Michael Henderson, journalist, author and broadcaster, was the guest speaker at the Nottingham Inter Faith Council’s Annual General Meeting, at the Meeting House of the Society of Friends on 28 September, 2004. Nearly 50 people representing all the nine faith communities of Nottingham were present. The Lord Mayor, as President of the Inter Faith Council, gave a warm opening speech recognising the work done this year by the Council and in initiating a new All Faiths Lord Mayor’s Chaplaincy team at his request. – possibly the first such team in the country.
Henderson told dynamic and hope-giving stories of people who had been able to forgive in challenging circumstances. The audience were fascinated, and many thoughtful and concerned questions were put to him after his talk. In fact there was not enough time for all who wanted to ask questions.
One Muslim from the Karimia Mosque said, 'Listening to the stories has lightened the load of negative media items.'
Afterwards, Henderson was kept busy signing copies of his book, Forgiveness, Breaking the Chain of Hate; all of those available were sold.
The following morning he took part in two taped interviews for use with the local Community Radio Faza. This was conducted by Imam Dr Musharraf Hussain, one of the two Muslim clerics, sent to Iraq by the Muslim Council of Britain in recent days, to try to obtain the release of the British hostage, Ken Bigley.
Dr Hussain, Chief Executive of the Bobbers Mill Community Centre and Mosque, attended the Initiatives of Change Caux, Switzerland, conference for ‘Service, Leadership and Responsibility’ in July, as one of a group of ten from Nottingham.
Meili Hawthorne
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