Theme - Inter Faith
When the Churches' Regional Commission was founded by the Christian churches of the north east, the focus was firmly on the encouragement of social action by churches in their local communities. Since then our involvement with other faiths has increased significantly. CRC was instrumental in setting up the North East Regional Faiths Network, currently chaired by CRC's chief Officer. The Network's website is www.nerfn.org.
NERFN has developed into a "Side-by-Side" rather than "Face-to-Face" body, promoting good inter faith relations in the region and supporting local inter faith work. Examples of its activities include:
- Networking meetings and themed events.
- Supporting and launching publication Understanding Faiths - A Practical Guide to Working With Faith Communities which aims to improve religious literacy in public bodies.
- Researching the pastoral care of migrants in the North East.
- Partnering the Hindu community (GITA Foundation Trust) in organising a 2-day international inter faith conference on global peace in Durham.
- Supporting a series of inter faith roadshows for those in Further Education, and educational outreach to schools to demonstrate the importance of understanding faiths.
- Partnering Newcastle Council of Faiths in organising conferences on "Women, Human Rights, Culture & Faith" to provide women with an opportunity to share their experiences and build social networks.
- Hosting a forum on issues affecting Roma Gypsies & Travellers.
- Partnering Middlesbrough Council of Faiths in running events on 'Celebrating Women Together'
- Organising the "Face to Face & Side by Side" consultation event and launching the resulting "Face-to-Face" government policy document.
- Partnering FE colleges Interfaith Forum in running an event for students called "Getting to Know the Opposite Sects".
- Partnering NOMS, Shelter, CRC, Depaul Trust, Byker Bridge Housing, etc, to run a conference for over 100 participants on 'homelessness and returning offenders'. On 4th March 2010 an inter faith forum on the resettlement of offenders is planned.
- Partnering Stockton Council in their conference "Celebrating Faiths and Beliefs", exploring key issues that affect faith & non-faith communities living in the Borough.
- Developing a 'toolkit' for those setting up a new inter faith group.
- Designing & delivering a programme of training for local authorities engaging with faith communities.
- Mapping inter faith activity across the North East.
NERFN has an inter faith Development Worker, Lisa Remmer, whose role it is to support NERFN membership, and she can be contacted on l.remmer@btconnect.com.
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