Interfaith harmony
My article about this week
Celebrating UN World interfaith Interfaith harmony week February 2019
The week began with a civic service at Southwark cathedral for the Boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth the themes being Together in health, youth and faith. Amir Eden, Chair of Living Bankside gave an inspiring address about the interfaith work around the terrorist atrocities in Southwark. The youth speakers, Police cadets and Fire Cadets were all most impressive and Steve Chalke spoke on “Who are you? Why are you here?” I particularly enjoyed learning a South African song Te Dumela and we raised the roof in “Amazing Grace”. The Bishop of Southwark led the Act of Commitment.
The next day I was at committee room 19 of the House of Commons for “Building Bridges Through Interfaith Dialogue” chaired by Toaha Qureshi MBE, Chairman, Forum for International Relations Development (FIRD) and Chairman, Ash-Shahada Housing Association (ASHA) with Dr. David Dangoor DL – Chair, Lord Lieutenant of Greater London’s Council of Faith, The Lord Hylton – Founder and Trustee, The Ammerdown Centre, MPs, Mark Fox – President, West London Synagogue, Dr Marcus Braybrooke – President, World Congress of Faiths and Lt. Col. Arnel David – Chief of Staff, Army Future Studies Group, US Armed Forces. A wide range of subjects was covered but I was particularly struck by a young speaker who spoke of the decline of faith in under30s.
Bushra Nasir, CBE, the first Muslim woman head teacher, followed this by speaking of the decline in religious education classes. Religious education is no longer a GCSE subject. In conversation with her later she spoke of the lack of parental involvement in supporting schools and children. I spoke about the need to defend faith schools together and the importance of teaching about right and wrong. How is that a young person can think it OK to take a knife in order to attach somebody? Have we not lost fundamental values about the right to life?
The next morning I enjoyed the breakfast at Streatham Drop-in for asylum seekers and migrants which is a lovely facility next to English Martyrs church. Again the conversation turned to education! In the evening I went to Farm street church hall for a Faith matters meeting about violent crime and what we can do about it. Barry and Margaret Mizen spoke movingly of the death of their son Jimmy and the wonderful work they have been doing in schools and prisons. Fr Michael Holman SJ gave us a wider perspective about the cuts to youth services and schools. The arts and sport, work experience, counselling and mentoring have all been cut in many schools. The universal credit system has left many in poverty. 8% of violent crime is committed by 10 to 14 year olds. Social media gives out mixed messages about drugs and violence. Barry underlined the importance of dealing with behaviour at primary school. Bullies tend to be those wanting attention and love. Add to this split families, absent fathers and overcrowded housing.
However the Jimmy Mizen foundation send out a powerful message about forgiveness, peace and hope and it is important to hold this in our minds. Bishop Richard Harries made the point at his St Paul’s cathedral talk that his generation wanted to make the world better but the younger generation now needed to stop the world getting worse. There is hope but we need to build community and as Margaret said, we need the young people themselves to call an end to violence.
John Woodhouse
Westminster cathedral interfaith group
Celebrating UN World interfaith Interfaith harmony week February 2019
The week began with a civic service at Southwark cathedral for the Boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth the themes being Together in health, youth and faith. Amir Eden, Chair of Living Bankside gave an inspiring address about the interfaith work around the terrorist atrocities in Southwark. The youth speakers, Police cadets and Fire Cadets were all most impressive and Steve Chalke spoke on “Who are you? Why are you here?” I particularly enjoyed learning a South African song Te Dumela and we raised the roof in “Amazing Grace”. The Bishop of Southwark led the Act of Commitment.
The next day I was at committee room 19 of the House of Commons for “Building Bridges Through Interfaith Dialogue” chaired by Toaha Qureshi MBE, Chairman, Forum for International Relations Development (FIRD) and Chairman, Ash-Shahada Housing Association (ASHA) with Dr. David Dangoor DL – Chair, Lord Lieutenant of Greater London’s Council of Faith, The Lord Hylton – Founder and Trustee, The Ammerdown Centre, MPs, Mark Fox – President, West London Synagogue, Dr Marcus Braybrooke – President, World Congress of Faiths and Lt. Col. Arnel David – Chief of Staff, Army Future Studies Group, US Armed Forces. A wide range of subjects was covered but I was particularly struck by a young speaker who spoke of the decline of faith in under30s.
Bushra Nasir, CBE, the first Muslim woman head teacher, followed this by speaking of the decline in religious education classes. Religious education is no longer a GCSE subject. In conversation with her later she spoke of the lack of parental involvement in supporting schools and children. I spoke about the need to defend faith schools together and the importance of teaching about right and wrong. How is that a young person can think it OK to take a knife in order to attach somebody? Have we not lost fundamental values about the right to life?
The next morning I enjoyed the breakfast at Streatham Drop-in for asylum seekers and migrants which is a lovely facility next to English Martyrs church. Again the conversation turned to education! In the evening I went to Farm street church hall for a Faith matters meeting about violent crime and what we can do about it. Barry and Margaret Mizen spoke movingly of the death of their son Jimmy and the wonderful work they have been doing in schools and prisons. Fr Michael Holman SJ gave us a wider perspective about the cuts to youth services and schools. The arts and sport, work experience, counselling and mentoring have all been cut in many schools. The universal credit system has left many in poverty. 8% of violent crime is committed by 10 to 14 year olds. Social media gives out mixed messages about drugs and violence. Barry underlined the importance of dealing with behaviour at primary school. Bullies tend to be those wanting attention and love. Add to this split families, absent fathers and overcrowded housing.
However the Jimmy Mizen foundation send out a powerful message about forgiveness, peace and hope and it is important to hold this in our minds. Bishop Richard Harries made the point at his St Paul’s cathedral talk that his generation wanted to make the world better but the younger generation now needed to stop the world getting worse. There is hope but we need to build community and as Margaret said, we need the young people themselves to call an end to violence.
John Woodhouse
Westminster cathedral interfaith group
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