How can we respond to the call to welcome refugees to Leeds and build a city of sanctuary for all?

The annual Hook Lecture returns this year as we welcome Revd Dr Inderjit Bhogal, former President of the British Methodist Conference, and Founder of the City of Sanctuary network and movement, passionately committed to the achievement of justice in immigration especially for people seeking sanctuary and refugees.

Inderjit will tell the story of City of Sanctuary as a way of building welcome, hospitality and safety since it was founded in 2005. As a movement it has embraced universities, schools, churches, theatres, libraries and maternity wards and has developed to face new challenges in the light of greater international displacement of people and the climate catastrophe.

Inderjit works with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland to develop and promote the Church of Sanctuary idea and network. Inderjit is a former Leader of the Corrymeela Community in Northern Ireland (2011-2014) and recipient of the World Methodist Peace Award (2018). In the New Year Honours list in 2005 he was awarded the OBE for his interfaith work. Between 2005 and 2011 he was Director of the Yorkshire and Humber Faiths Forum and worked closely with the Leeds Church Institute. His book Hospitality and Sanctuary for All grew out of a resource he prepared for Leeds Church Institute.

This event is jointly organised by Leeds Church Institute, Leeds Minster, and Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Leeds. All are welcome.