I have been involved in different aspects of interfaith relations since the mid 1990’s. In 2009 I founded the youth charity The Feast to further work amongst teenagers of different faiths. I have facilitated and participated in numerous interfaith activities, primarily in Birmingham but also nationally and internationally. I am a lay canon at St Philip’s Cathedral in Birmingham and a member of St. Christopher’s Church, Springfield where I am a preacher, children’s worker and Church Warden.
Qualifications
| DTh Faiths, Friendship and Pedagogy: Equipping Christian Teenagers for a Relevant Engagement with Muslim Peers | 2007 | University of Birmingham: Queens Foundation |
| MTh Applied Theology: The Role of Young People in Christian-Muslim Dialogue | 2001 | Oxford University: Westminster College Oxford |
Roles within Queen’s
I am the module leader for Christianity and Inter Faith Engagement
External roles and responsibilities
I am the Director of Interfaith Relations for the Bishop of Birmingham and a member of the Birmingham Faith Leaders Group. I am an Honorary Research Fellow at the Edward Cadbury Centre for Religion in Public Life at the University of Birmingham, and an external tutor at St Mellitus on their Youthwork course and at Coventry University on their Architecture MA course. I am Secretary to the Anglican Communion Interfaith Commission and serve on advisory boards for several organisations including Warwickshire County Cricket Club and West Midlands Police.
Research interests
The Changing Use of Religious Buildings in Birmingham, The Religious Diversity of Birmingham, Interfaith Relations across the Anglican Communion, Online Interfaith Dialogue Theory and Practice.
Publications
Special Places and Special Conversations in Ramadan Journal 2021. The Dialogue Society
Dialogue In Lockdown: Online Dialogue and its Lessons Amidst Rising Popularism in The Journal of Dialogue Studies 8: 67-85. 2020
Vibrant Christianity in Multi-Faith Britain. 2018. BRF
Inclusive Youth Work in Christian Youth work in Theory and Practice: A Handbook. Eds Nash, S and Whitehead, J 2014. SCM Press
Promoting Christian / Muslim Dialogue Between Young People of Faith in Youth Work and Islam. Eds Belton, B and Hamid, S 2011. Sense Publishers
Working with Muslim and Christian Young People in Between Naivety and Hostility. Eds Bell, S and Chapman, C 2011. Authentic Media
My Friend Imran: Christian-Muslim Friendship 2009. Grove Booklets
Young at Heart: Youth and Children’s Work in Distinctly Welcoming. Sudworth, R 2007. Scripture Union
A Reflection on Inter-faith Work in Mission-Shaped Youth. Sudworth, T 2007. Church House Publishing
The Role of Young People in Christian Muslim Dialogue in The Journal of Youth Ministry 2.2: 89-96. 2004
