One Day Inter Faith Conference: Building a Society for the Future: Bridges and Bonds in the East Midland: Inter Faith Week event

Building on the work of the Face to Face and Side by Side initiative the Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Derby will host a one day Inter Faith Conference as part of the start to the National Inter Faith Week 2009, supported by the Department for Communities and Local Governent and the Inter Faith Network UK.

Themes for the conference are constructed around the four building blocks of Face to Face and Side By Side:
      1) Developing the confidence and skills to 'bridge' and 'link';
      2) Shared spaces for interaction and social action;
      3) Structures and processes which support dialogue and social action; and
      4) Opportunities for learning which build understanding.

The conference aims to engage academics in the field and practitioners alike, and will showcase current thinking and working across the four strands (outlined above) within the East Midlands region. It will seek to challenge the potential to build better futures in society through the construction of inter faith activity and will look critically at the building blocks.

The morning session will feature:

The Keynote speaker, Dr Adam Dinham, Director of the Faiths and Civil Society Unit at Goldsmiths College, University of London.
Dr Dinham’s research examines the roles of the community and voluntary sectors, including the participation of local people in the development of civil society; with a specific interest in the role of faith communities in these processes.

Respondent to Dr Dinham is Professor Paul Weller; Professor of Inter Religious Relations whose research interests focus on the relationship between religions in the public sphere and between religions, the state and society in respect of the institutions and processes of governance. Professor Weller’s interests extend to religions and discrimination, religious freedom, human rights, and dialogue.

Complementary to these speakers is Riaz Ravat whose work with the St Philips Centre in Leicester is well known in the region. Riaz will concentrate on practical approaches to inter faith work, showcasing aspects of good practice undertaken in his work in Leicester.

Lunch will be followed by four workshops based on each of the four building blocks, with a concluding plenary.

The workshops feature presentations from around the East Midlands region and details will be circulated upon receipt of booking requests.

£10 including Lunch and Refreshments and a copy of Religions in the UK: Directory 2007-2010

Pre-booking is essential - for a booking form contact the Multi-Faith Centre