Council for Christians and Jews

An Introduction to CCJ (Council Of Christians and Jews)

Aims and Mission Statement :
The Council for Christians and Jews was established to (1) promote religious and cultural understanding between Christians and Jews (2), to work for the elimination of religious and racial prejudice, hatred and discrimination, particularly anti-semitism and (3), to promote religious and racial harmony on the basis of ethical and social teachings common to Christianity and Judaism.

Background and History –
CCJ was founded by Chief Rabbi Hertz and future Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple in 1942, in response to the devastating scale of Nazi atrocities against Jews in Europe. It was also considered that institutional Anti Semitism in Britain needed to be addressed, as demonstrated by hostility to British Jewish immigrants from Russia in the late 19th and early 20th century and more recently the rise of the British Union of Fascists in the mid to late 1930s’
The aim of the organisation was simple; to build an organisation composed of local branches. Membership being drawn from both the Christian and Jewish communities who would meet together socially and learn about each other therefore leading to improvements in Christian Jewish relations.

Past/Present Projects

CCJ’s past was primarily built on building and maintaining branches:
Today however the Britain of the early 21st Century is very different demographically and in its faith mix post 1945. CCJ has responded to these changes in that whilst its emphasis is still on the Christian - Jewish dynamic, it works within a multi faith context and uses its expertise in the field of Christian Jewish relations to promote dialogue with Muslims, Hindus and other faith groups primarily through its practical project work.

Present projects are as follows:
Root and Branch
A capacity building initiative for branches to become actively involved in local interfaith community initiatives. Several branches are involved in the ‘Lives and Voices’ programme. This encourages branches to work with other local interfaith organisations and work with local schools on their Citizenship and diversity programmes

Tete a Tete
Reducing the threat of interfaith tensions on campus by running workshops for Chaplains to explore how they can encourage students to engage with interfaith issues. Also fosters students of different faiths working together to improve the way colleges engage with faith communities.

CID
Materials and resource packs for schools to explore ‘faith and diversity’. Now in the process of distributing an interactive CD Rom on faiths in Britain from the perspective of teenage faith group practitioners.

Understanding Conflict (in concert with 3FF and JCORE)

An education and information project for schools and Colleges (14-18). Aims to encourage and foster the development of ‘Interfaith leaders’: Conference due in June

Size and Capacity

Three Full time members of staff
3933 members
565 Donors

Needs from the Connective:

Knowledge of and communication with other groups so we can build partnerships and avoid acting in isolation

What we can offer

Partnership with other groups particular in the area of specific projects.

Partners (Strategic)

Anglo Israel Association, Centre for the study of Jewish Christian relations, Habitat for Humanity Great Britain, The Christian Muslim Forum, St Ethelburgas centre for peace and Reconciliation, Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, Anmerdown conference and Retreat Centre, Aegis Trust, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.

Funders: (Include the following)

BB Administration, Sainsbury, United Charities Fund, Interfaith Youth Trust, Bridge House Trust,Wates Foundation, Jack Petchey Foundation,The Pears Foundation,Israel Ministry of Tourism,Rothschild Trust corporation,Carroll Marx charitable Trust,St Peters Saltley Trust

Contact details:

1st Floor,
Camelford House
87-89 Albert Embankment
London
SE1 7TP
Tel: 020 7820 0090
Fax: 020 7820 0504
Email: cjrelations@ccj.org.uk
Web:www.ccj.org.uk

FAITHS TOGETHER - South Tyneside Faiths Partnership

We are just beginning the journey of working together in South Tyneside.

In January 2008 we brought together 80 people from 9 different faith and belief backgrounds for the first time in South Tyneside to share ideas, beliefs and stories and their hopes for working together in the future.

The event highlighted the need to develop an inter faith group in South Tyneside to enable relationship building and partnership working between those of different faiths and beliefs.

In November 2008 we launched the report of this successful event as well as launching our new Faiths Development Worker, who will be supporting us to take our work forward.

We have recently set up a partnership steering group made up of representatives from the Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Jewish faiths in South Tyneside and have started working towards becoming constituted.

For more information or to get involved contact:
Elizabeth Goodchild
Faiths Development Worker
Mid-Tyne Activities Centre
115 Grange Road
Jarrow NE32 3QW
0771 599 2265
elizabeth@southtynesidecvs.org.uk

The North East Religious Learning Resources Centre (NERLRC)

The North East Religious Learning Resources Centre (NERLRC) promotes and encourages religious learning by offering resources, information and training to individuals, schools, churches and other faith communities.

Established in 1974, it is the North East of England’s only specialist collection of religious resources with over 30,000 individual items available for loan. We have two sites and a comprehensive stock including both practical and academic resources in a variety of media - books, DVDs, posters, artefacts and CDs.

The Resources Centre has an Anglican foundation but celebrates its ecumenical, multi-faith and interfaith approach to religious learning.
Link to our website: www.resourcescentreonline.co.uk

People to People North East

Our Origin

Soon after the Second World War, a programme of events was organised in several UK cities on the initiative of the International Friendship League (IFL) Newcastle upon Tyne was one of the founder members. Owing to its success and amount of organisational effort required responsibility for running the events was taken on in 1984 by People to People North East, made up of representatives of all the participating organisations interested in bringing people of different origins and religions together. Our Patron is the Lord Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Our aim

Our main aim is to arrange cultural and social activities to promote harmony, understanding and unity among the people of the North East. This would invariably involve both interfaith and multicultural events.

How do we achieve our aim?

The organisation holds an annual general meeting and meets regularly to organise the events of the forthcoming programme. The programme includes visits to places of cultural and religious interest, thereby learning about the traditions and religions of people who have come to live in the North East from all over the world. What we do this year is not necessarily what we did last year. It is up to those who join the organisation to decide what they would like to have. We welcome both new members and new ideas.

Membership

£6.00 for an individual
£12.00 for an organisation
£3.00 for a junior member (under 16 or in full time education)
We have a very small budget and would always welcome donations

Current contacts

Chair: Mr Andy Lie, E-mail asj_lie@hotmail.com
Secretary: Mrs Sylvia Harding, Tel: 0191 4952151

County Durham Faiths Network

The County Durham Faiths Network formally adopted a Terms of Reference on 3rd December 2007. The purpose of the network is:

To provide a voice for Faith Communities
To enable faith representation at a variety of forums both local and countywide
To provide a resource from a faith perspective to public and statutory agencies and a means whereby public agencies can consult with and respond to the needs of faith communities
To share in the understanding of different faiths
To encourage and enable people of faith to work together on issues of common interest
To promote and publicise faith events

The group currently has representation from : Bahá'í Community, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, together with other locally represented organisations with faith concerns (currently Unitarians, Quakers, and Durham University FACE Society).

For further information about the County Durham Faiths Network Please Contact:

Paul Southgate
CRC NE
Ushaw College
Durham
DH7 9RH

Tel: 0191 373 5453
e-mail: chiefofficer-crc@btconnect.com

Ian D. Hunter Smart
Community Development Team
Durham County Council
The Rivergreen Centre
Aykley Heads Estate
Durham
DH1 5TS

Tel: 0191 370 8745
e-mail: ian.huntersmart@durham.gov.uk

Updated May 2007