'Service Above Self' Faiths IN OUR CITY.

Byline: MAJOR SAMUEL EDGAR 

THIS weekend more than 18,000 members of Rotary Clubs from all over the world will gather in Birmingham for the 100th Rotary International Convention.

I am the President Elect of the Rotary Club of Birmingham who are the host organising committee for this great event. Among others participating in the various sessions will be Archbishop Desmond Tutu, actress Mia Farrow, Secretary of State Douglas Alexander MP, Dame Jane Goodall and Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon.

There will be plenary sessions, concerts, banquets, civic and social engagements and lots of international fellowship and friendship.

What is Rotary? Rotary International (founded in Chicago in 1905 by Paul P Harris) is a volunteer organisation of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service, and help to build goodwill and peace in the world.

There are about 1.2 million Rotary club members belonging to 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries. Rotary clubs are non-religious and non-political and open to every race, culture and creed.

Yet it is probable that every faith group is represented in Rotary and on the first main day of the convention an inter-faith service will take place at which representatives of faith groups in Birmingham will participate.

Rotary clubs exist to improve communities through humanitarian, intercultural and educational activities.

Clubs advance international understanding by partnering with clubs in other countries. Rotary also encourages high ethical standards in all vocations.

One of the greatest projects undertaken by Rotary International has been PolioPlus - it's aim is to immunise all the world's children against polio and hopefully lead to polio eradication eventually. This is a huge challenge but one supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Rotarians all round the world.

As a Christian, I have been happy to belong to Rotary. The Rotary motto is 'Service Above Self' and that is not too far removed from the Scriptural injunction to "serve one another in love." But whether one comes from a faith perspective or none, the aims and purposes of Rotary International surely commend themselves to all people of compassion and goodwill.

May we in Birmingham extend the hand of welcome and friendship to these global ambassadors of peace, international understanding and the alleviation of poverty and suffering wherever it is found.

Major Samuel Edgar (Salvation Army) Moderator of the Free Churches