More than a vague intention to get along, interfaith relations is a formal and long-running dialogue that ultimately aims for something quite ambitious: world peace.
The Rev. Seforosa Carroll, convenor of the Uniting Church national Assembly's working group on Relations with Other Faiths (ROF), said the long-term goal was to be able to live together and share a national space without the need for one faith to dominate another.
In the shorter term, dialogues on an international, national and Asia-Pacific level could develop a united front on issues such as poverty and the environment.
Part of the idea is that the world does not belong to one particular people or race or religion, said Ms Carroll.
"In Christianity we've had a history of domination through colonialism or Christendom and there's a shift beginning to happen to say that we are sharing this space, this world. Therefore as good stewards we have the responsibility to ensure that we share it as best as we can, fairly. And also that we do our best to ensure people have abundant life without resorting to violence."
In formal dialogues, people from a number of faiths meet around a set of agreed guidelines to build relationships, learn about each other's beliefs, examine areas of division or contention, talk about issues in Australian society that affect the communities, and see what can be done to support each other through difficult times.
The Uniting Church has advocated interfaith relationships since 1983 and is involved in a number of dialogues, including the National Dialogue of Christians, Muslims and Jews.
"All religions have a tendency to demonise and that can be validated through their own scriptures," said Ms Carroll.
"At the same time, all religions have within them the resources for reconciliation to make things better. It is a double-edged sword."
She said that religious difference, though at times contentious, could also provide the opportunity for both sides to question, strengthen and better articulate their faith.
Rabbi Fred Morgan, Senior Rabbi at the Temple of Beth Israel in Melbourne, said that faiths had much to offer each other by respectfully challenging each other's beliefs.
He said there was much benefit in taking the conversation beyond "Why don't you believe in Jesus" to asking questions about the core essentials of each faith and what it takes to be respected as a Christian or a Jew.
In the DVD Jews and Judaism: A Statement by the Uniting Church in Australia, he said "the people of the Uniting Church could then be challenged in turn to think through their own Christianity and to discover what is most significant to them, what is most meaningful.
"And I think, in the end, we'd both be talking about ways of changing the world."
This article first published in the April edition of Insights Magazine as part of the feature 'Be Inspired: Ideas to Change the World' which were researched and written by Lyndal Irons (Insights' journalist) and Megan Graham (Insights' intern).
Please refer to http://insights.uca.org.au/2010/04april/bright-ideas-to-change-the-world.html