Multifaith global poverty conference held in Birmingham
The conference, held in Birmingham, focused on how faith can inform our response to global poverty and how together we can work for justice.
We met at the well-equipped HQ of the West Midlands Fire Service. After viewing JDC’s new Multifaith documentary DVD and a specially recorded interview with Baroness Julia Neuberger, there were stimulating contributions from our keynote speakers.
Rev Dr Joel Edwards, the International Director of Micah Challenge and a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4’s ‘Thought for the Day, talked about how his experience as a probation officer had informed his understanding of the concept of justice that he saw as central to his Christian faith.
Jehangir Malik, UK Director of Islamic Relief UK, highlighted the contrast between Islamic teaching on debt and the exploitative injustice of the current financial system.
Bhai Sahib Dr Mohinder Singh (right) emphasised the importance of compassion in informing all our actions. The event was chaired by Balvir Kaur Dhillon (left), an Assistant Principal of a Further Education College in Wales and widely travelled as a Sikh woman committed to finding solutions to global challenges.
There followed a lively series of workshop discussions – participants describing them as ‘stimulating,’ ‘fascinating,’ ‘really helpful’. The conversations ranged around issues about the nature of poverty, how different faith communities were active in combating global poverty and the barriers to greater involvement in the campaign.
Nick Dearden, Director of Jubilee Debt Campaign, made the final keynote contribution. He emphasised what campaigners had already achieved – the Vulture Fund Bill currently before Parliament being a great example – and encouraged those attending to do all they could to spread the word.
There were stalls and contributions from Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Sikh groups. There was a real sense of people of faith coming together to tackle issues where they share an area of concern for the common good. As a conclusion to the conference people signed letters to the Chancellor and Shadow Chancellor urging support for the Vulture Funds Bill.
Steve Miller, Jubilee Debt Campaign co-chair and trustee of Tzedek – Jewish Action for a Just World – said “In a world so often characterised by division, it’s great to see people of different faiths recognising the common bond of humanity and the shared desire to combat poverty and seek justice.”
Stephen Rand, JDC co-chair added “There is a desperate need for further action on debt and global poverty. Faith communities and organisations have already played a vital role in the campaign; the conference has been a great opportunity to build on past activities and engagement and together – in and through our faith communities, locally and nationally – raise awareness of the issues and speak out for justice.”
Audrey Miller, who did so much alongside members of JDC Birmingham to organise the conference, said “It was so encouraging to bring people of different faiths together for a common purpose, to better understand what people of faith are doing about global poverty and what methods we can use to seek justice as we engage in the reality of life, poverty and debt in the developing world.”
Handouts from the conference are available to download here:
Conference Paper 1
Briefing Paper
Conference Paper 2
Faith Groups - Scriptures and Prayers
Conference Paper 3
The Debt Crisis - The Basic
Photos: Benedict Parsons