Links
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INTERNATIONAL
World Congress of Faiths
www.worldfaiths.org
The World Congress of Faiths is a personal membership educational charity established in 1936. It publishes Interreligious Insight, the leading journal on inter faith matters. It also sponsors lectures, conferences, retreats etc and publish books. The World Congress of Faiths also provides a chance for members of local interfaith groups to meet people from different parts of the country and the world who share their concern. The World Congress of Faiths believes that understanding between people of different religions is important for good community relations, for moral and spiritual renewal and for world peace. A principle is respect for those of differing faith. WCF by its educational work encourages interfaith understanding and co-operation at all levels of society. The World Congress of Faiths is a member of the Inter Faith Network (UK) and works with other interfaith organisations in Britain and across the world.
Parliament of the World’s Religions
www.parliamentofreligions.org
This has its historical origins in 1893 at the World Columbian Exposition, in Chicago. Alongside the main event were a number of gatherings recognising and promoting various themes of the exposition. The largest of these was the World’s Parliament of Religions – the most significant gathering until that time of followers and students of the diverse beliefs and practices that make up the spiritual heritage of the human race. The 1893 Parliament is generally recognised as the first “inter faith” event as the term is understood todfay. Following a centenary celebration in Chicago 1993, further Parliaments have been held in Cape Town, South Africa (1999), Barcelona, Spain (2004) and Melbourne, Australia (2009). The Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions is the body which builds on the legacy of these events and carries their work forward.
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NATIONAL
Inter Faith Network for the United Kingdom
www.interfaith.org.uk
The Inter Faith Network for the UK was founded in 1987 to promote good relations between people of different faiths in this country. Its member organisations include representative bodies from the Baha'i; Buddhist; Christian; Hindu; Jain; Jewish; Muslim; Sikh; and Zoroastrian communities; national and local inter faith bodies; and academic institutions and educational bodies concerned with inter faith issues. The Network works with its member bodies to help make the UK a place marked by mutual understanding and respect between religions where all can practise their faith with integrity The Network's way of working is firmly based on the principle that dialogue and cooperation can only prosper if they are rooted in respectful relationships which do not blur or undermine the distinctiveness of different religious traditions. The Inter Faith Network for the UK held its 2009 national conference and AGM in Leicester.
St Philip’s Centre for Study and Engagement in a Multi Faith Society
http://stphilipscentre.dioceseofleicester.com
St Philip’s Centre is a multi-denominational agency offering training and education for Churches and Christians to live confidently in a multi faith society; for public, private and voluntary sector organizations to develop faith awareness and understand the role of faiths in society; for those of all faiths and beliefs to learn from one another through dialogue groups, charitable activities, community and sporting events, such as inter faith football and cricket matches; for young people through leadership programmes; for those who wish to study interreligious relations at postgraduate level. Recognised by the Church England as one of two national centres (the other being Bradford Churches for Dialogue and Diversity) the St Philip’s Centre is a response to the growing need since 9/11 and 7/7 for increased understanding between and within faiths. The Centre has been developed as a partnership between five denominations: Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Roman Catholic and United Reformed.
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REGIONAL
Faiths Forum for the East Midlands
www.ffem.org.uk
The Faiths Forum for the East Midlands (FFEM) is the regional hub for dialogue and co-operation between people with different religious beliefs and worldviews who share a commitment to good citizenship and building a society where we can all feel at home, where there is respect for difference and where diversity is valued. The East Midlands includes three major cities, a national park, no fewer than eight universities, and many historic market towns. In all these different contexts, FFEM supports people who want to work together with those of other faiths; helps develop confidence and skills to build bridges and make links; share spaces with others for the benefit of the community; create structures and processes to support dialogue and social action; open up opportunities for learning to build understanding.
Interfaith Forum for Leicestershire
Leicestershiretogether
The Interfaith Forum encourages and supports faith communities to build up their social capital and develop in ways which they are at ease with themselves and others. It provides a basis for good relationships with the wider county community and a forum where differences can be openly discussed. It serves as an advocate on behalf of faith groups to local authorities, Police, the NHS, MPs, councillors and other public figures and a first port of call for policy makers and consultations. The membership of the Forum is drawn from faith communities living in Leicestershire and Leicester. The Forum has a loose constitution and will focus on dialogue and debate. It is not a fund holder but will seek to enable others to secure funding or to shape the use of resources so that they respond to the needs of people from different faith communities.
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