The Oxford Diocesan Committee for Interfaith Relations (ODCIR), chaired by the Venerable Jonathan Chaffey, Archdeacon of Oxford, and Revd Dr Paul Smith, Area Interfaith Advisor for the Buckingham Archdeaconry, was set up by the diocese with the following aims:
- To support, resource and enable individuals, churches and clergy in Presence & Engagement parishes. These parishes have at least 10% of their population from non-Christian religions;
- To keep members of the diocese aware of other faith communities and enable and encourage constructive engagement with them;
- To be a forum in which interfaith concerns, as they affect the diocese, can be explored.
In November 2024 we held the first Diocesan Presence and Engagement Conference at St Mary's Slough, with the Rector of Upton-cum-Chalvey, Revd Scott Lamb, Dr Richard McCallum from the Centre of Muslim Christian Studies in Oxford, Siriol Davies from the National P&E programme and Archdeacon Jonathan Chaffey. Lay and ordained members of some of the 97 P&E parishes across the Diocese attended to hear about the national picture and the principles of interfaith engagement alongside practical examples of good interfaith relations.
The committee's general vision of how interfaith relations can be more Christ-like through being contemplative, compassionate and courageous. can be seen in these slides from an 'away day' held in 2018.
The following area interfaith advisors should be your first contact point for any interfaith related issues or questions:
- Dr Jane Clements for the Dorchester Archdeaconry
- The Revd Canon Alan Race for the Berkshire Archdeaconry
- The Revd Dr Paul Smith for the Buckingham Archdeaconry (North, to include Milton Keynes and Aylesbury)
- The Revd Scott Lamb for the Buckingham Archdeaconry (South, to include Slough and High Wycombe)
Note: For the Oxford Archdeaconry this position is currently vacant
Related links
- Presence & Engagement | The Church of England
- Generous Love report
- Guide to interfaith relations
- National Interfaith Network
- National Interfaith Week
- South East England Faiths Forum
- Report on the Hakimah programme at the Tantur Institute Jerusalem - a course looking at the wisdom of Jewish, Christian and Muslim women, attended by the Revd Sally Lynch in January 2019.
- Oxford Jewish Congregation
- Council of Christians and Jews
- Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies
- Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies
- Forum for discussion on Israel and Palestine