Interfaith: The New Ecumenism?

27th - 29th May 2010

The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick

Contact details:

Event description:

Speakers: Raficq Abdulla MBE (author; lawyer and consultant; Visiting Fellow to Kingston University; on the Board of English PEN; awarded an MBE for interfaith work among Muslims, Jews, & Christians); Rabbi Dr Tony Bayfield (Head of the Movement for Reform Judaism, writer and broadcaster); The Revd Dr David Cornick (General Secretary for Churches Together in England); The Revd Canon Dr Alan Race (Editor-in-Chief of the World Congress of Faiths’ leading quarterly journal “Interreligious Insight”; author; widely involved in work for interfaith understanding & co-operation); and Dr Ian Bradley (Reader in Practical Theology & Church history at the University of St Andrews, returns to launch his new book “Grace, Order, Openness and Diversity – Reclaiming Liberal Theology”, partially inspired by last year’s conference).

Extract from an article by Martin Camroux, Chair of the Free to Believe committee:

There have always been two definitions of ecumenism. In the narrow definition, ecumenism is simply another word for Christian Unity. . . . But there was always another definition of ecumenism. The word 'ecumenical', comes from the Greek 'oikoumene', which is derived from a root word meaning to 'inhabit'. So, it literally means the 'inhabited earth' or 'the whole world'. . . . .

. . . . The aim of this conference is to explore this possibility – that interfaith is the new ecumenism. We will hear from Christians who are committed to this possibility, from Jewish and Islamic speakers about the possibilities they see for it, and from the General Secretary of Churches Together in England, David Cornick, to give him a chance to explore the continued relevance of the work for Christian unity. Where is the cutting edge of unity now?

Read more of Martin’s article and find more information and the booking form on the Free to Believe website: www.freetobelieve.org.uk

Pricing/Booking:

£140 - booking form available on the Free to Believe website.