The Project Launch Event
This Event took place on 11th September 2007 at the Great Hall of the University (attendance: over 400 people) starting at 7:30 pm and lasting for two hours. Significant media coverage included BBC Midlands Today, the Post and the Mail. The programme for the evening was as follows:
- Welcome and intro: Prof Clarke
- Faith Leaders’ contributions
- ‘Buzz groups’ from the audience
- Questions and responses from panel
- Closing response by Ann Morisy of the Commission on Urban Life and Faith
Six academic theologians have all written a 3,000 word paper on the subject of What makes a good city? These papers are based on respective scriptural texts, taking into account the history of their interpretation. The six academics are: Dr Jabal Buaben (Islam), Dr Elizabeth Harris (Buddhism), Revd Dr Toby Howarth (Christianity), Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi (Judaism), Dr Jagbir Jhutti-Johal (Sikhism), Dr Sharada Sugirtharajah (Hinduism). These have been collated and edited by Dr David Cheetham of the Department of Theology, and an introduction has been added by Prof Michael Clarke, the University Vice Principal. The booklet was distributed at the launch event.
Marc Reeves, the Editor of the Birmingham Post, published 800 word excerpts of each of the papers in the Birmingham Post newspaper in the week leading up to the project launch.
Six members of the Birmingham Faith Leaders Group used these papers to inform their five minute talks focusing on the contribution that their faith tradition can make to the city of Birmingham. The texts of these speeches will be included in a book connected with the project which is due for publication in November 2007 edited by Mr Jonathan Gurling, the Group’s Executive Secretary. The six Faith Leaders were: Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh (Sikhism), Mr Dinesh Chauhan (Hinduism), Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi (Judaism), Dr Muhammed Naseem (Islam), Most Revd Vincent Nicholls (Christianity), Vajaragupta (Buddhism)
“Ulfa Arts” Nasheed group, a religious music group from Soho Road Gurudwara, the Hindu “Chitraleka Dance Company” and other artists performed in the hour prior to the start of the launch event. A reception for special guests was hosted by Prof Clarke.
Download the papers by the six theologians | Event photos
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Business and Commerce:Commerce and Industry: faith, diversity and the workplace
This part of the project has brought together representatives of the Birmingham Faith Leaders Group and the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce with input from the Church’s Industrial Group and the Birmingham University School of Business. The planned outcomes include two events and a resource document.
A lunch seminar held at Asha’s restaurant in the city centre on 13 November 2007 focussed on the theme of religious and ethnic diversity in the workplace. Another, very positive event was held today, 31 January, as part of the Chamber of Commerce’s Council Meeting. This debate consisted of a discussion by a small group of business people from different faith and cultural backgrounds chaired by Marc Reeves, Editor of the Birmingham Post. The discussion focused on ways in which the business community can become more comfortable with, understanding of and open to the contribution that people of faith can make at the workplace, and how businesses can adapt to the changing demography of the city.
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Quality of Living: Diversity and the Quality of Living
Following the successful discussion on Faith and Business at January’s Council meeting of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, this event brought local citizens and Faith leaders together with representatives from different sectors of the city to look at the way that religious faith can contribute to the wellbeing of our city.
It was significant that the event was hosted (with an excellent lunch!) by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Randal Brew on behalf of the city, and that the opening speech was by the Leader of the Council, Cllr Mike Whitby. He spoke about the way that his own Christian faith inspired and informed his political work, and stressed the seriousness with which the city council takes the faith communities in contributing to their vision of a ‘global city with a local heart.’ Dr Therese O’Toole, from Birmingham University, also spoke of the increasing significance of faith in Birmingham’s public life, rooted not least in the care services that 83% of faith groups provide for their local communities. But she also challenged both faith communities and the city as a whole to develop mechanisms for dealing with difference in a peaceful and constructive way.
The second part of the seminar moved from general issues of faith participation to the specific areas of the justice system, public space, and religious education. Mr Noor Siddiqi, a local solicitor and spiritual leader, HH Judge Martin Cardinal, Chief Inspector Ryan Howart from the WM Police and others looked at ways in which those in the justice system could better share with faith leaders in order to find ways of resolving problems in local communities before they got to the courts.
Dr Dick Atkinson, from the Balsall Heath Neighbourhood Forum spoke passionately and led a discussion about the need for local communities to ‘re-balance’ their relationship with the state. He said that local public spaces had often been taken over by the state at the expense of local ownership, and challenged faith communities to play their part in re-inventing and re-creating local ‘villages’ within the larger city.
One of the most significant ways in which Faith communities have contributed to the public life of the city in Birmingham is the new Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education which was launched last year after two years of much hard work. Dr Marius Felderhof showed two films demonstrating and illustrating the new syllabus, and there was a discussion of the thinking behind the syllabus, that focuses on shared spiritual ‘dispositions’ that are shared by the different religious traditions, with each bringing its distinctive contribution to the way these dispositions are understood.
The day finished with a discussion of how we can take the Faiths for the City agenda forward, and involve more people in what is proving to be an exciting and challenging process.
Download flyer for this event | Event photos
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Environment: Believing in our Environment
On Bank Holiday Monday, May 26th 2008 people of faith and residents of Birmingham came to the Botanical Gardens for 'Believing in our Environment' organised by Birmingham Friends of the Earth as part of the Faith Leaders initiative "Faiths for the City.
Family Fun was the highlight of the day - with craft activities using recycled materials, origami with re-used paper, face painting and henna tattoos. We all had a chance to talk about environmental concerns and participants left their messages on our tree of hopes. Rianne ten Veen (Midlands Islamic Network for the Environment) and David Wetton (Birmingham Jubilee Debt Campaign) gave a presentation on the Islamic and Christian perspective of Debt and Climate Change. Dr Rama Karri, Hindu Chaplain to the University of Birmingham led participants through a Hindu perspective and Nigel Baker and Lou Twist facilitated an animated discussion on Friends of the Earth and our current campaign on BioFuels. For more information on the day or to find out how you can get involved in the multifaith project please contact Maud Grainger at multifaith@birminghamfoe.org.uk
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Summer School:The Good City: Living Together Differently
Between 19th July – 1 August, 2008 ‘Faiths for the City’ and the University of Birmingham will be hosting the International Summer School on Religion and Public Life on The Good City: Living Together Differently
Click Here for more information >>
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Education: Event being planned with the University School of Education. |
