Ethical Guidelines for Christian and Muslim Witness in Britain

Julian Bond from the Christian Muslim Forum kindly sent me the following ethical witness guidelines which are a very valuable contribution to our event on the same subject next Tuesday.
Read the full document HERE.


The Guidelines

1) We bear witness to, and proclaim our faith not only through words but through our attitudes, actions and lifestyles.
2) We cannot convert people, only God can do that. In our language and methods we should recognise that people’s choice of faith is primarily a matter between themselves and God.
3) Sharing our faith should never be coercive; this is especially important when working with children, young people and vulnerable adults. Everyone should have the choice to accept or reject the message we proclaim and we will accept people’s choices without resentment.
4) Whilst we might care for people in need or who are facing personal crises, we should never manipulate these situations in order to gain a convert.
5) An invitation to convert should never be linked with financial, material or other inducements. It should be a decision of the heart and mind alone.
6) We will speak of our faith without demeaning or ridiculing the faiths of others.
7) We will speak clearly and honestly about our faith, even when that is uncomfortable or controversial.
8) We will be honest about our motivations for activities and we will inform people when events will include the sharing of faith.
9) Whilst recognising that either community will naturally rejoice with and support those who have chosen to join them, we will be sensitive to the loss that others may feel.
10) Whilst we may feel hurt when someone we know and love chooses to leave our faith, we will respect their decision and will not force them to stay or harass them afterwards.

Waging peace

Jonathan Smith sent me an interesting article about an event which took place recently in Washington. It’s definitely a valuable and important contribution to the dialogue on mission and da’wah.

An unlikely blend of believers, among other interested, gathered at Georgetown University in Washington, DC June 16 and 17 for an event titled "The Global Leadership Forum 2010: Evangelicals & Muslims, Perspectives on Mission and Partnership." Four panels addressed the topics of faith and identity, mission and dawa, partnership despite "irreconcilable" theological differences, and mutual reconciliation and conflict transformation.
Read more here...

Faith journey

DurgaMata, who attended our last event at St Ethelburga's in July, asked me to make two documents available for download. The first one reflects the personal faith journey, the second is on Quakers and Sri Ramakrishna's models of God.