All Saints Rector , Canon David Hodgson, writes:
“We are very excited about a special inter-faith event in church on 26th April, Love, Faith and Hate: realities, inspiration and ideas in a multi-faith society. We have a prestigious panel of keynote speakers and leaders representing a range of major world faiths to address this topic. We aim to bring together people from all sectors of the community in our area to stimulate a fascinating conversation on this vital topic.”
The event will explore the common ground between communities. How do we lead communities in the reality of the post-Brexit, and post-Trump world? How do our shared religious and British values help us deal with the risks of tension and separation?
A panel of internationally acknowledged leaders from different faiths will introduce the topic and offer their reflections before what will be an interesting and informative Q&A session with the audience.
There will be an opportunity to meet the panel and your fellow guests to further explore the questions raised.
Panel speakers:
Dr Rami Ranger CBE is an entrepreneur whose started Sun Mark in 1987 with £2 working capital. It has since grown exponentially and holds five Queen’s Awards for Industry and Export. Rami founded the British Sikh Association to oppose extreme narratives within the Sikh community. He also set up the Shaheed Nanak Singh Foundation to work with all communities to promote greater social cohesion, social, economic and political participation and promote mutual trust. Rami is a patron of The Princes Trust and is a member of its Fellowship and a significant benefactor to educational and mental health causes. He lectures on business to MBA students and speaks annually in India to promote peace, cultural and religious tolerance. Rami has a close personal tie to the theme of inter-religious harmony: Rami’s family originates in what was Pakistan and has suffered from the consequences of national disintegration along religious lines: His father was killed campaigning against Partition in 1947 and his family became refugees fleeing to safety in India.
Krish Raval is the Director of The Senior Faith Leadership Programme. The programme works to develop the leadership qualities of leaders from the main British faith communities. Currently, Faith in Leadership designs and delivers the Cambridge Coexist Leadership Programme, in partnership with the Cambridge Inter-faith Programme at the University of Cambridge and Coexist House. Krish founded Learn to Lead working with youth in and outside of education which has worked with over 9000 young people in the UK. An executive coach and lecturer he has taught leadership, change facilitation, conflict negotiation basing his approach on a close study of both business and religious leaders. He has worked with International companies, the British Council, and with Special Consultative Status at the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. In the London Olympics of 2012, he was privileged to carry the Olympic Torch in his City of Sheffield.
Dr Zafar Iqbal works for Woking Borough Council leading the Council’s community engagement strategy. Woking is viewed as an exemplar in multi-faith environments with a long-tradition of inter-faith tolerance and cooperation, and is home to the UK’s oldest purpose-built Mosque. Zafar has a wealth of experience in such diverse fields as scientific research (doctorate in chemistry) with published research papers, vocational training, and setting up a number of highly successful community organisations relating to education, inter-faith and business development in both the UK and Pakistan. Zafar is also Woking’s Armed Forces Covenant representative and his work on promoting both community integration and the Muslim contribution to Britain’s Armed Forces has been the subject of a BBC documentary. Zafar has met both the HRH The Prince of Wales and the Prime Minister through his work.
The Reverend Canon Dr Andrew Bishop is the Co-ordinating Chaplain at The University of Surrey and a canon of Guildford Cathedral. He works with the University and chaplains in advising on responsibilities the University has with regard to ‘Prevent’ and in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, with particular reference to Faith and Belief.
Jewish panellist to be announced
John Kendall in an analyst who has worked on engagement projects for a large Government Department. John has seen the aftermath of inter-religious conflict as a peacekeeper in Bosnia and the ongoing intra-faith struggles caused by politicization of religion in Afghanistan. He returned to Bosnia more recently as part of the Remembering Srebrenica project to maintain ongoing witness to religious genocide. He has visited Hindu, Sikh and Muslim places of worship in the UK, Indian Uzbekistan in his travels. In the UK he has worked with ethnic and religious leaders to provide access for engagement from youth camps and places of worship through to delivering the Armed Forces first ever presence at Europe’s largest Muslim Faith Festival. He recently led a study-team analysing the social dynamics and connection between different groups in the UK and Government. John is a Majority Advocate for Diversity. As a Christian he is a member of All Saints Church Wokingham. John will be chairing the panel.
Who will find this event beneficial?
Leaders from all faith communities, local community leaders and representatives, those working in community development, anyone interested in understanding inter-faith and community relations and how they can be developed.