In view of the pressing need at this time for greater understanding between people with diverse beliefs about God and God‰s will, it may come as a surprise to learn that promoting religious harmony was not, until this year, a charitable objective.
After lengthy exchanges on an application for charity status from the Three Faiths Forum, the Charity Commission has now accepted that the promotion of religious harmony benefits the public and is therefore a charitable purpose, joining existing categories such as the promotion of racial harmony.
The Commissioners recognised that promoting harmony and tolerance could result in tangible benefits of reduction in conflict and crime and that ‹understanding the beliefs of others leads to more appropriate provision of servicesٹ. The new category also includes the promotion of harmony between believers and unbelievers.
An important organisation in this field is the Inter Faith Network for the United Kingdom, of which Tom Butler, Anglican Bishop of Southwark, is currently co-chair. Founded in 1987, it now links nearly 100 member bodies seeking to combat prejudice and build mutual respect between religions, so that all can practise their faith with integrity.
The Network advises on inter-faith affairs, publishes helpful materials, fosters inter-faith co-operation on social issues and arranges regular meetings where questions of concern to different faith communities can be examined together.
Numerous initiatives are currently under way all over the country, many involving young people. The Maimonides Foundation, a joint Jewish-Muslim organisation, recently held its third annual inter-faith soccer competition at the Arsenal stadium, with over 150 Jewish and Muslim children aged 9-12 taking part. Arsenal‰s Egyptian-born goalkeeper, Rami Shaaban, handed out certificates to all participants.
The same foundation also organises exchange visits for Muslim and Jewish schools and an annual lecture series held at the School for Oriental and African Studies in London. The lectures take place this month (November) and next and are open to students and the general public.و For details, call 020 7518 8282 or visit www.maimonides-foundation.org
The Inter Faith Network can be contacted at 8a Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W OEN (Tel. 020 7931 7766). Website: www.inter-faith.org.uk
Lord, open our hearts to receive your gift of grace,
the love that releases us from our bondage and gives us freedom: freedom from
cares and worries that stifle our happiness; freedom from sins that cling to
us, and to which we cling; freedom from all that prevents our becoming what we
can and ought to be.
So bring us, O Lord, to the experience of life more
abundant, for your name‰s sake. Amen.
وووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووو New Every Morning
(BBC)
POEM OF THE MONTH
November
November is a spinner
Spinning in the mist,
Weaving such a lovely
web
Of gold and amethyst.
In among the shadows
She spins till close
of day,
Then quietly she
folds her hands
And puts her work
away.
ووووووووووووووووووووووو ووووووووووو Margaret Rose
SNIPPETS
The Holy Spirit is called the Divine Counsellor. He is actively present in the lives of those who come together to discern God‰s will. This is why human counsellors should see as their primary task the work of helping others to become aware of the movements of the Divine Counsellor and encouraging them to follow these movements without fearلWhen a word from Scripture is spoken by a counsellor at that particular moment when a person is able to hear it, it can shatter huge walls of fear and open up unexpected perspectives.
وووووووووووووووووووووووو Henri Nouwen, The Way of the Heart (DLT 1981)