Sunday Folgen

Musician Jim Seals was the man behind 1970’s classics like Diamond Girl and Summer Breeze. Jim who passed away this week at the age of 80, was also an adherent of the Baha’i faith. Fellow Bahaist, Jack Lenz, the Canadian composer and friend, pays his own tribute. National celebrations or commemorations often include a keynote Bible reading from the Prime Minister of the day, but perhaps inadvertently they can also invite commentary on political leadership. It’s something Prime Minister Boris Johnson fell prey to at the recent Platinum Jubilee Thanksgiving Service, when he read a passage from the New Testament, focussing on the theme of integrity. Edward discusses the pitfalls with the Reverends George Pitcher and Fergus Butler Gallie. Nigeria’s government is facing increasing criticism for failing to tackle widespread insecurity in the country. Now for the first time, the authorities are blaming a militant Islamic State group for the recent attack on Christian worshippers in the town of Owo, in the South West of the country, in which more than forty people were killed and dozens more injured. The BBC’s Samuel Murunga explains the complex picture of religious tensions in the country. Throughout Pride month we are listening in on conversations between LGBTQ people of faith. This week we hear Jude Rose and Joel Rosen navigate their lives around Orthodox Judaism. And as the row escalates over the Government’s scheme to send would-be asylum seekers to Rwanda, Edward explores both sides of the argument with Ann Widdecombe, former Home Office Minister and Shadow Home Secretary and Dr Edie Friedman, Executive Director of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality. Producers: Jill Collins and Rosie DawsonEditor: Tim Pemberton

It’s the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend and Sunday is joining in the day’s celebrations. Her Majesty the Queen has always had a strong Christian faith, but how has that become more evident to the public throughout her reign? We hear from two experts in the field.What does the Jubilee mean to people of other faiths? We join the Muslim organisers of one event in London, bringing together dozens of different nationalities and faiths, as well as refugees, at a food bank in London. Across the country, more than 60,000 people have registered to host Big Jubilee Lunches. There’s a battle in the music charts as several different versions of “God Save the Queen” compete for the number 1 spot. But choirs across the country will be singing the Jubilee anthem – Rise Up and Serve – which was composed especially for this weekend.The war in Ukraine has increased the tensions between the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate, which comes under the authority of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. Now the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate has also declared its independence. We hear about the fallout for both churches.And it's the start of Pride month, and in a new series, we bring together LGBT people of faith. This week two Catholics talk about their experiences. George White is a 28-year-old transgender man and an RE teacher at a Catholic secondary school. Claire Jenkins is 73, and was also a teacher, but felt she had no option but to leave the profession when she transitioned from male to female in the 90s.Presented by William Crawley.Produced by Julia Paul and Katharine Longworth.Photo credit Georgina Poullais.

As the population over 65 becomes more ethnically diverse, how ready are care providers to help meet their religious and spiritual needs? It’s a question which has inspired Maaha Suleiman to come up with an App designed to help Care Agencies and Councils match people based on religious and cultural understanding. Our reporter Vishva Samani looks at how it works in practice. The official celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday will include a special Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul’s. The Dean, the Very Revd. Dr. David Ison, shares some of the plans the Cathedral has in store. Following the Church of Scotland's vote to allow clergy to conduct same-sex marriages, we ask what it means for the future of the Church and its wider Protestant family. We hear from those right at the heart of the issue, the Rev Prof Andrew McGowan and the Rev. Scott M Rennie. The Most Revd Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, tells us about the power of reconciliation, the theme of his latest book. And in the wake of the massacres at Buffalo and now Ulvade in the United States, we ask why some Christians oppose gun law reform. We hear from the Rev. Jim Wallis, Director of the Centre on Faith and Justice at Georgetown University and a former Pastor John Correia, Founder and Owner of Active Self Protection, a self-defence and firearms training company. Photograph: Karuna Manor Care Home Producers: Jill Collins and Rebecca Maxted