While at the 'Faith & Climate Change' conference I recorded an interview for the Open University's Creative Climate project telling the story of how we are responding to the challenge of climate change at St John's Seven Kings. What follows is that story pegged to key themes from the recent lecture (sponsored by the Christian environmental group Operation Noah) which the Archbishop of Canterbury gave setting out a Christian vision of how people can respond to the looming environmental crisis:
Beginning with the story of Noah and the Flood, Dr Williams highlighted the “burden of responsibility for what confronts us here and now as a serious crisis and challenge”. Our relationship with the rest of creation is intimately bound up with our relationship with God. The Bible offers “an ethical perspective based on reverence for the whole of life”. “To act so as to protect the future of the non-human world is both to accept a God-given responsibility and, appropriately, to honour the special dignity given to humanity itself.”
At St Johns we teach regularly from these, and other biblical perspectives, on the necessity of care for our environment. We do so particularly through our annual Stewardship Campaign, our Harvest Festival and our support of Christian Aid and their campaigns. We have also linked our teaching to the related theme of Peak Oil, the idea that the world’s supply of fossil fuels has peaked and that increased fuel costs in future will necessitate lifestyle changes.
Dr Williams warned against looking for a single solution to the complex environmental challenges which face us. “Instead of a desperate search to find the one great idea that will save us from ecological disaster, we are being invited to a transformation of individual and social goals that will bring us closer to the reality of interdependent life in a variegated world”. He urged action at the personal and local, as well as at the national and international, levels saying, “When we believe in transformation at the local and personal level, we are laying the surest foundations for change at the national and international level”.
At St Johns we have a Peace & Justice committee who regularly involve us in campaigns calling for global change politically, such as Christian Aid’s ‘Countdown to Copenhagen’ campaign on which theme they are currently preparing a service. As a church, we intend to install solar panels on our roof and are currently exploring how this could be done using the new arrangements for supporting the introduction of renewable sources of energy being introduced by the Government in 2010. On the individual level, during our Stewardship month we give our congregation a list of simple changes, such as sharing transport, turning heating thermostats down, saving water, switching to green energy and so on – that they can make to begin to transform their individual carbon footprint.
The Archbishop urged leaders to take bold decisions at the Copenhagen summit in December. He encouraged the taking of effective collaborative local action to reduce carbon emissions and to maintain pressure on local governments and businesses to do the same. And he encouraged the small actions which mark a break with destructive patterns of consumption and waste and help “to make us more aware of the diversity of life around us”.
At St Johns our understanding of Christian care for the environment and those in need increasingly leads us to view Western consumerism as selfish and wasteful, although we recognise that we are also implicated and need to repent of our own levels of consumption. Our initial discussions of peak oil have led us to begin to consider transition initiatives while also recognising that our love of affluence as a society currently means that the radical changes needed as individuals, communities and society are not being made as fully or rapidly as the crisis demands.
Dr Williams underlined the particular role that belief can play in recovering a sense of balance and interdependence. “What we face today is nothing less than a choice about how genuinely human we want to be; and the role of religious faith in meeting this is first and foremost in setting out a compelling picture of what humanity reconciled with both creator and creation might look like.”
In conclusion, the Archbishop emphasized that “the Christian story lays out a model of reconnection with an alienated world: it tells us of a material human life inhabited by God and raised transfigured from death; of a sharing of material food which makes us sharers in eternal life; of a community whose life together seeks to express within creation the care of the creator”. Quoting Moses in the book of Deuteronomy, he concluded “I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death… choose life”.
At St Johns we are seeking to choose life but are also very aware that the global challenge needs a far greater level of change and transformation than we have yet implemented.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nickel Creek - When In Rome.
Friday, 30 October 2009
c4m webpage update (26)
This week the commission4mission webpage has the latest information about our showcase exhibition and Study Day which are both taking place at Chelmsford Cathedral next week. In addition, there is also information about an exciting arts programme at commission4mission member church, St Andrews Leytonstone, called The Tree of Life, and including contributions from commission4mission artists Mark Lewis and Peter Webb.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vigilantes Of Love - Glory And The Dream.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vigilantes Of Love - Glory And The Dream.
Thursday, 29 October 2009
Faith & Climate Change (4)
What follows is my input to the faith leader's panel session at the Faith and Climate Change conference in answer to the question: 'How does your faith reconcile the issue of climate change and economic development?'
Climate change is first and foremost a justice issue. The developed world bears a historical responsibility for the climate crisis as we have grown rich by polluting without facing the costs of doing so. Our growth has effectively been subsidised by the damage that we have done to the rest of the world. Those who are already suffering most from global warming are those who have done the least to cause it, and who have the least resources to do anything about it. As the United Nations Environment Programme’s Global Environment Outlook suggests, unprecedented levels of economic growth have pushed the planet to the point of destitution. That is essentially how a Christian Aid report setting out a theological approach to climate change and development begins and I agree with their analysis.
As Chair of Faiths in London’s Economy, I was involved, earlier in the year, in compiling a ‘Shared faiths response to the credit crunch’ in which we stated that “Western economies have been inflated through greed, with their economic make-up being based on self-centred acquisition” and this has led to “economies predicated on unlimited growth which have then caused harm to the environment.”
It may be, we suggested, that we are now at a point in time when, because the free market has been shown to be unable to provide its own banks without these being propped up by Government funds, new structures for society can be produced. Recession, the credit crunch and the ecological crisis may be combining to bring about profound shifts in the global economy; a ‘third way’ or ‘middle path’ between nationalisation and capitalism, based on agreed standards of ethics, environmental and social responsibility and a much broader understanding of wealth and value. Such a restructuring of the global economy in terms of a broader understanding of wealth would see new kinds of jobs (i.e. in renewable energies, creative industries, and community empowerment) forming its foundation.
Such a restructuring could also provide space for addressing the ecological crisis. Ecology cannot be divorced from economics. For example, the ecological costs of extraction and replacement of the world’s natural resources have in the past been excluded from company accounts but their inclusion would provide a very different picture of the effects of the global economy on the environment. If justice is to be done in addressing climate change, the West must repay its carbon debt by accepting a fair share of the burden of global cuts in greenhouse gases, in addition to domestic cuts.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, in a recent lecture for the Christian environmental charity Operation Noah, warned against looking for a single solution to the complex environmental challenges which face us. “Instead of a desperate search to find the one great idea that will save us from ecological disaster, we are being invited to a transformation of individual and social goals that will bring us closer to the reality of interdependent life in a variegated world”.
The future, if it is not to be an apocalyptic scenario, will need to be relational. The theologian Karl Barth wrote of a human being in the community of the church as someone who is “united in society as an individual with the whole Church, related … to God, but in God to others.” The Christian Aid report that I mentioned earlier ends with a challenge to the Church, which is also a challenge to all (including the worlds of business and economics); to “work together, not in isolated joint events, but in a continuing and deepening commitment to combat climate change as it affects the world’s most vulnerable people.”
Such action is required at the personal and local, as well as at the national and international, levels. As the Archbishop of Canterbury said in his recent lecture, “When we believe in transformation at the local and personal level, we are laying the surest foundations for change at the national and international level” and our small actions mark a break with destructive patterns of consumption and waste helping “to make us more aware of the diversity of life around us.”
How does my faith reconcile the issue of climate change and economic development? In terms of seeking to address injustice, develop relationships, and share in local and global transformational and transitional actions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paolo Nutini - High Hopes.
Climate change is first and foremost a justice issue. The developed world bears a historical responsibility for the climate crisis as we have grown rich by polluting without facing the costs of doing so. Our growth has effectively been subsidised by the damage that we have done to the rest of the world. Those who are already suffering most from global warming are those who have done the least to cause it, and who have the least resources to do anything about it. As the United Nations Environment Programme’s Global Environment Outlook suggests, unprecedented levels of economic growth have pushed the planet to the point of destitution. That is essentially how a Christian Aid report setting out a theological approach to climate change and development begins and I agree with their analysis.
As Chair of Faiths in London’s Economy, I was involved, earlier in the year, in compiling a ‘Shared faiths response to the credit crunch’ in which we stated that “Western economies have been inflated through greed, with their economic make-up being based on self-centred acquisition” and this has led to “economies predicated on unlimited growth which have then caused harm to the environment.”
It may be, we suggested, that we are now at a point in time when, because the free market has been shown to be unable to provide its own banks without these being propped up by Government funds, new structures for society can be produced. Recession, the credit crunch and the ecological crisis may be combining to bring about profound shifts in the global economy; a ‘third way’ or ‘middle path’ between nationalisation and capitalism, based on agreed standards of ethics, environmental and social responsibility and a much broader understanding of wealth and value. Such a restructuring of the global economy in terms of a broader understanding of wealth would see new kinds of jobs (i.e. in renewable energies, creative industries, and community empowerment) forming its foundation.
Such a restructuring could also provide space for addressing the ecological crisis. Ecology cannot be divorced from economics. For example, the ecological costs of extraction and replacement of the world’s natural resources have in the past been excluded from company accounts but their inclusion would provide a very different picture of the effects of the global economy on the environment. If justice is to be done in addressing climate change, the West must repay its carbon debt by accepting a fair share of the burden of global cuts in greenhouse gases, in addition to domestic cuts.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, in a recent lecture for the Christian environmental charity Operation Noah, warned against looking for a single solution to the complex environmental challenges which face us. “Instead of a desperate search to find the one great idea that will save us from ecological disaster, we are being invited to a transformation of individual and social goals that will bring us closer to the reality of interdependent life in a variegated world”.
The future, if it is not to be an apocalyptic scenario, will need to be relational. The theologian Karl Barth wrote of a human being in the community of the church as someone who is “united in society as an individual with the whole Church, related … to God, but in God to others.” The Christian Aid report that I mentioned earlier ends with a challenge to the Church, which is also a challenge to all (including the worlds of business and economics); to “work together, not in isolated joint events, but in a continuing and deepening commitment to combat climate change as it affects the world’s most vulnerable people.”
Such action is required at the personal and local, as well as at the national and international, levels. As the Archbishop of Canterbury said in his recent lecture, “When we believe in transformation at the local and personal level, we are laying the surest foundations for change at the national and international level” and our small actions mark a break with destructive patterns of consumption and waste helping “to make us more aware of the diversity of life around us.”
How does my faith reconcile the issue of climate change and economic development? In terms of seeking to address injustice, develop relationships, and share in local and global transformational and transitional actions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paolo Nutini - High Hopes.
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Faith & Climate Change (3)
Dr. Mark Collins, Director, Commonwealth Foundation
Dr. Mark Collins, Omar Faruk (Founder Director, Eco-Muslims), Baroness Uddin
Omar Faruk & Baroness Uddin The Faith and Climate Change conference ran alongside the Young Commonwealth Climate change Summit and both shared an opening session addressed by Ransford Smith, Deputy-Secretary General of the Commonwealth and Dr Fatiha Serour, Director of the Commonwealth Youth Programme, among others.
Dr Cyrus Rustomjee, Director of the Commonwealth Economic Affairs Division, argued that the ideas and innovation of young people was needed to break the current deadlock in global negotiations on climate change. Dr Mark Collins, Director of the Commonwealth Foundation said that partnerships were required for a more equitable and sustainable future and so it was a powerful act to bring young people and faith communities together at the beginning of their respective events. Dr Farah Faizal, High Commissioner of the Maldives, spoke of countries such as the Maldives being in the frontline of the battle against climate change and suggested that the frontline is a good source of intelligence for the battle. She spoke of the involvement of young people in the 350 campaign and argued that the key to change was the move from plight to potential in the switch from old energy sources to renewables.
In response, youth delegates from India, Canada, Sierra Leone, Singapore, and the Caribbean Region spoke of difficulties in motivating their governments to engage with the issues and laid down a challenge to rich countries to pay the price for the pollution which has caused the crisis and which predominantly affects poorer countries. In a Youth Programme film, young people said that they would not remain silent while their future is threatened.
Delegates at the Faith and Climate Change conference then heard from a panel of faith leaders (including myself - my contribution will be a separate post) who spoke about their faith tradition and its response to the environment. Jeffrey Newman described the central teaching of Judaism as hearing, listening to, and understanding all people who struggle with God as being or existence, the wonder of what is. Ranchor Prime and Dr Atul Shah both emphasised the significance of ahimsa (the concept of non-violence to all living creatures) are fundamental to Hinduism and Jainism respectively. Dr Shah argued that the Abrahamic faiths had placed human beings at the centre of the universe but that Jainism did not do this. Barney Leith spoke of the Baha'i's teaching that the human heart cannot be segregated from the environment; that the two are interdependent and act one upon the other. The Venerable Amaranatha spoke of the simplicity of a Buddhist monk's life and suggested that as we make ourselves peaceful, the environment will be peaceful.
The conference's keynote address was given by Dr Mark Collins who began by highlighting the tendency among Commonwealth Head of Government to be reticent on faith issues due to the complex patterns of religious belief across the Commonwealth. The annual service at Westminster Abbey on the Commonwealth theme was one example of good practice in engaging with faith communities however and in 2008 had enabled faith leaders to address the theme of 'The Environment - Our Future'.
A more positive engagement with faith communities was now emerging through the need for partnerships to address climate change and helped by the Commonwealth Foundation report 'Engaging with Faith'. Faith groups are the cornerstone of civil society, forge networks of trust and united by beliefs in the human responsibility to respect one another and the earth. National partnerships, such as Stop Climate Chaos, were effective in influencing national governments but were less effective in international forums. Faith groups however can mobilise people across national boundaries and interests.
This conference was then an opportunity to send a strong message to Commonwealth Head of Government about the contribution of faith communities to the climate change crisis. This was vital because it is no longer acceptable for governments to squabble over narrow national interests when emergency plans are already in place for evacuations of islands in the Commonwealth threatened with inundation through rising sea levels.
The conference was supported by two Muslim peers (Lord Sheikh and Baroness Uddin) and was organised partly by a Muslim-led multi-faith organisation in Faith Regen Foundation, whose CEO Dr Husna Ahmad spoke on 'Faith and Community Development'. The conference was therefore a demonstration of the engagement of British Muslims with mainstream political processes and issues. This was highlighted by Omar Faruk who, in speaking of the philosophy of EcoMuslim, thanked Lord Sheikh and Baroness Uddin for their personal support and encouragement and spoke of British Muslims as a bridge between East and West.
Prior to the conference focus groups had been held with local communities in Bangladesh, Brazil, Gambia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, and the UK. The finding from these groups were summarised and highlighted significantly different patterns of climate change around the globe leading to very different approaches to the issue by governments, ranging from a lack of awareness to significant action. Often there was a lack of awareness at grassroots level and faith communities were viewed positively in terms of their knowledge and enthusiasm on the relationship between faith and climate change. There was a need to further educate faith leaders on the issue and to institutionalise the faith contribution in political and educational processes but faith communities were seen as: providing support and hope in crises; a source of unity between peoples; having perspectives on the environment; and fuelling action.
Conference delegates also heard about initiatives such as the Earth Charter (which has recently been adopted by the Episcopal Church) and Faiths' Long Term Commitments for a Living Planet, an Alliance of Religions and Conservation and United Nations initiative. Delegates were also offered the opportunity to begin contributing diaries on personal approaches to climate change to the Creative Climate project being run by The Open University and the BBC.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mohammed Yahya & Poetic Pilgrimage - Earth Cry.
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Faith & Climate Change (2)
Dr Mark Collins (Director, Commonwealth Foundation), Brian McAndrew (Chair, Faith Regen Foundation), Omar Faruk (Founder Director, Eco-Muslim), Lord Sheikh
Committee Room 4, the setting for the reception
Omar Faruk & Lord Sheikh
Lord Sheikh & Dr. Mark CollinsThe Faith & Climate Change conference was launched tonight with a House of Lords reception hosted by Lord Sheikh.
Lord Sheikh is the founder of the Conservative Muslim Forum, Chair of the Conservative Ethnic Diversity Council, founder of the Sheikh Abdullah Foundation, and Chairman of Camberford Law plc. He drew on his upbringing in Uganda, in his speech, to ground both his own lifelong love of the environment and his respect for all religions. He argued that it is people that have spoilt the environment and people that have to put it right. Faith communities are a global tool for mobilising communities and share an understanding of people as stewards of the earth. Working towards a low energy economic Britain by means of legally binding targets for cutting emissions, expansion of renewable energies, and individual actions to recycle and conserve energy was the vision that he outlined.
Dr Mark Collins (Director, Commonwealth Foundation) agreed that climate change is the greatest global environmental threat but added that its humanitarian and economic dimension had come to equal, if not, greater prominence. In the Commonwealth many livelihoods and lives are threatened by climate change and the main issue arising from it, which is the redistribution of water around the planet. In Bangladesh a 1 metre rise in the sea level could displace 17 million people while in Southern Africa the problem is the drying of the climate. The Commonwealth is unusually vulnerable due to the number of small countries and small economies.
The Commonwealth countries, he said, have been discussing respect, tolerance and equality but have had a tendency to set aside faith issues because of their diversity. The Commonwealth Heads of Government meet in Trinidad at the end of November with climate change very much on their agenda. As a result, this conference is timely and an opportunity to inject thoughts on the input of faith communities into their discussions.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Playing For Change: Peace Through Music - One Love.
Windows on the world (75)
Westminster, 2009
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Switchfoot - Politicians.
c4m webpage update (25)
The latest posts on commission4mission's webpage are: a report and photos from the All Saints Goodmayes Festival weekend; information about an exhibition which includes work by Peter Webb and a talk on 'The Art of Life' by Jonathan Evens; a full listing of c4m artists exhibiting in our showcase exhibition at Chelmsford Cathedral (2nd - 7th November); and the full programme for our Study Day 'Perspectives on commissioning Christian Art' (7th November), also at Chelmsford Cathedral.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lifehouse - Everything.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lifehouse - Everything.
Lob a loo roll
To hit any target, we must aim accurately and ambitiously. But world leaders have lost their focus when it comes to meeting water and sanitation goals. These goals won't be met by chance. A determined effort is needed, and you can help.
One fun way to raise your voice on this issue is to lob a loo roll. The aim of the game is to hit the centre target, get the loo roll in the toilet, and work your way up the leaderboard. How does loo roll change the world? Once you've played, be sure to send your message to the Prime Minister, calling on him to take extraordinary action and be a water and sanitation champion. Then tell your friends to play too to get the message across loud and clear!
Tearfund, who have produced the game, also have a free Make life flow church pack. In it you'll find a quick start guide, a church leaders' booklet, a small groups booklet, a DVD, a poster, and personal response leaflets helping you to campaign, pray and give.
To get global water and sanitation goals back on track we need to make a concentrated effort. Join Tearfund to raise the voice of the global church and call on world leaders to refocus and champion water and sanitation for all.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gillian Welch - Orphan Girl.
One fun way to raise your voice on this issue is to lob a loo roll. The aim of the game is to hit the centre target, get the loo roll in the toilet, and work your way up the leaderboard. How does loo roll change the world? Once you've played, be sure to send your message to the Prime Minister, calling on him to take extraordinary action and be a water and sanitation champion. Then tell your friends to play too to get the message across loud and clear!
Tearfund, who have produced the game, also have a free Make life flow church pack. In it you'll find a quick start guide, a church leaders' booklet, a small groups booklet, a DVD, a poster, and personal response leaflets helping you to campaign, pray and give.
To get global water and sanitation goals back on track we need to make a concentrated effort. Join Tearfund to raise the voice of the global church and call on world leaders to refocus and champion water and sanitation for all.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gillian Welch - Orphan Girl.
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Faith & Climate Change (1)
Next week I'm taking part in a panel discussion on faith and climate change at a conference being organised by Faith Regen Foundation (FRF) , 3iG and the Commonwealth Foundation. The conference takes place over two days (28th - 29th October) at Marlborough House, Pall Mall, and is being launched with a reception at the House of Lords.
The conference will bring together stakeholders from all sectors of society, as well as representatives from communities globally, to produce a dynamic and creative arena for discussion. Among those contributing to the conference are: Rt. Hon. Ed Miliband MP (Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change), Keith Faulkner (Chair, Working Links), Martin Palmer (Secretary General, Alliance of Religions and Conservation), Martin Slaby (Coordinator, Earth Charter), and Dato' Mohamed Iqbal (FRF Special Adviser, Malaysia).
The conference is based on the premise that climate change will have a huge impact on communities, but communities also provide a way of addressing the issues. Raising awareness amongst communities can promote real change and real hope for the individuals that will be affected by this increasingly real threat for our global community.
Faith communities have both responsibility and power to address the issues, which is something they are increasingly acknowledging. Faith leaders are the gatekeepers to vast networks and already have a ready audience. What is more, the beliefs of the world's faiths revolve around a deep respect for nature, and a desire to integrate this respect into their social teachings. Faith provides a connection between the individual and the community, and between that community and the world. At this point in time it is imperative that we call on the unique properties of faith and the communities they inspire to tackle this global challenge.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lauryn Hill - His Eye Is On The Sparrow.
The conference will bring together stakeholders from all sectors of society, as well as representatives from communities globally, to produce a dynamic and creative arena for discussion. Among those contributing to the conference are: Rt. Hon. Ed Miliband MP (Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change), Keith Faulkner (Chair, Working Links), Martin Palmer (Secretary General, Alliance of Religions and Conservation), Martin Slaby (Coordinator, Earth Charter), and Dato' Mohamed Iqbal (FRF Special Adviser, Malaysia).
The conference is based on the premise that climate change will have a huge impact on communities, but communities also provide a way of addressing the issues. Raising awareness amongst communities can promote real change and real hope for the individuals that will be affected by this increasingly real threat for our global community.
Faith communities have both responsibility and power to address the issues, which is something they are increasingly acknowledging. Faith leaders are the gatekeepers to vast networks and already have a ready audience. What is more, the beliefs of the world's faiths revolve around a deep respect for nature, and a desire to integrate this respect into their social teachings. Faith provides a connection between the individual and the community, and between that community and the world. At this point in time it is imperative that we call on the unique properties of faith and the communities they inspire to tackle this global challenge.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lauryn Hill - His Eye Is On The Sparrow.
Gants Hill Arts Project (2)
Photographs from the second month of the project that I and Fr. Benjamin Wallis are undertaking to document (through drawing, painting and photography) the regeneration work which is currently underway at Gants Hill.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lauryn Hill - A Change Is Gonna Come.
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Faith-based leadership models (1)
Through Faiths in London's Economy I am working on ideas for a seminar exploring the place of faith in the development of leadership. The target audience being HR professionals, interfaith practitioners, and people of faith in (or with an interest in) employment. This would be the second in an ongoing series of seminars that began with the 'Ethics in a Global Economy' seminar.
This, together with hearing Brian Draper speak on Spiritual Intelligence at the Everyday Icons event this past weekend, reminded me of a paper (which I shall post in this series) that I wrote on faith-based leadership models for Faith Regen Foundation as part of the Faith Communities Toolkit that we prepared for the Centre for Excellence in Leadership to make available to the Learning & Skills Sector nationally. This Toolkit remains available online and can be found by clicking here.
Lynne Sedgemore, then Chief Executive of the Centre for Excellence in Leadership, who commissioned Faith Regen to develop a Faith Communities Toolkit for the learning and skills sector said, “I believe that faith issues should have more of a high profile within leadership dialogue in the 21st Century.”
“In the current global, national and local contexts,” Sedgemore said, “I feel that our sector’s leaders need support, advice and information on dealing with faith especially since the recent Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 came into force.” Recent events across the world linked to religions and faith issues, she thought, supported this view which involves looking at faith from a diversity perspective as well as a legal one.
She is not alone. In 2003 the Roffey Park Institute published research which claimed that nearly three-quarters of workers are interested in "learning to live the spiritual side of their values." An increasing number of books, consultancies and websites are emerging which deal with spiritual leadership within the workplace. The Bahá'í business writer, George Starcher, has argued that a new spiritual paradigm of management is emerging from the current context. He sees this paradigm as involving communicating vision, balancing economics and ethics and developing social responsibility.
My paper sought to summarises strands of teaching from each of the major world religions that could contribute to this new paradigm.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Clash - Clampdown.
This, together with hearing Brian Draper speak on Spiritual Intelligence at the Everyday Icons event this past weekend, reminded me of a paper (which I shall post in this series) that I wrote on faith-based leadership models for Faith Regen Foundation as part of the Faith Communities Toolkit that we prepared for the Centre for Excellence in Leadership to make available to the Learning & Skills Sector nationally. This Toolkit remains available online and can be found by clicking here.
Lynne Sedgemore, then Chief Executive of the Centre for Excellence in Leadership, who commissioned Faith Regen to develop a Faith Communities Toolkit for the learning and skills sector said, “I believe that faith issues should have more of a high profile within leadership dialogue in the 21st Century.”
“In the current global, national and local contexts,” Sedgemore said, “I feel that our sector’s leaders need support, advice and information on dealing with faith especially since the recent Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 came into force.” Recent events across the world linked to religions and faith issues, she thought, supported this view which involves looking at faith from a diversity perspective as well as a legal one.
She is not alone. In 2003 the Roffey Park Institute published research which claimed that nearly three-quarters of workers are interested in "learning to live the spiritual side of their values." An increasing number of books, consultancies and websites are emerging which deal with spiritual leadership within the workplace. The Bahá'í business writer, George Starcher, has argued that a new spiritual paradigm of management is emerging from the current context. He sees this paradigm as involving communicating vision, balancing economics and ethics and developing social responsibility.
My paper sought to summarises strands of teaching from each of the major world religions that could contribute to this new paradigm.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Clash - Clampdown.
Confirmation & camping
Here are the candidates from St Johns Seven Kings who were confirmed by the Bishop of Barking at St Andrews Great Ilford last Sunday, together with candidates from St Andrews and St Georges Barkingside.
Bishop David preached another memorable confirmation sermon based around a tent (which symbolised Jesus' pitching his tent among us through his incarnation) and camping equipment; a calor gaz stove symbolising the fire of Spirit and a pump for a lilo symbolising the wind of the Spirit. Those present will not forget the Bishop with the lit stove balanced on his head or the nap he took on the lilo once inflated. These moments of visual humour remain in the memory together with the points being made.
Bishop David's sermons are sometimes criticised for their 'gimmicks' but I can remember both the main illustrations and the point of those illustrations for all of his confirmation sermons that I have heard since my ordination. Of how many preachers would it be possible to say that!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Howard Goodall - Love Divine.
Monday, 19 October 2009
Windows on the world (74)
Hertford, 2009
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mavis Staples - Eyes On The Prize.
Saturday, 17 October 2009
Everyday Icons (2)
Just back from Everyday Icons, a day organised by the Diocesan Initiative on Spirituality in the St Albans Diocese which was held at All Saints Hertford and was designed to provide new ways of seeing and new ways of understanding all that forms part of modern day living.
Worship was led by broken, a growing alternative worship community which gathers at St Mary’s, East Barnet on the second Sunday of each month. The opening worship focused on the diversity of the Body of Christ and the closing worship on calling out to Christ in the busyness of our lives. Richard Watson, a facebook friend, is the priest at St Mary's and led a seminar on Messy Spirituality at the day, so it was good to catch up with his news and to experience worship with broken.
The keynote speaker was Brian Draper who spoke about Spiritual Intelligence (the title and topic of his latest book). This is a term coined by Danah Zohar which builds on Daniel Goleman's work on Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Spiritual Intelligence (SQ) involves values and meaning and is the unifier of Intellectual Intelligence (IQ) and Emotional Intelligence. Brian unpacked his understanding and application of the term in an entertaining and apposite fashion before suggesting for icons of SQ in the alarm clock (awakening), the eye (seeing), the paint brush and palette (creativity), and the arrow (passing it on).
We uncovered several synergies between Brian's presentation and my own material in the workshop I led on praying through the everyday. The idea of ordinary objects such as clocks and paint brushes as icons of the divine was fundamental but we also linked our discussion of prayerful attention to Brian's story of feeling at one with his surrounding while running. I showed my Windows on the World photographs in talking of seeing everyday objects from fresh perspectives and looking for shapes, patterns and significance. I also shared the following developing meditation on prayer as attention paid:
Prayer is attention paid
noticing the beauty
and interest
of pattern
and content
in ordinary occurrence
Attention paid
is giving
and receiving –
giving notice,
interest, recognition
and receiving
the gift
of the world’s being
Being at
attention
is
alertness
readiness
preparation
intention
prayer
Being at-
tension
is
paradox
betweenness
standing in
the broken middle
receiving the
beauty and
terror of
the world’s being
praying
the generative words,
‘let there be.’
There was a real buzz about this day with excellent numbers attending and people really engaging with the material presented. Local churches have another event planned on similar lines as Ian Mobsby, Priest-Missioner with the Moot Community, will be leading an evening entitled New Ways of doing Old Spirituality at the Mayflower, Hertingfordbury on Friday 6th November at 7.30pm.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Staple Singers - Reach Out, Touch A Hand, Make A Friend.
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Crossrail Corridor Area Action Plan Community Forum meeting
Next Wednesday, 21st October 2009 at 7.30pm, St Johns Seven Kings is hosting a Community Forum on the Crossrail Corridor Area Action Plan.
All are welcome at a meeting where the agenda will include:
- A joint Planning/Licensing Approach to Tackling the Concentration of Takeaways and Night Cafes in Seven Kings (with Alan Drake, Head of Licensing);
- Preferred Policy Options: Retail – Protection of local shops; Employment Opportunities – Floorspace for start-up; Businesses and protection of existing employment; Housing Target, Mix and Density; Building Heights and Design; Open Space and Greening the High Road; Community and Social Infrastructure (education, health, community and leisure facilities); Transport and Car parking; and Sustainability/Decentralised Energy; and
- Next Steps.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
c4m webpage update (24)
This week has seen a number of posts appearing on the commission4mission webpage. Firstly, our newest member, Sarah Ollerenshaw, has been profiled and Sarah's current exhibition, a two woman show at the Seascape Gallery in Goring, was featured. Celia Ward's current exhibition entitled Wildlife, myth & folklore was also featured, as was my latest art project which involves drawing, photographing and painting on a monthly basis the current regeneration at Gants Hill together with the local Vicar, Fr. Benjamin Wallace. Finally, there are photos of our latest exhibition at All Saints Goodmayes which opens tomorrow and can be viewed between 10.00am and 4.00pm until Sunday 18th October.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M. Ward - Story of an Artist.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M. Ward - Story of an Artist.
Blog Action Day - Choose Life
This is my post for "Blog Action Day", a summary (copied from the Anglican Communion News Service) of the lecture given yesterday at Southwark Cathedral (sponsored by the Christian environmental group Operation Noah) by Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, in which he sets out a Christian vision of how people can respond to the looming environmental crisis.
Beginning with the story of Noah and the Flood, Dr Williams highlighted the “burden of responsibility for what confronts us here and now as a serious crisis and challenge”. Our relationship with the rest of creation is intimately bound up with our relationship with God. The Bible offers “an ethical perspective based on reverence for the whole of life”. “To act so as to protect the future of the non-human world is both to accept a God-given responsibility and, appropriately, to honour the special dignity given to humanity itself.”
Drawing parallels with the financial crisis, Dr Williams argued that we are in danger of losing touch with what makes us distinctively human. We urgently need to revise some of our assumptions, including those that are incompatible with our duty of care for the whole of life.
Dr Williams warned against looking for a single solution to the complex environmental challenges which face us. “Instead of a desperate search to find the one great idea that will save us from ecological disaster, we are being invited to a transformation of individual and social goals that will bring us closer to the reality of interdependent life in a variegated world”.
Dr Williams urged action at the personal and local, as well as at the national and international, levels. He acknowledged “the potential of the crisis to awaken a new confidence in local and civic democracy [and] … a new sense of what is politically possible for people who thought they were powerless”. “Our response to the crisis needs to be in the most basic sense, a reality check, a re-acquaintance with the facts of our interdependence within the material world and a rediscovery of our responsibility for it”. “When we believe in transformation at the local and personal level, we are laying the surest foundations for change at the national and international level”.
Dr Williams underlined the particular role that belief can play in recovering a sense of balance and interdependence. “What we face today is nothing less than a choice about how genuinely human we want to be; and the role of religious faith in meeting this is first and foremost in setting out a compelling picture of what humanity reconciled with both creator and creation might look like.”
The Archbishop urged leaders to take bold decisions at the Copenhagen summit in December. He encouraged the taking of effective collaborative local action to reduce carbon emissions and to maintain pressure on local governments and businesses to do the same. And he encouraged the small actions which mark a break with destructive patterns of consumption and waste and help “to make us more aware of the diversity of life around us”.
In conclusion, the Archbishop emphasized that “the Christian story lays out a model of reconnection with an alienated world: it tells us of a material human life inhabited by God and raised transfigured from death; of a sharing of material food which makes us sharers in eternal life; of a community whose life together seeks to express within creation the care of the creator”. Quoting Moses in the book of Deuteronomy, he concluded “I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death… choose life”.
The full text of the lecture can be found here: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/2563.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P J Harvey & Gordon Gano - Hitting the Ground.
Beginning with the story of Noah and the Flood, Dr Williams highlighted the “burden of responsibility for what confronts us here and now as a serious crisis and challenge”. Our relationship with the rest of creation is intimately bound up with our relationship with God. The Bible offers “an ethical perspective based on reverence for the whole of life”. “To act so as to protect the future of the non-human world is both to accept a God-given responsibility and, appropriately, to honour the special dignity given to humanity itself.”
Drawing parallels with the financial crisis, Dr Williams argued that we are in danger of losing touch with what makes us distinctively human. We urgently need to revise some of our assumptions, including those that are incompatible with our duty of care for the whole of life.
Dr Williams warned against looking for a single solution to the complex environmental challenges which face us. “Instead of a desperate search to find the one great idea that will save us from ecological disaster, we are being invited to a transformation of individual and social goals that will bring us closer to the reality of interdependent life in a variegated world”.
Dr Williams urged action at the personal and local, as well as at the national and international, levels. He acknowledged “the potential of the crisis to awaken a new confidence in local and civic democracy [and] … a new sense of what is politically possible for people who thought they were powerless”. “Our response to the crisis needs to be in the most basic sense, a reality check, a re-acquaintance with the facts of our interdependence within the material world and a rediscovery of our responsibility for it”. “When we believe in transformation at the local and personal level, we are laying the surest foundations for change at the national and international level”.
Dr Williams underlined the particular role that belief can play in recovering a sense of balance and interdependence. “What we face today is nothing less than a choice about how genuinely human we want to be; and the role of religious faith in meeting this is first and foremost in setting out a compelling picture of what humanity reconciled with both creator and creation might look like.”
The Archbishop urged leaders to take bold decisions at the Copenhagen summit in December. He encouraged the taking of effective collaborative local action to reduce carbon emissions and to maintain pressure on local governments and businesses to do the same. And he encouraged the small actions which mark a break with destructive patterns of consumption and waste and help “to make us more aware of the diversity of life around us”.
In conclusion, the Archbishop emphasized that “the Christian story lays out a model of reconnection with an alienated world: it tells us of a material human life inhabited by God and raised transfigured from death; of a sharing of material food which makes us sharers in eternal life; of a community whose life together seeks to express within creation the care of the creator”. Quoting Moses in the book of Deuteronomy, he concluded “I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death… choose life”.
The full text of the lecture can be found here: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/2563.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P J Harvey & Gordon Gano - Hitting the Ground.
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Redbridge One World Week events
Redbridge's One World Week events have been organised by the One World Week subcommittee, comprising representatives from the following community and faith organisations: Vine URC, Redbridge Faith Forum, Awaaz, St Luke’s Church, League of British Muslims, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, FairCare, St Mary’s Church.
The group aims to raise awareness about what’s going on in the world – both on our doorsteps and far away, to take action to overcome poverty, promote justice and work towards sustainability and to celebrate the good things about being part of one diverse yet inter-connected world.
* Monday 19th October, 7:30pm - Hungry to Live and Work Together: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2-4 Audrey Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 2DY.
* Tuesday 20th October, 6.00pm - Visit to Synagogue, South West Essex and Settlement Reform Synagogue, Oaks Lane, Newbury Park, IG2 7PL.
* Tuesday 20th October, 6:30pm - One World Confronting Poverty – Faith Perspectives, community conversations: South West Essex and Settlement Reform Synagogue, Oaks Lane, Newbury Park, IG2 7PL.
* Wednesday 21st October, 4.00pm - Inter-faith Reflection – Faith: Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha, Sikh Gudwara, 400 High Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 1TW. 5.15pm - Visit to Gudwara.
* Saturday 24th October, 6:00pm Humanity Café – Multi cultural social event. Storytelling and food from many cultures. Vine Church Halls, Holstock Road, Ilford, IG1 1LG.
* Sunday 25th October, 6:30pm - One World Week Service of Worship: Seven Kings Methodist Church, Seven Kings Road, Ilford, IG3 8DQ.
* Sunday 1st November, 12:30pm onwards - Music & Multi Cultural Event, Ilford Community Centre, Eton Road, Ilford IG1 2UE.
For further information contact: Peter Musgrave Tel: 020 8708 2478 / Email: peter.musgrave@redbridge.gov.uk. Please share this information with your friends and colleagues. Further information about this and our other programmes can be found on
http://www.redbridge.gov.uk/cms/community__life_events/faith_communities/redbridge_faith_forum/faith_forum_events.aspx.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Gano & The Ryans - Man in the Sand.
Anti-Slavery website
Anti-Slavery International has launched its new website, which includes new and improved information and services. The site can update you on news stories, campaigns, appeals and new resources, it is now easier to navigate around, and provides more information on the work they do and the work you can do to help fight slavery.
Anti-Slavery International, founded in 1839, is the world's oldest international human rights organisation and works to eliminate all forms of slavery around the world.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Violent Femmes - Nothing Worth Living For.
Anti-Slavery International, founded in 1839, is the world's oldest international human rights organisation and works to eliminate all forms of slavery around the world.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Violent Femmes - Nothing Worth Living For.
The Art of Regeneration
Yesterday I gave a presentation on 'The Art of Regeneration' to the Barking Episcopal Area's Regeneration Group which considered the Artscape programmes in Barking & Dagenham as an example of good practice and used the range of public art projects with which I have had involvement as examples of the way in which churches can engage with public art.
I concluded:
"Through the projects I have shown local people have been engaged by: performances in public spaces; being filmed and those images projected onto public buildings; personal stories and memorabilia featuring in a film; learning skills and creating a community mural; commenting on the development of an artwork; encountering art in a town centre; and coming in to a contemplative space.
Through these projects we have explored: the diversity of the community; continuity within change, concepts at the heart of community; ideas of sin and salvation; epiphany and pilgrimage; and reflections of light and peace.
Benefits from involvement in these public art projects have included:
• improving streetscapes and creating local landmarks;
• encouraging congregations and local people because they have been able to contribute to the projects and see their contribution in the finished artwork;
• raising the profile of churches locally because the projects have each made very visual stories that the local press wanted to feature. The projects have each generated considerable interest and comment locally and have featured in the local, church, arts and regeneration media;
• either bringing people into church to see the project/exhibition or taking the church out into the community; and
• on occasion, leaving something of permanent benefit to the community created through the church and community working together."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Henningham Family Press & Jon Bilborough at London Word Festival.
I concluded:
"Through the projects I have shown local people have been engaged by: performances in public spaces; being filmed and those images projected onto public buildings; personal stories and memorabilia featuring in a film; learning skills and creating a community mural; commenting on the development of an artwork; encountering art in a town centre; and coming in to a contemplative space.
Through these projects we have explored: the diversity of the community; continuity within change, concepts at the heart of community; ideas of sin and salvation; epiphany and pilgrimage; and reflections of light and peace.
Benefits from involvement in these public art projects have included:
• improving streetscapes and creating local landmarks;
• encouraging congregations and local people because they have been able to contribute to the projects and see their contribution in the finished artwork;
• raising the profile of churches locally because the projects have each made very visual stories that the local press wanted to feature. The projects have each generated considerable interest and comment locally and have featured in the local, church, arts and regeneration media;
• either bringing people into church to see the project/exhibition or taking the church out into the community; and
• on occasion, leaving something of permanent benefit to the community created through the church and community working together."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Henningham Family Press & Jon Bilborough at London Word Festival.
Monday, 12 October 2009
Windows on the world (73)
Serpentine Pavilion, 2009
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Switchfoot - Stars.
Friday, 9 October 2009
C4M webpage update (23)
On the commission4mission webpage this have been posts about press coverage of our Queens Hospital commission and Stations exhibition at St Barnabas Walthamstow in The Month plus a new profile of new commission4mission member, Caroline Richardson. Caroline is a glass and textile artist and created the Tree of Life window for the St Luke's Chapel at Queen's Hospital Romford.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hummingbird - Live Your Life Laughing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hummingbird - Live Your Life Laughing.
Monday, 5 October 2009
Windows on the world (72)
Serpentine Pavilion, 2009
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monsters of Folk - The Right Place.
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Patronal Festival
The Patronal Festival weekend at St Johns Seven Kings was held from Friday 2nd - Sunday 4th October and featured a varied and interesting range of events and services.
The weekend got off to a cultured beginning with 'An Evening at the Opera' presented by the Lantern Light Opera Company. The Company performed a selection of Gilbert & Sullivan highlights including songs from ‘The Mikado’, ‘Pirates of Penzance’ and ‘HMS Pinafore’. Their programme featured amusing comic acting combined with excellent vocal performances and was greatly enjoyed by a sizable and appreciative audience.
From culture we moved to the environment as our Saturday coffee morning featured recycling information provided by the Redbridge Recycling Team, a free Takeway of books, ornaments, toys and all those things people never knew they needed, and the viewing of an inspiring documentary film entitled ‘The Power of Community’ based on the experience of the people of Cuba in overcoming their lack of oil. This provided a lesson for us all in adapting our way of life to reduce our dependency on oil and to care for the environment.
More than a hundred people attended the Saturday evening Barn Dance, which included a fish and chips supper. With participation from all who came, this was an event that was enjoyed right across the generations.
Sunday morning saw the return of former Vicar, Revd. Canon Gordon Tarry, who preached an excellent sermon on St John the Evangelist highlighting his imagination, growth in faith, and ability to see the big picture and commending these attributes as ones for us to also practice. An evening Songs of Praise brought the weekend to its conclusion. The St Johns Choir was supplemented by choir members from St Peters Aldborough Hatch and St Laurences Barkingside to sing two anthems and a wide range of hymns selected and introduced by members of the congregation.
We had a wonderful weekend full of variety, interest and challenge. The events that we arranged were supported not only by our congregation but also by the wider community who appreciated the welcome to be found in this place. We are particularly grateful to the Lantern Light Opera Company, Redbridge Recycling Team, and Gordon Tarry for making this weekend special through their contributions. Our Patronal Festival has reminded us of all that is good about St Johns and challenged us to go forward in engaging with local and global issues as a Christian community with the creativity that ultimately comes from God.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The weekend got off to a cultured beginning with 'An Evening at the Opera' presented by the Lantern Light Opera Company. The Company performed a selection of Gilbert & Sullivan highlights including songs from ‘The Mikado’, ‘Pirates of Penzance’ and ‘HMS Pinafore’. Their programme featured amusing comic acting combined with excellent vocal performances and was greatly enjoyed by a sizable and appreciative audience.
From culture we moved to the environment as our Saturday coffee morning featured recycling information provided by the Redbridge Recycling Team, a free Takeway of books, ornaments, toys and all those things people never knew they needed, and the viewing of an inspiring documentary film entitled ‘The Power of Community’ based on the experience of the people of Cuba in overcoming their lack of oil. This provided a lesson for us all in adapting our way of life to reduce our dependency on oil and to care for the environment.
More than a hundred people attended the Saturday evening Barn Dance, which included a fish and chips supper. With participation from all who came, this was an event that was enjoyed right across the generations.
Sunday morning saw the return of former Vicar, Revd. Canon Gordon Tarry, who preached an excellent sermon on St John the Evangelist highlighting his imagination, growth in faith, and ability to see the big picture and commending these attributes as ones for us to also practice. An evening Songs of Praise brought the weekend to its conclusion. The St Johns Choir was supplemented by choir members from St Peters Aldborough Hatch and St Laurences Barkingside to sing two anthems and a wide range of hymns selected and introduced by members of the congregation.
We had a wonderful weekend full of variety, interest and challenge. The events that we arranged were supported not only by our congregation but also by the wider community who appreciated the welcome to be found in this place. We are particularly grateful to the Lantern Light Opera Company, Redbridge Recycling Team, and Gordon Tarry for making this weekend special through their contributions. Our Patronal Festival has reminded us of all that is good about St Johns and challenged us to go forward in engaging with local and global issues as a Christian community with the creativity that ultimately comes from God.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Mikado - The Flowers of Spring.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)