Message to Seminar from CTE Presidents
The Presidents of Churches Together in England sent a message to those attending the CTE Seminar in preparation for Inter Faith Week.
Thank you for attending this very significant gathering.
We welcome the initiative to hold an Inter Faith Week in England from 15th – 21st November 2009. The week is an initiative of the Inter Faith Network supported by Government and outlined in the document Face to Face and Side By Side – a Framework for Partnership in our Multi Faith Society published in July 2008 by the Department for Communities and Local Government. The Inter Faith Network for the United Kingdom has worked in partnership with the Department to assist Faith communities locally, regionally and nationally to make the week a success.
It is most important that in addition to significant multi-faith events during Inter Faith Week, Faith communities are being encouraged to highlight the contributions to wider society that they make from their own religious perspectives. This is essential for the common good and will illustrate the ways in which Christians take contribute to a genuinely harmonious and healthy society.
In this context we are grateful to Churches Together in England, which brings together Christians from 33 churches and associations of churches, for arranging a day to unpack and discuss the subject: “Christian Approaches to Inter Faith Relations: your faith matters!” Our faith does matter because it is only in the context of its deepening that genuine and fruitful inter faith relationships can flourish.
Furthermore, conversation amongst Christians on their different approaches to inter Faith relations - for example about the relationship between mission and dialogue - will lead to more effective witness to our faith in God, Father Son and Holy Spirit, and to a greater capacity for dialogue with people of other religions.
We are pleased that this event is taking place in the north of England, where there are specific needs and opportunities for inter faith encounter, and in Manchester which has significant Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Sikh communities. Manchester is a hub of communication and mutual enrichment among people of different faiths. Regional and local Christian engagement and leadership in this is to be applauded.
With our greetings and best wishes to all the participants in the day.
Bishop Nathan Hovhanissian
Commissioner Betty Matear
Most Rev. Vincent Nichols
Most Revd. Rowan Williams
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