• Intro
• Internationally
• England
• Today

Our big idea: In Today's World

What follows is a letter from the Chair of the Trustees, explaining:

• the work of FoRE in the setting of today's world and its challenges
• how we wish to stand alongside those of other religions (and none) in their work for peace and justice.

In our multi-faith society some people may be asking questions about FOR England - FoRE, such as: What are our roots? Why have we moved to Oxford? What is our basic motivation? It may help developing relationships to give some of the background and history which brings us to the present time and place.

The Fellowship of Reconciliation began in 1914 when war was about to break out and a German and an Englishman made their farewell on Cologne station by affirming, "We are one in Christ and can never be at war." This is then the basic affirmation of FOR's commitment to peace making. At the end of 1914 a gathering of about 130 Christians of varied denominations gathered in Cambridge and set up the Fellowship of Reconciliation. (Read our history.) They recorded their agreement in a statement known as the Basis which was an expression of general agreement and not intended to be a fixed form of words. This is important because the two who exchanged a handshake were a German Lutheran and an English Quaker.

In 1919 representatives from a dozen countries and various denominations met in Holland and established the International FOR (IFOR), which now has many branches in all five continents. FoRE is an ecumenical Christian organization. It includes members from historic denominations who express their faith in creeds and some, like the Society of Friends, who do not subscribe to creeds. The basic commitment by FoRE members is to peace-making based on faith.

The International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) has extended its membership basis, opening it to people of varied religions, so it is now one of the largest multi- faith peace-making organizations on the world scene, though the process of change in actual membership is slow.

FoRE maintains its Christian basis but also seeks to be in dialogue with people of other faiths and this leads to practical inter-faith work on matters related to peace and justice. In this we are helped by the guidelines on Dialogue set out by the World Council of Churches and adopted by denominations and ecumenical organizations.

[At the same time] we value the witness made by leaders such as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Martin Luther-King who adopted a non-violent approach in working for justice and made a costly witness for peace. We are not a missionary organization so FoRE does not set out to convert people but we do commend a way of working for peace and justice as an expression of spirituality.

Jesus describes himself as the Way and is clear in his emphasis on non-violence and peace. As Christians we follow the teaching of Jesus who commended a non-violent approach and called on his disciples to work for justice and peace in the nations and between nations. FoRE sees no difficulty in working alongside people of other faiths in such peace building and work for justice.

Our hope for Peace House, our Oxford Centre, is that it will be not only a resource and meeting place for our members but also a place for activities which encourage inter-faith collaboration and dialogue. We are a nation of many faiths and it is important that we should work together in promoting peace and justice in our nation and between nations. The global peace movement needs people of all faiths to work together in common concern for justice and peace in a world where there is so much oppression and conflict.

There is room and need for varied organizations based on different faith perspectives [in peace work] but there is also a place for creative inter-action between religions in expressing our desire for a world in which justice and peace are accepted expressions of our life together. May Peace House play a significant part in encouraging such creative relationships.

John Johansen-Berg.
Chair of Trustees of FoRE
July 2010.

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