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A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week

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Sunday: George Floyd death reaction, Sikh representation row, ‘Most popular hymn of hope’

George Floyd death reaction, Sikh representation row, ‘Most popular hymn of hope’

BBC Radio 4 - Sunday, George Floyd death reaction, Sikh representation row, ‘Most popular hymn of hope’

Edward Stourton presents the week's religious, moral and ethical news programme.

Reaction to the the death of George Floyd in the US. Who should represent British Sikhs? What is the ‘Most popular hymn of hope’?

There have been several nights of protests in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in police custody this week. Before moving to Minneapolis in 2018, the 46-year-old lived in Houston’s Third Ward housing projects, where he has been described as a "person of peace" and a "mentor to a generation of young men”. His friend, Pastor Patrick Ngwolo, responds to the news of his death.

When the Church of England comes out of the pandemic how will it survive in a world where financial, political and social norms have changed dramatically? Will some dioceses have to be merged and the number of Bishops reduced? Will plans to grow the church be shelved? The Rev Canon Rosie Harper is critical of the Church’s response to Covid and favours a radical rethink of the Church’s immediate priorities. She debates with the Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt Rev Rachel Treweek.

Jasvir Singh - the Sikh representative on the government’s Places of Worship Taskforce – stepped down at the weekend "in the interest of the safety of his loved ones" following sustained criticism from certain sections of the Sikh community. They argued that he was an unsuitable representative for the Sikh community as he has no experience of running a Gurdwara. Jas Singh, a spokesman for The Sikh Federation UK, and Dr Jagbir Jhutti-Johal, a Senior Lecturer in Sikh Studies at the University of Birmingham, reflect on the controversy and the issue of representation among British Sikhs.

A poll carried out by the aid agency CAFOD has found that the most popular hymn to inspire hope is ‘How Great Thou Art’. CAFOD’s Programme Director for Peru – Lucy Jardine – talks about why this hymn means so much to her and modern day hymn writer - Keith Getty - explains what makes ‘How Great Thou Art’ such a successful piece of worship music.

Producers: Dan Tierney and David Cook
Amanda Hancox

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George Floyd death reaction, Sikh representation row, ‘Most popular hymn of hope’

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