In 2009 the Christian Muslim Forum provided opportunities for people of both faiths to discuss issues of local and global concern. Concrete projects and resolutions emerged from the discussions, and once more it was shown that Christians and Muslims share a common concern for world peace and harmony.
In February leading Islamic and Christian financial experts met to discuss the credit crunch at St Ethelburga’s Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in London. The meeting inspired plans announced in September for City Groups to be set up in London, Nottingham and Birmingham. The Christian Muslim Forum needs to raise £10,000 for the initiative, which will increase opportunities for discussion between Christians and Muslims in local areas (a third of this amount has been generously given by the Maurice & Hilda Laing Charitable Trust).
The Christian Muslim Forum showed what can be done in Britain’s localities on 10 February at Luton Central Mosque. Christians met with Muslims to talk about what it means to be neighbours. After listening to stories of interfaith dialogue those attending resolved to foster greater communication between Christians and Muslims in their area. Suggestions raised included the building of greater links between the Central Mosque and a Luton church, and the encouragement of interfaith dialogue between local youngsters.
There was ample time for young people of both faiths to share their ideas in October, when the first Christian Muslim Youth Forum was held at Lambeth Palace. The initiative was launched by MADE in Europe and the Christian Muslim Forum. The statement was passed on to the UK government on 1 December.
This was not the only statement produced by the efforts of the Christian Muslim Forum. June saw the release of ‘10 Commandments of Mission’, ethical guidelines for interfaith dialogue between Christians and Muslims. In November the guidelines were discussed in a lunchtime debate at St Mary-le-Bow titled ‘Ethical witness: Christian and Islamic evangelism in a climate of toleration.’
Essential to dialogue between Christians and Muslims is the recognition that Jesus is equally beloved by both faiths but seen differently. Julian Bond (Director) and Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad (Scholar-Consultant and Cambridge University) marked the Christian seasons of Advent and Christmas by asking – can Jesus be a bridge between the two faiths? Julian Bond respectfully indicated that the Christian view of Jesus as the incarnation of God cannot be reconciled with the Qur’anic description, but said that Christians and Muslims can both enjoy and understand Jesus’ teachings. He also pointed to the shared heritage of Christianity and Islam. In a truly enlightening article Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad highlighted the differing interpretations of the term ‘son of God’, and drew attention to the common Christian and Muslim anticipation of the ‘tough Jesus’ of the Book of Revelations. He also reminded readers of the words of Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra (Christian Muslim Forum President and Chair of the Muslim Council of Britain’s Inter Faith Committee), who said: ‘We don’t have to fight over Jesus. He is special for Christians and Muslims. He is bigger than life. We can share him.’
The run up to Christmas was also marked by the Christian Muslim Forum’s Campus Encounter at King’s College in London. The event, organised in partnership with the college’s Interfaith Network, was ‘a Winter Celebration of Faith’ and involved stalls relating to Hanukah, Eid and Christmas. The Christian Muslim Forum hopes to establish Campus Encounter events at universities throughout the UK, starting primarily in London.
These are just a few of the events and initiatives organised by the Christian Muslim Forum in 2009. The organisation relies on the natural goodwill of Christians and Muslims to move forward into 2010, 2011 and beyond. If you want to volunteer to help interfaith harmony, make this the year you do something about it. You can email Forum Director to find out what you can do, and to tell him what skills you can offer. Download our March 2010 volunteer pack. Don’t be afraid if you think your particular talents aren’t what the Forum needs at the moment. You never can tell what the Forum has up its sleeve for the future! Please support our work with a donation.
Written by Claire George (Volunteer)