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About Us
The Christian Muslim Forum was launched in 2006 to encourage and support Christians and Muslims as they seek to live and work together creatively and harmoniously in our plural society.
The main task of the Christian Muslim Forum is to explore ways in which Christians and Muslims can contribute together for the greater good of our whole community. In particular it will focus its work in the following areas:
- Community and Public Affairs
- Education
- Family
- International affairs
- Media
- Youth
Representatives of Christian and Muslim communities in England have worked together to create this national Forum. We believe that our current context presents both a timely opportunity and a pressing imperative for us to make a joint contribution to the benefit of all. In helping all Christians and Muslims to live and work together, we will support and work with existing local and regional initiatives, and take forward inter-community relations and representation in new and exciting ways at a national level.
The process of establishing this Forum began with the Archbishop of Canterbury who, in 1997, spoke of the importance of progressing dialogue between Christians and Muslims in this country saying, "For the sake of the health of this country, we need to find ways in which members of our two communities can meet regularly together in a more structured way than has been possible up to now." His remarks were received warmly by Muslims in England and it was agreed that Christians and Muslims should explore together how to make this a reality.
Since that time, a group of Christians and Muslims, appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, worked together to find appropriate ways forward. From 2002 to 2004 a programme of local listening exercises took place in Blackburn and Nelson, Bradford, Leicester, East London and North West London; all areas of significant Muslim presence. Read the report that was presented to the Archbishop in July 2004 here
04-06-18_Archbishops_Initiative_Report.pdf
During 2005 the legal and organisational structures were established. The Forum has now begun
- To weave a web of open, honest and committed personal relationships between leading Christians and Muslims;
- To encourage shared reflection on the spiritual, ethical and practical values of the two traditions in order to offer resources for citizenship in our society;
- To build a shared public platform to strengthen Christians and Muslims working together for the common good in partnership with others;
- To develop channels of communication to help Christians and Muslims together to respond to events which test our relationship.
The Forum needs You!
As an individual, group or organisation, you can be part of the Forum network. In partnership with the Secretariat projects will be undertaken, based on the six key areas of bilateral concern to Christians and Muslims.How it will work
This work will be based on partnership working with other relevant groups and organisations; develop and maintain channels of communication between a diversity of Christian and Muslim groups; and liaise with the media where appropriate.
Who are we?
The Christian Muslim Forum is made up of three groups of people - Presidents, Specialist Members and Scholar-Consultants. The Presidents are representative religious leaders from both faiths.
Read about the Presidents here Presidents.pdf