The Forum for Discussion of Israel and Palestine (FODIP) is a new independent not-for-profit initiative.
Its remit is to host and facilitate sensitively inter faith dialogue on the Israeli Palestinian conflict, within and between Jews, Christians and Muslims in the UK, and to promote a spirit of co-operation between and within faith communities in the UK, especially within the Church.
Please click on the headings to show/hide the information.
FODIP WORKS THROUGH
WHY IS THIS NEEDED?
There is already a substantial amount of debate on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Britain.
However, most conversations in the UK on this topic have become polarised.
Jews, Christians and Muslims are often passionately concerned about the region, but emotive exchanges can be negative and difficult.
Of particular concern is the approach to the subject within the Church, where polarisation has resulted in disunity and confrontation.
Fodip’s theological working group will bring together Christians from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives to reflect on scriptural and spiritual imperatives.
FODIP’S POSITION
Fodip takes no political position but it does hold values:
WHO WE ARE
PATRONS
Lord Harries of Pentregarth, former Bishop of Oxford, has written extensively on the ‘Abrahamic faiths’ as well as on Christian theology dealing with matters including ethics, secularism and war and peace. Former Dean of Kings College, London, Professor Harries was Chair of the Council of Christians and Jews and founded the Oxford Jewish Christian Muslim dialogue group.
Rabbi Dr Tony Bayfield is Head of the Movement for Reform Judaism and a President of the Council of Christians and Jews. A pioneer of serious inter faith dialogue in Britain, he has spoken and written extensively on the process and his collaborative publications include Dialogue with a Difference (1992) and He Kissed Him and They Wept: Towards a Theology of Partnership (2001). He is currently working on a publication jointly edited with Alan Race and Ataullah Siddiqui.
Shaykh Dr Abdal Hakim Murad (Tim Winter) is Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, and is acknowledged as a leading Islamic scholar in Britain. His inter faith work includes joint editorship of Abraham’s Children (2006) with Lord Harries and Rabbi Norman Solomon.
Dr Usama Hasan is an imam and scientist, holding senior lecturing posts at both the University of Middlesex and the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Former Director of the City Circle, a forum for young Muslim professionals in London, Dr Hasan is also a prime mover in United London Stands, bringing faith communities together in the face of divisive issues and events both at home and abroad.
DIRECTOR
Jane Clements is an Anglican Christian and the Founder of (FODIP). Prior to that, she was Director of Programmes at the Council of Christians and Jews. She has a first degree in theology (with a specialism in Islam), an MA in Hebrew and Jewish Studies and a PhD in Holocaust Education, all from the University of London. With a background and training in Religious Education, Jane has many years of experience in inter faith relations and reconciliation work. Between 2004 and 2008, she also worked intensively with Israeli and Palestinian students from the Olive Tree programme at City University. She has been taking study groups to Israel and the West Bank for many years. Jane serves on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Anglican Commission to the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and is a Trustee of the UK’s Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. Her recent publications include: Post-Missionary Messianic Judaism: Redefining Christian Engagement with the Jewish People (2009a) in Ecclesiology: Volume 5, Number 2, 2009, pp. 263-265(3) pub. BRILL and No Going Back: Letters to Pope Benedict XVI on the Holocaust, Jewish-Christian Relations and Israel, (2009 b) eds. Smith & Rittner, pp 109-112 pub. Quill/The Holocaust Centre
Its remit is to host and facilitate sensitively inter faith dialogue on the Israeli Palestinian conflict, within and between Jews, Christians and Muslims in the UK, and to promote a spirit of co-operation between and within faith communities in the UK, especially within the Church.
Please click on the headings to show/hide the information.
FODIP WORKS THROUGH
- 'Questions Without Borders' study tours. Read more
- 'Tough Options' project, facilitating dialogue on this difficult topic for local inter faith groups.
(Supported by the M B Reckitt Trust.) - 'Neighbours for Peace' project, resourcing local groups to support initiatives in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Click to open or download PDF
- Hosting events for speakers and organisations from the region.
- The Theological working group (funded by the Sir Halley Stewart Trust), looking at how Christians begin to approach issues of advocacy and support, and the development of responses to the conflict.
- Using established networks and providing a consultancy on related issues.
- First itemIssuing regular bulletins and up-dates.
WHY IS THIS NEEDED?
There is already a substantial amount of debate on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Britain.
However, most conversations in the UK on this topic have become polarised.
Jews, Christians and Muslims are often passionately concerned about the region, but emotive exchanges can be negative and difficult.
Of particular concern is the approach to the subject within the Church, where polarisation has resulted in disunity and confrontation.
Fodip’s theological working group will bring together Christians from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives to reflect on scriptural and spiritual imperatives.
FODIP’S POSITION
Fodip takes no political position but it does hold values:
- the acknowledgement that every human being is a child of God and has a right to live in peace with dignity and without fear;
- the recognition of the history, identity and needs of each community within the ‘Holy Land’, seeking their material and spiritual well-being;
- above all, FODIP advocates the use of dialogue over violence, and gives priority to hearing the voices of those living in communities in the region.
WHO WE ARE
PATRONS
Lord Harries of Pentregarth, former Bishop of Oxford, has written extensively on the ‘Abrahamic faiths’ as well as on Christian theology dealing with matters including ethics, secularism and war and peace. Former Dean of Kings College, London, Professor Harries was Chair of the Council of Christians and Jews and founded the Oxford Jewish Christian Muslim dialogue group.
Rabbi Dr Tony Bayfield is Head of the Movement for Reform Judaism and a President of the Council of Christians and Jews. A pioneer of serious inter faith dialogue in Britain, he has spoken and written extensively on the process and his collaborative publications include Dialogue with a Difference (1992) and He Kissed Him and They Wept: Towards a Theology of Partnership (2001). He is currently working on a publication jointly edited with Alan Race and Ataullah Siddiqui.
Shaykh Dr Abdal Hakim Murad (Tim Winter) is Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, and is acknowledged as a leading Islamic scholar in Britain. His inter faith work includes joint editorship of Abraham’s Children (2006) with Lord Harries and Rabbi Norman Solomon.
Dr Usama Hasan is an imam and scientist, holding senior lecturing posts at both the University of Middlesex and the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Former Director of the City Circle, a forum for young Muslim professionals in London, Dr Hasan is also a prime mover in United London Stands, bringing faith communities together in the face of divisive issues and events both at home and abroad.
DIRECTOR
Jane Clements is an Anglican Christian and the Founder of (FODIP). Prior to that, she was Director of Programmes at the Council of Christians and Jews. She has a first degree in theology (with a specialism in Islam), an MA in Hebrew and Jewish Studies and a PhD in Holocaust Education, all from the University of London. With a background and training in Religious Education, Jane has many years of experience in inter faith relations and reconciliation work. Between 2004 and 2008, she also worked intensively with Israeli and Palestinian students from the Olive Tree programme at City University. She has been taking study groups to Israel and the West Bank for many years. Jane serves on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Anglican Commission to the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and is a Trustee of the UK’s Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. Her recent publications include: Post-Missionary Messianic Judaism: Redefining Christian Engagement with the Jewish People (2009a) in Ecclesiology: Volume 5, Number 2, 2009, pp. 263-265(3) pub. BRILL and No Going Back: Letters to Pope Benedict XVI on the Holocaust, Jewish-Christian Relations and Israel, (2009 b) eds. Smith & Rittner, pp 109-112 pub. Quill/The Holocaust Centre
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