Inter Faith Groups

There are 4 Inter Faith groups in Devon, in Exeter, Totnes, Torbay and Plymouth.

The Plymouth group meets at the Plymouth Centre for Faiths and Diversity from 12.30-1.30pm on Thursdays during term-time for Inter Faith reflections. Tel: 01752 254438 pcfcd@plymouth.gov.uk

The Totnes group meets at 7.30pm on the first Thursday of the month in the Friends Meeting House, Ticklemore Street, Totnes and generally has a presentation from a visiting speaker. valerie@valerieneedham.plus.com

The Exeter group is currently exploring each other's beliefs. It meets from 5 pm to 7 pm on the first Tuesday of the month at the Mint Methodist Church, Fore Street, Exeter EX4. Contact iain.mcdonald@mansfield.oxon.org Tel: 01392 255655 or judetaylorson@yahoo.com

The Torbay Inter Faith Forum held a very successful series of talks earlier this year and is yet to finalise its forthcoming programme. Contact Heather Savini - 01803 690079 or Jan Mughrabi 01803 556632 or visit the website www.torbayinterfaithforum.org.uk

One of TIFF's very successful ventures has been to launch TIFFY. Heather Savini writes:

Torbay Inter-Faith Forum 4 Youth (TIFFY) was set up in July 2007. TIFF had responded to the new challenges of inter-faith work by concentrating less on our own needs and becoming more focused on raising awareness of the importance of inter-faith dialogue amongst Christians in Torbay - hence 'Our Neighbours in Faith' Series over 2 years. Along with this was a desire to work with young people on an inter-faith basis. The opportunity presented itself when the new Torbay Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education required that secondary schools should engage in inter-faith dialogue. This is difficult for schools in Torbay because each school has relatively few adherents to non-Christian faiths but was possible if a group was formed from all secondary schools in Torbay. Funding from Faith Capacity Builders was applied for and granted. The Leaders are two former RE teachers (Christians), an experienced inter-faith practitioner(Baha'i) and a Muslim independent researcher on Islam. TIFFY has met approximately once a term at Torbay Foyer from 4.30 p.m. - 6.30p.m. (We wanted to avoid religious or school buildings.)

Our Programme to date.........

  • Inviting two young people to represent each school, we launched TIFFY with a tea at the Grand Hotel in Torquay.
  • 'Building Community': a week-end at Buckfast Abbey.
  • The Existence of God: 'God or No God - that is the Question!'
  • The Relationship between Science and Religion: 'Duel or Duet?'
  • The Media's Portrayal of Faith: 'Fact or Fantasy?' We visited an inter-faith group in Plymouth for this session.
  • Peer Pressure in relation to Faith: 'Dare to be Different!'
  • Visit to Torbay Mosque at the invitation of the Muslim Community.
  • Rainbow Pilgrimage to Bristol Hindu Temple and the 'PROUD 2B' Conference for young people of all Faiths to explore Faith Issues.

 

Two of the Leaders are members of Torbay SACRE (Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education) and SACRE has been very supportive. Through them we have applied for the National Association of SACREs / Westhill Award for work amongst young people to promote inter-faith experiences. We received one of these awards for last year and have just been awarded one for a second year. This gives us basic funding to pursue our programme. 60+ young people (aged 12-17) from 9 schools across the Bay have participated in our events.

Inter-Faith dialogue also contributes very positively to the Government's emphasis on the need to foster Community Cohesion ( stressed too, in the RE Agreed Syllabus) and schools have in fact, been inspected this past year on their promotion of this. This establishes also a link between inter-faith dialogue and Citizenship in schools.

TIFFY is a small initiative in crossing the boundaries of schools, faiths, cultures and generations to improve understanding and produce greater harmony in living.

TIFFY's trip to Bristol