Interfaith week launched at St Martin in the Fields
Interfaith Week 2025 was launched at an event at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, yesterday afternoon, with artistic performances and a speech from the new Faith Minister, Miatta Fahnbulleh. The week runs from Sunday 9 – Saturday 16 November and is co-ordinated by several organisations including the Faith and Belief Forum, Faiths Forum for London, United Religions Initiative, Mitzvah Day, and others. Its aim is to strengthen interfaith relations across the UK, raising awareness of the contributions of faith communities and promoting understanding. This is done through interfaith events run by local groups throughout the country, such as discussions, community walks, picnics, cultural festivals and educational activities. The Week begins on Remembrance Sunday, honouring the contributions of people of all faiths and none. In Scotland, the dates are different, from 2 – 9 November, due to local considerations.
Interfaith Declaration for a ‘just, inclusive, compassionate’ Glasgow
The “Glasgow 850 Interfaith Declaration” will be signed by faith and belief community leaders at a ceremony today, to mark the city’s 850th anniversary and 50 years of interfaith engagement. The Declaration is a statement of shared values and commitments to build a more just, inclusive, and compassionate Glasgow. It will “set out a shared vision for the city’s future, committing its supporters to nurturing understanding across faiths and worldviews; working together for equality, peace, and climate justice; welcoming refugees; and challenging prejudice in all its forms”. Dr Rose Drew, CEO of Interfaith Glasgow, said it is a “hopeful and courageous act of solidarity”. The ceremony is a civic reception for Scottish Interfaith Week, which runs from 2 – 9 November. The Lord Provost, Councillor Jacqueline McLaren, said: “It is clear that with local, national and global challenges affecting our daily lives and wellbeing we need initiatives such as this, backed by leaders, with a robust action plan, to support our aim of being a just, inclusive and resilient city.”
Pope meets Palestinian president to discuss urgent action on Gaza
Pope Leo has met the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, at the Vatican, where they discussed the “urgent need to provide assistance to the civilian population in Gaza”, and the urgent need to “end the conflict by pursuing a two-State solution”. It was their first meeting in person. The day before his meeting, the President visited the tomb of Pope Francis, telling reporters: “I cannot forget what he did for Palestine and for the Palestinian people, and I cannot forget that he recognized Palestine without anyone having to ask him to do so.” The Vatican meeting marked the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine, signed in 2015, which expresses both parties’ commitment to Palestinian self-determination and the two-state solution. It also stresses the symbolic and spiritual significance of Jerusalem for Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.
United Methodists give regional conferences autonomy on LGBTQ policies
United Methodists have passed a major restructuring initiative that gives the denomination’s different geographical regions equal decision-making authority. A report by Heather Hahn in UM News, says that the “Worldwide Regionalization” project addresses the deep divide in the global church around LGBTQ inclusion, by letting each regional conference decide, if this complies with national laws. Conferences in Africa and the Philippines have opted to maintain bans on gay clergy and same-sex marriage. The changes also mean that regional conferences can publish their own hymn and Book of Discipline; develop practices around marriage ceremonies, funerals and other rites; and make changes to chargeable offenses under church law. President Tracy S. Malone said in a press statement that the new system “strengthens our world-wide connection to serve faithfully and inclusively in every context.”
World Council of Churches says COP30 is a ‘kairos moment’
The World Council of Churches has described COP30, opening this week in Belém, Brazil, as a “kairos moment” — a decisive time demanding moral and political action. The council says the Amazon setting underscores the urgency of protecting creation and focussing on Indigenous voices in global climate efforts. “This is not simply about clean energy, but ecological transformation — of hearts, economies and civilizations,” said Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, WCC moderator. Faith groups attending the parallel interfaith gathering (20 October – 21November) are calling for ambitious national climate plans with real accountability, climate finance as justice through grants not loans, debt cancellation for vulnerable nations and protection for indigenous people. The WCC says that according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global emissions must drop 43 percent by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, but current promises fall short.
National Hindu NHS Network set up in Britain
A national Hindu NHS Network has been launched to support staff and promote better care for Hindu patients, carers and families. Its aim is to preserve spiritual identity, cultural values and personal wellbeing by encouraging the service to be more aware of needs, such as end of life care rituals, prayer resources and practical concerns such as non-halal food. A report in the Times of India quotes Dr Rajeev Gupta, the network’s co-convenor, saying that when staff and patients feel respected, the quality of care improves. The network aims to help provide access to trained Hindu chaplains, and to offer career workshops to support progression for NHS staff amid concerns there is under-representation in leadership. The report by Naomi Canton is here.
Muslim War Memorial faces funding gap as £1m government pledge stalls
Plans for a World Wars Muslim Memorial remain stalled after £1 million pledged by the government in 2024 has failed to materialise. Jeremy Hunt made the original pledge as chancellor in March 2024, and Labour ministers later reaffirmed their commitment, but the money has yet to arrive. Hyphen Online reports that trustees are now seeking support from the National Lottery and private donors to fund the monument, intended to honour Muslims who fought for Britain and its allies in both world wars, as well as more recent British Muslim casualties. Around 1.5 million Muslims served in the British Indian Army, though public awareness remains low. Sir William Blackburne, chair of the memorial’s trustees, said they hoped the government would stay true to its word.
Bake Off winner says Christian faith strengthened through the contest
The winner of this year’s Great British Bake Off, Jasmine Mitchell, has described how her Christian faith helped steady her nerves as she baked her way to the title. In an interview with Premier Christian News, she said: “Being under the high pressure of TV really pushed me to rely on Jesus, on God, because there were a lot of situations where I just felt completely unequipped..Walking to the tent from the green room, or waiting, I would just pray the Lord’s prayer a lot in my head. It didn’t take away the stress, but I felt like God was walking along beside me with it”. At 23, she is a medical student in London and applied to the show on “a complete whim”, after being encouraged by a friend. Jasmine is the daughter of Professor Jolyon Mitchell, Principal of St John’s College, Durham, and said her love of baking stemmed from hospitality being at the heart of her Christian upbringing.
