A major initiative of the 2007 AGM was the setting up of the CoR Forum for Prophetic Voices. This forum is seen as the voice of CoR, reaching out to the wider church and the general public of England and Wales.

The Forum takes a stand on many issues current today, for example:

• Justice
• Trafficking
• Changes in the law affecting migrant workers
• Adoption
• Sexuality in Religious Life
• Gay issues
• Marriage/divorce/remarriage
• Celibacy and married clergy
• Environmental issues

There has been one preliminary meeting of this group, which will reconvene in September.

Burma

The Conference of Religious lends its voice to the worldwide condemnation of the gross violation of human rights occurring in Burma.  Christian and Buddhist pro-democracy supporters are peacefully protesting at 45 years of one party rule.  Many protests have resulted in violent clampdowns by the ruling military junta and in political prisoners’ forced labour and death.

We support Archbishop Desmond Tuto when he calls for the UN and the international community to put pressure on the junta to establish a process that would result in democracy and the release of Aung San Sun Kyi, the leader of the opposition, who has been under house arrest for 11 years.  The courage of the protesters has been strengthened by the involvement of over 1,000 ‘revered’ Buddhist monks lending their support to the campaign.  They have suffered deeply in their courageous protest and the religious of England and Wales stand in solidarity with the religious and people of Burma in their struggle for democracy.

Any strategies or ideas for supporting their cause are most welcome.