Eight speakers from Luton’s different faith communities contributed to a virtual event titled “Building Life Flourishing Communities from different Faith Perspectives” held recently by CWM (Council for World Mission)[1] Europe Region, in partnership with GRASSROOTS[2].
Welcoming all and introducing the theme, Revd Dr Michael Jagessar Secretary for Europe & Caribbean Regions at the Council for World Mission (CWM) said, “Life-flourishing communities is the Council for World Mission’s (CWM) overall Strategic Framework theme for 2020-2029. In the midst of forces and powers bent on despoiling, destroying and denying, the theme underscores CWM’s commitment to God’s vision of just world and flourishing life for all, and not for a few only. This event is our partnership to engage with all faith traditions on the theme we are all committed to.” Calling for spiritual sensitivity and willingness to listen to one another with an open mind he invited David Jonathan (Johny), Director GRASSROOTS Programme Luton to introduce the speakers for the day.
Johny said, “All our speakers today have been working hard to harness and mobilise the inclusive energy of our shared story on this shared planet. They have been working hard to connect hearts and foster greater intercultural and interfaith dialogue. They have been working hard to foster greater understanding and engagement between different faith communities and the wider world. It is therefore an honour to have them all sharing some of their insights today on the theme of Building Life Flourishing Communities. They are all gentle and humble human beings. They might refer to themselves as ‘ordinary people’, but in my eyes they are all ‘extra ordinary’ people, because of what they believe and how they put it into action, what they believe.”
For the 1st Part of the programme speakers were invited to draw upon the following Q:
What does your faith tradition say about building life flourishing communities?
What anecdote / short story / parable / reflection / poem / quote you can share from your respective religious scripture / theological perspective on the topic of “building life-flourishing communities”.
Speakers names and online links for their contributions are listed below:
Introduction by Revd Dr Michael Jagessar & David Jonathan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsmngCtaohM
Mr Luqman Ali (Muslim) https://youtu.be/91nbLCldek4
From Khayaal Theatre https://www.khayaal.co.uk/
Prof Gurch Randhawa (Sikh) https://youtu.be/jt5xPclFgAw
From Guru Nanak Gurudwara Luton https://gngluton.org/
Mr Yogesh Mistry (Hindu) https://youtu.be/aIvZlaRp1fg
From Shree Sanatan Sewa Samaj Hindu Mandir Luton http://www.hindumandir-luton.org/
Revd David Kesterton (Christian) https://youtu.be/haICm-zGg2o
From All Saints with St Peter C of E Luton http://allsaintpeter.org.uk/
For the 2nd Part of the programme speakers were invited to draw upon the following Q:
Can different faiths work together to build life flourishing communities? If yes, how? Is there a model?
Speakers names and online links for their contributions are listed below:
Gulseema Bali Khan (Muslim ) https://youtu.be/_oy0GxrqU3Y
From Discover Islam Centre Luton https://discover-islam.co.uk/
Bobby Mudhar (Sikh) https://youtu.be/6WTr1VCjvVI
From Mandip Mudhar Memorial Foundation https://mmmforg.wordpress.com/about/
Hemal Randerwala (Hindu) https://youtu.be/bLrWXEs9X_8
From Go Dharmic https://godharmic.com/
Ulrike Hunt (Christian) https://youtu.be/czpMmXz1v9A
From FEAST Programme Luton https://thefeast.org.uk/
A Closing Reflection on All Contributions by Lindsey, Member of CWM Board of Directors
The words of the following quote from theologian Sallie McFague represents aptly what the essence of this virtual event was all about.
We, all of us, are being called to do something unprecedented. We are being called to think about ‘everything that is’, for we now know that everything is interrelated and that the well-being of each is connected to the well-being of the whole. This suggests a ‘planetary agenda’ for all the religions, all the various fields of expertise.” —Sallie McFague
NOTE:
In November 2020, CWM Europe had started to facilitate a series of webinars to help members and ecumenical partners to reflect on the Life-flourishing communities theme. Recordings of these conversations can be found at this link:
https://cwmeurope.org/what-we-do/a-series-of-webinars-building-life-flourishing-communities/
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[1] a global partnership of 32 member churches in 31 countries, with over 50,000 congregations worldwide
[2] a Christian ecumenical programme of community engagement working with Churches and other faith communities in Luton for over 30 years
