ONE wishes there were more such occasions like the one that
recently took place in a south London park in
Southwark diocese. Christians and Muslims joined
together to get to know each other and make a common Peace Pledge.
A large Salaam Peace banner was created, and hundreds of badges,
decorated by individual worshippers with the same two words, were
given out - many to be given away by participants to others in the
hope of starting conversations about peace and understanding
between people of other faiths. And all present, led by the church
and mosque leaders, joined in repeating out loud:
We are people of Faith.
We are people who long for Peace.
And are looking for Peace.
We are all creatures of God.
We are all committed to one another.
Together we will find Peace: Salaam!
The churches involved were all C of E parishes in the diocese of
Southwark, and they and the Old Kent Road Mosque meet regularly for
a Muslim-Christian Discussion and Gathering, which involves
conversation about issues such as peace, forgiveness, and love; and
the sharing of food. It was representatives of those meetings who
wrote the pledge.