INTER FAITH WEEK 2011, DAY 1: TOGETHER EVENT AT BEAUCHAMP COLLEGE

As I was unable to attend the Together event at Beauchamp College this afternoon for more than a quarter of an hour, I'm glad that Michelle Benn (of Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation) has permitted me to include this short piece which she wrote for the congregation's newsletter.

Faiths Together 

On November 20th, whilst others were engaged with Mitzvah Day, I took along a collection of Judaica and Jewish books and spent a most unexpected afternoon at Beauchamp College's "faiths together" event. Sandwiched between a Sikh stall portraying the lives of the Gurus and a Hindu stall displaying stunningly beautiful saris and with a good view of the Muslim stall opposite, with posters of Jerusalem, I took time to reflect on how much I love being part of multi-faith Leicester and how easy and good it felt to celebrate that which unites us, instead of engaging in that which divides us. Also were local Oadby churches and Leicester Council of Faiths. 

It's funny how standing behind a stall displaying religious artifacts encourages people to talk. I had the most interesting, inspiring and deeply moving encounters with people of deep faith and none: a woman with Jewish roots in search of her ancestry; an atheist man grappling with issues of spirituality; a woman coming to terms with her loss of faith when her minister was unable to support her grieving and a woman vicar discussing gender-biased translations of the Bible. 

I had gone with the expectation of talking about Judaism and returned full of wonder having listened to people's life stories; people eager to share their thought and feelings about God, religion and the human heart. Having the time and a space devoted to faith allowed all sorts of people to stop and reflect on the meaning of life ... and enjoy a samosa.

PLANNING TOGETHER

At Beauchamp College, Oadby, this evening for the final panning meeting for the college's "Together" interfaith event on Sunday 20 November.

I'm glad to see that the newly elected of the Council of Faiths, Inderjit Gugnani, is here when I arrive (although he doesn't introduce himself as such when we go round the table at the start of the meeting). Inderjit is Community Development Worker with Leicestershire County Council's Library Service.

Leicester Council of Faiths has participated in this event from its second year onward. This is recognised in the meeting, unexpectedly, when Chris Swann (who has been behind the events) asks if we have any recommendations for improvement. All I can say is that they are cramming an awful lot into an awfully short time: the event last only three hours. Unfortunately, it can't start any earlier or it would eat into times of Sunday morning church services, so the only option is to extend the hours a little later in the afternoon. but not this year.

I grab a few minutes at the end of the meeting to speak about the Council of Faiths' activities and events for Inter Faith Week, distribute flyers to attendees and sign up a few more potential volunteers for the Highcrosss exhibition rota.

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY 2011: UNTOLD STORIES

It's the city's main commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day at New Walk Museum and Art Gallery this evening. This annual event is jointly sponsored by Leicester Council of Faiths, the Schools Development Support Agency (SDSA), the Stanley Burton Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of Leicester and Leicester City Council. It's one of the most high-profile and prestigious occasions in the Council of Faiths calendar. There are at least 100 people attending this evening.

Cllr Manjula Sood (Chair of Leicester Council of Faiths) opens the meeting, welcoming distinguished guests. She's followed by Sir Peter Soulsby MP who makes introductory remarks. Next we hear from Anne Webb, Manager of the Lessons from Auschwitz project, run by the Holocaust Educational Trust. Then four students from Beauchamp College (in the photo above with Cllr Sood) who have been to Auschwitz, and two from English Martyrs RC School, who are preparing to go, address the meeting. The girls from Beauchamp change the tone of this event. For the first time, it feels to me like the balance well and truly tips  toward the young people involved, rather than them being here under polite sufferance of the older participants. They owned the stage. (I found out later, from my son Harry, that some of the Beauchamp girls had visited Bushloe High School in Wigston, which he attends, to talk to students there about HMD earlier this week.)

The Paul Winstone Memorial Essay prize is awarded by Paul's widow, Siobhan Begley, to Jake Edward, from English Martyrs RC School (who reads his essay to us).

We're treated to a musical interlude, that includes a performance by Joel Moore of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 6.

Professor Aubrey Nemwman speaks briefly to this year's theme, "Untold Stories". Rev. David Clarke proposes the vote of thanks. During the mixing and mingling that follows, I record some video interviews for the Council of Faiths YouTube channel.

Together

A bit of a mad dash from the city centre after leaving our young visitors from Blackpool at the Jain Centre. With our generic banner in tow, clutching a bunch of our leaflets on the eight communities represented on the Council of Faiths, I'm off to Beauchamp College, Oadby, this afternoon, to take part in its annual inter-faith event for students, parents, staff and members of the wider local community. This year it's all going on under the title, "Together". The college has an enviable record in promoting a broad, inclusive and welcoming outlook among its students and staff. It's probably the leading educational institution in the county in terms of inculcating a global perspective in all aspects of its life. I first learned about their good work in this field through our mutual involvement with the East Midlands Network on Global Perspectives in Schools (EMNGPS) and Global Education LeicesterShire (GELS). There are active, vibrant cultural and faith societies among the student body and I spend time talking with some of their members here. I also take the opportunity today to make positive contact with Oadby & Wigston Hindu Community and Oadby & Wigston Muslim Association, both of which are exhibiting here today. I can see no reason why members of these groups shouldn't be invited to join in the public activities of Leicester Council of Faiths, such as our Leicester Speaks dialogue events or the exhibition in Highcross during National Inter Faith Week. After all, several members of the Council of Faiths itself live in this part of the county, rather than in the city, and many members of these groups live or study in the city - giving them all a stake in the promotion of good relations among the faith communities in both places.

This event has been organised by Chris Swann, who played the major part in having Oadby recognised as a Fairtrade town. She has created a website for Oadby, which you can access here:
http://www.oadbyweb.org.uk/

Find out more about Beauchamp College:
http://www.beauchamp.leics.sch.uk/

BIFFY (2)

I meet up with our visitors from Blackpool Inter-Faith Forum for Youth (BIFFY) at the Jain Centre this morning. We are received with courtesy and kindness (as is always the case there) and given a tour of the Centre by Satesh. Our visitors know next to nothing about Jainism and have many questions, that Satesh answers eloquently. We spend about 90 minutes here then it's time for them to head back to the hotel and return to Blackpool. When I take my leave of the group, they're kind enough to give me a few gifts (some lovely candles, a box of fudge) as well as leaving me a copy of a DVD they've produced, entitled "Dare to be Different". I've enjoyed playing host to them. It's a pity they're not staying a little longer, as I'm sure they'd enjoy the event at Beauchamp College later today.