Select Committee

Bahai Community of the UK, Office of Public Affairs

MENA0018 - The UK’s engagement with the Middle East and North Africa

Written Evidence Dec. 18 2023

Inquiry: The UK’s engagement with the Middle East and North Africa
Inquiry Status: Closed
Committee: Foreign Affairs Committee (Department: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)

Found: MENA0018 - The UK’s engagement with the Middle East and North Africa Bahai Community of the UK, Office

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Grand Committee
Religious Education in Schools - Thu 18 Jan 2024
Department for Education

Mentions:
1: Lord Storey (LD - Life peer) We are a very successful multicultural and multifaith society, and two-thirds of young people and more - Speech Link
2: Lord Bishop of Durham (Bshp - Bishops) a more respectful and tolerant society. - Speech Link
3: Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick (XB - Life peer) understanding of the role of faith in today’s society—let alone understanding of the context of our - Speech Link
4: Lord Warner (XB - Life peer) , on faith and non-faith beliefs. - Speech Link

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Lords Chamber
Extremism Definition and Community Engagement - Tue 19 Mar 2024
Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities

Mentions:
1: None society and faith groups, especially in those areas where social cohesion is most under strain, to de-escalate - Speech Link
2: Baroness Sherlock (Lab - Life peer) The Statement says that DLUHC has been working with faith groups, civil society and local councils. - Speech Link
3: Baroness Hussein-Ece (LD - Life peer) hate crimes threaten society and the safety of our communities and undermine social cohesion. - Speech Link
4: Baroness Swinburne (Con - Life peer) Our external engagement can strengthen our democracy, our policy-making and our society, and we agree - Speech Link

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Select Committee

National Secular Society

MHL0005 - Membership of the House of Lords

Written Evidence Oct. 24 2023

Inquiry: Membership of the House of Lords
Inquiry Status: Closed
Committee: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Found: MHL0005 - Membership of the House of Lords National Secular Society Written Evidence

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Non-Departmental Publication (News and Communications)
The Charity Commission

Mar. 07 2024

Source Page: Regulator launches investigation into Al-Manar Centre Trust over serious concerns about video post
Document: Regulator launches investigation into Al-Manar Centre Trust over serious concerns about video post (webpage)

Found: community relationships and religious harmony in Cardiff, and to educate the public about the Islamic

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Departmental Publication (News and Communications)
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Mar. 01 2024

Source Page: Launch of UK presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
Document: Launch of UK presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (webpage)

Found: It is an immense pleasure to follow Croatia, and my thanks go to them, in particular. 

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Written Question

Community Relations: Religion

Tuesday 12th September 2023

Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)

Question

To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church is taking to foster inter-faith dialogue and collaboration with other religious communities.

Answered by Andrew Selous - Second Church Estates Commissioner

Parish ministry is at the heart of Church of England ministry and mission, including in areas that are religiously diverse.

The 2005 report Presence and Engagement: the church’s task in a multi Faith society gave special attention to the role of the parish church in areas where there was a high proportion of people from other religions. Following this the Presence and Engagement programme aims to support and resource the Church of England in its engagement serving all religious communities: ‘loving, serving and witnessing to people of all faiths in the name of Christ, and being enriched and renewed in our own faith by doing so’. This vision is put into practice by the Presence & Engagement Programme, the Presence & Engagement Task Group, and a network of Diocesan Inter Faith Advisers.

The Presence and Engagement programme enables clergy and lay people to act with confidence and sensitivity at times of tension across religious boundaries, including times when global politics impacts local relations. Support provided includes theological resources, for example, Gods Unfailing Word, which was published in 2019 and informs and educates Anglicans about the Christian-Jewish relationship, with the aim of better dialogue and stronger relationships between Christian and Jewish communities. These resources are also used in ongoing work with theological colleges to assist in the training of new priests.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is Patron of both the Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ) and the Christian Muslim Forum. Both organisations are actively working at national and grassroots levels to boost dialogue, understanding and collaboration between different religions.

In Good Faith is a national initiative co-sponsored by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Chief Rabbi, which has been promoting dialogue and collaboration between Anglican priests and Orthodox rabbis since 2016.

The Church of England has a network of Inter Faith Advisers in most regions across England, who work to model, encourage and resource the development of positive relationships between different religious communities locally. Examples include building relationships through Church/Mosque Twinning partnerships, or collaborating on local foodbanks, as well as putting on educational programmes for clergy and lay people in the diocese. Two notable examples are:

• The St Philips Centre in Leicester. A unique initiative that for over a decade has been working within the Christian community and across wider society, enabling ‘communities and individuals to encounter one another in meaningful ways, to build understanding and trust’. It is leading efforts across the region to ensure religion and belief are harnessed for the good of all.

• FNC in Birmingham helps churches in their engagement with people of other faiths, whether through mission, evangelism, dialogue or social action, and is part of The Church of England’s Presence and Engagement Programme. The Birmingham Conversations are an example of an FNC initiative which creates safe space for people of all faiths and none to discuss issues of faith and public life.

The Coronation of King Charles III included participation by other faith representatives for the first time, a very public affirmation of the national role of the Church of England in serving all religious communities.

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Non-Departmental Publication (Transparency)
Government Internal Audit Agency

Mar. 06 2024

Source Page: GIAA Board members’ register of declared interests 2023/24
Document: GIAA Board members’ register of declared interests (PDF)

Found: Background This list sets out the relevant interests of executive and non- executive members of the

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