UCA participates in Interfaith Summit hosted by Griffith University Multi-Faith Centre
One Humanity, Many Faiths: An Interfaith Summit for Peace and Harmony in Australia and the Asia-Pacific Region
18- 20 February 2009 (Brisbane)
The Uniting Church joined with more than 70 religious leaders in Brisbane in February to consider the multicultural and interfaith issues critical to the wellbeing of Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
Rev Glenda Blakefield (Assembly Association General Secretary), Rev Elenie Poulos (UnitingJustice Australia) and UCA President, Rev Gregor Henderson, presented an account of the Uniting Church's interfaith relationships and activities.
These activities include UnitingWorld (previously Uniting International Mission) church partnerships; participation in Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade-led interfaith dialogues; work in Uniting Church schools; advocacy for human rights; and work carried out by the Relations with Other Faiths committee, an agency established by the Assembly in 1989.
Rev Glenda Blakefield said the summit, hosted by the Multi-Faith Centre at Griffith University, resulted in some clear directions for the future: a statement and exploration of the possibility of a National Interfaith Council. This statement will be made available in the near future.
The divide between faiths that proselytise and those that don't emerged as a hot issue.
"What comes up at these summits is that some faiths have as their faith foundation a decision not to proselytise and that Christianity has evangelism as one of its faith foundations," said Glenda.
"There is, unfortunately, confusion, both theoretically and practically, by some of our Christian friends who would seek to proselytise rather than evangelise. This is a concern also expressed by Christians saying, ‘Yes, we have done that in past and it's not good and we seek now to be in respectful dialogue'."
A Buddhist leader, who was in the midst of the Victorian bushfires, told of the difficulty she faced when, in her involvement with various aid agencies on the ground during the crisis, she encountered Christian groups who proselytised while giving aid.
"The Uniting Church would support her concerns," said Glenda.
Glenda was heartened to see that the Buddhist, Hindu and Sikh faiths are enthusiastic about interfaith dialogue, pointing out that the Uniting Church has a particularly important role to play in a country that embraces democracy and religious freedom.
"We are in a unique position, having stated we are a multicultural church and engaging with the struggles and joys of that on a day to day basis," she said.
"The conference was a great occasion where we could work together in our common humanity and in our hopes for peace for the world."
From: Meera Atkinson
Assembly Communications Unit