Network digest
August/September 2009
Please read below for news from our network.
To include any items in next month’s digest, please email m.shaw@gold.ac.uk.
Events
One Day Inter Faith Conference - Building a Society for the Future:
Bridges and Bonds in the East Midlands
Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Derby , Monday 16 November 2009, 10am – 4pm
Building on the work of the Face to Face and Side by Side initiative this one day Inter Faith Conference is part of the start to the National Inter Faith Week 2009, supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Inter Faith Network UK.
Themes for the conference are constructed around the four building blocks of Face to Face and Side By Side:
1) Developing the confidence and skills to 'bridge' and 'link';
2) Shared spaces for interaction and social action;
3) Structures and processes which support dialogue and social action; and
4) Opportunities for learning which build understanding.
The conference aims to engage academics in the field and practitioners alike, and will showcase current thinking and working across the four strands (outlined above) within the East Midlands region. It will seek to challenge the potential to build better futures in society through the construction of inter faith activity and will look critically at the building blocks.
The morning session will feature:
The Keynote speaker, Dr Adam Dinham
Respondent to Dr Dinham is Professor Paul Weller; Professor of Inter Religious Relations whose research interests focus on the relationship between religions in the public sphere and between religions, the state and society in respect of the institutions and processes of governance. Professor Weller’s interests extend to religions and discrimination, religious freedom, human rights, and dialogue.
Complementary to these speakers is Riaz Ravat whose work with the St Philips Centre in Leicester is well known in the region. Riaz will concentrate on practical approaches to inter faith work, showcasing aspects of good practice undertaken in his work in Leicester.
Lunch will be followed by four workshops based on each of the four building blocks, with a concluding plenary.
The workshops feature presentations from around the East Midlands region and details will be circulated upon booking requests.
£10 including Lunch and Refreshments and a copy of
Religions in the UK: Directory 2007-2010
Pre-booking is essential - for a booking form contact the Multi-Faith Centre:
01332 591285 or j.thornewill@derby.ac.uk
European Week of Christian-Muslim Encounters, 12 to 22 November 2009.
Organised by GAIC (Groupe d'Amitie Islamo-Chretiennes), supported by the St. Philip's Centre. Please contact the Christian Muslim Forum for further details.
www.christianmuslimforum.org
Religion and the News 11th – 13th October,
Cumberland Lodge, The Great Park, Windsor
- Why has religion become increasingly newsworthy in recent years?
- Is reporting on religion biased? Are different religions treated equally by the press?
- Where should we draw the line between respect for religious sensibilities and freedom of the press?
- Does the pace at which journalism operates make it inevitable that journalists will misrepresent religious leaders?
- What might be a model for a better relationship between journalists and religious spokespeople?
Bursaries are available and a conference report will be available after the event.
For further details see www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk
Courses
Aga Khan University – Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, London NW1 2DA
Short course; ‘Exploring Muslim Cultures Level 1’.
20 October to 12 November 2009: Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6.15 pm to 8.15 pm
The course provides a concise and well-rounded introduction to histories and contemporary concerns of Muslim people. Through a cultural studies perspective, students will study more conventional subjects such as the Qur’an, law, alongside other aspects of culture such as art, poetry and architecture.
For more information: www.aku.edu/ismc/shortcourses
St. Philip's Centre, Leicester runs a range of courses and provides training for those of faith and civic partners in many aspects of multi faith engagement. Courses include Certificate, Diploma and M.A courses in Interreligious Relations, validated through De Montfort University. See www.stphilipscentre.co.uk
September 2009, Centre for the Study of Muslim-Jewish Relations, offers two courses on Muslim-Jewish Relations. http://www.woolfinstitute.cam.ac.uk/cmjr/courses/index.php
Interfaith Dialogue Facilitation Skills, led by Justine Huxley 6 to 8 November 2009, The Ammerdown Centre near Bath. In partnership with Faithnetsouthwest and St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace. Contact: Sarah Chabowska, Marketing & Publicity Officer, 01761 433 709
Publications
Community Development Foundation's Faiths and Communities series
CDF's series of publications about faith and inter-faith based community development is essential reading for anyone seeking to engage faith communities. These books show you how to deal with challenges and what
really works. This series draws on the learning from the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund, and shows how key findings from these projects can be used to enhance community work. View full series.
Ray Gaston's book 'A Heart Broken Open, Radical Faith In an Age of Fear' available Sept/Oct 09. For further information, or to request a review copy please email lorna@ionabooks.com, to pre-order a copy of A Heart Broken Open please e-mail admin@ionabooks.com.