islamic Foundation, Leicester but it is a participatory event. You must register to attend
Monday 18th February,  St George the Martyr Borough High Street, SE1 1JA, 6.30 for 7.00pm The PEN lecture. The Very Revd Dr David Ison, Dean of St Paul's - Guardian or Gatekeeper? Faith in the public space and the role of the Church
Tuesday 12th March,  The Marie Eugenie room Heythrop College W8 5HN, 11.00am - 4.30pm What is Modern Yoga? a study day for Hindus and Christians organised by the Hindu Christian Forum. This conference will focus on the form of yoga which is most well known today – physical yoga or ‘hatha yoga’.In the first part of the day, leading scholars working on hatha yoga will present the story of its origins and development. The final part of the day will be an open forum for Hindus and Christians – What is the relationship of modern yoga and Hinduism? Can Christians do yoga? Should Christian Church halls be used for yoga? How does the Hindu community feel about the yoga industry now that it is ‘bigger than Microsoft’? Contact  Katherine.Wharton@lambethpalace.org.uk for further information or to register interest in attending.

PEN lecture - venue confirmed

Presence and Engagement titles from Grove Books

Grove books recently issued the following list of titles issued in recent years which are relevant to those in  multi fatih contexts or thinking through some of the issues and opportunities that arise in such contexts.

All titles are £3.95, are post free within the UK and can be purchased online or by email sales@grovebooks.co.uk

Y14 My Friend Imran: Christian-Muslim Friendship by Andrew Smith
By exploring how having Muslim friends can influence Christians Andrew Smith opens up a discussion which seeks to find biblical resources to inform and shape encounters between Christian and Muslim young people.  ISBN: 9781851747160
P122 Multiethnic Church: A Case Study of an Anglican Diocese by Delbert Sandiford
As church attendance by white people has fallen, attendance by black and minority ethnic groups (BME) has increased, and they now make up 17% of church attendance in England. Alongside the New Testament's vision of ethnic inclusion, this makes the issue of BME representation in the church's structures and leadership impossible to ignore. This study shows how one Anglican diocese addressed the issues, the successes and challenges, and the lessons learnt. ISBN: 9781851747603
eD4 Church Schools in a Multi-faith Community by Peter French
This study considers the theological issues concerning multi-faith schools and then looks at the example of three schools in contrasting situations, drawing out conclusions from examples of good practice.
ISBN: 9781851747634
P85 The Churches and 'Race': A Pastoral Approach by David Haslam
The issue of racism is as much an issue for the churches as for society. Drawing on his long involvement in discussions about racism, the author engages with some of the key questions involved and sets out the scale of the challenge to the churches. ISBN: 1851744584
P48 Better Will Come: A Pastoral Response to Institutional Racism in British Churches by Maurice Hobbs
ISBN: 1851741992
B47 The Bible Through Muslim Eyes—and a Christian Response by Colin Chapman
This fascinating study looks at Muslim expectations concerning scripture, and explains why Christians view the Bible differently from how Muslims view the Qur'an. As such it is a powerful aid to opening dialogue.
ISBN: 9781851746811
S99 Learning from How Muslims See Christianity by David Marshall
This intriguing booklet offers us a challenge. Will we dare to 'see ourselves as others see us' and learn from it? Are we prepared to be taught by Muslims how to be better Christians? ISBN: 1851746404
W117 Interfaith Worship and Christian Truth by David Bookless
Are there occasions when Christians should worship with those of other faiths? This booklet looks at the variety of situations where the issue may be raised, from national tragedy, through school assemblies, to local pastoral and evangelistic encounters. ISBN: 1851741828

December Update

NEWS

The Office for National Statistics today released data for religious populations from 2011 Census.The statistics will be adjusted for parish boundaries over the next two months but you will be able to gain a basic impression of your local area from the numbers for your local authority. More stats details.The Director of the Contextual Theology Centre has posted a comment and Andy Mathews, an intern at St Peter's Bethnal Green, offers an example of how this information can be put to good Presence and Engagement use. All of which points towards a seminar afternoon,  Making Sense of the Census, which  PEN is arranging for Monday February 18th,  at Trinity House, Chapel Court, Borough High Street, SE1 1HW. Exact times and programme will be published early in the new year.

In other news..........RESOURCES AND COURSES 

The Anglican Communion has commissioned a report  'Land of Promise' which explores Christian Zionism and  attitudes to Israel in general. It is available to download from the Forum for Discussion on Israel and Palestine (Fodip)

The Christian Muslim Forum launched two new resources this month; When Two Faiths meet - pastoral and practical support for couples from differing faiths and The Edge Report see our earlier blog 

The latest meeting between a delegation from the Anglican Communion and from Al Azhar Al Sharif, Egypt, known as the Al Azhar dialogue, took place last month and the communique has been published. The 10th meeting, in Cairo, was the first since the revolution - the last meeting (in London) having been curtailed by the need for the Grand Imam to be in Egypt. The dialogue committee praised the al-Azhar Declaration on the Future of Egypt which promotes the need to guarantee the rights and responsibilities of all citizens. The document outlines that in accepting the rights of citizenship, the citizen also accepts the responsibility to share in the development of society and to work for peace and the welfare of all.

The Cambridge Inter Faith Programme have just launched a new Scriptural Reasoning website and opened applications for their 2013 Summer School (applications by 1st February)

The University of Cardiff's Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK (CSI-UK) has announced the jameel scholarship programme for 2013/14

Paideia The European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden advises that The applications for the One Year Jewish Studies Program 2013/2014 is now open but the deadline for applications is 15th January.

Theos has three new reports out Post Religious Britain?The faith of the faithless; From Goodness to God: Why Religion Makes Sense of our Moral Commitments and Religion and Law The middle title is by our own Canon Dr Angus Ritchie and the debate at the LSE which launched it is available

The Building Bridges Christian-Muslim Seminars series has a new volume published, Science and Religion: Christian and Muslim perspectives, use the link for details.

Check the blog in early January for news of up coming events.

The PEN Lecture



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.

November Update

New Initiatives & updates on existing ones

Nothing Holy about Hatred A forum inviting faith and community leaders and members  to sign a pledge decrying homophobia and the harm it causes.

Campus  Lokahi Grew out of the project Campusalam which began in 2008. Promoting understanding by building stronger bridges between student societies and university administration around issues of values and belief it is set to launch an online campus resource in 2013.

A Year of Service This weekend some tree and hedge planting events in St Albans related to Mitzvah Day. See the Year of Service Events Page or email info@ayearofservice.org.uk

I have been reminded that Chelmsford is one of the few Cathedrals to have a worked out and published policy on inter faith work.

PEN works within the umbrella of the Contextual Theology Centre . CTC produces a weekly blog on the forthcoming Sunday Gospel reading In a recent blog on Advent events and news you will find resources on faith and social action, details of a debate on the religious foundations of morality and the Rt Revd Dr Justin Welby's support for the Living Wage. CTC also has the latest on Near Neighbours projects in London.

Events

Friday 16th November at SOAS, Russell Square: College Buildings Rm 4418; 5.00-7.00pm The Sufi Factor in Pakistan Islamism - Dr Alix Philppon. Contact centres@soas.ac.uk or 0207 898 4893/2 9 Also see their series of music events latest email musicevents@soas.ac.uk or 0207 898 4500

Tuesday 20th November Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster's Faith Matters, last in the  Autumn series Finding God in other Cultrures and Religions 7.00 - 8.30pm in Westminister Cathedral Hall. Thisis an open event but to be sure of a place email faithmatters@rcdow.org.uk or 0207 931 6078 or online Free but suggested donation £3

Thursday 22nd November 5pm Woolf Institute Centre for Muslim-Jewish Relations lecture for Inter Faith Week, Westminster College Cambridge  Bridging the Great Divide:Teaching the Abrahamic Faiths Prof Akbar Ahmed, see details

Thursday 22nd November 6 - 11pm, The Red Gallery, 3 Rivington Street, EC2A 3DT, Festival Night from the Three Faiths Forum part of their Urban Dialogues 2012 series which runs 2st November - 1st December. Follow the Urban Dialogues link, above, for full details.

Tuesday 27th November  10.00am - 6.00pm (registration 9.15am) Day Conference  at the Centre for Eastern Christianity, Heythrop College. The Life and Thought of Louis Massignon (1883-1962): Comparative political and theological perspectives,  £20, book through j.flannery@heythrop.ac.uk or  see details

Tuesday 27th November 7pm Balham and Tooting Community Association (BATCA) a social get together with food for those of different faiths and cultures to celebrate Eid, Diwali and Christmas (sponsored by local traders)  at Jasmin's Banqueting Suite, 202 Upper Tooting Road SW17 7EW Free but  contact Kate Allan allanraallan@aol.com so they know how many to cater for.

Tuesday 27th November 6.30 - 9.00pm (for Christian and Muslim women) Christian Muslim Forum  launches the Come to the Edge Report at St Ethelburga's 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG Contact Siriol Davies, siriol.davies@southwark.anglican.org or Tasneem Husain, tasneem.husain@southwark.gov.uk

Tuesday 4th - Saturday 8th December Wimbledon Library Gallery, 1st floor, Wimbledon Library, Wimbledon Hill Road, London SW19 7NB Commission4Mission exhibition to launch itself in South Lnndon. The gallery is accessed via the Library, open 9.30am-7.00pm (2pm on Saturday)

Courses

Tuesday 27th November at St Philips Centre, 2A Stoughton Drive North, Leicester, LE5 5UB (Only an hour and a half from London)  Christian- Jewish Faith Study Day 11.00am - 4.15pm with Fiona Hulbert and Rabbi Mark Solomon. Contact the Centre for more details  Tel: 0116 273 3459

The Woolf Institute has published details of its e-learning programme which runs February to June 2013 Jews,Christians and Muslims in Europe:modern challenges. The course costs £350 and applications close on 1st February see details 

Resources

Jonathan Evens has two new books available:- The Secret Chord is a study of the role of music in cultural life, written through the prism of Christian belief. Covering a range of musical styles and influences, from gospel music to X Factor, the book seeks to draw the reader into a place of appreciation for what makes a moment in a 'performance' timeless and special. 

The Secret Chord is available from: Lul, ATF, Kindle UK, or Kindle US and, with Henry Shelton a second collection of images and meditations on the Passion of Christ. Their first collection - Mark of the Cross - is available as a download from 12baskets  while this second collection is available initially as a doubled-sided A3 sheet containing all 14 images, meditations and prayers see here The aim of this collection is to pare down the images and words to their emotional and theological core. The A3 format is designed for ease of devotional use. Copies of this collection, price is £3.50 plus p&p, can be ordered from jonathan.evens@btinternet.com.