Inter Faith

The Archbishop of Canterbury is widely respected as a leading advocate and proponent of dialogue between the different faiths. His inter Faith engagement is rooted in a concern for the good of humanity in society and a conviction that religious belief and practice have immense contributions to make to the common good

Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks and Archbishop of Canterbury © ACNS James Sweeney Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks and Archbishop of Canterbury

This potential is heightened when communities of faith understand each other and work together on inter Faith relations or dialogue.

Furthermore both the Church of England and the Churches of the global Anglican Communion are increasingly required to be able to engage with people and communities of other religions around them; and in ways that are consistent with the Church's understanding of its gospel based mission and ministry.

The Archbishop is therefore leading a process of engagement with an increasingly religiously plural English society, as well as with those parts of the world where religious plurality has been normal for centuries. Within this he is helping to stimulate intellectual debate between the religions and between the religious world and wider society.

He has taken forward the Building Bridges Seminars, initiatives begun by his predecessor that bring together Christian and Muslim scholars from across the world and regularly speaks on Christian themes to audiences of different faiths. He has supported frameworks in the UK for dialogue within which greater understanding and mutual respect can develop, such as the Christian Muslim Forum and the further development of the Hindu Christian Forum. He has also formed close relationships with the Chief Rabbi and Jewish communities through the Council of Christians and Jews and in support for events such as the annual Holocaust Memorial Day.

By supporting this 'Presence and Engagement' programme, the Archbishop is helping parishes and dioceses to stay fruitfully present in the midst of other faith communities whilst living out an authentic Christian witness.

The articles below are the most recent examples of that programme in action.

  • Building Bridges Seminars
  • Faith in Society Meeting16 July 2010
    Faith Communities in the 'Big Society'
    Together with the Chief Rabbi and Archbishop of Westminster and leaders of other faiths, the Archbishop of Canterbury yesterday hosted a discussion with the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, and the Minister for Decentralisation, Greg Clark on the government's new scheme.
  • The Revd Mark Fisher, Andrew Stunell MP, Bishop Richard Cheetham, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Maulana Shahid Raza15 July 2010
    Archbishop hosted event in support of local encounter between Christians and Muslims
    The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, hosted an event at Lambeth Palace which brought together 50 imams and clergy from 25 local areas to encourage and strengthen local inter faith relationships.
  • The Building Bridges Participants24 May 2010
    Building Bridges Christian-Muslim Seminar on Tradition and Modernity
    The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will chair the 9th Annual Building Bridges Seminar in Washington DC from May 25-27, 2010. Since 2002, the Archbishop of Canterbury has chaired the annual seminar, which brings together leading Muslim and Christian scholars from around the world to explore issues at the heart of the two traditions.
  • The Christian Muslim Forum Conference, Lambeth Palace22 March 2010
    Archbishop: Dialogue is a means of 'God-given discovery'
    The Archbishop gave an address at the Christian Muslim Forum Conference of Scholars, held at Lambeth Palace. As founder patron of the organisation, the Archbishop talked with other Christian and Muslim scholars about whether dialogue can really deal with religious differences without avoidance or compromise. Other speakers included Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad, Maulana Yunus Mohammed and Dr John Azumah.
  • 12 March 2010
    Archbishop's letter of condolence on the death of Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi
    The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has written a letter of condolence to the Grand Mufti of Egypt, His Eminence Dr Ali Gomaa, following the death of Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi.
  • Rt Rev Suheil Dawani, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rt Revd Michael Jackson at the Hall of Remembrance, Yad Vashem23 February 2010
    Archbishop in Jerusalem
    On 22 February, the third day of his visit to the Holy Land, the Archbishop of Canterbury was received in a series of meetings by the three most senior heads of churches in Jerusalem: His Beatitude Theophilus III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and members of the Holy Synod, His Beatitude Torkom II, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, and His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
  • The Archbishop of Canterbury with His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan22 February 2010
    Archbishop in Jordan
    The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and the Bishop in Jerusalem, the Rt Reverend Suheil Dawani, were received by His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan at the culmination of the Archbishop's two day visit to the Kingdom 19-21 February.
  • Lord Hameed, Archbishop of Canterbury, Edward Kessler, Lord Woolf17 February 2010
    Archbishop receives inter faith award
    The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, yesterday received the Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths 'Building Bridges Award'. The award was made in recognition of the Archbishop's 'commitment to addressing contemporary cultural and inter faith issues'.
  • 27 January 2010
    Archbishop's Holocaust Memorial Day Statement 2010: The Legacy of Hope
    The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has issued a statement to mark National Holocaust Memorial Day, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004
  • 2003

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External Links

The Church of England, Interfaith Engagement

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