Faiths Working Together: A letter from Canon Guy Wilkinson
Wednesday, 04 February 2009
We are all only too aware of the suffering and destruction in Gaza in recent weeks just as we are also conscious of the fear and hurt that people in Southern Israel have lived with. Many in the Faith communities of this country, though very aware of the difficult and complex situation, have wanted to assist in the relief of suffering and in reconstruction, motivated by their religious belief.
Many also, aware of the ways in which conflicts abroad can raise tensions in our communities at home, have hoped to find ways of demonstrating our desire to remain united and to act in solidarity with those who suffer. In recent discussions in the Inter Faith Network for the UK this was made clear in all quarters.
I am writing to inform you about an important initiative being taken by the Archbishop of Canterbury with the support of many in the Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities in this country and to ask for your support. The initiative, though modest in scope, does offer a way in which a contribution to relief of suffering can be made by people of faith – and of goodwill – and which symbolises our desire to remain in mutual solidarity. I hope that this can be a model for Faiths working together for humanitarian purposes in the future.
The initiative is built on the willingness of three faith based agencies – Christian Aid, Islamic Relief and Physicians for Human Rights - Israel – to co-operate in receiving donations from people of faith and in delivering assistance for relief and reconstruction. PHR-Israel and Islamic Relief are operating on the ground and Christian Aid will be making funds available to Israeli and Palestinian partners on the basis of need alone and regardless of ethnicity, religion or nationality.
The appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee remains rightly the most important combined national initiative and many will wish to donate through it. However, the DEC has agreed to this additional initiative which has similar aims but which enables people of faith in a powerful and visible way to demonstrate their unity.
Archbishop Rowan invites you to do this and to issue an invitation to your communities and colleagues to visit your website to make a donation.
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