Multifaith forum members

Angela Colman MBE (Chair)

Christian Life Fellowship and Thamesmead Christian Fellowship 

Angela is passionate about writing and being creative in the limited spare time she has. She has been part of the Greenwich community for over 35 years, serving as a pastor in a local church. Throughout the years, she has been involved in various council and community groups within the Greenwich and Thamesmead areas, including several organisations that have come and gone, such as Trust Thamesmead. 

In the past, Angela and her church team regularly took assemblies in schools and collaborated with secondary schools in Thamesmead. The church also runs regular Easter, Summer, and Christmas programs for children. They are deeply committed to seeing their community thrive and sharing the love of God through fellowship and faith. Many years ago, they won a bid as part of the BBC Music Live initiative to host a highly successful outdoor event in the park for the community. They also organised outdoor and street events, such as pancake day events, among others. 

Angela’s church has also run women’s and family days to provide community fun and information for local families in Thamesmead. As a faith group, they trust God for his provision. More recently, they have participated in the HAF summer program, where they saw 100 children attend their summer activities each week. Every Christmas, they provide about 300 hampers to local families, personally delivering them to their homes. 

As a church, they believe that every small action creates a ripple effect, and as a small group in a large borough, they have witnessed the impact of their work. They also work with 3 local prisons and have partnered with several churches in the area for many years, which has been a wonderful experience. 

Gerald Rose (Deputy Chair)

Catford and Bromley Synagogue 

Gerald was invited to join the Greenwich Faith and Community Forum when a new group was formed over 20 years ago. Once the group had established a constitution, representatives from each faith were elected to the steering committee to plan the annual program. Gerald was elected as Vice Chairman and has been re-elected ever since. Due to his experience, Councillor Adele asked him to be part of the interim executive to relaunch the Greenwich Faith Forum after the lockdown. When the revised Constitution was agreed upon and the first meeting of faith representatives took place, where an Executive Committee was elected, Gerald was once again elected as Vice Chairman. 

Gerald was also a regular attendee of the Mosaic Group, which included faith representatives, police, and representatives from various community and council groups. 

As a retired schoolteacher, Gerald has been involved in educating school groups visiting the Orthodox Synagogue in Catford, and visiting schools in the borough to take assemblies or classes on Judaism and Holocaust Education. He has also served on a panel of faith representatives in Greenwich schools. Gerald has been able to bring ideas from linked boroughs, as he is also involved in the faith forums of other areas. 

Michelle Brooks Evans (Treasurer)

Bromley Reform Synagogue 

Michelle was born in the Royal Borough of Greenwich and still lives in Greenwich with her husband and four children.  Michelle has been the chair of the Bromley Reform Synagogue for 5 years. Michelle has also been a board member, member of the Religion & Ritual committee, welfare committee, social committee, a warden, and Reform Judaism Youth ambassador. 

The Bromley Reform Synagogue has been called the “Magnet for Jews in the Southeast.” Their approach to religion is in the British progressive tradition: open-minded and thoughtful, rooted firmly in their history, but mindful of the times in which we live. They are fortunate to enjoy the guidance of their Rabbi, Laura Janner-Klausner, a progressive-minded and dynamic leader and educator. 

The ethos is one of inclusivity and all are welcome, the community is very diverse. They place great emphasis on all three traditional roles of a synagogue - a house of study, a house of prayer and a house of meeting. each of those categories covers a wide range of activity and endeavour. The synagogue offers a vibrant Jewish school for children, ranging from birth to teenagers, as well as tea parties and social events for seniors. There’s a lot going on! 

All are welcome to attend events and services, and Michelle is happy to answer general enquiries about Judaism, conversion, and the synagogue itself. 

Jagir Sekhon (Secretary)

Gurdwara Sahib Woolwich 

Jagir has lived in Greenwich for 56 years with her 2 children and husband, whom she sadly lost in 2021. She arrived from India in August 1968 as a qualified nurse. Jagir was an executive member of the Emerging Primary Care Trust, where she represented all health professionals on the board. She retired as a health visitor from the NHS in 2003 after 35 years, with a break during the time she had her children. Throughout her career, she played a major role in the community, transporting the elderly to and from hospitals and interpreting for them when needed. 

In 1994, Jagir was elected to Greenwich Council and served on many committees as a cabinet member and chair in the council's old system. She was appointed Deputy Mayor of Greenwich from 1999-2000 and then Mayor of Greenwich from 2000-2001. During the millennium year, she took great pride in representing Greenwich as the first citizen of the borough, serving to the best of her ability. She welcomed guests and visitors at the Dome from across the UK and abroad. Jagir served as a local councillor for 20 years. 

Jagir represents the Sikh faith and her community on the Multifaith Forum. She has been a part of the Sikh community all her life. She is the Executive Member of the committee and was Vice President of the Gurdwara for 3 years. The Gurdwara welcomes all communities, regardless of faith, gender, race, or sexual orientation.