A Brief History of Brighton & Hove Interfaith Contact Group
A Brief Introduction and History 1998 - 2008
By Imam Sajid
A Brief Introduction and History
The Formation:
I n Brighton and Hove different faith communities have been meeting since early 1980 with representatives from many communities and traditions. In 1995 the Brighton and Hove Inter-Faith Contact Group (IFCG) came into existence and agreed to become a constituted body. Its first draft constitution was passed at an inaugural meeting held in February 1997 at Hove Town Hall with the following aims:
- to build and maintain good relations and greater understanding between communities of different faiths and beliefs;
- to provide a forum for discussing matters of mutual concern;
- to organise and promote inter-faith activities.
The IFCG constitution endorses the code of conduct (Building Good Relations with People of Different Faiths and Beliefs) drafted and published (after extensive consultations with representative bodies of all Britain's major faith communities) by the Inter Faith Network for the United Kingdom (Tel: 020 7931 7766 or www.interfaith.org.uk .).
The Purpose:
T he primary purpose of the IFCG is to be a resource for contact between different faith traditions. It is desirable that interfaith helps globally and locally whenever problems arise. The IFCG respects and values the faith of the other person without trying to find a common denominator on which all agree. Where there is religious and cultural prejudice, ignorance and misunderstanding, interfaith initiatives aim to facilitate tolerance, acceptance, dialogue and mutual education of respect.
The IFCG is not an attempt to convert people of one faith into another.
Neither is it an attempt to synthesise some new kind of religion by combining "all the best bits from all the old ones".
The membership:
The current membership of the IFCG reflects the following faith communities:
Bahá'ì, Baptist, Buddhist (including Maitrikara Tibetan Buddhist Group, Bodhigraden Buddist Meditation Centre, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order and Sokkai Gakkei International - SGI), Brahma Kumaris (World Spiritual University), Christian Science, Church of Christ the King, Church of England, Coptic Church, Hindu, Muslim, Jain, Jewish Faith, Methodist, Quaker (The Religious Society of Friends), Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox Church, Salvation Army, Sikh, Unitarian, United Reformed Church, Zoroastrian.
The IFCG, through its Executive Committee, helps to organise meetings, forums and events throughout the year. IFCG is helping to establish a network of contacts as a resource for helping resolve conflicts and a sound foundation for the positive celebration of our rich British Society. The IFCG Executive consists of the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, and not more than two representatives of each faith tradition. The IFCG current officers for the year 2008/2009 are shown at the end of the document.
The IFCG's Executive Committee meets six times in a year at various venues in the city. While around twenty different faith communities and traditions have sent representatives to its meetings, the AGM has confirmed that "there is no limit to the size of the Executive Committee". To progress its work, this committee relies upon and appoints various officers for various purposes (such as vice-Chair, Membership Secretary, Newsletter Editors, event organisers, and delegates to conferences).
Living and working together is not always easy. Religion harnesses deep emotions which can sometimes take destructive forms. Where this happens, we must draw on our faith to bring about reconciliation and understanding. The truest fruits of religion are healing and positive. We have a great deal to learn from one another which can enrich us without
undermining our own identities. Together, listening and responding with openness and respect, we can move forward to work in ways that acknowledge genuine differences but build on shared hopes and values.
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If you would like to know more about The Brighton and Hove Interfaith Contact Group, you are welcome to:
- Become a member by phoning the Treasurer who will send you a membership form. The subscription remains at £5.00 a year, which can be paid by cheque or by direct debit.
- Read the IFCG Constitution elsewhere on the website.
Brighton & Hove IFCG is a member of the
Inter Faith Network for the UK,
8A Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EN,
Tel: 020 7931 7766, Fax: 020 7931 7722. Email: ifnet@interfaith.org.uk Website: www.interfaith.org.uk
The Inter Faith Network's website has very useful material
The Honorary President of the IFCG is the Mayor of Brighton & Hove.
Prior to the IFCG's first Annual General Meeting, from 1996 to 1998 the chair at planning group meetings was taken in turn by the group's members. During that same period, the acting Treasurer was Imam Dr Abduljalil Sajid and the acting Secretary was Peter Sharrock.
Since 1998, the IFCG's Constitutional Officers have been:
The Chair :
1998 to 2001: Imam Dr Abduljalil Sajid (Muslim);
2001 to 2002: Aubrey Milstein (Jewish);
2002 to 2008: Tehmtan Framroze (Zoroastrian);
from April 2008 : Tariq Jung (Muslim).
The Secretary :
1998 to 1999: Peter Sharrock (Quakers);
during 1999: Jeanette Seagar (Roman Catholic);
1999 to 2004: Charlotte Gravestock (Methodist);
2004 to 2007: Bonnie Evans-Hill (Church of England);
from 2007 Ian Lawton (Church of England).
The Treasurer :
during 1998: Caroline Collingridge (Buddhist);
1998 to 1999: Jeanette Seagar (Roman Catholic);
1999 to 2002: Linda Lee (Brahma Kumaris);
during 2002: Virbala Dalal (Hindu);
2002 to 2007: Magda Cross (Quaker);
since 2007: Louis Grabsky (Jewish).
In April 1998 the IFCG web site was launched. And in May 1998, the Executive Committee adopted the IFCG's distinctive diamond pattern logo for its web site, letterheads and official documents. That design was chosen for two reasons: Firstly, the design suggests links, inclusivity, and a thing of value; and secondly, the design was available to us at no cost - since it comes free and easily reproducible with standard computer drawing programs.
Members of the IFCG have participated in and organised many lectures and discussions, visits to places of worship, topical inter-faith dialogues, and other events too numerous to list in this brief history: Descriptions of most, however, can be found in the IFCG's Newsletters.
An editorial team has been producing an IFCG Newsletter for distribution to IFCG members (twice or three times each year) since May 1998. The Newsletter also contains a multi-faith calendar of religious festivals.
IFCG Programmes:
During Years 1999 and 2002 interfaith dialogue meetings were addressed by different faith representatives, followed by questions and answers from the audience:
11 February 1999 The Role of women
8 April 1999 Health and Healing
10 June 1999 Law and order
12 August 1999 Heaven and Hell
14 October 1999 Power of prayer
9 December 1999 Unity within Diversity 10 Feb 2000 Prayer and peace
6 April 2000 Life after death
8 June 2000 Belief in Miracles
3 August 2000 Traditional values
5 October 2000 Acts of Angels
7 December 2000 "Walking in the paths to Truth"
When we talk about matters of faith with one another, we need to do so with sensitivity, honesty and straightforwardness. This means:
- Recognising that listening as well as speaking is necessary for a genuine conversation
- Being honest about our beliefs and religious allegiances . Not misrepresenting or disparaging other people's beliefs and practices
- Correcting misunderstanding or misrepresentations not only of our own but also of other faiths whenever we come across them
- Being straightforward about our intentions
- Accepting that in formal inter faith meetings there is a particular responsibility to ensure that the religious commitment of all those who are present will be respected.
All of us want others to understnd and respect our views. Some people will also want to persuade others to join their faith. In a multi faith society where this is permitted, the attempt should always be characterised by self-restraint and a concern for the other's freedom and dignity. This means:
- Respecting another person's expressed wish to be left alone
- Avoiding imposing ourselves and our views on individuals or communities who are in vulnerable situations in ways which exploit these
- Being sensitive and courteous
- Avoiding violent action or language, threats, manipulation, improper inducements, or the misuse of any kind of power
- Respecting the right of others to disagree with us.
National Holocaust memorial Day: On 27 January 2004 IFCG joined the Brighton and Hove City Council in hosting and remembering National Holocaust Memorial Day at Hove Town Hall. This event has been remembered every year since the year 2000. Local authorities are encouraged to work with interfaith groups, in which Brighton and Hove has been a pioneer.
Building Good Relations with People of Different Faiths and Beliefs:
In Britain today, people of many different faiths and beliefs live side by side. The opportunity lies before us to work together to build a society rooted in the values we treasure. But this society can only be built on a sure foundation of mutual respect, openness and trust. This means finding ways to live our lives of faith with integrity, and allowing others to do so too. Our different religious traditions offer us many resources for this and teach us the importance of good relationships characterised by honesty, compassion and generosity of spirit. The Inter Faith Network offers the following code of conduct for encouraging and strengthening these relationships.
As members of the human family, we should show each other respect and courtesy. This means exercising goodwill and:
- Respecting other people's freedom within the law to express their beliefs and convictions
- Learning to understand what others actually believe and value, and letting them express this in their own terms
- Respecting the convictions of others about food, dress and social etiquette and not behaving in ways which cause needless offence
- Recognising that all of us at times fall short of the ideals of our own traditions and never comparing our own ideals with other people's practice
- Working to prevent disagreement from leading to conflict
- Always seeking to avoid violence in our relationships.
During 2001 and 2002 visits were arranged to experience the richness of diverse places of worship.
Faith 2000 Photo Exhibition The IFCG supported and participated with Tony Tree,an internationally renowned photographer's exhibition of various local faith activities, which was shown at Hove Town Hall during 2000 and 2001.
On 15 January 2003 DTI Minister Barbara Roach visited Brighton to meet the ICFG to learn from us how we worked, as she had heard that we had a helpful model to show.
In March 2004 the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem, the Right Revd. Bishop Riah al-Assal was invited to lunch to meet the Executive of the IFCG. Also that year monthly meetings were held on the theme, "What it means to be a ... in Today's Britain."
The mayor of Brighton & Hove held a reception for members of the executive at which we were invited to discuss issues affecting the City, particularly faith communities.
During Years 2005 and 2006 leaders of different faith tradition spoke about their faith:
29 June 2005 What it means to be a Muslim in today's Britain
8 November 2007 Who or What is God?
Yearly Lectures by Scholars from different faiths communities :
13 February 1997 : 'Faith and good community relations' by Mr Brian Pearce, Director of Interfaith Network for the United Kingdom;
22 February 1998 : 'Interfaith Dialogue' by Professor Rabbi Jonathan Magonet, Principal Leo Beck College, London;
21 February 1999 : 'The contribution of religious communities in the current World Cultural Order' by Professor Dr Mashuq Ally, Chair Islamic Centre for Strategic Studies at Lampeter University Wales;
27 February 2000 : 'Passion for Tolerance' by Rev Dr Peter Bishop, formerly lecturer at the University of Brighton;
18 February 2001 : 'Morality in Today's Society' by Mrs Elaine Yourtchi, senior member, Bahá'ìs Spiritual Assembly of the UK;
18 April 2001 : 'Forgiveness: Breaking the Chain of Hate' by Michael Henderson, an international author and broadcaster;
6 March 2002 : A Dialogue 'Faith in the Future - A Historian's View' by Dr Robin Mowat, author, former lecturer at Oxford Brookes University;
23 February 2003 : 'Zoroastrianism: A Vanishing Faith?' by Farrokh Vajifdar (Fellow of Asiatic Society);
22 February 2004 : 'Jainism' by Dr Vinod Kapashi, Chair of the Mahavir Foundation;
20 February 2005 : At the 8th IFCG AGM the Rev Johanna Boeke was the key note speaker at the Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton;
23 February 2006 : At the 9th IFCG AGM Abbot Christopher Jamison of Worth Abbey spoke on "Offering Sanctuary: The Role of Religion in Britain Today";
18 February 2007 :At the 10th IFCG AGM a talk was given by Dr Inderjit Singh on "The relevance of Sikh Teachings in today's Multicultural Society" at the Brighthelm Centre, North Road Brighton;
13 April 2008 :At the 11th IFCG AGM Sister Jayanti of Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University spoke on "Spirituality" at Brighthelm Centre, North Road Brighton;
18 May 2008: At the Brighton Festival Fringe, The Buddha, the Sufi and Friends;
Faiths in Sussex : A joint effort of Brighton and Hove Interfaith Contact Group, Crawley Interfaith Network, Horsham Interfaith Forum and Faith in Worthing, in cooperation with Worth Abbey & the World Congress of Faiths on 5th March 2008.
United Nations Sunday Interfaith Celebrations : Different faith community representatives have contributed and participated in United Nations Sunday on the Third Sunday of October each year since 1980 on the UN theme of the year.
The IFCG Newsletter : The IFCG has been producing a regular newsletter to report on IFCG activities, to publish news of events and a diary of religious festivals as well as book reviews.
The IFCG Directory of Faith Communities : Since 1998 the IFCG has been publishing its own Directory of Faith Communities in Brighton and Hove City. This can been downloaded from the IFCG Website: www.ifcg.co.uk
Many Faiths - One People Statement : At the 1999 IFCG AGM all major faith communities signed the following document:
We bring greetings from the faith communities and traditions to the Mayor, Members of Parliament, City Councillors and people of Brighton and Hove City. We offer to the City of Brighton and Hove our common commitment to seek to live together in peace and goodwill. We affirm our desire to promote respect and tolerance for the integrity of each other's beliefs, culture, and traditions. This desire arises not only from our common humanity, but also from our being people of faith and people of prayer. We recognise that as neighbours, we have responsibilities to the community, the world and ourselves. We therefore urge all citizens both religious and non-religious to put aside intolerance, prejudice and divisiveness to attain peaceful and fruitful co-existence.