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We commit ourselves in a spirit of friendship and co-operation to work together as people of faith for a just

and inclusive Scotland

Issue 21 : March 2012

The Scottish Inter Faith Council 523 Shields Road Glasgow G41 2RF Charity No.: SC029486

The Scottish Inter Faith Council Members have met three times in the last year and have engaged in thoughtful deliberations about re-structuring the organisation to allow it to function more effectively. There have also been opportunities to engage in dialogue, including helping to organise and participate in the 9/11 ‘Walk for Peace’ in partnership with the Church of Scotland, The Churches Agency for Interfaith Relations and the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association. The Walk for Peace marked 10 years since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and members of 10 faith communities gathered in remembrance of those who died or suffered as a result of the attacks.

Participants visited a number of places of worship including the Hindu Mandir, the Annandale Street Mosque, the Bahá’i Centre, St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral and St John's Episcopal Church. At each place of worship, the walkers gave the gift of a Peace Candle and prayers were given by members of the host faith communities.

INSERT PHOTO : Page 1, para 3, peace walk group photo Contents (N.B. Put contents into two columns in a dark blue box) 2 Scottish Inter Faith Week 3 UK Inter Faith Network 4 Annual Networking Seminar Religious Leaders AGM and public talk Same sex marriage consultation 5 Dumfries Interfaith Edinburgh Women’s Interfaith 6 Aberdeen Interfaith Fife Interfaith 7 Central Scotland Interfaith Shetland Interfaith 8 Holocaust Memorial Day 10 Sister Cities Exchange 11 Methodist Church Scottish Women’s Aid SIFC Youth Volunteers 12 Youth Committee profiles 14 Youth News 16 Church of Scotland Upcoming Events About SIFC

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ND The Scottish Inter Faith Council Members have met three times in the last year and have

engaged in thoughtful deliberations about restructuring the organisation to allow it to function more effectively.

There have also been opportunities to engage in dialogue, including helping to organise and participate in the 9/11 ‘Walk for Peace’ in partnership with the Church of Scotland, The Churches Agency for Interfaith Relations and the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association. The Walk for Peace marked 10 years since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and members of 10 faith communities gathered in remembrance of those who died or suffered as a result of the attacks.

Participants visited a number of places of worship including the Hindu Mandir, the Annandale Street Mosque, the Bahá’i Centre, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral and St John’s Episcopal Church. At each place of worship, the walkers gave the gift of a Peace Candle and prayers were given by members of the host faith communities.

1 SIFC Council Members News2 Scottish Inter Faith Week3 UK Inter Faith Network4 Annual Networking Seminar Religious Leaders AGM and public talk Same sex marriage consultation5 Edinburgh Women’s Interfaith6 Aberdeen Interfaith Fife Interfaith7 Shetland Interfaith Central Scotland Interfaith

8 Holocaust Memorial Day9 Dumfries Fife Interfaith Group 10 Sister Cities Exchange11 Your Scotland Your Referendum12 SIFC Youth Volunteers13 SIFC Youth Volunteers14 BBC Interfaith Podcast St Modan’s High School15 Moray Interfaith16 Upcoming Events About SIFC

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Scottish Inter Faith Week 2011 took place from 27th November - 4th December. The theme of the week was ‘Belief in Dialogue’. A record number of events took place throughout Scotland to mark Scottish Inter Faith Week, with 53 events recorded on the programme which can be found on the Scottish Inter Faith Council website: www.scottishinterfaithcouncil.org.

Earlier in the year, the Scottish Government produced the ‘Belief in Dialogue: Religion and Belief Relations in Scotland Good Practice Guide’, which provides guidance on building good relations among and between religious and belief communities and individuals.

The launch of Scottish Inter Faith Week took place on Sunday 27th November at St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art in Glasgow. A group of Tashi Lhunpo Tibetan Buddhist monks had been creating an intricate sand mandala at the museum during the week and welcomed guests to partake in a ‘destruction ceremony’ of the mandala that morning. The monks offered special prayers and chants, which culminated in a procession to Provand’s Lordship fountain to scatter the multi-coloured sand from the mandala, reminding those gathered about the doctrine of impermanence in Buddhism.

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Scottish Interfaith Week

Guests then enjoyed a vegetarian lunch at the museum. After lunch, all were warmly welcomed to the formal programme by Clare Gray from St Mungo Museum and Sister Isabel Smyth, convener of The Scottish Inter Faith Council. Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP and Humza Yousaf MSP each gave an inspiring keynote address related to the theme of the week. Lamees Tayyem and Umaima Musa, who established and lead the International Women’s group in Sighthill, Glasgow, spoke about their experiences of being Muslim refugees in the UK. Sudakshina Kundu and Dr Rachna Sharma offered a Hindu spiritual dance and song (bhajan). Readings were given, on the theme of dialogue, by a representative from each of the major faith communities in Scotland, who each lit a candle to symbolise the role that each faith plays in bringing communities together.

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Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP stated, “I am delighted to have been invited to attend the launch of Scottish Inter Faith Week. Scotland is a modern multi-faith and multi-cultural country where all people can live together in harmony, and where people of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds can follow their religion or belief and achieve their potential. These events are tremendously important in bringing together different communities united in a common purpose. We all want to live in a Scotland where mutual trust, respect and understanding form the basis for our lives and our relationships with others. I know that these basic principles will underpin the various events being held up and down the country during inter faith week”.

Humza Yousaf stated in his address, “it is a real privilege to be here with you to celebrate the launch of Scottish Inter Faith Week. Your theme of “Belief in Dialogue” is as relevant today as it was centuries or even millennia ago. I’ve very proud to live in a Scotland that is multi-faith and multicultural. However, not all is rosy in Scotland’s garden. As we have welcomed all the nations and religions of the world to our country, we are still fighting religious sectarianism and bigotry. With such challenges the solution is rooted dialogue. Yes legislation can help, educational programmes will make a difference, but the age-old technique of breaking bread and talking to one another is tried and tested and done us well over the years. I always believe it is our compassion and humanity that marks us out as human beings: values sown into the fabric of every religion and denomination. The human spirit is stronger than the forces that reign against it – hope will always defeat hate, light will always overcome darkness and justice always prevail over inequality. I am proud to be here to help launch Scottish Inter Faith Week 2011 and may you continue to be a beacon of peace, justice and mercy for all”.

UK Inter Faith Network The UK Inter Faith Network launched inter faith week for England, Wales and Northern Ireland on 21st November at Central Hall, Westminster. 50 senior religious figures and national leaders gathered to mark the start of the week. The meeting was chaired by the UK Inter Faith Network’s Co-Chairs, Bishop Alastair Redfern and Dr Manazir Ahsan.

The opening speakers were the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Lord Sacks of Aldgate and the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr Rowan Williams. Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Rt Hon Eric Pickles, opened a national faith communities’ conversation on the theme of ‘Living well together’ in Britain today. The discussion explored aspects of how faith communities contribute to society; continue to develop strong patterns of inter faith understanding and practical cooperation; and engage with wider society for the common good. The Scottish Inter Faith Council was represented at the launch by Ravinder Kaur Nijjar, a former Convener of the Scottish Inter Faith Council.

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Local Inter Faith Group Networking Seminar

On 5th September 2011 the Local Inter Faith Groups Networking Seminar was held at Discovery Point Dundee. Representatives from local inter faith groups across Scotland gathered to learn from each other and to engage in the programme organised by the Scottish Inter Faith Council. The programme this year focused on promoting the ‘Belief in Dialogue’ document at the local level, working with local media, with a presentation by STV Local, and promoting inter faith education in schools.

Religious Leaders meet to Pray for World PeaceOn 25th October, Cardinal Keith O’Brien invited various religious leaders and representatives of faith communities from across Scotland to come together to pray for peace in the world, each in their own way, according to their own religious tradition. Representatives from the Bahá’i, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh faiths took part in this event, alongside Archbishop Conti, the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, and the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

This event, which took place at the Lauriston Jesuit Centre in Edinburgh, was a prelude to the meeting in Assisi that was called by Pope Benedict XVI, which took place on the 27th October. The Assisi event marked the 25th anniversary of the historic meeting of world religious leaders called by Pope John Paul II, who is noted as saying, “Either we learn to walk together in peace and harmony or we drift apart and ruin ourselves and others”.

Annual General Meeting and Public Talk The Annual General Meeting of The Scottish Inter Faith Council took place on Sunday 30th October, also at the Lauriston Jesuit Centre in Edinburgh. This was followed by a Public Talk entitled ‘In the Steps of St Francis’ which was given by the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, The Right Reverend David Arnott, who shared his reflections on his recent participation in the multi-faith event hosted by Pope Benedict XVI in Assisi.

Same Sex Marriage Consultation On 17th November The Scottish Inter Faith Council held a meeting at their office in Glasgow to discuss the government’s consultation paper on same sex marriage and religious ceremonies for civil partnerships in Scotland. Simon Stockwell from the Scottish Government and Tom French from the Equality Network spoke about the consultation document and a discussion on the issues raised was facilitated by the staff of the Scottish Inter Faith Council. 12 representatives from six faith traditions were in attendance. Those present were encouraged to fill in the feedback form with their views to give to the Scottish Government.

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The Edinburgh Women’s Interfaith Group (EWIG) welcomes women from all faiths and none to their monthly meetings. The group meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 7 – 9pm. Meetings begin with a shared vegetarian meal, followed by a guest speaker or general discussion on a spiritual theme. These gatherings provide an opportunity to learn about each others’ cultural and spiritual heritage in a friendly and welcoming environment.

Throughout 2012 the group plans to visit various places of worship. The year commenced with a January meeting at the Bahá’i Centre, where Dr Maureen Sier shared her personal Bahá’i journey. In February the group visited the Brahma Kumaris Centre, and visits to the mosque and the Sikh Gurdwara are being arranged for the Spring. More information about the group, including the venue for the next meeting, can be found on their website: www.edinwig.org.uk.

Edinburgh Women’s Interfaith Group

EWIG, in partnership with SIFC, hosted an International Women’s Day event on Sunday 11th March at St John’s Church Hall, Edinburgh. The event offered women a variety of complementary therapies free of charge, along with short workshops on spiritual themes, arts and crafts and healthy eating presentations. The event was very well received, with over 200 women attending throughout the afternoon.

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Aberdeen Inter Faith News Aberdeen Inter Faith presented a busy and varied Autumn programme of events. In September Ruth Payne, from the Scottish Episcopal Church, led a discussion on the objectives of pilgrimage, and shared some stories of the very positive and moving journeys she had experienced, meeting people from many faiths along the way. In October Nigel Dower, a Quaker, led a reflective discussion based on some thought-provoking inter-faith readings. These largely focused on the importance and value of dialogue between people from varied faith backgrounds. In November, Reiko Goto Collins shared her knowledge of Shinto, emphasizing an ecology-related art viewpoint, describing its spiritual importance in Japan where it is viewed as deeply connected with the natural world.

For Scottish Inter Faith Week, the group tried something different. David Harrison from Findhorn was invited to lead a Harmonic Temple. This successful evening included harmonic chants from four different faiths, all related to the theme of peace. It was a powerful and moving experience, even for those new to singing! The Autumn programme concluded in December with an informal shared meal and discussion of traditional local food, as well as an appreciation of the approaching Winter Solstice. The group is now busy developing a Spring programme which will explore themes as varied as religious art, women, health, and education, to inspire and stimulate an ongoing inter faith perspective.

Fife Interfaith Group (FIG) News Fife Interfaith Group (FIG) held their first ever AGM on Saturday 26th November, which was attended by 11 people. Afterwards, about 20 people gathered in Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy, to plant 1000 crocus bulbs in the grass of the soon-to-open Peace Garden, as part of Scottish Inter Faith Week. The garden will have seating surrounded by trees, with a ‘peace pole’ as a focal point, and it is hoped that it will provide a quiet corner for contemplation and a focus for future inter faith and cultural events.

Dr. Junaid Syed, chairman of the group, said: “We appreciate similarities, respect differences and learn from one another. In this way we hope to develop strong and positive links and relationships between people of all generations from different faiths and cultures, for peace, harmony and the long-term benefit of the community.”

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Shetland Inter Faith News

SIFC’s Project Officer, Frances Hume, was hosted by Shetland Inter Faith Group from 3rd – 6th October. She gave a number of classes in primary and secondary schools and lead an afternoon workshop for 100 pupils from S2 on the topic of dialogue, conflict and faith and the impact of faith in Scotland today.

The Project Officer also delivered two sessions to introduce the Belief in Dialogue Good Practice Guide. One of these was for members of Shetland Inter Faith Group, the other brought together members of Shetland Council, the Further Education College, Police Service, NHS Chaplaincy and local voluntary organisations. This meeting, which had been set up by Rev Tom Macintyre, was highly successful and the group decided to set up an ‘Equalities Forum’ and meet regularly to discuss ways in which they could meet the needs of people from different faiths and countries who were living in Shetland, such as a welcome pack in several languages. The Equalities Forum is now fully established, with 15 people from all sectors attending the most recent meeting.

Shetland Inter Faith Group, in collaboration with the Church of Scotland Presbytery of Shetland, hosted a special event for Scottish Inter Faith Week. Ravinder Kaur Nijjar was the keynote speaker at the event entitled ‘The Dignity of Diversity - The Importance of Dialogue and Action Together’. Bells Brae Primary School contributed to Holocaust Memorial Day by creating a book of poems and prayers. They presented the book to the Convenor of Shetland Council at the Town Hall on 27th January.

Central Scotland Interfaith News Central Scotland Interfaith (CSI) has continued to meet each month, with attendances varying from half a dozen to over 30 people. In September the group discussed how different religions relate to those less fortunate members of the wider community. The October meeting included a viewing of “An African Answer”, the sequel to “The Imam and the Pastor”, followed by a discussion on the themes of the film. In November, CSI visited the Spiritual Care Centre (Chaplaincy) at the new Forth Valley Royal Hospital, where some of the members of the Spiritual Care team described the work that they did.

The group was joined for their December meeting by members of Cumbernauld Gaelic Choir, who treated the group to a number of Christmas Carols in Gaelic and English. Local Bahá’i musicians, Jeremy, Carolyn and Nick also entertained the gathered guests. In January, CSI were pleased to welcome long-term peace activists, Ellen Moxley and Helen Steven, who led a discussion on the theme, “Peace is at the heart of all religions - so why is the world not at peace?” The February meeting was lead by one of CSI’s members, Jon Cape, who is due to lead the Scottish Parliament’s ‘Time for Reflection’. His theme was related to “Leadership on Values”. CSI’s third AGM took place on 25th March, followed by a talk from Donald Scott on “Prison Chaplaincy”.

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Holocaust Memorial Day: ‘Speak Up, Speak Out’In April 2011, The Scottish Inter Faith Council was invited by the Scottish Government and the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust to facilitate the National Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) events for Scotland 2012 in Dundee. SIFC felt this was a great privilege and would enable SIFC to demonstrate the potential terrible consequences when prejudice and bigotry are not challenged. Over the course of 6 months, and with the help of Dundee City Council, Dundee Education and a team of advisors, a full programme of events and activities were facilitated.

A central focus of HMD 2012 was a number of screenings of the film ‘Hana’s Suitcase’ and the subsequent visit to Scotland of Holocaust survivor, and brother of Hana, George Brady along with his family, film Director Larry Weinstein and Holocaust Educator Fumiko Ishioka (from Japan). The moving story of Hana, a young girl who died in Auschwitz, began in Japan when her suitcase arrived at the Education Centre run by Fumiko, leading eventually to Fumiko meeting the surviving brother of Hana (George) and to an award winning book and film being made. George’s powerful story of survival and hope engrossed the thousands of schoolchildren and adults who engaged with the book, the film and the personal face to face encounter with George and Fumiko.

Eastern Primary School, Broughty Ferry

Further highlights of HMD 2012 included the visit to Scotland of Rabbi Bent Melchior who spoke of his experiences in Denmark as a young boy when the country of Denmark stood up to the Nazis and assisted the majority of its Jewish Population to escape persecution - a story that resonated very well with the 2012 theme of ‘Speak Up, Speak Out’.

The main programme for HMD 2012 which took place in the Caird Hall Dundee on the evening of 26 January began with a warm welcome from the Lord Provost, John Letford and involved the visiting international guest speakers; 14 dancers with disabilities; a 40 voice primary school choir; Dundee Pupils who had been involved in the Lessons from Auschwitz Programme; a Dundee School ensemble and a short candle-lighting memorial service with Jewish, LGBT, Rwandan, disability and Gypsy Traveller representation. The MC’s for the evening and the Stewards were all Dundee School pupils. John Swinney MSP and Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable growth was also a key guest who spoke with passion at the evening Memorial.

Rabbi Bent Melchior and George Brady

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From 23rd-28th January there was a week long programme of events linked to HMD 2012; including film screenings; the Anne Frank Exhibition; school visits; a civic reception; a 1500 pupil event in the Caird Hall; faith community visits and an evening with the Cultural Coordinators of Dundee.

The Jewish Community of Dundee also hosted a number of events related to HMD 2012 and stated that,

“HMD 2012 gave us an opportunity to organise, for the first time, several interfaith events at Dundee’s synagogue…. the synagogue hosted a reception for the visiting dignitaries, an Open Doors day, and an interfaith youth event. All of these went extremely well, and were a real source of enjoyment and pride for the Dundee Hebrew Congregation and for those who attended. We feel that real headway has been made in strengthening ties between the Jewish congregation and the wider community in Dundee, and we are hopeful that these first steps will lead to many more interfaith events in the future.”

Dr Maureen Sier, Senior Project Officer

Dumfries Inter Faith Week News As part of Scottish Inter Faith Week 2011, a ‘Sacred Space’ event took place on Sunday 4th December in Dumfries. There was some interfaith dialogue and refreshments shared during the event to promote friendship and fellowship amongst people of faiths and beliefs.

Venus Carew, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Interfaith Group, said of the event:“The aim was to provide a space and opportunity for people of all cultures and backgrounds to come together, forge bonds and friendship and develop a greater understanding of each other’s views and beliefs through the process of friendly dialogue. The event was well attended and gave us a chance to experience cultures and faiths we did not grow up with and to learn that our common humanity is bringing us together rather than pulling us apart.”

Councillor Ted Brown, the Council’s Interfaith Advocate, welcomed everyone to the event with the following: “Dialogue is a basic building block for a society where everyone is valued. Dialogue brings us together; removes the fear of the unknown; helps us to find common ground; builds friendships; and challenges the stigmatisation which holds back many individuals and communities. It also offers us the chance to embrace the full diversity of life.”

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‘Sister Cities’ Learning Exchange In September 2011 The Scottish Inter Faith Council organised and facilitated an eight day international inter faith learning exchange called the ‘Sister Cities Project’, bringing together leading inter faith and faith community activists from New York and Barcelona to Scotland, to share and learn from best practice.

During the programme the delegates met with representatives from: the Scottish Government Equality Unit, The Scottish Refugee Council, The Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations, Bridging the Gap Community Project, Sense over Sectarianism, Strathclyde Police, Education Scotland, Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association and the Church of Scotland Inter Faith Programme. The delegates were also an integral part of a Church of Scotland inter faith service in Helensburgh, and visited places of worship and faith community centres, including Buddhist, Bahá’i, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh.

During the week there were a number of receptions and formal dinners, including a civic reception given by Glasgow City Council; a formal dinner sponsored by East Renfrewshire Council and the Jewish Community; and a reception hosted by Archbishop Conti of Glasgow. There was also time to experience Scottish civic life and culture, and highlights included a visit to the Scottish Parliament and a Scottish ceilidh with a live ceilidh band. For most of their visit the group stayed at the Conforti Institute in Coatbridge. The Conforti is a warm and welcoming place set up to facilitate dialogue. Throughout the course of the exchange, the delegates were given ample opportunity for reflection, to process the substantial input received. The reflections in the sanctuary at the Conforti Institute were lively and passionate at times, highlighting that the group was increasingly able to open up to each other. The reflective times were a key part of the constructive dialogue of the week. The exchange has led to ongoing dialogue and it is hoped that a substantive paper that explores both the impact of and the learning from such international exchanges will be finalised in 2012.

Personal Reflection on the Sister Cities Exchange “The delegates began their exchange with a visit to my Church - St Andrew’s Kirk in Helensburgh where they participated in an Inter Faith Service. The delegates from New York, Glasgow and Barcelona shared readings from their Holy Scriptures on the theme of thanksgiving and then presented offerings for the Harvest Festival Service from their respective cities and faith groups. The Ministers, Reverands George Vidits, David Clark and Tina Kemp, decided on a “Ready, Steady, Cook” theme to the Service. They combined the offerings from the different countries and faith groups to create a global pizza, which was shared at the end of the Service amongst the delighted Sunday school children. This was the first inter faith event ever held at The Helensburgh Kirk and everyone really enjoyed the presence of the delegates, and the readings and contributions they offered.

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A memorable moment for me was when the delegates were welcomed by Archbishop Conti to visit St Andrew’s Cathedral in Clyde Street, Glasgow. Amongst the beautiful art works in St Andrew’s Cathedral were paintings by contemporary artist Peter Howson. One particularly striking painting is the moving depiction of St John Ogilvie as a solitary figure facing death at Glasgow Cross in 1615. John Ogilvie was a Jesuit priest who preached in secret at a time when Catholicism was outlawed in Glasgow. St Andrew’s is also home to the Italian Cloister Garden newly completed in 2011. The garden focuses on a striking monument and consists of a labyrinth of mirrored plinths with inscriptions from Catholic sacred scripture and Italian poets. One of the inscriptions from “Dante” says: - “infinite goodness has arms so wide that it welcomes all who approach” – very fitting inter faith sentiments!

Another interesting event was when the delegates were invited to hear Christian and Jewish school pupils at Mearns Castle High School debating. The motion was “This House believes in the separation of church and state.” It was a lively and thought-provoking discussion and all were impressed at the eloquent delivery of the debate”. Shanny Newall, Church of Scotland (excerpts)

Your Scotland, Your ReferendumA Message from Roseanna Cunningham, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs

“There is no doubt that this is an exciting time to live in Scotland. We are considering our future in a peaceful and inclusive way to find the best system of government for the people of Scotland to bring fairness and prosperity to us and our children. As we move towards the referendum on independence which will allow the people of Scotland the chance to shape their future, the Scottish Government is determined to listen to society as a whole. The referendum will proceed in the interests of the people of Scotland, not those of any individual or party.

We are now in a period of consultation and are seeking views from all sides of the debate on what the ballot paper should say, what spending limits should be set on campaign groups and how the referendum should be managed and regulated. We have set out the timetable for parliamentary scrutiny and public debate which will ensure that the Scottish people are able to take an informed decision about their future. We want to know your views and now is the time to get involved and make your opinions heard. Faith groups are such a vital and meaningful part of civic society and I urge all readers of the Scottish Inter Faith Council’s newsletter to join the discussion, put forward your vision and help build a better Scotland.

Whether you agree with us that independence is fundamentally better, ensuring decisions about our future are taken here in Scotland, or whether you prefer greater powers for the Scottish Parliament or indeed the status quo, it’s important that we hear your voice throughout this process so that the people of Scotland can make a fully informed choice about the future of the country. Whatever your views on Scotland’s future should be, now is the time to have your say on how the referendum should be run.

The referendum will be held in autumn 2014 in the same way as any Scottish election, tothe same standards and with the same guarantee of fairness, democracy and inclusiveness. I look forward to your contribution to the debate that begins now as we come together to determine our future.

There are a number of ways you can respond to the consultation – Your Scotland Your Referendum - before May 11, 2012:

Online: http://consult.scotland.gov.uk/scotreferendumBy email: referendum@scotland.gsi.gov.ukBy post: Referendum Consultation, Elections and Constitutional Development Division, Area 3D (South)Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ

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SIFC Youth VolunteersSIFC has hosted many youth volunteers over the years. This has had a profound affect for many of the young people and has gone on to help them in their future lives and careers. SIFC is keen to harness the skills and enthusiasm of young adults by creating a number of interesting youth internships at the organisation. To this end, SIFC will be holding a training day for volunteers in April. In the last newsletter, we profiled three members of the youth steering committee and what they are doing now. This proved very popular and in this edition, three more youth volunteers, past and present, share their stories.

Nicola Maule“It has been eight years since I was active in the Scottish Inter Faith Council’s Youth Committee and looking back I can fully appreciate the positive influence and personal benefits gained. My initial involvement began through my relationship with the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition in my early 20’s. Not being Tibetan, my faith grew from a self-motivating journey, which was outside of the historically present religions of the society and culture in which I was born here in Scotland. This was not a major obstacle for me as I had the freedom to practise my chosen religion with authentic Tibetan Buddhist teachers. However, there were not many young people that I knew of who also practised this tradition. So, on a personal level, meeting other young people of different faiths was inspiring.

Highlights of this time for me include attending a weekend retreat at the ‘Centre for World Peace and Health’ on Holy Isle, being invited as a representative of the SIFC Youth Committee to one of the annual meetings of all the faith leaders in Scotland and being involved in helping to organise the first SIFC Youth Conference. This also inspired me, within my job as an Outreach Assistant for Glasgow’s Open Museum, to help develop ‘Faith Kits’ of all the major faiths practising in Scotland. Within these ‘kits’ were objects of faith, photographs, and information about each religion and the people practising them, to be used by local schools and community groups. I have since left my ‘youth’ and my career is now on hold to look after my three children full time. I have found through my time on the youth committee that the diversity of faith groups in Scotland is as rich as the people who practise within them. I have no doubt that this understanding I gained will be passed on to my children and will be of benefit to them”.

Haroon Ahmed “This year will mark my 8th year working closely within The Scottish Inter Faith Council, predominantly as a member of the Youth Steering Committee. My first exposure to the concept of ‘inter faith’ was at the first youth conference hosted by SIFC in 2003 where I, at the tender young age of 14, attended a conference entitled ‘Faith Matters’ at St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art in Glasgow. This day would turn out to become one of the milestones in my life so far. It was a truly vibrant, educational and enriching experience. So much so that in 2004, when word came that SIFC was looking for new youth committee members, I happily went along to the first retreat at Holy Isle. This was a weekend away designed to be a time for the members of the youth committee to come together and learn more about each other’s faiths, to bring along prospective new members and to come up with ideas for the next youth conference.

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Like most present at that weekend retreat, I love to remember those few days we spent in that magical faraway place: that place where, one day when I went to find somewhere to pray and, for the first time in my life, found non-Muslims who not only helped me find a place but pointed me in the direction of prayer so I didn’t have to struggle to figure it out without a compass; where we stayed up late into the night looking up at a starry sky so crowded that it was overflowing with falling stars. This was a place where people of at least 8 religions came together and discussed their beliefs as they enjoyed the best rhubarb crumble I have ever had!

I believe that inter faith work can change the world. The majority of the world’s population ascribe to a religion and we are not trying to unify those people under some sort of ‘mishmash’ of beliefs but rather to get this majority of people to focus on their similarities rather than their differences and to find common ground by opening the gates of dialogue. If everyone tries to enact a little bit of the true inter faith hospitality I enjoyed at Holy Isle in their own communities, then I believe we will be that little bit closer to creating a better world”.

Defne Cizakca “I started volunteering with the Scottish Inter Faith Council during my first year in Scotland when I began a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow. I was keen to meet young Bahá’is that I could discuss spiritual matters with and was invited by SIFC’s Project Officer to facilitate workshops about the Bahá’i faith at a number of ‘inter faith days’ at schools throughout Scotland. These events have provided wonderful opportunities to share and discuss, and to make new friends. My own religious background was mixed, my father being a Turkish Muslim and my mother a Dutch Christian. I was inspired by the beauty of both their traditions growing up, as well as my parents’ openness to one anothers spirituality, and their shared appreciation of their core ethical principles.

Developing tolerance towards other traditions can be a hard task not only when it comes to individual faiths, but also for organisations. The Scottish Inter Faith Council is a rare example of such an organisation that seeks to facilitate tolerance and dialogue, and I am not surprised it is situated in Scotland as this is one of the most welcoming countries I have ever lived in. What I enjoy most about the Scottish Inter Faith Council is that it is a platform that unites people that seek to advance themselves spiritually, a place where learning from one another is a natural process. The inclusive nature I so admire is built into the framework of the organisation where all those that are interested in matters of faith are welcome. Being able to interact with others who share these principles and who are willing to come together to help one another, gives me a great sense of joy”.

Look out for more stories from our youth volunteers in the next edition!

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BBC Interfaith Podcast

“On 23rd November, six young people from the Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh and Christian faiths and one young atheist met at BBC Scotland to create a Podcast about inter faith dialogue. When we got to the L.A.B studio we were introduced to Johanna and Mike from the BBC, and to Frances Hume from The Scottish Inter Faith Council, who had arranged the workshop.

We were split into two teams. One team created a list of questions about our own faiths, how we came to be of that faith and why. We then interviewed each other individually, and recorded each others’ answers. The other team had to come up with three different questions on faith-related issues that we could discuss as a whole group. We shared our different viewpoints on these issues and some personal stories related to the issue and our own faith. We were each given a DVD of the recording to take home, and a copy is also available at SIFC’s office.”

Overall, it was a very interesting day. We got to hear all about our different faiths, and how people come to decide on which faith to believe in. It was very thought provoking and I thought a lot about my own faith and why I believe the way I do. It certainly brought about inter faith dialogue!’

Grace Balfour-Harle, Shawlands Academy

St Modan’s High School On 10th February, Frances Hume and a team of six volunteers, each representing a different faith or denomination, visited St Modan’s High School in Stirling to take part in a ‘Religion and Spirituality’ afternoon for S6 pupils. Each volunteer had prepared a small presentation, outlining their faith and what it means to them, with which to lead short fifteen-minute workshops with each group of students.

The students really enjoyed and embraced this opportunity to learn about other faiths and the importance of dialogue and understanding, as well as discovering more about their own faith and what it means to them along the way. The afternoon concluded with a fifteen-minute ‘Question Time’, where the panel of volunteers were put on the spot by students who presented some challenging questions about specific aspects of each faith in turn. The afternoon was well received by all involved and SIFC and volunteers have been invited to return to St Modan’s for another go!

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Inter Faith Student Seminars in Moray“Along with a number of pupils ranging from S3 to S6, I took part in three workshops about inter faith dialogue initiated and lead by Dr Maureen Sier, Senior Project Officer at The Scottish Inter Faith Council. Although inter faith dialogue is not a term commonly heard in Moray, it is of vital importance for Scotland.

Elgin Academy was invited to take part in two workshops along with Gordonstoun and Lossiemouth High School. The first workshop was hosted by a very welcoming Gordonstoun, which supplied us with a hearty lunch before our session started. The aim of the first workshop was to introduce us to the aims of inter faith dialogue and to encourage us to communicate openly. Needless to say, we were all rather shy to begin with, but by the end conversation was flowing freely between all schools. It worked very well, as not only were there people present from different faiths; we also broke down the barriers between different schools. To begin with we all had a certain idea of what the other pupils were going to be like. These views, of course, turned out to be totally false and we found that they really weren’t any different from ourselves. We all felt the first session was interesting and eye opening, and were keen to attend the second.

The second workshop was held at Lossiemouth High where we were again warmly greeted. There were faces we recognised from our previous workshop, and so the atmosphere was a lot more relaxed. We continued to learn about the benefits of inter faith dialogue, this time concentrating on how effective it could be internationally. We took part in various discussions, listening to others’ views on topics such as abortion, immigration and bullying, allowing us to appreciate the opinions of others. It also encouraged people to speak openly, encouraged us all to listen carefully and, in some cases, come up with a carefully thought out counter argument.

Mr Tsotsi encouraged us to take the initiative and lead a third ‘Dialogue’ workshop at our own school, Elgin Academy. We felt that the other schools had been very hospitable and yet we hadn’t had the opportunity to return the same courtesy. We set a date and asked Dr Sier if she would be willing to organise the materials for a final workshop. She was delighted at our interest and came back with the idea of our final topic ‘Speak Up, Speak Out’, looking at the Holocaust and the dire consequences that are a result of no communication. We successfully managed to get the conference organised with much credit due to Rosemary and Brekhna, our two sixth year members, who ran about frantically in their free periods to make it all happen.

On 7th November we were proud to host Gordonstoun and Lossiemouth students. Our canteen staff put on a glorious spread and we got stuck into discussion. It was clear our effort had paid off when people spoke up and everyone else listened intently. We were all very pleased at the outcome of the event and we heartily thank Dr Sier for giving us the chance to have such an interesting and valuable experience. I feel very lucky to have been able to participate in the workshops. They have taught me a great deal and given me a lot to think about. It was also really rewarding to meet and share ideas with new people; this has given me more confidence in this area. We would also like to give special mention to our new head teacher, Mr. Barnett, for being so accommodating in organising this successful conference for the three schools”. Kirsten Cooper, S5, Elgin Academy

About SIFCSIFC offers a religiously neutral forum where representatives of faith communities can meet on a basis of equality. It encourages the formation of local inter faith associations and assists and supports them in their work. It also facilitates dialogue between the Scottish Government and faith communities on a variety of issues.

We would welcome short articles and information on upcoming events for our next edition. Please contact Frances Hume: fhume@scottishinterfaithcouncil.org or ring the office on 0141 420 6982. You can also check the latest events on our website: www.scottishinterfaithcouncil.org

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Upcoming Events

Volunteer’s Training DayMonday 2nd April, 11am – 4.30pm, SIFC office

Religious Leaders of Scotland MeetingMonday 23rd April, STV Studios, Glasgow

The Scottish Inter Faith Council EGMSunday 20th May, 2pm, venue TBC

Inter Faith Seminar on ‘Belief in Dialogue’Dundee Hebrew Congregation, Sunday 27th May, 2.30pm

This seminar will bring together the faith communities in Dundee to learn more about the Scottish Government’s ‘Belief in Dialogue’ publication. Contact Ellen McCance for more details: ellen@faithincommunitydundee.org

Four Nations MeetingMay, hosted by SIFC, date and venue TBC

Annual Meeting of the Scottish Inter Faith Council, the Inter Faith Network for the UK, the Northern Ireland Inter Faith Forum and the Inter Faith Council for Wales

Scottish Refugee Week18th – 24th June 2012

SIFC is organising a seminar during Scottish Refugee Week to explore ways in which faith communities can provide help and support for asylum seekers and refugees.

Scottish Inter Faith Week25th November – 2nd December 2012