Interfaith inspiration
Robin Bennett looks at how Quaker action on climate change interacts with interfaith work
May we warmly thank Helen Rowlands for her superb report on the recent ‘Windsor Celebration of Faiths and the Environment’ (13 November)? It was good to know that Friends were part of that international gathering of faiths. Most attention will rightly be focused on the forthcoming Copenhagen summit and the conference’s attention to these concerns. But it was also so good for your readers that you published Helen’s article during the first national Interfaith Week, and accompanied it with many other references to the increasing importance of affirmation of faith communities and of interfaith collaboration and dialogue. There was also Ban Ki-Moon’s endorsement of the significant contribution of faith groups world wide in so many areas – climate change, education, paying tribute to the reach of faith publications and of lifestyles dependent on faith. It was an inspiring issue. The interfaith nature of the Windsor gathering gives much hope for new styles of religious awakening. This last Sunday, BBC Radio 4 added to our global interfaith awareness by broadcasting – again during Interfaith Week – Windsor’s stimulating act of worship.
‘The scope of [our] commitments is awe-inspiring’, wrote Helen. She shared how the conference asked all faiths to consider what we can do ‘within our own teachings and traditions’, and Helen highlighted these under seven headings. In summary:
- faith consistent use of assets;
- education and young people;
- using our wisdom and teachings;
- encouraging our lifestyles;
- advocacy using the media;
- partnerships; and
- celebration.
If we think through how we in Friends can put these alongside and within our Framework for action 2009-2014, we shall retain Helen’s report as a continuing source of profound inspiration in our Quaker work, local and national, for many years to come.
Robin Bennett is clerk to Quaker Committee for Christian and Interfaith Relations
