New Archbishop to launch forum in terror link city

-07/12/05

By


New Archbishop to launch forum in terror link city

-07/12/05

By Fran Race

Britain’s first black archbishop is to launch a new Faiths Forum tomorrow (Thurs) that was linked with the recent London bombings.

Dr John Sentamu, the new archbishop of York, will launch the Yorkshire & Humber Faiths Forum in Leeds, which is aimed at encouraging different faith communities to contribute together to develop key regional agendas around issues such as health, transport, education and social inclusion.

It comes soon after his inauguration last week at York Minster.

“It is very important that the voices of the people of faith are heard by the policy makers in the region, and that faith communities work together for peace and justice in our villages, towns and cities,” said the Archbishop.

The new forum will be headed up by Inderjit Bhogal, who has already been awarded an OBE in honour of his services to interfaith relations. He speaks about the challenges that lie ahead, in living in a community of religious diversity.

“Prejudice and discrimination is increasingly about religion and religious identity as well as about race and diversityÖthe challenge that faces us all now is to help everyone to move on from intolerance to those who are different towards welcomeÖ”

The launch comes at a poignant time for Leeds in the North of England.

Since the revelation of its link with the London bombings the city has been in the public eye, with rumour abounding of increasing religious tension.

Some suggest that it is only through the tireless efforts of those committed to peace and interfaith relations within their own small communities and across the city that relations still stand strong.

Agnes Grunwald-Spier, a survivor of the Holocaust and Sheffield Deputy at the Board of Deputies of British Jews gave her support to the project saying “With my background I know how important it is that people from different faith backgrounds know and understand each other. Our faiths have a great deal in common and we should dwell on the similarities rather than the differences.”

Fran Race is a reporter for Ekklesia and a member of All Hallows Anglican church in Leeds. She can be contacted: [email protected]


New Archbishop to launch forum in terror link city

-07/12/05

By Fran Race

Britain’s first black archbishop is to launch a new Faiths Forum tomorrow (Thurs) that was linked with the recent London bombings.

Dr John Sentamu, the new archbishop of York, will launch the Yorkshire & Humber Faiths Forum in Leeds, which is aimed at encouraging different faith communities to contribute together to develop key regional agendas around issues such as health, transport, education and social inclusion.

It comes soon after his inauguration last week at York Minster.

“It is very important that the voices of the people of faith are heard by the policy makers in the region, and that faith communities work together for peace and justice in our villages, towns and cities,” said the Archbishop.

The new forum will be headed up by Inderjit Bhogal, who has already been awarded an OBE in honour of his services to interfaith relations. He speaks about the challenges that lie ahead, in living in a community of religious diversity.

“Prejudice and discrimination is increasingly about religion and religious identity as well as about race and diversityÖthe challenge that faces us all now is to help everyone to move on from intolerance to those who are different towards welcomeÖ”

The launch comes at a poignant time for Leeds in the North of England.

Since the revelation of its link with the London bombings the city has been in the public eye, with rumour abounding of increasing religious tension.

Some suggest that it is only through the tireless efforts of those committed to peace and interfaith relations within their own small communities and across the city that relations still stand strong.

Agnes Grunwald-Spier, a survivor of the Holocaust and Sheffield Deputy at the Board of Deputies of British Jews gave her support to the project saying “With my background I know how important it is that people from different faith backgrounds know and understand each other. Our faiths have a great deal in common and we should dwell on the similarities rather than the differences.”

Fran Race is a reporter for Ekklesia and a member of All Hallows Anglican church in Leeds. She can be contacted: [email protected]