Anglican Communion News Service
Church of Pakistan and Church of England Joint Venture
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Launch of Urdu Version of Anglican Communion document –Generous Love
This week saw the launch by Bishop Alexander Malik, Bishop of Lahore, Church of Pakistan and Bishop Christopher Edmonson, Bishop of Bolton, Diocese of Manchester, Church of England of the Urdu version of Generous Love, a document of the Anglican Communion concerned with the theology underpinning interfaith conversation and dialogue.
(http://nifcon.anglicancommunion.org/resources/documents/index.cfm )
The event was hosted in the House of Lords by Lord Ahmed of Rotherham and the Revd Rana Kahn, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Interfaith Dialogues Assistant. The special guest was Dr Paul Bhatti, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Pakistan in matters relating to national harmony.
Lord Ahmed said, ‘as a Muslim of Pakistani heritage and one who is able to speak Urdu and understands the importance of interfaith dialogue, I am honoured to host this launch, I believe that this book will help in bringing the communities together’.
He went on to say that we will always have differences in our theological beliefs but our values of caring, sharing and community cohesion are similar, and therefore it is important to build on our common beliefs rather than being divided on our differences.
The translation of Generous Love was published jointly by the Diocese of Manchester, Church of England and the Diocese of Lahore, Church of Pakistan as part of the partnership of their diocesan link.
The Bishop of Bolton spoke about the Manchester- Lahore Link seeing it as ‘A potential support for interfaith dialogue in the UK and in Pakistan’. He said ‘the link between two dioceses has a long history of friendship. We are proud of this new venture in co-operation.’
Dr. Paul Bhatti the Prime Minister of Pakistan’s Advisor for National Harmony , noted the strong commitment of the government of Pakistan to ensure inter religious harmony. He encouraged the churches and other religious communities in the UK to support the people of Pakistan in this difficult time.
In thanking Lord Ahmed for hosting the book launch, the Bishop of Lahore encouraged the members of the Pakistani community in the UK, Muslim and Christian, to work together for harmonious inter-religious relationships both in the UK and in Pakistan. He added: ‘in thisway we shall be able tostrengthen the roots of inter religious relations in this country and beyond. It will also take a message of encouragement and hope to countries in which Christians are minority.’
For more information email ranak@anglicancommunion.org