Ethical Witness? - Arabic translation added

Christian Muslim Forum Launches ‘10 Commandments of Mission’

How can Christians and Muslims talk about their faith to each other in a way that is just, truthful and compassionate?  This is the latest topic addressed by the Christian Muslim Forum in a short list of ten ethical guidelines, launched on 24 June 2009 to a small invited audience at Islamic Relief headquarters in London.

Guidelines in Arabic here

A small working group drew up the guidelines, and two members of the group, Andrew Smith, a Christian, and Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, a Muslim, explained some of the background to the Forum’s initiative.  In the UK today, Christians and Muslims are meeting all the time and talking about their faith to one another.  Sometimes, and this had been Andrew’s experience, they can leave these encounters feeling uncomfortable.  Other times, and this was Shaykh Ibrahim’s experience, they are so enthusiastic about their faith, that they want to rush off and convert people.  The Forum felt that it was important for Muslims and Christians to have some guidelines about faith-sharing, based on the Qur’an and the Bible, that reflect the principles of justice, of respect for the autonomy of our fellow humans and of compassion and concern for them.

Andrew’s speech
Vice-Chair of the Forum, Bishop Richard Cheetham, then invited two responses to the guidelines.  Steve Bell, from the Christian mission agency Interserve, welcomed the guidelines warmly, saying that the document was significant and that more meaningful relationships are possible between people of different faiths if they each accept the other’s validity. 

Steve’s speech

Shamshad Khan, Director of the Islamic Presentation Centre in Birmingham, also congratulated the Forum and gave his wholehearted support to the guidelines, while expressing concern over some of the wording, notably use of the word ‘respect’ in the final guideline rather than ‘tolerate’.

Shamshad’s speech

A short time was available for comments from the floor.  These were constructive, emphasising the importance of the guidelines being used in practice and monitored, of the value of debate and the potentially helpful nature of the guidelines in the context of inter-faith relations in prisons.  Positive messages were also received from the Archbishop of Canterbury, a founding patron of the Forum, and from the Head of the Cohesion and Faiths Unit in the Department of Communities and Local Government.
Bishop Cheetham said that the Forum hoped that they had drawn up a framework that was sufficiently robust to be useful, but also one that will generate debate.  The issue of transmission of faiths is a complex one and is bound to evoke different responses.  The Forum will now send out the guidelines and an open letter to a whole range of organisations, in the hope that people will discuss and engage with the document so that it begins to shape the nature of relations between Christians and Muslims. 

At the end of the launch attendees were invited to sign up to the guidelines. We are now seeking sign-up from Christian and Muslim organisations and individuals. You can sign up, or comment, using this link.

The guidelines are available here. Vote in our poll (Register or Login to access the poll, on the left of this page) or take part in discussion on our Facebook page or on the Discussion Board.

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