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THE SECRET I bear a secret folden in my heart. Wafted on joy it sings with light suffused rose-coloured as a frilly shell half-closed. Precious, my secret, reverently held, savoured alone. It is too soon to share, too soon to tell aloud. I contemplate with care this whispered news, this hope, this plan springing to life. I would not violate the Now, the fragile Now forcing a future while my secret grows. I cradle, cherish this my dream. No…I will not speak yet. Sr Katharine Holmstrom From: Take This Da y:Prayers and Reflections 2005 Photograph: Jim Chestnut 51 Issue 35 publication date Autumn 2016/Winter 2017 04 EDITORIAL - Lorna Douglas 05 KEyNOTE Derek McAuley - Values of Inclusion 07 POEM Kuli Kohli - Broken Recovery 08 INTERFAITH ENCOUNTER Marianne Rankin - In Pursuit of the Mystical... 11 FAITH, SEXUALITY AND GENDER IDENTITY 11 Margaret Mead - Quote 12 Jeremy Rodell - Finding Meaning and Purpose in Evidence 14 Michelle Booth - Merging Identities 16 16 Hannah Taylor - Completeness of Being 20 18 The Revd Chris Newlands - A Service of Affirmation for Trans People 20 INTERFAITH VISIONARy Marcus Braybrooke - A Tribute to Sir Sigmund Sternberg 21 WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP Gina Lazenby - 100 Women of Spirit: Igniting the Flame 24 LANGUAGE OF ART Paul-Gordon Chandler - Harmony Unlocked The Key: 2016 Caravan Exhibition of Art 29 POEM 25 Rukhsana Khan - Not Guilty 41 32 INSIGHT Dr Harshadray Nandlal Sanghrajka - The Jain Diaspora in Britain 33 SUBSCRIPTION FORM 42 NEW BOOK My Dear Ones: 35 Jonathan Wittenberg - FAITH, SEXUALITY One Family and the Final Solution AND GENDER IDENTITY 35 Pawan Singh - Quote 47 BOOK EXTRACT Michael McCarthy - The Moth Snowstorm 36 Reverend Sally Hitchiner - The Power of God’s Hope 48 CIRCLING THE GLOBE 38 Pawan Singh - Evolving into Self The Rt. Rev. William E. Swing - URI Perspective on the US Presidential Election 40 LIFE STORy Shiban Akbar OBE - Abdul Sattar Edhi: 49 FAITH AND THE ARTIST In Service to Humanity James Royse Murphy - Differences Inside-Out 3 www.faithinitiative.co.uk omewhere deep within our understanding of what it means to be Initiative Interfaith Trust human is a hardwired searching process that never stops working. Registered Charity No. 1113345 Whether it is seeking solutions to specific problems or more general Trustees : Heather Wells, Lorna Douglas aspects of our reality, this process takes us on a complicated journey that and Emma Winthrop. can raise as many questions as it provides answers. This is graphically Object : illustrated in many of our articles featured in this issue - especially those The promotion of religious harmony by: Providing educational resources and information to promote a better giving focus to our theme exploring aspects of Faith, Sexuality and awareness of the causes and consequences of inter-religious Gender Identity . tensions and conflicts; and educating the public in the diverse nature of religious belief. Addressing this theme, our keynote writer, Derek McAuley, an Officer Faith Initiative Magazine within the Unitarian Church, and Jeremy Rodell from the British Humanist Editorial Panel Association, both independently highlight the importance of knowing and Editor: Heather Wells understanding the ‘real’ lives of ‘real’ people; those whose identities are so Co-Editor and Design Consultant: Lorna Douglas often hidden behind impersonal political rhetoric and numerical statistics. Editorial Team Charanjit Ajit Singh The social, emotional and spiritual needs of the individual are lost in Shiban Akbar sensational media soundbites, and religious discrimination that promotes Sr. Maureen Goodman Matthew Youde hatred and prejudice rather than love and acceptance, qualities that are at Umm Hanié Rebler the heart of all religions. Poet in residence : Rebecca Irvine Bilkau The personal stories of real people, living real lives, searching, Aim : The aim of Faith Initiative Magazine is to open journeying and/or transitioning into their real self, are deeply moving. windows on the beliefs and practices of people of faith, What becomes apparent from these stories is that people are processing to foster understanding and help reduce religiously motivated violence. multiple searches simultaneously, at a difficult and often painful time in their Statement : Whilst the contents of this magazine will lives. Reverend Chris Newlands recognises the significance of this search, always be in accordance with the ‘object’ of Initiative and the need for acceptance within the faith community of the individual. Interfaith Trust there will be freedom of expression. His creation of a Service of Affirmation for a transgenderd person Invitation : We invite you to contribute articles, poems, letters, illustrations and responses so that the magazine - so that they can pray to God in their new name and identity - reflects the religious communities it seeks to serve. demonstrates a profound understanding of the importance and significance Editorial guidance can be obtained from of inclusion. Heather Wells, PO Box 110, Lancaster LA2 6GN Email: [email protected] Marianne Rankin, of the Alister Hardy Trust, writes of what has been an Issue 36 Theme: almost exhaustive human search for truth, exploring the idea of a reality • Interfaith Dialogue: Countering Racism and of self, a divine reality and a connection between the two. A search Religious Discrimination motivated for what is real and true – personal, divine or otherwise – is of Front cover : Ankh: Humans in the Key of Life by Mohamed Negm great worth to the individual, and also to humanity and the world as a Quote: Abdul Sattar Edhi whole. Indeed, in this context our contributors illustrate that, in a search Back cover : Poem: Down Time by Rebecca Bilkau for truth, they have found scriptures read with an open heart and mind Photograph: Michael Bilkau can reveal new and more inclusive meaning that benefits all of humankind. Design & Print : Print Graphic Ltd T: 01228 593 900 So why would anyone choose to close their mind to the possibilities of a life-changing revelation - what Marianne Rankin describes as a 'shaft of illumination': for only those who are prepared to L THE RA S SPIRAL: “This is an ancient PI P search the depths and heights of their reality find love and S IR symbol that reminds us of the acceptance of self and of other. E A H womb and the protective T L mothering nature in all of us. L T A H It takes us from the broad Lorna Douglas R E I P sweeps of the outer life to an S S P I E infinitely small centre where R H A T L we cease to exist.” L T A H R E I P S Cited: We thank all our contributors - writers, artists, poets and photographers – Mandalas: Spiritual Circles for Harmony & Fulfilment and of course subscribers. We also gratefully acknowledge the support of donors, who Laura J.Watts (2002) Pub.Hermes House, wish to remain anonymous. To sustain and develop the magazine however we need regular London ISBN 184308 973 7 financial donations. If any readers know of Trust Funds, Grants or private donors who may be willing to help with funding, however big or small, the Editor (Heather Wells) would appreciate The spiral logo was designed by Caroline Jariwala your advice and/or recommendations. For contact details please see above. for Initiative Interfaith Trust 4 KEYNOTE Derek McAuley • Values OF Inclusion ...we drew upon our long-standing values of “freedom, reason and tolerance ”. n his resignation, the former Prime Minister David The institutions of some religions have regrettably promoted Cameron claimed that the introduction of same sex the exclusion of, and on occasion, legal sanctions against LGBT marriage was one of his major achievements during the people. The “kill the gays” legislation in Uganda, for example, Coalition Government. The contribution of Liberal Democrat has been promoted by some faith leaders in that country, and is Lynne Featherstone in initiating the move, and driving it forward, a shocking illustration of the misuse of religion for political must not be under-estimated. The then Home Secretary, purposes. Conversely, it is not commonly known that the ongoing Teresa May, a vicar’s daughter, gave her support, as did many struggle for gay rights and decriminalization, both in the United Labour members. The all-party support was important in ensuring States and the UK, was supported by church leaders, particularly this did not become a party political issue, potentially embroiling liberal Protestants. religion in some form of culture war, which we have seen For nearly sixty years the Unitarian and Free Christian Churches happening in the United States. Same sex marriage is therefore have come to understand and embrace LGBT people as valued about real people not political rhetoric. The desire to celebrate members of our own community. This was not without difficulties love in its widest sense and recognise it in marriage is a truly and controversy along the way as we worked through many human aspiration. To encourage its followers to live an authentic challenges. As a small progressive faith group with its roots in the life must surely be at the heart of all religious traditions. Lesbian, Dissenting Protestant tradition, but open to the insights of other Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people are working hard to find faiths, and of humanist and secular ideas, we drew upon our their place within their own faith community, and can seek out long-standing values of “freedom, reason and tolerance”. For other actual and mythical role models from their scriptural and oral more conservative traditions this will require seeing how their history, which are often hidden to the mainstream. fundamental values can include rather than exclude LGBT people. The introduction of same sex marriage in Great Britain following Increasingly, for example, Evangelical Christians are reconsidering legislation in the UK Parliament in 2013 (except Northern Ireland) the basis for their opposition to same sex marriage and some, such and the Scottish Parliament in 2014 remains controversial in many as Baptist leader Rev Steve Chalk, are truly welcoming.