Introduction by Michael Cleere, the Community Cohesion Coordinator
Discussion on Faith Communities in Camberwell, including the following speakers:
Rev'd Nicholas Elder, St George Church and Trinity College Centre
Rev'd David Wade, Heartbeat International Christian Centre
Eileen Conn, Chair of Southwark Multi-faith Forum
Reverend Eric Mustapha, Walworth Methodist Church
Pastor Tony Okom,The Redeemed Christian Church Of God, Friends Parish
Minutes:
Michael Cleer, Community Cohesion Co-ordinator, introduced the faith community discussion by giving an overview of faith Southwark wide. Michael explained that Southwark was a diverse community with 360 faith groups. In that last census most respondents were Christian, some of the other religions followed included: Muslims, Jews and Sikhs. 28% of those who responded to the last census had no religion or did not state a religion.
Michael spoke about the role of faith groups in terms of community cohesion and engagement and how groups can strengthen a sense of belonging and play a role in a vision for how life in Southwark should be. Michael identified that although faith groups can have very different views there is often a commonality in groups in terms of a belief in a higher power and concern for the common good.
The chair then invited each of the faith group representatives to explain about their organisation and their role in the community.
· Rev'd Nicholas Elder, St George Church and Trinity College Centre
· Eileen Conn, Deputy Chair of Southwark Multi-faith Forum
· Pastor Tony Okon, The Redeemed Christian Church Of God, Friends Parish
· Leon Wright, Education Officer Heartbeat International Christian Centre
The chair then asked for questions and comments from the floor. Residents discussed the effect the spending cuts would have on the work of faith groups in the community and whether they were in a position to assist in meeting the needs of local people. For example could churches provide community opportunities for isolated people?
Residents and councillors spoke about the work of faith groups in terms of engaging and empowering people, particularly young people. It was also pointed out that it is not just faith groups which take on this role in the community. The opportunities for developing community information systems were discussed. Eileen Conn reiterated Michael’s points about the number of different groups who are connected by the common aim of wanting to improve life in Southwark, she felt this needed to be tapped into and encouraged groups to get involved in the multi faith forum.
Residents also questioned the ability of faith groups to engage with people of non-faith and asked how they could make services more attractive to people who they were in a position to help.