How does one navigate a pluralistic world with varied worldviews and faiths, yet still be effective and loving Christian witnesses engaged in interfaith conversations? This was one of many questions on the minds of 31 participants attending the Interfaith and Spiritualities workshop from 7-17 October in the Council for World Mission (CWM) London office.

Participants, of different theological backgrounds and with a myriad of faith stories to share, were invited from CWM’s member churches and regional ecumenical partners such as the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland Interfaith Advisory Group, Council for Christians and Jews, Church of England, and Scottish Episcopal Church as well as the Methodist Church of Great Britain.

The aim of the workshop was threefold – to achieve a practical understanding of interfaith engagement amongst CWM member churches, facilitate fruitful and constructive conversations on contextual examples of Christian witness in pluralistic settings, and develop deeper theological reflection on interfaith engagement.

“Mission and dialogue are often presented as opposites, but they are not. In dialogue, we witness to our faith in Jesus,” described Rev. Dr Peter Colwell, Deputy General Secretary of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, who saw the programme as a milestone towards deepening and strengthening essential interfaith conversations.

A major part of the 10-day programme was the mutual exchanges and sharing of stories and interfaith contexts unique to the participants and the collective discussions exploring models of interfaith engagement. The workshop also included an exposure visit to “GRASSROOTS”—an interfaith organisation headed by David Jonathan, a former CWM Partner-in-Mission.

Established in 1991, GRASSROOTS has become a key member within the faith communities in Luton, UK, where it has been called upon and its views respected in areas concerning the various issues that continue to pose a threat to the cohesion of the local communities and domestic interfaith relationships.

Underscoring the importance of giving minorities a voice was Ps Koo Ping Ping from Gereja Presbyterian Malaysia, who said, “Christians are a minority in Malaysia. Minorities [voices do] matter.”

SOURCE>CWM