Faithful Cities

In May 2006, Faithful Cities: A call for celebration, vision and justice was presented to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. The report was the work of the Commission on Urban Life & Faith, an ecumenical and interfaith commission.

Some Background

The Commission on Urban Life & Faith was initiated by the Church of England to consider the significant features of life in urban communities and the church's engagement with them 20 years on from the landmark Faith in the City report.

What was the Commission?

Chaired by Baroness Richardson of Calow, the Commission comprised a group of experienced faith leaders and practitioners on urban issues drawn from different communities around England. Although the Commission's origins were in the Church of England, the Commission's membership was broadened as a recognition of how urban contexts are now diverse in culture, ethnicity and faith.

Is is just about big cities?

Faithful Cities is about the places we live and the way our lives are changing. Thinking about towns and other urban communities has involved us in thinking about citizenship, about politics and the challenge's God's open future poses us as disciples. Getting urban policy right is of interest to all communities in our predominantly urban society.

The research for the report took place across a wide range of communities: from former mining villages and seaside towns to the large metropolises we usually think about when we hear the word 'urban'. Vital concerns of the Commission were the issues of human flourishing, how people live together and what makes a good place to live in? 'Regeneration' covers a broad range of activities (economic, social, cultural, housing, inclusion etc) across communities, whether they are rural, urban, former industrial villages or seaside communities. Issues of urban growth are critical in some parts of the UK - if we don't get things right the knock on effect for the smaller towns and villages as well as the ecology of those regions will be disastrous.

What now?

The report is being discussed in many different places. A major strand of the report encourages groups and others to initiate What makes a good city? debates in the towns, cities and communities where they live. Churches, government and other bodies will be encouraged to look at the report and its recommendations to consider how they might respond to the challenges those who live in urban communities face.