Beyond Belief

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Religion & Ethics

Series exploring the place and nature of faith in today's world

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Beyond Belief: Women in Charge?

Women in Charge?

BBC Radio 4 - Beyond Belief, Women in Charge?

A female imam tells Aleem Maqbool about her pioneering work and the reaction she's had.

Aleem Maqbool meets a pioneering female imam, Naima Khan, from the Inclusive Mosque Initiative. What progress has been made in female spiritual leadership and where are the limits?

What does female leadership in faith and religion look like today? Whilst more women than ever participated in the Pope’s recent Synod, (an assembly, or meeting) at the Vatican last year, we still seem a fair distance from women being able to offer a sacrament in the Catholic Church. 

Aleem Maqbool meets Naima Khan, a Muslim and female imam and Director of the Inclusive Mosque Initiative. For ten years the mosque has been quietly pioneering, with women leading mixed-gender congregations in prayer. Naima tells Aleem why it was important for her to take on a level of spiritual leadership. What has the reaction been and what does her faith teach her about inclusivity and representation? 

Jill Duff, the Bishop of Lancaster in the Church of England, Georgia Clarke, a youth leader in the Roman Catholic Church, and Mandeep Kaur MBE, Sikh Chaplain to the RAF and Ministry of Defence advisor on Sikh issues discuss what female leadership means to them. What progress has been made and where are the limits in their traditions to the roles women can play?

Producer: Rebecca Maxted
Assistant Producer: Ruth Purser

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