	One Family The Newsletter of the World Congress of Faiths April, 2004 www.worldfaiths.org registered charity no: 244096
*Faith Meeting Faith: a rich resource for life* The World Congress of Faiths seeks to bridge the almost unbridgeable: to make bonds of friendship based on knowledge and understanding and to celebrate the differences between different religions. While accepting that the differences of history and belief between faith communities, we affirm and support each of the faith groups represented at our gatherings. We seek to bring together those who are firm adherents of their own faiths, and who wish to learn from others in a non-judgemental and supportive fashion. In this way, hopefully, we work towards ending the destructive enmity that so tragically dogs the relationships between so many people of faith.
*Change and Development at WCF* These are exciting times at the World Congress of Faiths. This issue of One Family contains reports of World Congress of Faiths meetings that have taken place since the last issue, and details of WCF and local interfaith meetings that are planned for the next few weeks. On May 5th is the Younghusband lecture at 7.00 p.m. at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, 28 St John's Wood Road, London W8 7HA. This year the Younghusband lecture will be given by William Dalrymple. This is wonderful opportunity to hear him speak, and both you and your friends will be very welcome. Before the Younghusband Lecture, the AGM will be held at 5.30 p.m., with light refreshments available from 6.30.p.m. The evening will also be an opportunity to say farewell to Diana Hanmer, who is retiring after many years as the Administrative Officer of WCF. Everyone in the WCF is indebted to Diana for so many years of tireless and devoted service, and I am delighted that she has been willing to be person profiled in this issue of One Family. Diana's departure has left a vacancy for a new Administrative Officer, and the next article on this page contains details of the vacancy. If you are interested please contact the Chair of WCF, Rabbi Jackie Tabick, as soon as possible.
*Would you be interested in working for the World Congress of Faiths?* We are looking for a part time administrator to take over in May or June of this year. Remuneration around £3,500 to £4,000 per year for an average working week of 10-12 hours. Are you looking for a flexible job you can carry out largely from home? Are you capable of working on your own initiative? Could you help us to publicise the work we do? Can you help us find new members? Are you computer literate? Are you able you able to keep simple accounts? (Use of Sage would be useful). With orientation training, will you be able to answer questions about the World Congress of Faiths with knowledge and enthusiasm? Would you like to attend an occasional conference or weekend retreat? If you are interested in applying, please send your CV, or request for further information, to: Rabbi J. Tabick, 1 Ashbourne Grove, NW7 3RS, email: jtabick@lineone.net Closing date for applications: 19 April.
*Profile: Diana Hanmer* Diana writes: My first contact with WCF was, as I remember, when I went with Bishop George Appleton to the memorial service for Sir Francis Younghusband's sister at St Martin's-in-the-Fields Church, London, in the early 1980s. Older members of the WCF will remember Bishop George as an enthusiastic and energetic worker for interfaith understanding with a wide range of friends in many traditions of faith. I first met George when he was General Editor of the Oxford Book of Prayer, one of the earliest anthologies to include a substantial section of prayers from other traditions of faith, and I worked for him as secretary, driver, fellow traveller in the UK and Israel, cook and general factotum, from 1979 until his death in 1993. I met many of his friends at Ammerdown retreats and elsewhere, and in particular Marcus and Mary Braybrooke, who were then living in Wells. When WCF moved office, from London to Oxford, I went along to the office where I found David Potter, who was then both General Secretary and Honorary Treasurer, carrying boxes up the stairs, lent him a hand with them and stayed on! As my husband Hugh and I live near		Oxford I was able to visit Marcus often, who was always a pleasure; I have also enjoyed working with David Storey as Honorary Treasurer, and with Kevin. I have much appreciated all the friendship I have met with in WCF from the Chair outwards and would like to thank everyone for their kind help and support so generously given. Come to the A.G.M. and Younghusband Lecture on May 5 at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue 28 St John's Wood Road, London NW8 7HA and meet Diana.
World Congress of Faith presents: *An Interfaith Service in Celebration of Animals* 3.00 p.m. on Sunday 13 June at Golders Green Unitarian Church, 31 Hoop Lane Golders, Green, London, NW11 8BS Readings and prayers by representatives from the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh traditions. Address by Revd Professor Andrew Linzey of Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford Please come and support the first British Inter-Faith service for the welfare of animals. For further information: Revd. Fergus Capie, tel: 0207-8374472 or Andrew Burns, tel: 0771-3725353.		World Congress of Faiths presents: A Post Parliament of World Religions Conference *22-24 July, 2004* Fintry House, Near Godalming, Surrey This event is for anyone engaged in interfaith activity. Those present will include both those who will have attended the Parliament of World Religions and those who were not able to go to Barcelona but would like to reflect on what happened there. Speakers include: Rabbi Jackie Tabick, Marcus Braybrooke, and others from the Parliament. Cost: £80 full board or £40 registration and meals only for those booking on or before 1 July, after which the cost is £90 or £50. Further details: Richard Boeke, e-mail: r.boeke@virgin.net, tel: 01403 257801
May 5th: A Special Day for WCF 5.30 p.m. Annual General Meeting 6.30 p.m. Light Refreshments 7.00 p.m. The Annual Sir Francis Younghusband lecture: From the Holy Mountain a journey in the shadow of Byzantium an illustrated talk by WILLIAM DALRYMPLE acclaimed travel & spiritual writer to be held at Liberal Jewish Synagogue, 28, St John's Wood Road, LONDON NW8 7HA (Directly opposite Lords Cricket Ground) Underground: St. John’s Wood on Jubilee Line; buses 13, 82,113, 46 and 274 For disabled parking phone 0207 432 1291 William Dalrymple will speak on his acclaimed book FROM THE HOLY MOUNTAIN which is a study of the demise of Christianity in its Middle Eastern homeland. - - - ENTRANCE TO COVER COSTS : £5 - - - www.worldfaiths.org

Advisory to all WCF members:

At the forthcoming Annual General Meeting on May 5 the Executive Committee propose to amend the WCF Constitution to form an Advisory Committee, separate from the existing Executive Committee.

If you wish to stand for the Executive Committee, please e-mail:

Rabbi Jackie Tabick, chair of WCF at jtabick@lineone.net as soon as possible.

You must be a member of the WCF before you stand for membership of the Executive Committee.

Request for help

From 31 July to 7 August there will be an international Scout and Guide Jamboree at Kirby, near Clacton-on-Sea in Essex. It is anticipated that there will be between 200 and 500 Scouts and Guides present.

At the Jamboree, there will be an area containing displays that will give an overview of each of the main world faiths, and a zone for quiet reflection. It is hoped that one day will be dedicated to each faith and that members of the respective faith will organise a range of activities to teach the Scouts and Guiders about their beliefs and practices.

If anyone can help with organising these activities, or could suggest anyone who would be able to do so, please contact:

Irene Fisher, World Faiths Base Leader; e-mail: iefisher@lineone.net, tel: 01245-465519

Women and Religion

Mrs Pimjai Intamoon (left) with Ven Dhammananda and Ven Maghosananda

Religions' failure to address the injustices from which so many women still suffer was highlighted at a recent meeting in Bangkok of leaders of international women's NGOs with members of the Peace Council. The meeting was hosted by the Venerable Dhammananda,who is the first woman monk to be ordained in Thailand. Aware of the opposition that she has encountered, members of the conference called on religions to give women opportunities to share in the leadership of faith communities. Deep concern was expressed about the suffering caused by AIDs and HIV, and members of the conference had a chance to see some of the work to help hill tribe women who suffer from HIV, which is led by Mrs Pimjai Intamoon.

Marcus Braybrsooke, who is a Peace Councillor.

The Moral Maze: Religious Prejudice – a challenge to interfaith relations?

About twenty-five people were fortunate to have been present at this excellent event. Using the familiar Moral Maze format, the panel including Gwen Griffith-Dickson, Ali Kazimi and Alison Murdoch, heard from expert witnesses from a range of backgrounds including Faith Russell and Sue Drake, two police officers from the Royal Parks Authority, Brendan Callaghan SJ of Heythrop College, Navlean Kaur of the Guru Nanak VA Sikh School, and Brian Pearce the Director of the Interfaith Network. One of the delights of the evening was the interaction both between members of the panel, and between the panel and the witnesses as they shared their experience and insights on Religious Prejudice – a challenge to interfaith relations? After the audience had been given the opportunity to discuss the issues raised during the evening, the panel members gave their final reflections. One of them described the evening as 'interfaith with bite', and another panel member reflected that during the evening people had been honest and shared their humanity. Another thought was that while identity is crucial, it is also a two-edged sword as it can lead both to separateness, but it can also produce security that in turn leads to openness. Look out for future WCF Moral Maze evenings. They will be advertised in future editions of One Family.

Many Rainbows Share One Sun:

Interfaith: Local and Global

Saturday, May 8

10.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.

at Essex Hall, Essex Street, London

Speakers: Revd Marcus Braybrooke, WCF

Dr Harriet Crabtree, Interfaith Network.

Cost: £5.00 registration, payable at the door.

Bring your own lunch.

Members of the WCF Committee become

TV Stars!!

One of the aims of the World Congress of Faiths is in the area of education. Some of the members of the WCF executive committee were therefore pleased to be asked to talk about their beliefs and practises for a video that is being made for RE teachers in West Sussex. The video will eventually be on their LEA website and therefore accessible to everyone.

Further details will be included in the next edition of One Family.

Local Interfaith Events
Alister Hardy Society:

30 April: Horizon: God on the Brain (Neuroscience and Religious Experience):

7.30p.m. at 11A Avenue Road, Whittington Moor, Chesterfield.

26 May: Mystical Vision. Speakers: Stephen Hirtenstein and Prof Leslie Francis. Essex Unitarian Church, 112 Palace Gardens Terrace, Kensington, London W8 at 6.30 p.m.

28 May: Everyman: Does Prayer Work?

7.30p.m. at 11A Avenue Road, Whittington Moor, Chesterfield.

5 June: Spirituality and Place: members' debate. 10 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. at Seminar Room, Dept of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Wales, Lampeter.

25 June: Mission Impossible (Documentary on various Christian missionaries). 7.30p.m. at 11A Avenue Road, Whittington Moor, Chesterfield.

13-16 July. Joint RERC/AHS/MCPU conference. Speakers: Supreme Primate of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism His Eminence Koken Otani, Dr Marion Bowman, Prof. June Boyce-Tillman, Dr Wendy Dossett, Dr Mark Fox, Prof Leslie Francis, Dr David Hay at High Leigh Conference Centre, Hoddesdon, Herts.

Further details-mail: ahardytrust@lamp.ac.uk

Ammerdown Centre:

23-25 April: Jewish-Christian Study Weekend.

Speakers include Jonathan Gorsky, Education Advisor of the Council of Christians and Jews and Sister Margaret Shepherd, director of CCJ.

Cost: £90 including accommodation and meals.

Cheltenham Inter Faith:

May 3: Jewish Life and Worship in the Home. Speaker: Michael Webber or Jenny Silverston. 7.30 p.m. at Friends Meeting House.

July 6: Buddhism and the situation in Tibet. Speaker: Venerable Tashi Tsering, a Tibetan Buddhist monk at 7.30 p.m.

Further details: Rev Hazel Day, Tel:01242-260341.

De Nobili House:

4 April: Speaker: Brother Daniel who will share his experiences.

2 May: Speaker: Swami Sivarupananda, Ramakrishna Centre, Bourne End, who will explain and celebrate some Hindu rituals.

Further details: Fr Michael Barnes, Tel:0208-5711833
Dharam Hinduja Institute of Indic Research:

2-3 July: 8th International DHIIR Conference: Ayurveda: Modern and Global Identities. For further details: www.divintiy.cam.ac.uk//dhiir/indic/comf04.html.

Tel:01233 63013

Hampstead Interfaith Group:

27 April: The Sikh Way of Life. Speaker:

Dr Indarjit Singh, Director of Sikh Organisations UK at 8.00 p.m.

18 May: Ends and Beginnings. Speaker: Eva Tucker, Organiser Hampstead Interfaith Group at 7.00 p.m.. A final gathering of speakers and members to look back on work of Group and look forward to re-formation.

Further details: Eva Tucker, 63b Belsize Park Gardens, London NW3 4JN.

Inform:

15 May: How Dangerous are new Religions? Speakers include Prof Eileen Barker. 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. at New Theatre, London School of Economics.

Further details: e-mail: inform@lse.ac.uk

London Interfaith Centre:

28 April: Interfaith and Education. Speakers: Revd Stephen Roberts, chaplain Brunel University and Ms Alice Hudson, Headteacher, Twyford School at 7.30pm

Ammerdown Centre (Continued)
26-30 April: Jewish Christian Study Weekend: The Age of the Maccabees.

Speakers: Jonathan Gorsky, Education Advisor of the Council of CCJ and Jane Clements, Education Officer of the CCJ.

Cost: £180, including accommodation and meals.

18-20 June: Learning Non-Violence from Gandhi and Friends. Speaker: Hal French, University of South Carolina.

Cost: £85 including meals and accommodation.

15-22 August: Three Faiths Summer School.

Speakers: Dr Tina Beattie, University of Surrey, Rabbi Michael Hilton and Sheikh Bashir Dultz,

President of the German Muslim League.

Cost £270 including meals and accommodation.

Further details from: Ammerdown Centre, Radstock, Bath, BA3 5SW. Tel: 01761 433709;

e-mail: centre@ammerdown.org
Bath Interfaith Group:

8 May: Ways to Peace through Dialogue. Speakers from Eastern and Western Traditions. 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. at the Ammerdown Centre, Radstock.

13 May: Forty Years of Interfaith. Speaker: Revd Marcus Braybrooke. 7.30 p.m. at The Friends Meeting House, York Street, Bath.

16 June: The Soul Journey. Speaker: Declan Howlett. 7.30 p.m. at the Minerva Centre. (Phone Bath 315591 for directions.)

13 July: Reincarnation. Speaker: Richard Carder. 7.30 p.m. at 76 Lower Oldfield Park, Bath. Further details from Shelagh, Tel: 01225-422252

London Interfaith Centre (continued)

4 May: Music from the Faiths. Brent Inter Faith presents an evening of music from many of the world religious traditions at 7.30 p.m.

24 June: Annual Friends Event: Main Speaker: Hon Barnabas Leith, Secretary, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahai's for UK at 7.30 p.m.

Further details: e-mail:info@londoninterfaith.org.uk

Merseyside Council of Faiths and Inter-Faith Group:

29 April: Prayer in the Sikh Tradition and Sharing the Baisakhi Festival at Sikh gurdwara, Wellington Avenue, Wavertree.

4 May: Celebrating the Prophet's Birthday at the Pakistani Centre and Mosque.

27 May: To meet His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Morning lecture at 10.00a.m.Admission by ticket only.

15 June: Prayer in the Baha'i tradition at the Baha'i Centre, 3 Langtree Road, Wavertree.

Further details: Bishop Rupert Hoare: 0151 7027220 and Canon Michael Wolfe:0151 7331541
United College of the Ascension:

7-9 May: Crossing Frontiers. In co-operation with Restore, a Birmingham churches project supporting refugees and asylum seekers. Speaker: Shari Brown. Cost: £90 residential, £45 non-residential.

22 May: Rethinking Partnership in Mission.

Speaker: Revd Dr Colin Marsh, UCA. Cost £20.

12 June: Giving a voice to the people of God – the power of hymns.

Speaker: Rt. Revd Brian Castle, Bishop of Tonbridge. Cost: £20.

22-24 June: Meditation in the Buddhist Tradition. Speakers: Ramona Kauth and Dr Elizabeth Harris. Cost: £90 residential, £45 non-residential.

Further details: tel: 0121-4156810; e-mail: j.marks@bham.ac.uk.

4 April: Zoroastrian Education Day:

9.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. at the International Students House, 229 Great Portland Street, W1W 5PN. Cost £18.00, or £9.00 for unwaged. Contact Burjor Avari, tel: 0161-4457554, e-mail: B.Avari@mmu.ac.uk.

Let WCF advertise your local interfaith events:

Send details of your local interfaith events to :

Joy Barrow at 34 Shorediche Close, Ickenham, Middlesex, UB10 8EB

or e-mail: JoyBarrow@aol.com

Deadline for inclusion in the next edition of One Family: 1 June, 2004 .