Christians Aware: Call to listen to Minorities

Source: Christians Aware

The nine 'listening' ears on the Christians Aware poster for its annual conference last weekend was a constant reminder of the theme: 'Ears to Hear - Listening to Minorities.' Artist Beate Dehnen said they represented "all of us who are willing to lend someone an ear." Well, that was certainly true of attendees at this conference, particularly with their very international outlook. Around 60 participants from around England, Wales and further afield studied this theme at the Highgate House Conference Centre near Northampton.

The opening speaker Canon Andy Thompson addressed, 'Christian Minorities Living in the Gulf Region,' based on his lengthy experience of ministering in United Arab Emirates and developing interfaith engagement. He highlighted the Al Amana Centre in Oman which builds bridges and fosters peace between faith communities. It is one of the few Christian-led organizations in the Muslim-majority world working toward sustainable peace and security for minorities. One interfaith dialogue practice involves people from different faith traditions gathering in small groups to read passages from their holy scriptures. He highlighted the Marrakesh Declaration of 2016, which was a Muslim call for protection of religious minorities in predominantly Muslim-majority communities. It also called for the leaders of other religions to confront intolerance towards Muslim minorities in their countries. Now a team vicar in the Uxbridge team ministry in the Anglican Diocese of London, Canon Thompson handed out a flier for The Hillingdon Faith Roadshow which promotes understanding and respect between faiths in West London.

Clare Amos, a Middle East specialist, spoke on 'Christian Minorities Living in the Middle East'. She highlighted the diversity of Christian communities, including Copts (Egypt), Greek Orthodox (Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon), Maronites (Lebanon), Armenians, and Assyrians, alongside Eastern Catholics (e.g., Chaldean) and Protestant groups, primarily concentrated in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Cyprus, facing significant challenges like emigration and persecution but maintaining a vital presence. Many do not like the term minorities, preferring to see themselves as the original Christian communities going back millennia. She pointed to the work of Sabeel, an ecumenical grassroots liberation theology movement among Palestinian Christians, offering information about Palestinian Christians today. And noted last December's release of the second Kairos Palestine document: 'A Moment of Truth: Faith in a Time of Genocide,' supported by the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Palestine.

Ellen Teague of the Columban Justice, Peace and Ecology Team, spoke on 'Listening to the Poor' in the context of the call in Pope Francis' Laudato Si' encyclical to 'hear the cry of Earth and the cry of the poor.' Among vulnerable groups identified were migrants and refugees in the US and UK, civilian victims of conflict in Myanmar and Sudan, and indigenous communities lobbying COP30 in Brazil. Also, the vulnerable natural world where the climate crisis and diminishment of biodiversity threaten the common good of the whole Earth community. She quoted Pope Leo at last October's Raising Hope conference in Castel Galdolfo, organised by the Laudato Si Movement: "God will ask us if we have cultivated and cared for the world that he created (cf. Gen 2:15), for the benefit of all and for future generations, and if we have taken care of our brothers and sisters (cf. Gen 4:9; Jn 13:34). What will be our answer?"

So, what signs of hope do we see? Advocacy on behalf of refugees, peace and victims of the global debt crisis was highlighted, for example the recent petition handed into Downing Street by peace groups - including Pax Christi and the Quakers - calling for the UK government to support the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Educational initiatives mentioned included the Columban 2026 Schools competition on 'welcoming refugees,' and the 'Women in Black' street vigils. Liturgy mentioned included faith vigils outside refugee detention centres in the US and UK and climate prayers at Westminster. The scaling up of Church charitable outreach such as food banks was applauded but it was accompanied by a call for more engagement with structural issues, such as supporting the right to protest and the development of environmental rights. During group work, issues identified as holding back sensitivity to and support for minorities included Racism, fear of losing our own comforts in a more equal world, and despair over the scale of injustice and the power of elites.

Seminars with smaller groups included Bishop Mano Rumalshah, former Anglican Bishop of Peshawar diocese in Pakistan, reporting on listening to minorities in Pakistan, particularly the Christian community. He said Christians Aware "has given me hope over the years" that Christians in UK are listening to the experience of Pakistan's Christians. In another seminar, Kate Hayward spoke about listening to disabled people and facilitated discussion about how UK society can be more inclusive.

Christians Aware is led by Executive Secretary Barbara Butler. The Leicester-based ecumenical educational and religious charity stimulates work between Christians, other faiths and the secular world specifically on the promotion of Justice and Peace. It does this with a programme of special interest groups, conferences, work-camps, books, a magazine and international exchanges. Many participants have worked with Christian groups of various denominations in Zambia, Nigeria, Pakistan, India and other countries. A Christians Aware visit to Zambia is coming up in August, and an Interfaith Pilgrimage to the Punjab in October, all hoping to promote greater respect for other religions and cultures.

Stalls offered at the conference included Olive Oil and other products from the Zaytoun company, which markets Palestinian products, and Christians Aware cards. Columban missionaries were amongst the Catholic groups running a stall. The National Justice and Peace Network was represented.

Musician Geoff Weaver led worship music on the conference theme from the piano. Participants enjoyed singing hymns from Pakistan, based on Psalm 62, and from Malawi, titled, 'Night has fallen.' Theologian and artist Adam Boulter gave a presentation on 'Art and Faith' and exhibited some of his artworks.

Canon Rana Khan, the Christians Aware Chair and an Anglican priest from Pakistan now based in Wales, led one of the biblical reflections based on the Book of Jeremiah. He pointed out that after listening to minorities, the next step is "becoming mouthpieces." He highlighted that "minority voices enrich society."

For more information visit: www.christiansaware.org.uk

The next Christians Aware Summer School will be held 26-31 July 2026 in the Yorkshire Dales, focusing on Integral Ecology. The title is: 'Interconnected: Concern for the environment needs to be joined to love for our fellow human beings." It will involve learning from: Pope Francis, St Francis of Assisi, Wendell Berry, Wangari Maathai, Thomas Berry, Leonardo Boff and Vandana Shiva.