Inter Religious
The Archbishop of Canterbury is widely respected as a leading advocate and proponent of dialogue between the different faiths. His inter religious engagement is rooted in a concern for the good of humanity in society and a conviction that religious belief and practice have immense contributions to make to the common good.
This potential is heightened when communities of faith understand each other and work together on inter religious relations or dialogue.
Furthermore both the Church of England and the Churches of the global Anglican Communion are increasingly required to be able to engage with people and communities of other religions around them; and in ways that are consistent with the Church's understanding of its gospel based mission and ministry.
The Archbishop is therefore leading a process of engagement with an increasingly religiously plural English society, as well as with those parts of the world where religious plurality has been normal for centuries.
He has taken forward the Building Bridges Seminars, initiatives begun by his predecessor that bring together Christian and Muslim scholars from across the world and regularly speaks on Christian themes to audiences of different faiths. He has supported frameworks in the UK for dialogue within which greater understanding and mutual respect can develop, such as the Christian Muslim Forum and the further development of the Hindu Christian Forum. He has also formed close relationships with the Chief Rabbi and Jewish communities through the Council of Christians and Jews and in support for events such as the annual Holocaust Memorial Day.
Recent items relating to Inter Religious dialogue are shown below:
October 2007
Greetings and Prayers for Eid 2007
11 October 2007
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, sent a greeting to Islamic communities for the coming…
September 2007
Archbishop to Visit Armenia, Syria and Lebanon
18 September 2007
Following on from his visit to the United States the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams will…
Hopes and Prayers at the Start of the Jewish New Year
11 September 2007
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, sent a greeting to Jewish Communities at the start of…
Faith Communities in a Civil Society - Christian Perspectives
10 September 2007
In a lecture to the Christian Muslim Forum Conference in King's College Chapel, Cambridge, Dr Rowan Williams,…
May 2007
Multiculturism: Friend or Foe - Archbishop's lecture
16 May 2007
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, delivers an address at London's Toynbee Hall, in which…
April 2007
Archbishop to Give Inaugural Zaki Badawi Memorial Lecture
26 April 2007
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will give the inaugural Zaki Badawi Memorial Lecture…
January 2007
Archbishop's Holocaust Memorial Day Statement 2007
25 January 2007
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams has said that the Holocaust needs to be remembered as…
December 2006
Comments on 'Spurious' Holocaust Conference in Tehran
19 December 2006
On the eve of his pilgrimage to Bethlehem with other English Church leaders, the Archbishop of Canterbury…
November 2006
Archbishop of Canterbury Meets Former President of Iran
2 November 2006
Dr Williams received HE Mr Seyyed Muhammad Khatami, at Lambeth Palace this morning and the two discussed…
Archbishop of Canterbury Awards Lambeth Degree to Rabbi Tony Bayfield
1 November 2006
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, today presided over a Lambeth Degree award ceremony…