Make a world of difference

Your interfaith stories could help people hear each other and heal the earth.

 The Synod’s Relations with other Faiths Committee is seeking local stories of interfaith cooperation as part of the lead up to the world’s biggest inter-faith event, the Parliament of the World Religions in Melbourne, December 3-9.

Members of the Uniting Church will join over 10,000 people in a gathering bringing together the world’s religious and spiritual communities, their leaders and their followers

Peace, diversity and sustainability will be discussed in the context of inter-religious understanding and cooperation

The theme of the 2009 Parliament, “Make a World of Difference: Hearing each other, Healing the earth”, underscores the opportunity for religious and spiritual communities to act on environmental and humanitarian concerns by cultivating awareness of global interconnectedness.

The Moderator of the Uniting Church Synod of New South Wales and the ACT, the Rev. Niall Reid, said, “T he World Parliament of Religions provides the context for people of different faiths to gather, to listen, to interact and to learn about each other as they grapple with significant issues that face us all.

“From my experience, any event which provides the opportunity for people of different faiths to develop relationships at a personal level has the potential to reduce fear, foster respect and encourage openness to diversity within our society.”

Mr Reid said, “Working together with words is better than waging war; engaging in dialogue is better than death.

“I once heard a wise Muslim say to some Christians who believed that Christians should not enter into dialogue with people of other faiths: ‘If you engage in a conversation with me, it just might be that you will convert me to your way of thinking, but of course the risk is I might convert you to mine.’

“Yes, the conversation might change us, but I suspect in so doing the Kingdom of God proclaimed by Jesus may be that much closer.”

Neighbourhoods of difference

The Uniting Church’s national Assembly has submitted a program proposal for the Parliament of the World’s Religions, entitled “Neighbourhoods of Difference: The Uniting Church in Australia and Interfaith Relations”.

The program will explore how migration to Australia has brought together people of different cultures and religions. This has raised new challenges for the Uniting Church in terms of how it lives and expresses its faith in a multicultural and multi-religious context.

The church’s own membership includes people with different life experiences, cultural backgrounds and perspectives. Some migrant members who have been persecuted by another faith group in their place of origin often wonder how and why the Uniting Church engages with people of other faiths.

The theme “neighbourhoods of difference” expresses the integral message that “loving the neighbour who is different” is part of the Uniting Church’s identity and mission.

In extending its welcome and hospitality both within and beyond its church boundaries, the Uniting Church holds together and values “neighbourhoods of difference” within the Australian context and in its international relationships.

The theme will be explored through a DVD presentation and a panel of key Uniting Church leaders and will demonstrate how the Uniting Church learns, struggles, embraces and lives with diversity and difference.

Uniting Church members involved in preparations for the parliament include Miriam Pepper, Mary Pearson, Allan West and Stewart Mills.

Ms Pepper, from Maroubra Junction Uniting Church, is a part of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, a multi-faith network taking practical action on climate change. With other faith and environment networks it hopes to facilitate and participate in workshops and seminars on climate change and ecology.

Ms Pearson says the Parliament will be a great place to meet with other women who are part of interfaith groups like the Women’s Interfaith Network.

Mr West, from Thornleigh Hillcrest Uniting Church, is helping to coordinate the Uniting Church stall for a pre-Parliament event at Parramatta on August 2. He is eager for Uniting Church members to send in photos or articles for a display about the Uniting Church’s involvement in interfaith activities.

Mr West feels that endeavouring to understand different religious beliefs is the start of global harmony and progress in intercultural developments.

Mr Mills, also from Maroubra Junction, is keen to be part of a workshop that brings together people of faith to see ways religious traditions can be used as vehicles for peace rather than obstacles to peace.

He has a particular interest in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and will be part of a group of Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus and Buddhists who attempt to improve understanding about that and other international conflicts.

Interfaith showcase

The pre-Parliament event will be held at Garden Marquee, Old Government House, Parramatta Park, on Sunday August 2, 2009, 10 am – 4 pm.

It will offer a taste of the parliament experience in a festive atmosphere, with music, meditation and observances conducted by various faith traditions. There will be displays on interfaith initiatives, stalls showcasing Sydney’s faith communities and discussion circles on the key topics of the parliament.

Participants must adhere to the principles of the parliament, which include respectful dialogue, non-proselytising, a willingness to engage in inter-religious dialogue, and a commitment to explore topics, including those which may be potentially divisive, from a variety of viewpoints.

Uniting Church members with photos or articles about their congregation’s or individual responses to interfaith issues can send them to Katalina Taaafe-Williams, Chair of the Synod Relations with other Faiths Committee, katalinat@nsw.uca.org.au or Contextual Mission and Theology, United Theological College, 16 Masons Drive North Parramatta NSW 2151.

More information about the Parliament of the World’s Religions can be found at www.parliamentofreligions.org.

The Assembly’s Relations With Other Faiths Working Group can be found at http://www.assembly.uca.org.au/rof/index.html.