Document
Plenary on Christian identity and religious plurality
Rev. Dr George M. Mulrain is president of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA)
Moderator's welcome and introduction
Sisters and brothers, I am George Mulrain, President of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas. I am happy to be your moderator for this plenary session on Christian Identity and Religious Pluralism.
I bid you Welcome. I feel certain that you will not regret having come to participate in this event. I maintain that the concept of ecumenism must extend beyond the confines of the Christian family. The "oikumene" or the whole inhabited earth includes persons of all faiths and none at all. The theme that will be dealt with is of relevance not just to those who live in so-called multicultural or multi-faith areas. Indeed all of us who inhabit this planet should derive some benefit from the treatment of this afternoon's topic for it concerns us all. We who are Christians are living, not in an exclusively Christian world, but in a religiously plural world.
There will firstly be a feature presentation of the topic. This will be followed by responses from two speakers whom I will introduce at that time. After they have spoken, I will give a couple of minutes for you to talk to your neighbours. This is mainly to provide you with an opportunity to clear your minds on some of the issues that might have been raised. We will then open the floor to entertain some of your questions, comments and hopefully to engage in a fruitful discussion.
It is my pleasure to introduce the person who will lead our thinking on this important subject of Christian Identity and Religious Pluralism. Born in Wales, educated in Cambridge and holding a doctorate from Oxford, he is respected as one of the most distinguished theologians of our time. In fact, I am reliably informed that he made history in being the youngest person to have been appointed professor at Oxford University.
For many persons his is a household name. He is widely regarded as one of the most radical priests and bishops to have served the Anglican communion. His present function within the institution has not stifled his ability for creative thinking. He is married and is the father of two. He has written and spoken extensively on issues of moral, social, political and religious import. He is the one hundred and forth (104th) Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England.
I now invite the most Reverend Dr Rowan Douglas Williams to address us on Christian Identity and Religious Pluralism.
