18/11/2022
Friendships across faiths are so important in our world today. Yesterday at Lambeth Palace Archbishop Justin joined Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis for the final meeting of the ‘In Good Faith’ project, an 18-month long programme which they co-sponsored.
The programme saw a group of Church of England priests being paired with rabbis/rebbetzen. It was inspiring to hear about the friendships that have been built, which have led to working together for the common good whilst creating space for difficult and mutually challenging conversations, something the world urgently needs.
Over the course of the programme participants have met up online, learnt skills of navigating difficult conversations, and enjoyed a creative space which has supported them to cross ‘red lines’. They met online with religious leaders from Jerusalem as well as educators and theologians from both Christian and Jewish worlds and have recently travelled together to the National Holocaust Centre and Museum in Nottinghamshire.
Archbishop Justin said 'It was good to reflect on my friendship with Chief Rabbi Mirvis and how that has deepened over the years. Such bonds of trust, respect and affection allow us to seek the wellbeing of the world around us together. They also mean we can engage with each other in a spirit of love and respect not just over what we have in common – but also our differences and disagreements too.'
We are so grateful for the friendships that exist between The Church of England and our Jewish sisters and brothers. We pray that the friendships that have blossomed through the ‘In Good Faith’ project continue to bear fruit for many years to come and be evident in grassroots friendships across our local Christian and Jewish communities.