Over the next few weeks we will be posting material from PEN’s autumn seminar series - examples of local good practice which the Network is keen to share!  In our first post, Adam Atkinson from St Paul’s Shadwell (a church plant from HTB in East London) discusses the church’s work in London Citizens with Ghazal Tipu, a local Muslim leader.

The Contextual Theology Centre in conjunction with St Mellitus College and Kings College London are hosting Back to Basics or Business as Usual? A Christian Response to the Recession, at St Paul’s Onslow Square SW7 on Saturday 12th December. Speakers include ‘Radical Orthodox’ theologian John Milbank, Philip Blond (whose new think tank, ResPublica was launched last month) and Andrew Dilnot (formerly of the Institute of Fiscal Studies). Full details here.

The Jellicoe Community has launched a blog - on which you can follow the news of a growing team of interns who are engaged in work with Christian congregations in multi faith contexts. Dedicated to 1920s slum priest Basil Jellicoe, the community is another project of the Contextual Theology Centre.  Students are currently focused on preparations for London Citizens’ assembly - bringing together 2000 people from churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other civil society organisations in the city’s poorest neighbourhoods. 

The seminar is on the eve of Inter Faith Week.  As you can see, it will be an eventful time in Greater London!

Twenty-five people from across PEN’s four dioceses came to Saturday’s seminar on ’Sharing the Faith: Engagement with Integrity’.  Stories of parish engagement were blended with theological reflection, discussion and fellowship - and information on the wealth of training resources available to congregations in multi faith contexts.  But what came across most clearly was that these congregations, their commitment and experience, is the greatest resource.  We will be posting materials from the event online soon, so that this resource is available more widely - both to others ministering in multi faith contexts, and to those whose experience of religious diversity comes mainly via the media or workplace.

The final autumn seminar, on ‘Praying and Worshipping’, is at the London Inter Faith Centre on the morning of Saturday 14th November.  Email Susanne Mitchell to book a place.

The picture above is taken from the Southall Group Ministry’s Christmas Procession of witness

Christian leaders have joined their Muslim and Jewish colleagues to say ‘no’ to ‘business as usual’ in the wake of the credit crunch.  The Guardian carries a report of this multi-faith initiative, while the Contextual Theology Centre will be co-hosting a major study day on Saturday, 12th December at St Paul’s Church, Onslow Square.   Confirmed speakers include John Milbank and Luke Bretherton.  Full details here.

Faiths in London’s Economy has also issued a theological response to the credit crunch, and is engaged in ongoing work on the issue.

The talk and sermon given by Archbishop Rowan at the launch of PEN are now online.  Click here for the talk - a response to a study day on ‘The witness of congregations in multi faith contexts’ and here for the sermon.  The launch of the Network brought together those ministering in multi faith contexts across the four sponsoring dioceses.