Economics and Theology

Faith Partnership Today

Slough Faith Partnership

Today, 9th July saw the launch of the "Slough Faith Partnership". It was in the Town Square and had been long planned for this day - but how appropriate in the light of what happened in London two days ago. The Faith Partnership is designed to participate in "Slough Focus" (as the government inspired Local Strategic Partnership for this town is called).

The launch used the stage set up for a fashion modelling display by Debenhams. It was "topped and tailed" by a performance from an attractive dancing group and attracted quite a large crowd from Slough's multi-ethnic population.

Cheryl Coppell, the Chief Executive of Slough Borough Council, introduced the event, which marked the start of a special popular consultation week. She handed over for welcoming remarks by the Deputy Mayor who in turn introduced the first speaker, the Revd John Newton, representing the Christian faith. He emphasised the possibility and indeed necessity of cooperation between people of all faiths to make Slough an even better place in which to live. He was followed by representatives of the Baha'i, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Jewish faiths, all of whom stressed the need for cooperation and peace between religions.

In present circumstances, the contribution from the Muslim was particularly impressive. A young man, born in Slough and now living in London, a member of the Islamic Society of Great Britain, he emphasised that the word "Islam" means "peace", that Islam is not opposed to other faiths but is a development of Judaism and Christianity, and the Koran teaching that the murder of one innocent person is the same as killing all mankind.

Posted by Richard Hall at July 9, 2005 09:23 PM