Faith, Coexistence & Climate: A Dialogue for a Sustainable Future
This interfaith academic dialogue brings together Christian, Muslim, and Brahma Kumari scholars to explore how faith traditions can guide humanity toward environmental sustainability and climate justice. Through respectful dialogue rooted in sacred teachings, the event will examine each tradition’s theological foundations for creation care, discover common ground for collaborative action, and forge practical pathways for faith communities to address the climate crisis together.
Participants will engage in interfaith dialogue and collective commitment-making, emerging with deepened understanding of diverse spiritual approaches to environmental stewardship, concrete action steps for their communities, and partnerships for ongoing interfaith climate collaboration.
Rachel Priestman serves as Interfaith Co-ordinator for the Brahma Kumaris (UK), facilitating dialogue and understanding between diverse faith traditions. For over 20 years, she has been studying, practising and teaching Raja Yoga Meditation with the Brahma Kumaris, one of the Dharmic faiths. The Brahma Kumaris tradition is founded on the belief that world transformation emerges through personal transformation—a shift in consciousness, attitude and intention rooted in lived spiritual values. This philosophy emphasizes universal principles of peace, purity and interconnectedness that transcend religious boundaries.
Rachel holds a B.A. Honours in German from the University of Bristol and a postgraduate diploma in Library, Archive & Information Studies from University College London. Her diverse career has spanned academic librarianship, urban regeneration, PR, marketing and arts management. She remains committed to lifelong learning and sharing insights that promote spiritual growth and interfaith understanding.
Sheikh Mirza Abbas has been managing and teaching seminarian studies at the Islamic College for the past decade, with a particular focus on spiritual teaching and training. He has served several Shi’i communities in the UK as a resident scholar and travels extensively during the spiritual months to the US and Europe to deliver lectures. He received his training and initiation in Shi’a spirituality at the Hawza Ilmiyyah of Qum under various spiritual masters. He holds an MA in Islamic Theology from the University of Birmingham and is currently pursuing a PhD in practical mysticism at the University of Exeter.
Dr Chris Hewer comes from a background in Christian theology, education, Islamic studies and inter-faith studies and has worked in the field of Muslims in Britain and Christian-Muslim relations since 1986, first at the Centre for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations at Selly Oak in Birmingham and from 1999 to 2005, as the Adviser on Inter-Faith Relations to the Bishop of Birmingham. From 2006-2010, he was the St Ethelburga Fellow in Christian-Muslim Relations in London, with a brief to deliver adult popular education courses, study days and talks around Greater London. His current work is to teach study days and residential courses, and to develop written and electronic resources. He has delivered a forty-six part series of half-hour TV talks, broadcast on an international Muslim satellite channel to give a general introduction to Understanding Islam, which can be seen, together with accompanying articles, on his website: www.chrishewer.org. There are various other articles and books available to download free-of-charge on the website including resources for teaching about Islam as a second religion for the UK GCSE Religious Studies syllabus.
