The Awareness Foundation [1] was established in 2003 to help Christians make sense of their faith in the 21st Century, and to increase awareness of their neighbours’ faiths and cultures, so that they can live in a diverse society without fear and without compromising their beliefs. Their Patron is the Archbishop of Canterbury. They are based in London, England, at Holy Trinity Sloane Square, with offices in Washington, D.C. and Damascus, Syria.
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A central tenet of the Foundation's vision is that greater understanding among religions and among peoples will ultimately defeat extremism, and help nurture an environment where people can live together in peace.
The Foundation has two key vehicles:
The Awareness Foundation is ecumenical, with Board members from the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England, the Episcopal Church in the US and the Middle East, the Greek Orthodox Church, Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist Churches, plus several charismatic evangelical churches.
The Rt Revd Michael Marshall (bishop) is President of the Awareness Foundation, and the Revd Nadim Nassar is Director[4]. They are co-founders of the Awareness Foundation, and co-authors of the Awareness Course. Revd Nadim Nassar has been a guest blogger on the UK Daily Telegraph website, [5] and both Bishop Michael Marshall and Revd Nassar are popular speakers around the world.[6][7]. Charles Longbottom is Chair of Trustees.
Established in 2003, and launched by the Archbishop of Canterbury at a service at Holy Trinity Sloane Square, where Michael Marshall was Rector from 1997 to 2007 in September 2003.
The Foundation describes the Awareness Course as 'helping Christians to make sense of their faith in the 21st century'. The first DVD Module of the Awareness Course is called 'Citizens of Two Kingdoms'. A second DVD Module, 'The Diversity Code', was published in 2011. The DVD Modules are described as "very user-friendly and easy to teach." [8]
The Course is said to be suitable for all, and while aimed primarily at Christians, the Foundation reports that people of other faiths or none regularly attend the sessions.