Yesterday, the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. Justin Welby, conferred upon Chief Rabbi David Rosen KSG CBE, International Director of interreligious Affairs, American Jewish Committee [Co-President of RfP], the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation, during a ceremony at Lambeth Palace.
Archbishop Welby said: “It is a huge honour and joy to confer these awards upon such extraordinary people. The ceremony on 31st March is an opportunity for us to honour them and give thanks to God for their gifts, which have been such a blessing for the church and for the world.”
Religions for Peace salutes Rabbi Rosen on this outstanding achievement and for his unwavering commitment to advance multi-religious cooperation for Peace.
Amongst the recipients of the new Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation, are Rabbi Dr David Rosen, the former Chief Rabbi of Ireland and current director of the American Jewish Committee’s Department of Inter-religious Affairs; and Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, the assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain.
“It will be a huge honour and joy to confer these awards upon such an extraordinary and diverse group of people,” Archbishop Justin said. “The recipients come from many walks of life and many parts of the world, but all have served in their fields with distinction and self-sacrificial service, going beyond the call of duty.
“I hope and pray that the [award] ceremony . . . will be an opportunity for us to honour them and give thanks to God for their gifts, which have been such a blessing to the church and to the world.”
The new suite of awards consists of three existing Lambeth Awards – the Lambeth Cross, the Canterbury Cross and the Cross of St Augustine – and six new awards named after previous holders of the office of Archbishop of Canterbury.
Each recognises outstanding service in different fields, including those of Archbishop Justin’s ministry priorities: prayer and the religious life; reconciliation; and evangelism and witness.
The awards, made from Fairtrade silver by the London firm Cred Jewellery, will be conferred upon recipients by the Archbishop during a ceremony at Lambeth Palace next week (31 March).
The 40 recipients include religious, political and community leaders, musicians and others. The new Lambeth Awards will be presented in the spring each year.
