EXETER INTERFAITH
GROUP NEWS

 

The Exeter Interfaith Group meets from 5 pm to 7 pm on a Tuesday once a month at the Mint.

The group includes members of the Christian, Islamic, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh and Baha’i communities as well as members of other community and interfaith groups.

For more information, please contact the Co-Chairs of the Group, Rev Andrew Sails or Jude Taylorson

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

Islamic Centre of the South West Condemns Acts of Terror

 

The Islamic Centre of the South West utterly condemns yesterday's act of terror in a restaurant in Exeter City Centre. Islam abhors all acts of terrorism. Islam and all religions teach us love, mercy, forgiveness and peace. There is no doubt that any act of terror is a great sin in the eyes of God. In fact, such evil deeds make us all victims, including the Muslim community.

It is our humanity that must bring us together to condemn, oppose, and overcome those who would spread fear and hatred.

We extend our support and gratitude to the emergency services, the police and all the front line services charged with our collective security, and commit ourselves to work closely with the police to avert any such incident in the future, and to bring the people behind such acts to justice.

Those who planned acts of terrorism wanted to demoralize us as a nation and divide us as a people. We must remain united in our common determination, so that terror cannot, and will not succeed.

 

TRUSTEES OF THE ISLAMIC CENTRE OF THE SOUTHWEST

12-13 YORK ROAD   EXETER   EX4 6PG

 

 

 

 

SHARIA LAW DEBATE

 

At The Exeter Interfaith Group meeting on February 12,the following statement was agreed:

 

"The Exeter Interfaith Group is grateful to the Archbishop of Canterbury for initiating and encouraging debate on the relationship between cultural and religious values and the law within British society.

 

We are concerned that many commentators have reacted to this important initiative with ill-informed, knee-jerk and, at times, aggressive responses.

 

We do not wish to see (nor do we understand Archbishop Williams to be advocating) the establishment of alternative legal systems for members of religious communities outside the control or sanction of the law of the land.  We believe the rule of law must be universally applicable to all who live in this country.

 

However we value the opportunity already afforded by the British legal system for individuals to use mutually-agreed arbitration to resolve certain civil matters, in accordance with their faith.

 

We also value the right of all individuals and communities (whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim, of other faiths or none) to regulate their lives in accordance with their own beliefs and conscience - always provided that, in so doing, they do not infringe the rights of others (both within their faith community and beyond it), or cease to be accountable to the law as applicable to all citizens."

 

 

 

NEXT MEETING OF THE EXETER INTERFAITH GROUP

THIS IS TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS MONTH’S EXTER INTERFAITH GROUP MEETING
WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY 3 JUNE AT 5 P.M. AT THE MINT METHODIST CHURCH.

 

 

Here are a few very brief notes from our April Meeting and AGM:

brief notes following our April meeting which took the form of an AGM:

 

1.                   Chair/Secretary’s Report – Andrew Sails reported on the first year of the group’s existence, and highlighted a considerable number of achievements.
He had produced a consolidated list of notes for the first year’s meetings which are attached to this email.

2.                   Treasurer’s Report – Andrew Sails reported that of the £250 set up grant from the Devon Faith Forum, the group had spent £165, leaving £85 in hand. 
Expenditure had been on:
Room rental for the inaugural meeting £20 – since then the Mint had provided the room free of charge.  
Catering (May-Oct) £125.
Catering (Nov-Mar) £20 – since members had been asked to contribute £1 per meeting, the catering budget had almost balanced.
The Mint was happy to continue to hold the funds for the group so that we did not need to set up our own bank account.

3.                   Appointments
The following appointments were made:
Co-Chairs: Jude Taylorson and Andrew Sails.   Jude would chair the next meeting, and also the meetings during the summer whilst Andrew was on sabbatical.  .
Secretary: A secretary was required - Glenda Huggons and Meg Surrey might be able to help with this.
Treasurer: Viv Davies.     Viv Davies would also make sure that the room was booked and the door open for meetings.
Catering:   It was agreed not to appoint a Catering Officer, but rather to ask members each to bring some contribution for an informal “bring and share” buffet each month.     Trevor Huggons would organize drinks provision and claim funds from the Treasurer for this.     Members would still be invited to contribute £1 to the funds at each meeting, in order to provide funds for group activities.

4.                  Future meetings:

May 6th.     
Introduction to Secular Humanism from Peter Astwood.
Discussion on One World Week 2008, with ideas/offers needed for events run by the whole group or by individual members/faith groups. 
Glenda Huggons to do a presentation on the “Tent of Abraham” etc.

June 3rd, July 1st, Aug, Sept, Oct
Revisit the list of Aims and Objectives (see below) which were tabled at the group’s inception but never formally adopted.    NB The view was expressed that we did not need a lengthy constitutional debate, but that some clear aims and objectives would be helpful.
Continue introductions/briefings from different groups – including Dances of Universal Peace.
Discussion on faith in a secular society (embryology, prayers in Council Chambers, religion in schools, established Church, etc) – maybe leave this until the Autumn.
Discussion on racial and religious prejudice in the local community
And – of course – continued discussion on when to hold the Diversity game…

Extra Notice:
Multi-faith Chaplaincy Forum    Please note that it is has been necessary to put the time of this meeting back from 7.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wed 21 May at the Catholic Chaplaincy.      Existing chaplains and proposed or potential associate chaplains and sponsoring bodies are invited to attend.      At this meeting all parties will agree on participating bodies/individuals, and all agree and sign up to protocols

 Aims, Objectives and Outcomes of the Exeter Interfaith Group – for discussion at a future meeting (see No 5 above).

1)      Aims

a)      To affirm the contribution of the faith communities to the spiritual, environmental, social and economic life of Exeter

b)      To promote good relations and respect  between people and break down barriers of prejudice

c)      To enable better awareness, understanding and support between different faith traditions and their involvement in community life

d)      To  promote inter-faith and multifaith dialogue

e)      To involve faith groups in the civic life and community activities of Exeter and encourage their participation in community affairs

f)       To improve the quality of life for local people by working together on agreed projects, demonstrating partnership between different faiths

g)      To encourage dialogue and provide an opportunity for faith organisations to network with each other and with other relevant bodies

h)      To promote the interests and concerns of the faith communities in Exeter

2)      Objectives

a)      To encourage and support a diverse range of members on the Group

b)      To help develop mutual knowledge and understanding between the Group’s constituent members.

c)      To set up a database or directory of members or key faith contacts to help ensure effective communication between faith groups in the city.

d)      To encourage inter-faith social action and a common voice, where practical,  to respond to opportunities, concerns and needs in the local community

e)      To appoint a representative to, and to work in collaboration with, the Devon Faiths Forum, and other groups as appropriate

f)       To be willing to act as a body or channel for consultation by statutory and other bodies who are seeking the views of faith communities in the city

g)      To ensure all members are able to participate in events and discussion

3)      Key Outcomes

a)      Enhanced networking and mutual understanding between faith communities in the city

b)      Growing involvement of faiths with the social, environmental and economic life of the city, including consideration of specific community projects and activities shared across the faith traditions

c)      Capacity to deliver a rapid and appropriate response on behalf of faith communities in times of local community crisis

 

 

 

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