To commemorate this year’s Inter Faith Week, St Albans Diocesan Inter Faith Advisors – Revs Tony Rindl, David Kesterton and Reader Gillian Kern, joined by Bishop Richard Atkinson held first of its kind event of sharing stories and practical examples of living well together as good neighbours alongside people from different religious and racial backgrounds.
In his opening remarks Bishop Richard said all of us from different faith backgrounds have similar experiences and struggles and have common shared aspirations for a better world. It is therefore important we reflect on how we all can work together for the common good.
Sharing his personal life journey of engaging with people from different faiths, in his hyper diverse parish in Luton, Revd David Kesterton said “It hasn’t flattened or undermined but enriched my faith”.
David said “Diversity brings huge richness and huge challenges but Jesus met with people from different traditions throughout His life; as Christians we are called to do that too.”
Referring to Generous Love: the truth of the Gospel and the call to dialogue (an Anglican theological document on inter faith relations), David said, “Fruits of the Spirit are not just found in Christian faith. It is found in other faith traditions too.”
Revd Tony Rindl, commenting on his Jewish (parental) heritage, shared stories and anecdotes from his life, how encountering those from different religious backgrounds has actually helped him to question and discern in a meaningful way ‘who I am’.
Tony said, “I am unashamedly Christian, but if this one experience taught me so much what else can I learn from others.”
He added, “Inter faith engagement helps us to see the bigger picture and helps us to explore and ask more challenging questions with a view to learn & grow in the spirit of mutuality, friendship and trust.”
A few invited guests from different faiths also contributed to the evening saying different faith and community leaders must “role-model our friendships to inspire our younger generation”. When we not just act but act together, it influences positively our future generations.
Faith motivates and inspires our social action – how much more can we do if we all responded ‘together’ to some of the global concerns e.g. climate change, racism, poverty.
David Jonathan (Johny) working with GRASSROOTS & Near Neighbours Programme said, “It’s not about competing but complementing one another.”
He said, “Inter faith conversations are not about diluting or undermining the uniqueness of our faith & belief. In fact it is about asserting and affirming our differences but doing it in a way so that it does not breed conflict; instead it enriches our understanding.”
“Let’s not do it separately what we can do together” was the key outcome of the evening.
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NOTES:
1) The Diocese of St Albans is a diverse diocese. It includes a significant number of parishes where other faith communities comprise more than ten percent of the population. As a diocese we are committed to engaging with and partnering with members of other faith communities for the common good. To support parishes and clergy, we have Diocesan Interfaith Advisers and we have also partnered with Luton based Grassroots Programme, which has been working with Churches and different faith communities in Luton for over 30 years.
2) Inter Faith Week 2021 begins on Sunday 14 November in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. This is a special Week which highlights the contribution of faith groups to society; encourages greater inter faith understanding and cooperation and also dialogue between those of religious and non-religious beliefs. It is timed to begin each year on Remembrance Sunday to encourage remembering together of the service of those of different faiths and beliefs from the UK and the Commonwealth.
3) More information on Inter Faith Week can be found at: http://www.interfaithweek.org/
The hashtag for social media is #InterFaithWeek.
Inter Faith Week social media accounts can be found at
http://www.facebook.com/ifweek
http://www.instagram.com/IFWeek
A copy of this press release can also be found at
https://www.interfaithweek.org/news/press-releases
Copyright © 2021 The Inter Faith Network for the UK, All rights reserved.
4) Inter Faith Week is a programme of the Inter Faith Network for the UK (IFN), a charity which has been working since 1987 to promote inter faith understanding and cooperation in the UK. IFN’s programme of work, including Inter Faith Week, is supported by faith communities, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, trusts and other donors.
5) A range of Inter Faith Week activities in England are being supported also through the Near Neighbours Programme of the Church Urban Fund, including through its Government supported small grants scheme.
