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The World Council of Churches, Council for World Mission and United Reformed Church, held a joint consultation on Multiple Religious Belonging, 14-16 December, at Queen’s Ecumenical Centre, Birmingham UK. The consultation which included members of different faith groups, renowned theologians and grassroots interfaith activists extended and enriched continuing conversations on the lived reality of multiple religious belonging and religious hybridity.  The consultation included panel discussions from inter-religious; theological; ritual and socio-anthropological; and interdisciplinary perspectives.

Rev. Dr Peniel Rajkumar, WCC programme executive for Inter-religious Dialogue and Cooperation, said: “This conference enabled the conversations on multiple religious belonging and religious hybridity that the WCC has previously held in Cleveland (in the USA) and at the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, Chennai, India, in 2014, to continue in the context of northern Europe.”

He added, “Multiple religious belonging is one way in which people choose to be religious, drawing generously and genuinely from the religious resources we have around us. What we witnessed at this gathering in Birmingham is how multiple religious belonging brings forth some hard questions to ecumenical and interfaith tables.

“Listening to the lived experiences of those at the consultation offered the opportunity to cross the boundaries of systematic faith identities, rethink mission and re-articulate Christian discipleship in a context where diverse forms of religious hybridity challenge the church to embrace new and radical ways of living out our faith.”

Opening the consultation, Rev. Dr Michael Jagessar, said: “Whilst multiple religious belonging may be a relatively new focus for some of us, the existential reality, though, is that multiple religious belonging has been happening from the time of any religious ‘big bang’. Multiplicity, though, has always been fascinating as it is terrifying for many. For those like myself, multiple belonging is the story of our lives.

“Only in retrospect I am now able to give content to some of its fascination and mystery. Much is largely unexplainable and that is fascinating as the mystery is to be lived into (not explained), mystery that transforms rather than simply informs. In this sense a conference on theorising multiple religious belonging will be a challenge. The challenge of framing a concept of fluidity that does not simply slide back into the logic of the one is a pressing one.”

Following the consultation, Rev. Wayne Hawkins, Council for World Mission, secretary for Europe, added: “The consultation enabled diverse voices to grapple with their faith identity – each narrative was personal and reflective, the conversations were challenging and rewarding, and we hope that the papers produced can be turned into a publication that will become a great resource for churches and other faith communities who want to discover more about the practical implications of religious and cultural hybridity, hospitality and multiple religious belonging in our life together as a faith community.”

WCC programme for inter-religious dialogue and cooperation