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.

Early June Events

Wednesday 5th June;  6.05pm at St Mary-le-Bow the next JustShare Lecture on Social & Political Thought will be given by Professor Ben Quash (Professor of Christianity and the Arts at King’s College London), who will address the question ‘The art of shared spaces: where is the social value?’ All welcome, refreshments afterwards. You might like to register here, or just turn up.

Saturday 8th June  don't forget the BATCA fun day see earlier blog

also on Saturday 8th June Westminster Interfaith 28th Annual Multi-faith Pilgrimage for Peace this year in Hertfordshire email Jon Dal Din jondaldin@rcdow.org.uk or 07527758729

Sunday June 9th  Faiths Together in Croydon ‘Big Lunch’ Picnic   1.30-3.30pm
In Parkhill Park by the tennis courts; look for the FTiC sign. Entrances in Stanhope Road and Barclay Road
Bring your own picnic and something to share with others Drinks/Paper plates/cups will be provided
Come and meet Croydon people of faith

Wednesday 12th June Holy Trinity Clapham Common  SW4 0QZ the latest event from Nested , Jennifer Broadley of Healthy Chat on Respect: past, present and future. Tickets are £10 includes curry meal, pay on the door.  

also Wednesday 12th June at St Ethelberga's on Bishopsgate EC2N 4AG 3pm Conflict within faith commuities and faith-based conflict resiliance. A meeting for faith leaders and others to explore the kinds of conflict that occur within religious and spiritual communities, and to look at how we can develop faith-based tools and approaches to improve conflict resilience.  With input from Dr Zaza ElSheikh, Revd Andrew Corsie, and the Network of Buddhist Organisations and others more details  

Thursday 13th June Westminster Cathedral Hall SW1P 1QH 16.30 for 17.00 visit of Pope's Senior Advisor on Interreligious Dialogue see earlier blog


Friday 14th June 12 -4pm, Balham Baptist Church, Ramsden Road SW12 8QX Exploring Religious History in Wandsworth  with the Open University's Building on History team and Wandsworth Community Empowerment Network Explore the religious history of the area and discuss a prospective local history project. Contact Nadeene Morris for more details.

Two Job Vacancies

Faiths Forum for London is recruiting for a new Director and the deadline is Wednesday 5th June. Apologies for posting this so late. Please circulate to your networks and to anyone who may be interested in applying. Here is the advertisement:


"As you may have heard, our Director Philip Rosenberg has been appointed as Director of Public Affairs at the Board of Deputies of British Jews. He will be tying up some final projects over the next few weeks before moving on at the beginning of July. As such, we are now recruiting for a new Director. The position is a shared role between the FFL and the Fayre Share Foundation."

Please click here for the full job description and person specification, but the main details are below:

Location: Central London
Salary: £30-35,000 per annum
Contract Type: Full-time for an initial period of 11 months, with the possibility of extension.
Reporting To:
Trustees of the Fayre Share Foundation
Trustees and Council of the Faiths Forum for London
Organisations’ Websites:
www.faithsforum4london.org
www.fayresharefoundation.org

Information for Applicants
Please submit a CV and Covering Letter (Max 2 Sides Each) to info@faithsforum4london.org by Wednesday 5 June 2013 at the latest.

AND

Sophia Hubs are local centres which foster new social enterprises and businesses, harnessing the ageless principles of wisdom. They are seeking a talented Project Coordinator and Developer to set up and deliver a pilot Sophia Hub in Seven Kings and Newbury Park, thereby helping to take the Sophia Hubs project into its next phase of development and growth. You can access the job description here

Applicants can apply by submitting their CV, a supporting statement explaining how their experience is right for this job and how they meet the person specification, and details of two referees.

Applications to be made by Friday 21st June 2013 to: Rev Jonathan Evens at jonathan.evens@btinternet.com  or Sophia Hubs, c/o St John the Evangelist, St John’s Road, Seven Kings, Ilford, Essex IG2 7BB.

Interview date: Friday 5th July 2013.

Christians and Muslims working togther to engage with the wider community

Every year in association with Balham and Tooting Community Association (BATCA) Gatton VA Primary School and St Augustine's Church in Tooting host a fun day which raises thousands of pounds for the local St George's hospital. It's always fun to close a road and drag a fire engine but this is a true celebration of how communities can come together for the greater good.

Pope's Senior Advisor on interreligious dialogue to visit London

All people of good will are cordially inviteed to join representatives of different religions, who are coming together on the occasion of teh visit to England of Cardinal Tauran, the Pope's senior advisor on interreligious dialogue, to offer prayres  for peace in tehir differnt traditions, and to bear witness to their longing for a more just and peaceful world.

Thursday 13th June 16.30 for 17.00
Westminster Cathedral Hall SW1P 1QH

May Update

NEWS

The International Imam Hussain Council has seen fit to honour the PEN Coordinator with an award for her contribution to Inter Faith relations. It was a real honour to attend the Syeda Fatima Interfaith Conference at the House of Lords and receive the award from Lord Ahmed. Friends and colleagues Zahra Imame (Christian Muslim Forum), Debbie Damon (Three Faiths Forum), Siriol Davies (Diocese of Southwark) and Zahra Haid, were also all honoured. The conference looked at the role of women in the Abrahamic traditions, hearing about Fatima herself, Mary (who appears in the Muslim and Christian traditions) and Miriam (from the Jewish tradition).

Theos has revamped its website. The bottom right hand corner has a useful tab to their Media Monitoring section – a really handy way to keep up with the most important religion stories in the media. Their latest report ‘Is there a Religious Right Emerging in Britain?’ is by The Contextual Theology Centre’s own Andy Walton. Watch that space for another CTC colleague, David Barclay’s research due out shortly.

Also watch for the new Contextual Theology Centre website.

Better off without them? Report of a pilot study into the proportion of voluntary sector welfare projects organised by churches and other faiths has recently been published. Written by Elizabeth Simon for the London Churches Group on Social Action it is available from their website or downloadable here


Last but by no means least; Congratulations to The Greenwich Peninsula Chaplaincy on its tenth birthday! Celebrations take place on 5th June. Read their latest news letter

EVENTS

Wednesday 15th May Sister P&E centre, Bradford Churches for Dialogue & Diversity, annual lecture. See separate blog for details


Wednesday 15th May 6.05pm St Mary-le-Bow EC2V 6AU the latest JustShare . Will Crouch, President of 80,000 hours, ‘Professional Philanthropy: How to save thousands of lives without leaving the City’.

Thursday 16th May 6.30 pm. Christian Values: Fact or Fiction? ; Are ‘Christian Values’ undermining Christianity? The Revd Nadim Nassar welcomes guests to the new home of the Awareness Foundation Lodge House 69 Beaufort Street London SW3 5AH

Thursday 16th May 7pm St Ethleburga’s The multifaith movement - global risks and cosmopolitan solutions Anna Halaf off on the role of multifaith work in countering terrorism. See their events page.

Sunday 19th May 6.00pm Text to Live by at the London Inter Faith Centre 125 Salusbury Road London NW6 6RG. Second in the latest series, the topic for this one is Conversion.

Tuesday 21st May 6.30pm St James’s Piccadilly Embrace the Middle East lecture Christians and Politics in Egypt – The transformation of a nation: an Egyptian perspective by Bishop Thomas of El-Quissia and Mair. The lecture is free but you must book
 
Wednesday 22nd May 6.00pm Peace begins with me St Ethelburga's new community gathering - a time for quiet reflection, sharing, nourishing relationships, eating see their events page.

Sunday 2nd June 1pm St Paul’s Cathedral last in the Sunday Forum series At the Heart of Faith: the Trinity as the Hope of Humanity, Revd Ian Mobsby, Priest Missioner at the Moot Community and author of God Unknown: the Trinity in contemporary Spirituality and Mission (2012)

Wednesday 5th June 6.05pm St Mary-le-Bow EC2V 6AU the next JustShare lecture. The Art of Shared Spaces: Where is the Social Value? Ben Quash, Professor of Christianity and the Arts at Kings College London

Monday 10th June 7.30pm Faithful Friends event at Woodgrange Baptist Church, Romford Road, Forest Gate London E7 8AA. Franciscans from Hillfield lead an evening of refection on health and the environment from a Christian perspective.

Wednesday 12th June 3.00pm Faith-based conflict resilience. A new style of event exploring the experience of conflict within different faith communities, and looking at how we can develop faith-based tools and approaches to improve our conflict resilience. Aimed at faith leaders, but also open to all. Another St Ethelburga’s event – see their events page

Monday 17th June 10.15am Council of Christian and Jews study day see separate blog

Thursday 27th June 6.30pm Jesus Message through the Eyes of the Vedic Tradition The Meditatio Centre St Marks, Myddelton Square, London EC1R 1XX First in a series on Christian Mysticism and other faiths. For other titels and dates see their website


ADVANCE NOTICE

1st – 7th July The Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations Aga Khan University (AKU-ISMC) and The Centre for the Comparative Study of Muslim Societies and Cultures Simon Fraser University (SFU-CCSMSC) present: International Summer Programme 2013 Music, Art and Architecture in Muslim Contexts AKU-ISMC, London Campus 210 Euston Road London NW1 2DA Application Deadline: May 24 Tuition Fees: £450/£375 (concession fee available) Details and booking here

11th October to 14th December To mark the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE) in 2011, the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), www.soas.ac.uk University of London is in 2013 organising “The Everlasting Flame Exhibition: Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination”. This is probably the first time there has been an exhibition on Zoroastrianism in the United Kingdom. Further information from

Jewish Christian Study Day