The Anglican Communion Network for Inter Faith Concerns NIFCON has released its treatise on interfaith relations, Generous Love: the truth of the Gospel and the call to dialogue. It is a culmination of four years work on developing an distinctively Anglican theology of interfaith relations.
Generous Love is being sent to every Anglican diocesan bishop and to all NIFCON contacts. It is intended both for those already engaged inter faith relations and those who are considering how and whether they might begin such engagement Recipients are being asked to disseminate the document as widely as possible
The entire press release follows:
Generous Love: the truth of the Gospel and the call to dialogue – An Anglican theology of inter faith relations
This short treatise is the culmination of work in which NIFCON has been engaged over the last four years. The discernment of a distinctively Anglican theology of inter faith relations is set against the backdrop of and builds on similar work in other Christian traditions, notably Nostra Aetate.
*Why do we need a theology of inter faith relations?
Much has been said about the pressing need for serious engagement and understanding between faiths so that it might be a solution to rather than the cause of disharmony or even violence. However, such engagement requires a solid foundation from within our Christian faith and it should not be simply something arising out of political expediency or to suit the current trend.
*How is this a distinctly Anglican Theology?
There is a strong Trinitarian foundation to the document.
Anglicanism responded in a distinctive way to the Christian plurality of the post-Reformation world and this heritage provides a particular instinct for responding to the religious plurality of our day.
Tradition and reason are key aspects of how Anglicans “do” theology. Generous Love considers how these relate to the reading of scripture and patterns of discipleship shaped by the double context of Church and Society.
*Who is this document for and how is it to be used?
Generous Love is being sent to every Anglican diocesan bishop and to all NIFCON contacts. It is intended both for those already engaged inter faith relations and those who are considering how and whether they might begin such engagement Recipients are being asked to disseminate the document as widely as possible.
Generous Love comes out of work that previous Lambeth Conferences have mandated NIFCON to do. It is offered just prior to Lambeth 2008 as a tool in the equipping and training of bishops for God’s mission and ministry, and through the bishops the wider church.
For more information see the NIFCON website
http://nifcon.anglicancommunion.org or contact the Administrator,
susanne.mitchell@aco.org +44(0) 207 313 3939 fax +44 (0)207 313 3900
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