Boundaries not barriers

The Church of England and other faiths

National Policies Inter faith policy and new religions/new spirituality policy are different at NATIONAL level in the Church of England We have formal relationships with other members of the ‘nine’: Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Baha'i

Involving what?

Christianity and other faiths  Engagement  Advocacy  Dialogue  Exchange  Diplomacy  Sharing  Debate  Friendship, hospitality, mutuality, faith- sharing

New Religious Movements

NRM portfolios The NRM umbrella covers everything else  De facto New Religious Groups  Personal Development Movements  Pagan traditions  Alternative spiritualities  Alternative spiritual practice  Atheistic belief and morality systems  Extreme political groups  Organisations offering NRM services and ceremonies

How do we relate to the NRM world?

Inter faith: basis of engagement  Historic  Leadership  Conformity  Common elements  Deeply rewarding, but often difficult  Some NRMs show some of these elements, some have none of them

The weddings project?

NRM policy  We have NO formal engagement with NRMs, why?  groups  want formal access  change fast  not accountable  difficult to monitor

What then? We encourage informal contacts with NRMs  Knowing neighbours  Getting info  Removing suspicion  Supporting families  Open door  Appropriate engagement

The Good Stuff…

The Good Stuff In addition to free calendars…  Many peaceful and friendly  Good, helpful contacts  Enable pastoral care  Mutual boundaries

The Bad Stuff  Church of Celestial Light  Redeemed Christian Church of God  Church of the Holy Blood of the Lamb  Holy Spirit Church of Love and Fellowship

The Bad stuff  Unnacceptable behaviour  Harm  Exploitation  Hostility  Two-faced  Contrary to the gospel

Boundaries not Barriers 1 people What do boundaries do?  Protect from harm  Protect from exploitation  Protect the vulnerable  Help leavers

Boundaries not Barriers 2 Christian faith What do the boundaries do?  distinctiveness, integrity and authenticity  avoid compatibility issues  insist on Christian values  set apart from racist and supremacist groups

The network  Every diocese should have an NRM/AS adviser for pastoral support  INFORM provides information  INFORM provides access to counselling, legal advice etc  AR provides specialist advice eg ecclesiastical law

Policy  No formal engagement, only informal contacts  No access, advocacy,  Listen, encourage, support informal engagement  Use INFORM for information  No suppression of groups

Resources  Sense Making Faith

We provide  Information  Guidance  Pastoral care  Negotiation  Support  Access to specialist ministries (eg deliverance)