OUR NEWS

FAITH COMMUNITIES ENCOURAGED TO JOIN EDINBURGH EQUALITIES NETWORK 
The Edinburgh Equalities Network is a new initiative supported by the City of Edinburgh Council, Lothian and Borders Police Service, NHS Lothian and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. The Network will bring together different equalities communities of interest in the city. ... more

EIFA JOINTLY HOSTED NATIONAL INTER-FAITH YOUTH CONFERENCE
The Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association and the Scottish Inter-Faith Council jointly hosted the SIFC's annual Youth Inter-Faith Conference. The conference was aimed at young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 and near 60 attended from across Scotland. … more

THE 3rd EDINBURGH DIVERSITY CUP 
5-A-SIDE FOOTBALL TOURNEMENT
Date Announcement: Saturday 20th June 2009 
With an early date announcement for the next Edinburgh Diversity Cup at the World of Football we are now taking team entries. … more

______________________________________________________

CARDINAL O’BRIEN VISITS CAPITAL’S GURDWARA 
His Eminence Cardinal Keith O’Brien is to visit the Edinburgh Sikh Gurdwara in Leith for the first time on the afternoon of Sunday 8th February. This visit is part of the Cardinal’s on-going commitment to foster good inter-faith relations in Edinburgh and Scotland.

more picture here

FULL PRESS RELEASE: download here   

____________________________________________

FIRST MINISTER GAVE KEYNOTE LECTURE FOR EDINBURGH INTERFAITH ASSOCIATION 20TH YEAR 

more pictures here

The First Minister Alex Salmond celebrated the strengths of a diverse modern Scotland when he delivered the launch keynote lecture for 20th year of the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association at a packed St John's Church on Thursday 22nd January.

The First Minister stated the importance of building deep and lasting respect among faiths while recognising the work of the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association in promote understanding and co-operation among faiths.

The First Minister said:

"Scotland is a nation of more than five million people that boasts a rich mix of languages, cultures and faiths.

"It's important we celebrate diversity and recognise the many threads in the tartan that are being woven together to create a powerful, positive image of Scotland.

"The Scottish Government aims to build a peaceful, positive Scotland that is free from prejudice. We are working with police forces, schools, churches and youth groups to rid our society of Islamophobia and sectarianism, and to build understanding and a compassionate society.

"Scotland must take pride in its growing diversity and the strength, vigour and creativity multi-culturalism brings to this country.

"Much of Scotland's character comes from the historic role of the churches in building strong communities, caring for the vulnerable, delivering education and serving as the moral conscience of the nation. In more recent times, other faith communities have also made an important contribution to this social justice agenda.

Picture: Rev. Prof Frank Whaling, Honourary President, EIFA (left) and Rt. Hon. Alex Salmond, First Minster of Scotland (right)

"Centuries ago our churches laid the moral foundations and values of wisdom, justice, compassion and integrity that continue to prevail today. These values are clearly expressed in the work of Robert Burns and as well as celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association we also celebrate the 250th anniversary of Burns' birth this week.

"While our national bard was not always seen as the role model of Scotland's religious community his work demonstrated shared beliefs and demonstrated his great empathy for others. Burns has helped to define the ideals of the people of his time and spoke with a basic humanity that resonates powerfully today.

"This weekend we launch Homecoming 2009, a year-long celebration of Scotland's great contributions to the world. People across the world with an affinity for Scotland are being invited to join us for this momentous celebration and enjoy all our diverse modern country offers."

Following his speech Alex Salmond met with a broad range of people from across the faith communities in Edinburgh. The very diverse gathering at St John’s numbered well over 300 people.

Click here to read a full transcription of the lecture

_____________________________________________

CHIEF RABBI, SIR JONATHAN SACKS, TO GIVE UNIVERSITY GIFFORD LECTURE
The Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and The Commonwealth will give a single Gifford Lecture at the University of Edinburgh on Monday 17th November at 5.30pm in the Playfair Library at Old College on South Bridge.

Free tickets are available by calling or visiting in person:College of Humanities & Social Science , The University of Edinburgh, 55 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JU, Tel: 0131 651 3168
_____________________________________________

EIFA REPS VISITED INDIA FOR INTER-FAITH CONFERENCE AND MAJOR SIKH GATHERING 
Wege Singh, Naren Sood and Victor Spence, all representating the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association travelled to Nanded in Maharashtra, India at the invitation of Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh Ji to attend an international inter-faith conference and events to mark the 300th Anniversary of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji's Gurgaddi Diwas: this is when the Sacred Sikh Scriptures were Exalted to Eternal Guru by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1708. Following the four day gathering our representatives travelled north visiting Hyderabad, Delhi, Amritsar and Dharamshala where Wege Singh and Victor Spence had a private meeting with His Holiness The Dalai Lama.

_______________________________________________________________________

LAUNCH OF ‘IDENTITY’ EXHIBITION 
An Exploration of Identity and Community
After months of activity including discussion, creative workshops, interviews, trips and much more, the long awaited ‘Identity’ Exhibition had a highly successful launch event at Ocean Terminal.

Over 50 people from the Edinburgh Muslim and Sikh Communities attended as well as representatives from the Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council, Lothian and Borders Police and Project Co-ordinators from the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association. 

This highly creative pilot project was an exploration of identity and community by two groups of young Muslim and Sikh men in Edinburgh. The exhibition on a series of colourful free standing and wall based display boards contains images and information relating to the project and photography featuring portraits and still lives taken by Elizabeth Handy. Furthermore, each group has developed and published a 12 page full colour booklet to support the exhibition.

The exhibition will next be available to view at St George's West Church, Shandwick Place from 18th Nov - 13th Dec

see project page
___________________________________

2008 DIVERSITY CUP A GREAT SUCCESS

Nineteen 5-a-side football teams battled it out on Saturday 14th June in friendly competition to see who would be crowned the Edinburgh Diversity Cup winners 2008.

After a thrilling final between Pele’s People and Brothers Hood that ended in a penalty shoot-out, Pele’s People became the new champions. Edinburgh City Councillor Nick Elliott-Cannon and Chief Supt. Gill Wood of Lothian and Borders Police presented the trophies and medals. The team ‘Risk it for a biscuit’ received the Fair Play trophy having demonstrated a highly sporting approach when it came to playing teams less able then themselves.

The event raised £770 for the Inter-Faith in Action project which partners with Habitat for Humanity and will see a group from Edinburgh travelling to Malawi later this year to build homes for families in need.

Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association who organised the event would like to thank all the teams for their participation and their understanding in respect to the ethos of the event and the charitable aims. We would also like to thank the Scottish Government and the World of Football for supporting this event.

_____________________________________________

JODY'S CARING AND WARMTH WAS AN INSPIRATION

A Great Loss to the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Community

EIFA Honorary President Jody Higgs passed away in hospital during the evening of Sunday 3rd February 2008. A private funeral for family and friends was held during the morning of Monday 11th February. A Memorial Service is planned which will be open to all. Details will be announced soon.

JODY HIGGS

29th August 1936 – 3rd February 2008


FUNERAL EULOGY

by Victor Spence, General Secretary of The Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association for the Funeral Service on Monday 11th February 2008 at 11.00am


I would like to thank Jody’s family for inviting me to give a contribution to this service. I am deeply honoured and humbled.

Here at this gathering to celebrate the life of Jody Higgs I speak for the representatives of 10 world faith traditions who are part of the fabric of our city of Edinburgh.

Jody Higgs played a vital role in the development of the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association: she was a founder member. We have only just discovered that what may have been the first formal group meeting of the city’s faith traditions took place 20 years ago last Friday. Jody was there at the beginning and should be remembered as a pioneer in Edinburgh’s inter-faith work.

The first meetings in the early years of the Inter-Faith Association took place in the homes of the so called ‘enthusiasts’, and on many occasions this was Jody’s home. This was a practice that Jody, among others, felt was extremely important in building trust and friendship between the people of different faiths, she was right of course. To this day we still have all our executive meetings in the homes of the representative’s.

Many years ago Jody was deeply involved in coining this important phrase: ‘The most important function of the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association is to create a safe environment in which individuals can share with persons of other faith traditions their own personal spiritual truths and aspirations.’ …. we still hold this dear in the Inter-Faith Association to this day.

Some 15 years ago Jody led an initiative to introduce a ‘Time for Rest and Silence’ during the Edinburgh Festival. Jody saw that people needed to be spirituality supported or have the opportunity to be spiritually fed and renewed during the intense and often chaotic time of the Edinburgh Festivals. This is something we still do and will continue to do.

Inter-Faith work is not easy, it presents many challenges and of course great opportunities; Jody brought a wise and steady hand to this work. In 20 years of service to the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association Jody was, in rotation, either a Co-Convener or the Buddhist Representative or our Representative to the Scottish Inter-Faith Council, which was another organisation she participated in the creation of in the late 90’s. She also played a very important role in the development of the ‘sanctuary’ at the new Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

And at the time of her death Jody was a Honorary President of the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association. She was, and importantly still is, a great inspiration. Jody is a great inspiration to me personally; her commitment and passion for inter-faith work has most certainly rubbed off.

Finally, apart from Jody’s warmth, commitment, passion, her smile, her laughter and of course the hugs … one of the great lasting memories for me will be her powerful words that were spoken for Jody at the Scottish Parliament by Suzanne Dance during Parliaments ‘Time for Reflection’ last Wednesday (6th Feb). Suzanne informed the MSPs in the Parliament Chamber that Jody had passed away just a few days before. This seemed to truly capture their attention.

I am very happy to report that Jody has left with a big bang! She left her mark on Parliament! At the conclusion of a very moving moment in Parliamentary history the MSPs actually applauded.

Jody was a very dear friend to me. She helped me on many occasions when things got tough. I hold very deep respect for her and great love for her.

Jody will be missed by all her colleagues and friends in the Inter-Faith community here in Edinburgh and across Scotland – we will for sure remember her.

read evening news article on Jody .... here

____________________________________________

CRAIGMOUNT HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS QUESTION IMAM, MINISTER AND RABBI

The Debating Group of Craigmount High School in west Edinburgh engaged a local Christian Minister and Rabbi along with a visiting Imam in a wide ranging, thoughful and well articulated series of questions. These questions covered inter-faith dialogue and understanding, new religious movements, cults, religious fundamentalism and extremism. The Head Teacher and other teaching staff present said the event was a unique opportunity for the pupils and would like to have more of this type of event in the future.

The 'Three Beards' as the panel was jokingly referred to in the school include Shaykh Imam Ibrahim Mogra, Rabbi David Rose and Rev Peter Clark. The discusion was chaired by Vicky Dupre, Inter-Faith Week Project Co-ordinator from the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association.
______________________________________________________________

CARDINAL HOSTS VISITING IMAM

Scotland's Catholic Leader Meets With UK Muslim Inter-Faith Leader

His Eminence Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien hosted Shaykh Imam Ibrahim Mogra the Chairman of the Inter-Faith Committee of the Muslim Council of Britain at his home. The Imam was visiting Edinburgh to particpate in events which were part of the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Week programme.

The two men met for over an hour and discussed local, national and international inter-faith matters as well as their common concerns, common values and hopes. Imam Mogra shared details with the Cardinal on the recent 'Call' by 138 Muslim Scholars and Imams from around the world to Christian leaders around the world to deepen relations and understanding with Muslims for the benefit of the global community. The Cardinal said he would consult with other Christian Leaders locally so as to make a collective response.

Victor Spence, EIFA General Secretary said: 'I think that the Cardinal meeting with a UK Muslim Inter-Faith Leader here in Edinburgh should be considered a historic event. The conversation was very positive indeed and I think there will soon be a collective response from local Christian leaders to the 'Call' from Muslim Leaders which asked for the deepening of relations, understanding and co-operation between the two faiths'.

see Christian Muslim Dialogue page

______________________________________________________________________

LARGE AUDIENCE FOR IMAM AND BISHOP DIALOGUE

A large and engaged audience gathered at St John's Church on Wednesday evening to hear Shaykh Imam Ibrahim Mogra and the Rt. Rev. Brian Smith the Bishop of Edinburgh in a meeting of hearts and minds.

The Imam who is the Chairman of the Inter-Faith Committee of the Muslim Council of Britain presented the 'Call' of Muslim Leaders to Christian Leaders for a deepening of relationship, dialogue and co-operation. The Bishop responded in a deeply considered, passionate and very postive way.

..... more to follow shortly and the Bishop of Edinburgh's written response in full will be downloadable soon.

Bishop Brian Smith, Episcopal Bishop of Edinburgh said: ‘Muslim leadership throughout the world has recently made an unprecedented and united call for a meeting of minds, and a working together for peace, with Christian leaders throughout the world. This must be celebrated, taken to heart.’

Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, Chair of the Inter-Faith Relations Committee of the Muslim Council of Britian said: ‘Contemporary challenges now make it even more critical for the diverse communities of our nation to meet and talk. Those who have done so have been pleasantly surprised to find that we all share so much more in common. We must encourage everyone to take this journey of discovery to better educate ourselves about others. Better understanding always leads to respect and to peaceful co-existence. Our fragile and troubled world has never been more in need of this."

Victor Spence, General Secretary of The Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association said:
‘The recent letter from the 138 Muslim Scholars to Christian Leaders has certainly initiated a significant amount of discussion around the world. The Bishop of Edinburgh is demonstrating his commitment to further developing good inter-faith relations and understanding locally and globally. This was a fascinating discussion which will hopefully lead to a deepening of Christian/Muslim relations locally.’

more ...

______________________________________________________________________

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND JOINED 'DIVERSITY GAME' EVENT AT EDINBURGH BAHAI CENTRE

The Secretary of State for Scotland, The Rt. Hon. Des Browne MP visited the Edinburgh Bahai Centre to particpate in the 'Diversity Game'; a board game to help players gain a deeper insight and understanding of the worlds religions.

The Westminster MP who is also the Secretary of State for Defence became a Zoroastrian for the purposes of the game. The game had its serious moments and there was also a lot of laughter.

Before leaving the Des Browne mingled with the group which included Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Brahma Kumaris and Bahai's and expressed his real enjoyment and thanks. He was also very interested in the work of the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association and asked many questions when in conversation with the General Secretary Victor Spence.

He was presented with a book on the Bahai Faith by Dr. Ruhy Parris who is one of the members of the Bahai Spiritual Assembly in Edinburgh and is the Inter-Faith representative for the Bahai Community to the Inter-Faith Association.

______________________________________________________________________
CARDINAL O’BRIEN VISITS ‘NEIGHBOUR’ MOSQUE 

His Eminence Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Scotland’s Catholic leader visited Annandale Street Mosque in Edinburgh on Sunday in a show of openness and friendship. He was accompanied by Sir Tom Farmer who is a keen supporter of inter-faith work in the city. The Cardinal travelled the short distance from St Mary’s RC Cathedral to meet his Muslim neighbours during the Capital’s Inter-Faith Week.

His Eminence Cardinal Keith O’Brien The Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh and President of the Conference of Bishops said: ‘I have been deeply privileged to have visited a number of Mosques and met many Muslim friends. I have very recently returned from a visit to China where I visited the Great Mosque in Beijing. I am grateful to have been invited to visit Annandale Street Mosque in Edinburgh this Sunday (2nd Nov). I look forward to meeting my Muslim neighbours in Edinburgh during this Inter-Faith Week.’

Mr. Mohammed Aslam, Chairman of Annandale Street Mosque said: 'We are delighted that Cardinal O’Brien has accepted our invitation. We are committed to building peace and harmony locally and globally and to inter-faith dialogue, understanding and relationship building among the faith communities. The Cardinals visit gives us the opportunity to further develop our relations with our Christian neighbours.’

Victor Spence, General Secretary of The Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association said: Cardinal O’Brien regularly demonstrates his commitment to inter-faith dialogue and relationship building with people of all faiths. The Cardinal took the opportunity to meet his Muslim neighbour like many others did on Sunday afternoon at Annandale Street Mosque.’

The event was a great success. Many people from a number of Christian denominations attended and expressed how happy they were that they did take up the opportunity. There was much conversation and laughter.

see also Christian Muslim Dialogue Page
_______________________________________________________________________

'TOGETHER' FOR INTER-FAITH WEEK LAUNCH