South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance
The South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance (SAF) is a new grouping within the Evangelical Alliance, being set up to provide a forum for South Asian Christians in the UK to encourage, support and equip each other for mission, and to represent their concerns to Government, media and the wider Church.
There are around 75,000 South Asian Christians in the UK, representing the eight countries of South Asia* and a range of languages and ethnic backgrounds.
As a 'minority within a minority' they need a voice to respond quickly and with unity to issues, for example pressure on Christians in Pakistan and the on-going fragility of the country, persecution of some Indian Christians, or the intense suffering caused by the divisions in Sri Lanka.
In response the Evangelical Alliance is setting up the South Asian Forum, as an integral part of the larger Alliance but with its own officers and steering group.
Members of SAF – churches, individuals, organizations, networks – will also be members of the Alliance, with a proportion of their donations allocated to the development of SAF
Are South Asians 'unwelcome' in mainstream churches, as suggested by the BBC Asian Network?
Read the BBC article. - Join the conversation below
*Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
(These countries are members of SAARC - the South Asia Association for Regional Co-operation).
Launch eventsThe South Asian Forum is being launched at a series of events around the UK during 2010.
Contact us for an invitation letter: saf@eauk.org The first launch meetings were held in Southall and Wolverhampton in March and June.
MembershipSAF is now open for members - individuals, churches, organisations - who will also be members of the Evangelical Alliance. Personal data will be processed strictly in accordance with the Alliance's Data Protection Policy. You can join the Evangelical Alliance and the South Asian Forum online: Or if you would like to have Membership forms sent to you please contact saf@eauk.org and request the appropriate form. Already a member of the Evangelical Alliance and want to join the South Asian Forum? PrioritiesOne of SAF’s first priorities is to help provide support and training for groups seeking to be heard by the media and to communicate with the government and the wider church. A proactive media strategy is being developed. SAF works with BAYNet (British Asian Youth Network) to strengthen ministry through and with young people. News and ArticlesProtest march as pressure on minorities increases in PakistanA London march is organised this Saturday by the British Pakistani Christian AssociationPakistani Christians in the UK are leading a multi-faith peace rally to call attention to increasing pressure on minorities in Pakistan, following recent killings and threats of violence. The peaceful rally, organised by the British Pakistani Christian Association and supported by the South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance, is planned for Saturday 31 July, beginning at the Pakistan High Commission at 11 am and progressing towards 10 Downing Street for 1.30 pm. Petitions will be submitted at both the High Commission and at Downing Street and there will be speakers from a range of faith and ethnic backgrounds, led by the former Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir Ali. On 12 July, a Christian Pastor and his brother, Rashid and Sajid Emmanuel, were falsely accused of blasphemy in Faisalabad, Pakistan. On 22 July, they were assassinated by a young unknown gunman outside the court in which they were to be tried. There has also been mob violence in the area, with shootings and looting. Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, came under violent threats from an extremist Islamic organisation, following a hard-hitting press conference held by Mr Bhatti in response to the murders in Faisalabad, and the alleged misuse of the Blasphemy Law. The rally takes place exactly 12 months after the Christian village of Gojra, a small town north of Lahore, was razed to the ground after reports of blasphemy. The Government promised at the time to rebuild the 120 homes and two churches that were destroyed but this has not been done. No one was arrested or brought to trial despite the police confirming that no blasphemy had occurred. Wilson Chowdhry, of the British Pakistani Christian Association, said: “We want to raise a voice for those that have no voice. We are joining with people of all faiths to bring pressure for cultural and social change in Pakistan. We seek reform and repeal of the Blasphemy Law; we urge the Pakistan government to uphold the rule of law; and we pray for our country at this time of instability.” Ram Gidoomal CBE, Chairman of the South Asian Forum, said: “Continuing incidents like these threaten the stability and well being of Pakistan. We urge the Government of Pakistan to act for justice. And we call on the churches in the UK to join us in praying for the peace of Pakistan.” The English Defence League and the Muslim Defence League are holding counter protests on the same day, immediately after the peace rally. Wilson Chowdhry said: “Our protest is one of peace and we pray that our work will not be undermined by the activities of the other protesting groups. We hope for greater western government intervention towards peace in Pakistan, where the volatile political and cultural climate is making life so much worse for minority groups." Two online petitions to 10 Downing Street can be accessed at:
Media enquiries: Wilson Chowdhry, British Pakistani Christian Association, 020 8514 0861 Hindu governor hails Christian contribution to IndiaBangalore, India (ENI). The governor of southern India's Karnataka state, where most of the recent atrocities on Christians have been committed, has paid tribute to the Christian contribution to national life. "We are privileged to have so many Christian institutions to bring dignity of life and knowledge to the poor," said Hansraj Bhardwaj in an 8 July address at the concluding celebration of the centenary of the United Theological College in Bangalore, Karnataka's state capital. Despite accounting for only 2.3 percent of India's 1.2 billion people, he noted that Christians run nearly 20 percent of the educational, primary healthcare and social welfare centres in the country. Ecumenical News International Are South Asians 'unwelcome' in mainstream churches?The BBC Asian Network started a lively conversation with its suggestion that South Asians feel 'rejected' by the mainstream churches and that this is a major reason for starting 'Asian' churches, worshipping in Asian languages. The story was taken up by the media here in the UK and abroad. The Guardian drew attention to the Church of England's "several initiatives to draw more ethnic minorities to its pews and pulpits amid claims of south Asian Christians feeling unwelcome in mainstream congregations. Official figures show that about 7,000 south Asians regularly worship within the Church of England, but this number represents only about 10% of the Christian population with origins in the subcontinent who live in the UK. "Krish Kandiah, from the Evangelical Alliance, which established the South Asian Forum for all Christian denominations, said claims of rejection and isolation were anecdotal but were "so prevalent" they were being taken seriously." The 'Jewels in His Crown' conference (25-27 June 2010) explored the theme 'Which way the UK Asian church?' and affirmed the place of different forms including Asian led and Asian majority churches, multi-cultural churches and more contextualised approaches, as well as the role of mainstream and traditional churches in the UK. The conference resolved not to 'jump to conclusions or pre-judge other models, but respond with grace'. They acknowledged divisions between language, community and denominational groupings and committed themselves to work together to demonstrate unity across boundaries within the Asian communities and with the church as a whole. (See the full report at www.jewelsinhiscrown.co.uk) What do you think? Send your comments to saf@eauk.org The South Asian Forum exists to help deal with questions like these and enable working together, both within the Asian communities and with the whole church. Join in to make your views known. The other tragedy of Afghanistan As the Afghan government and its international backers struggle to find political and military solutions for the country's problems, it emerges that Christians in Afghanistan are facing vicious persecution. It is likely that the Afghan government, desperate to negotiate with the Taliban, feels under pressure to support those who condemn 'apostasy' and conversion from Islam. It is vital that political and military leaders from the international community, who are also talking about negotiation with the Taliban, speak out now to insist that issues of human rights and religious freedom be included. Contact your MP… What can Sri Lankan Christians do?The Anglican Bishop of Colombo says what everyone knows - that "reconciliation eludes us today because the immediate wounds of war have not been substantially addressed" and accountability is missing. (1) Accountability is a dirty word in Sri Lanka. More than that, when spoken about it brings out aggressive reactions from those in power. Those who know they are guilty clearly want to hide their crimes. But even those who had no direct part don the armour of arrogance and rhetoric in a bit to avoid learning. It's probably too much to ask the guilty to learn. But this second group should - unless they want their children and their children's children to inherent a violent dysfunctional country. Who could they learn from? What about Bishop Humper who was a key mediator between the Government of Sierra Leone and the rebels, and went on to lead the Truth & Reconciliation process. He was recently asked about the role of a Special independent inquiry into war crimes and the Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC): "Which of these was more important?" Bishop Humper was categorical in his response "Both are a must. The TRC helps the people to find a voice for their stories to be heard, the Special investigation into war crimes is essential because some people are more accountable and have to be held accountable. They have to know that they cannot get away scot-free". It is disappointing that the UN Panel of Experts who only have the authority to advise the UN Secretary General have been denied entry to the country. (2) Back to the Bishop of Colombo's concerns. He speaks of the growing militarization of the previous war zone, the many messages that the winners distrust the losers, how political power today has become a quest for personal financial gain and all whilst the rest of the country endures "a sub-human quality of life". But his most powerful statement relates to the lack of any constructive intention by those at the top of the government: "The crux of the reconciliation crisis however is the inability or refusal to substantially draw the minorities into the task of governance and nation building. For this to happen there should be a shift in attitude. The minorities cannot continue to be sidelined as peripheral communities dependent on goodwill decisions taken at the centre or with little to offer the nation. The alarmingly conspicuous absence of all national languages and cultures at national events as well as the fast diminishing number of minority community representatives as national advisers, consultants and senior bureaucrats, apart from tokenism, makes the point. The sooner that competent persons from minority communities are included in all departments of national life, very specially our shared political future, the sooner reconciliation will be within our reach." He also speaks boldly about the human rights violations, as "The investigation of disappearances and deaths of a large number of civilians, including media personnel, is another step that will enhance reconciliation. The identification of sites of death or burial, so that last rites can be performed should be part of this work. This will help relatives come to terms with the truth, the past and grief. It is when the deepest longings of those who grieve have been heard, that reconciliation spreads." Whilst many promote a triumphalist victory parade, what Bishop Duleep suggests is a "Day of National mourning," to garner "national energy to demonstrate that war must never be repeated". That is clearly a forlorn hope as even inter-religious memorial services were banned. At some point soon, the Church will need to decide if it has any chance to remaining authentic to its beliefs or be subdued by the domination System that now controls Sri Lanka. The Buddhist Mahanayakes who tried to organise a national conference were threatened into silence. (3) Life may be impermanent but it is human to want to hold on to the trappings of power a bit longer. And the Christians in Sri Lanka? Will they follow the non-violent civil disobedience teachings of their founder? Or will they also find an accommodation with power in their softly-softly approach? Are Bishop Duleep's words - an indication that the tide may be turning to Christian acting true to the social justice mandate and that true faith may yet triumph over power? (4) The words are strong but actions speak much stronger than words. Christians need to train for non-violence because now is the time for action, not just sermons. This is a message for Bishop Duleep and all other leaders of the Christian churches - Catholic, Anglican and Evangelical. But remember, in his time Jesus wasn't an appointed leader and his followers certainly had no official roles. So this is also a message to the many Sri Lankans inside the country and outside who claim Christianity as their faith...you too as followers can make a difference. (1) http://asiacms.blogspot.com/2010/06/bishop-of-colombos-statement-on-post.htm
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email: saf@eauk.org