Sharing Your Stories/Reflections

Today at Monton Methodist Church twenty Turkish Muslims joined us for morning worship (which also happened to be Holy Communion). They are deeply committed to inter-faith work through the Education and Dialogue Charity.

They brought with them, for every member of the congregation, a portion of 'Noah's Pudding', also known as 'asure'. This is a delicacy made with beans, barley, chickpeas, fruit and walnuts, and is traditionally shared with family and friends.

During the service our Muslim friends shared in the Peace and later came to the communion area to receive a blessing.

During my teaching days, prior to being ordained, I taught sociology and RE in a large rural secondary school in a very white area. Visits to gurdwaras, mandirs and mosques in Coventry, were an annual part of our syllabus.  I encountered a small amount of opposition from parents to their children visiting these places of worship of 'other faiths' but as the years went by, this diminished.  We invited school governors and parents to accompany us, and always had some acceptances.  Those adults who came with us were excellent witnesses to the enormous benefit in educational terms of the encounters, both in terms of knowledge of unfamiliar customs and traditions, but even more in what would now be called citizenship. At parents' evenings there was much appreciation of the opportunities and quite a number wished that their own education had included knowledge of other faiths. 

I am the headteacher of a small rural Church of England school.  Although the majority of our families are not church attenders, some very strenuously objected to our visit to a mosque. I explained that this was part of our study of Islam but was still met with bigoted responses. 

However, all the children did visit the mosque and all benefited greatly from the experience, both in understanding about other faiths and also by speaking to someone from another culture.  We have also visited a mandir as part of our study on Hinduism.  No-one objected this time so I think that is a great step forward.  We are now in the process of linking with a school whose children are mainly Muslim.

We will continue to make visits to other places of worship and, hopefully, we will be successful in making links with another school.  We have been fully supported by the local clergy.

By involving our children we can, hopefully, eradicate prejudice and live in a more harmonious society.

Sue Walters, Northamptonshire

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The Swansea and Gower Circuit has just held its first, introductory meeting on inter faith matters where Revd Dr Noel Davies, a lecturer at Trinity College, Carmarthen, gave a powerpoint presentation followed by a brief discussion. 

The meeting was arranged by Revd Pam Cram, one of our ministers.  Pam and I attend Swansea Inter Faith forum which was launched last autumn. Apart from visiting a Buddhist retreat centre and a synagogue, the forum arranged a Holocaust Memorial Day.  Events were held throughout Swansea - films, discussions, poetry readings, school assemblies, an exhibition in the central library and the main Holocaust event. Although we haven't yet met to discuss feedback on the event, it was agreed that the venue was not large enough to hold the good numbers of young people.  It is important that as many youngsters, as possible, learn about this atrocity and others in more recent times.

Janet M Neilson, Chairman of the Missions Team, Sketty Methodist Church, Swansea

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I recently made a creative display and spoke on inter faith issues at the Stoke and Chester Ministerial Retreat, attended by 50 ministers, and spoke at the Ministerial Synod at Stoke and Chester with 100+ ministers.  I also made a display for the Bowmere Hospital in Chester for their Interfaith Spiritual Centre.  I have used the "hands" logo on all service sheets in February and distributed the Face To Faith postcards far and wide.

Some people loved the initiatives and, sadly, some walked out!

David Butterworth

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Wolverhampton Inter Faith Pilgrimage

As a contribution to the Month of Prayer for Inter Faith Relations, a pilgrimage was arranged for the three Wolverhampton Circuits. The intention was that we increase our knowledge and understanding of other people of faith.

Our pilgrimage took place on two consecutive Sunday afternoons - on 18 February at the Guru Nanak Thath Temple, Mander Street and on Sunday 25 February at Madina Masjid UK Islam Mission, Newhampton Road. 

The first visit was attended by 40 people.  It took the form of a welcome followed by a fifteen-minute introduction to the basic beliefs of Sikhism.  This took place at the back of the worship area while the reading of the holy book continued in the background.  After this we were taken downstairs and served with Langar in the form of vegetarian food and squash to drink.  Those attending, most of whom had never been in a Gudwara, found the whole experience enlightening and were impressed by the warmth of welcome and the genuine invitation to come again.

The Mosque was a very different setting, being the conversion of a terraced house in part of the inner city area.  26 people attended and again we were very hospitably received.  Tea, coffee and lemonade were served while we were treated to quite an extensive introduction to Islam.  The young man who undertook this was very thorough and was not afraid to tackle such issues as the meaning of Jihad and the debate about women wearing the veil.  We were then treated to cake and biscuits and invited to look at the posters declaring the five pillars of Islam.  Some of us then accepted the invitation to go back upstairs to the worship area and observe the recitation of prayers.

The lower numbers for the second visit was due to the fact that we clashed with events in some of the churches.  There was a good range of ages among those attending varying from 10 year olds to those in their eighties. 

This was the first joint event of the proposed new Wolverhampton Circuit bringing the three circuits together.  There are 24 churches of which eight participated in the two-session pilgrimage. On behalf of the district a booklet of prayers from different faith traditions was compiled and distributed for use in the circuits.

Ken Collins

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Ash Wednesday Service - with a difference

To mark February being the month of praying and acting for good relations between people of different faiths, the Ward End and Saltley Methodist Churches in the Elmdon Circuit, Birmingham, combined mid week Holy Communion with an Ash Wednesday celebration at Saltley.

We had invited some Muslim friends to join us in watching the service and then sharing their experience of fasting in the month of Ramadan. Two friends joined half way through and sat in silence watching. After Communion I gave a summary of the significance of ash as a symbol of penitence and human mortality. I also emphasised the need to fast in protest against the consumer madness in the world around, which threatens life for future generations. Sharing this concern fully, our Muslim friends added how their one-month fast from dawn to dusk helped them remember God with fear, to think about mortality, learn simplicity and self-denial and to empathise with the poor and hungry in the world. The meeting ended with a shared sandwich lunch and a decision to continue to meet more regularly as members of our proposed Saltley Interfaith Forum.

Israel Selvanayagam
Minister, Ward End and Methodist Churches
Interfaith Consultant for the Birmingham District

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Our four children were all brought up within the Methodist Church, attending Junior Church, youth club, scouts and guides, though none of them has chosen to become an adult member.

When he was about 24, our eldest son's work took him to America, where he met and married an American girl from a Jewish family. They settled down and raised their only son who is being brought up in that faith.

My son has not converted to Judaism, nor has he taken American
citizenship, but he is fully integrated in the community and social life of the local synagogue and with his family plays a full part in celebrating the Jewish festivals and customs. He contributes to the life of the synagogue, not as a worshipper but as editor and producer of their news sheet, and he is fully accepted as an honorary member of their community.

I have often felt sad that I can't send my grandson a Christmas present or a Bible, but his parents feel it might confuse things for him as he grows up Jewish in a mainly Christian context. He won't have the option of "deciding for himself" which faith to follow, for if your mother is Jewish, you are Jewish by birth.

But I accept that this is the way it is. Attending his Bar-Mitzvah and the whole week of festivities which surrounded the occasion, I was thankful that he is being given a faith and a sense of his own spiritual identity and value as a person - so many young people do not have this advantage.

As his grandmother. I had no role in the ceremony which affirmed his place within the adult (male) Jewish community, but his British Methodist grandfather was proud to be asked to pronounce the blessing: "The Lord bless you and keep you..."

Gillian Collins, Sittingbourne

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More than thirty years ago I taught my first Jewish children in Swansea.

At that time only Christianity was taught in R.E. lessons, so these children were excluded from these lessons.

I realised that I knew nothing about Judaism - what happened in their synagogue or their homes. So, I started reading about Judaism, but that was only theory.

I began asking them questions and once their parents and the parents of other Jewish children I taught over subsequent years knew that I was interested in their faith, I was invited to synagogue services and several bat and bar mitzvah celebrations.

Since those early days of getting to know members of the Swansea Hebrew Congregation I have shared many Rosh Chodesh Kiddush meals, and times of sorrow - funerals and stone settings. I find that I am now able to follow quite a lot of an Orthodox Jewish Shabbat morning service - though only in English! 

Getting to know so much about Judaism at first hand enabled me to study for a theology degree when I retired from teaching. Although the Jewish community in Swansea is only small in number, they welcomed me warmly into their midst and for that I will always be grateful.

An Inter Faith Forum was recently launched in Swansea of which I am a member, together with other Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists. We have visited a Buddhist retreat centre, which was most interesting and other visits are planned to other places of worship/prayer.

One of the working parties of this new forum will be drawing up guide lines and planning material to be used in schools for lessons on inter faith celebrations/worship/prayer and so on. Learning and teaching about different faiths has certainly enriched my everyday life and my Christian life.

Janet M Neilson (Methodist Christian; Swansea)

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As the Training Officer for Birmingham Churches Together I have the privilege of working with Christians of all denominations as well as those of other faiths. 

In this multi-cultural city one of the greatest needs expressed by those of other faiths, especially if they are recent arrivals, is to get to grips with the English language. 

For many it is not possible to attend Adult Education language classes for financial reasons or because family commitments, poor health or a lack the confidence.

We encourage the churches to open their doors to their neighbours and offer hospitality as well as pastoral and language support.  We have an excellent team of trainers, most of whom are Methodists, who share the skills and knowledge necessary with those who want to be involved in this work. 

As we journey with Christians who are engaged in this outreach we rejoice with them as God blesses their work. There are many Christians who are working in this way within their local churches and communities. 

Birmingham Churches Together have a group which focuses on the needs of Asylum Seekers and Refugees who meet in a city centre church, a local community project which works alongside other agencies in an area where there are many Asian women and we also provide support in a Catholic Primary School for a group of Moslem mothers.

After Easter a new group will open in the north of the city within a church that already represents fourteen nationalities.  The Pastor has been praying for a long time that some of his members would be led into this area of service and it is now happening! We can recommend providing English support in a pastoral context as a positive and practical way of reaching out to people of other faiths and hope this story inspires more Methodists to get involved. 

If you are in Birmingham or Solihull and want more information please contact me at training@birminghamchurches.org.uk or 0121 766 5599. 

Diane Lamb

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I have many Hindu friends and Muslim friends. During 14 weeks in South India I met the most delightful young people who just loved each other and God.

My Hindu friends texted me on Christmas Day to say Happy Christmas. I wished them Happy Christmas and we prayed for each other.

They wear Prayer Beads / Rosarys I bought for them from St  Thomas Mount in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, South India.

We all prayed together and ate together, visted Temples and Christian Churches together. We will love each other for ever in God.

Rev'd David Butterworth, Methodist Minister, Chester

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We had just finished the morning service on Christmas Day and everyone was talking and passing on Christmas greetings. In came a young Sikh couple who were calling in because they wanted to see what it was like in church on Christmas Day. Several people chatted to them and made them feel welcome. I hope that our hospitality was warm as that generally offered by the Sikh community, who have a tradition of keeping open doors and offering food and a welcome to strangers and passers by.

In the light of the month of prayer for inter faith relationships, it strikes me that even the smallest of gestures can make a big impression - going out of our way to have a friendly word with a neighbour who is a member of another faith, or sending as a congregation a letter of greeting to another place of worship in our local area. These things can make a difference and we should be encouraged to take that extra step.

I shall remember that young Sikh couple, and how they called by
unexpectedly at Christmas, for a long time to come.

Phil Drake, Cardiff

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For a long time I never really considered what my faith meant to me or how it set me apart, I'd always been brought up in a Christian environment and it was so much who I was I never knew any different.

Growing up I lived in a really multi-cultural area of North London and loved having friends of so many faith backgrounds.

Reflecting back, it wasn't until I moved to the North East that I began to acknowledge that tolerance wasn't everyones default setting and that the opportunities I had had to learn from so many close friends of different faiths were not shared by all.

I now work in the ex-coalfield communities of County Durham in an area where in the last census only 0.61% of the population cited their religion as anything but Christian or Atheism.

I think the month of interfaith reflection presents us with a great opportunity.

I understand that for many of our congregation engaging with people of other faiths will be something new and perhaps a little scary but I see them extend extraordinary generosity every week to those who use our church rooms and would just love to see them given the opportunity to use these same gifts with other faiths, in a way I've taken for granted.

We're already planning on using the Methodist Church's 'Life We Share' resource in my cell group and our Thursday club has even invited a local womens group of the Islamic tradition to come and meet with them. If all goes to plan I'd love to pack them all in a bus to visit a mosque or temple; some of them may not like all the food but giving them a chance to meet people of another faith; step beyond the stereotypes and share fellowship is something I believe we should all try

Chris Cornell, 23, Durham

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For reflection in February 2007

Fearful of others we build up our fences,
Firmly believing we are not the same;
Lord of the rainbow rebuke our misgivings,
Show how diversity honours your name.

Faiths that are different we damn without reason,
Holding the whole truth is ours to proclaim;
Break down the walls of our self-centred thinking -
Blocking out knowledge and light to our shame.

While we mark time with our honoured traditions,
History moves on and our cause proves inane;
Make us, Lord, humble to learn from each other,
Journey as pilgrims in your holy name.

Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
You offer pardon and freedom from sin;
Send us your Spirit to move every barrier,
Using our lives to show signs of your reign.

Revd David H McDonald

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As a partner in the Porvoo Convention (partners with the Church of Sweden), the Scottish Episcopal Church was invited to nominate a woman to attend their international scholarship course at the Swedish Theological Institute in Jerusalem.  The nine-week course for 2006 was "Women's Roles in Promoting Peace and Reconciliation: Life, Faith and Interreligious Dialogue" and was attended by nine women theologians from other partner churches from Zambia, Tanzania, Nicaragua, the Philippines and India.

We had the opportunity to visit Jewish, Muslim and Christian people, both in Israel and on the West Bank, and we heard stories of their individual and collective pain and hope for peace and justice in the war-torn and divided land of Israel/Palestine.  We met with women's inter faith groups in Bethlehem, Haifa and Jerusalem and visited high schools in Birzeit (near Ramallah), Bethlehem and Ibillin (near Nazareth) which open their doors to people of all faiths: "It is a matter of building bridges among the members of the same family: Christian, Jew, Moslem and Druze.  This is the meaning of 'becoming Godlike'" (Albuna Elias Chacour).

We joined the Sabeel Conference, which this year, owing to the difficulties for Palestinian Christians living on the West Bank in travelling to Jerusalem, went to them!  350 of us travelled to the West Bank where we were invited into their lives for seven days, learning about their history, their relations with their Muslim neighbours and their struggle to survive as the Wall chokes them off from their economic and social sustenance, and from families and communities on the "other side."

For some reflections made along the way on my Journey to Jerusalem for the Swedish Theological Institute course on "Women's Roles in Promoting Peace and Reconciliation" visit http://nawilshusen.blogspot.com

Nancy Adams

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The Interfaith Consultant of the Birmingham District talks about his role:

At the September synod of the Birmingham District of the Methodist Church, while introducing the new interfaith work just begun, I was holding a placard with the words either side: ALERT, ATTENTION. These words are significant for understanding our ministry and mission in a multi faith context. In fact they come from two books that deal with dialogue: Max Warren’s A Theology of Attention and Kenneth Cracknell and Christopher Lambs’ (ed.) Theology on Full Alert. These words have been quoted by many of those who were present in the Synod when we now meet. They crystallise what I have been trying to do in this half time post:

1.I am available for congregations or ministers who are placed in multi faith contexts and help them if they have any local issues that threaten the communal peace and goodwill.

2. At least twice a month I preach in churches across the District. Normally, the focus is on an aspect of our faith and ministry, relating it to the resources and challenges that people of other faiths bring. Sometimes, a discussion follows the service.

3. I try to communicate the Connexional interfaith work and joint programmes organised nationally. The leaflet Face to Faith: Praying and Acting for Good Relations Between People of Different Faiths meant for the month of prayer and action in February 2007 is currently in circulation. I encourage churches to take this seriously.

4. I have launched a Bible study programme called ‘Re-reading the Bible in a Multifaith context’ and it is run in two centres in Birmingham: South Yardley and Selly Oak. There are ten session topics and an appropriate biblical text.

5. Inter faith training is important for guiding exposure visits and explanation. The Faith Encounter Project, a new venture in Birmingham, with an expert coordinator (Ruth Tetlow) is developing and promising. I have been closely associated with this project along with ecumenical partners.

6. I am also associated with existing interfaith forums. Apart from the Birmingham Council of Faiths, there are small and local programmes being organised. The Solihull Interfaith Forum is in its formative stage with the support of the local authority. Preparations are being made for establishing an interfaith forum at Saltley where the Methodist Church is sandwiched by shops run by Muslims of Pakistani origin. Recently the Muslim friends from the nearby Islamic Centre cum Mosque invited a group of Christians from this church. We enjoyed the hospitality with a delicious lunch and a power-point presentation on ‘An Introduction to Islam’. When the discussion afterwards started to touch on some key points the meeting had to be adjourned for it was prayer time. However, we agreed that such fellowship will continue alternating venues and that in a sustained dialogue we will cherish on what we share in common and understand where we differ.

7. In a multifaith and multicultural city like Birmingham there are number of groups among Christians that operate with a name and engage in interfaith relation building. Those of us who work closely in this field, representing the major churches in the city, have planned a series of meetings where each group will be represented, their focus and activities shared, thus forming a network for mutual understanding and collaboration. A Directory of Interfaith Groups in Birmingham may be produced.

8. One question that Christians consistently ask is about the relationship between mission and dialogue, particularly that aspect of mission called evangelism and interfaith relations and dialogue. I have already written on this topic and want to develop further producing a solid guide.

Relating to members of other Christian denominations is exciting, and relating to people of other faiths is more exciting and if conversations emerge from a healthy combination of deep commitment and genuine openness the exercise will be much more rewarding.

Israel Selvanayagam

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News from Bradford:

Mrs Awais Dominic is the Consultant for Northern England for the Methodist Inter Faith Relations Reference Group (MIFRRG), the District Inter Faith Adviser for West Yorkshire and Faith-to-Faith Worker at the Methodist Touchstone Centre in Bradford. She sends the following: -

I have sent Face 2 Faith postcards to ministers, lay workers, friends from other denominations and a Muslim friend, visiting from Pakistan.

I have encouraged Sr Roisin from the Columba Community to include the prayer on the Face 2 Faith postcard for their monthly inter faith prayer meeting held on the 11th of every month. I have also encouraged all members of my support group to use this prayer in their particular church or groups.

One of the members in my support group informed us that their minister at Great Horton Methodist Church is inviting people of other faiths to partake in a prayer and meal event he has organised.

I have been invited by a Moravian church to speak to their women’s group. I will definitely share this prayer after my talk. I will also cook some Asian food for them, especially for those who are not familiar with Asian cuisine.

I feel that it was a good initiative to encourage people in the church to take an active part in building good relations with people of other faiths and cultures. This sort of national/international initiative should be encouraged and put into practice at least once a year.

I want to congratulate and thank all of you to offer this well thought idea to learn and practice our Christian values with others. Wishing you all the best in your work

Awais Dominic