Dharmapeople Latest News :
Sep/Oct 2009
Buddhist Chaplaincy Support Group Meetings
NASACRE : Recruitment and Training Programme (East, South-East,
South-West)
Interfaith Week Event
at the Buddhist Society
National Interfaith Week :
Resources/Events
FIFE
Newsletter: September 2009
Pandemic Flu guidelines and FCCC minutes
Organ Donation and Faith
DFID
Community Linking Programme (DCLP)
Free screening of ‘A Zen Life – D.T.Suzuki
The MOD are reviewing the provision of Religious Advice
to the Armed Forces
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Buddhist
Chaplaincy Support Group Meetings
A meeting of the Steering Committee, and then Activities
Committee were held on Saturday 24th of September at the Buddhist
Society, both chaired by Frederick Hyde-Chambers from the Buddhist Society
Council.
A proposed business plan for the BCSG activities for the
coming year was presented by the Dr Sunil Kariyakarawana
and analyzed in detail, before it could be presented to the next Council
meeting of the Buddhist Society for approval and financing.
The
Business Plan has since been approved and the Kalyana
Mitra project is now off the ground.
The project is open to all Buddhist individuals and groups
involved in Chaplaincy and 'Caring for others' in the South East and
beyond, subscribing to the principles of tolerance, inclusiveness and
openness in a non-political framework, taking as a guide the original
Teachings of the Buddha
Watch
this space for further developments and keep an eye on the Calendar :
http://www.dharmapeople.com/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=201&extmode=cal&date=2009-11-01
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NASACRE : Recruitment and Training Programme (East, SE, SW)
An
update on the NASACRE recruitment programme
We have so far managed
to find candidates for the Following SACRE Authorities :
Bedford Borough, Luton, Bedfordshire Central (Dunstable
), Suffolk, Bexley, Sutton, South Glocestershire
We
still need Buddhist reps for :
North Somerset
Dorset
Cornwall
Solihull in the West Midlands
You may be aware that NASACRE has received funding from the
Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Curriculum
Cohesion Unit to develop its recruitment and training programme designed to
build SACRE capacity. This funding is phased over two years and the second
year is about to commence. The programme will be focused principally on
filling vacancies on Group A (basically any other faith group apart from CoE) in the East of England, in the South East and the
South West. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_regions)
A Report for the RE Council of the NASACRE Recruitment
and Training programme phase-1 can be downloaded from the REC website : http://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org/images/stories/pdf/report%20for%20rec.pdf
You will find information on what a SACRE (Standing Advisory
Council on Religious Education) does on the National SACRE web site : www.nasacre.org.uk
You might also want to
have a look at the following documents :
http://www.dharmapeople.com/ftp/SACRE_RE/NASACRE/NASACRE_training.htm, and http://www.dharmapeople.com/ftp/SACRE_RE/Lewisham_SACRE.doc
Candidates should be
aware that between two and four days of their time will be taken up by
induction/training activities, but some of those might take place in the
evenings.
Financial compensation
is only envisaged for expenses (e.g. travel) but not for taking time off for
the training as such.
Ideally suitable
candidates would have some experience of education, and certainly an interest
in Religious Education. The role involves liaising with the faith
communities, schools (Teachers and children) and the Local Authorities.
The candidate should
have some time to spare (not a lot, just a few days per term perhaps, and
therefore people not in full-time employment, or just retired, or young
single parents, young teachers, etc might make ideal candidates). They should
also be prepared to represent their whole faith community, regardless of
their own specific background (either in terms of culture or tradition), and
be ready and willing to engage representatives from other faiths in
meaningful and constructive dialogue.
Should multiple
suitable candidates apply for the same Authority, the size of the community
they represent would become the discriminating factor. Candidates are
selected by the Local Authority itself.
If anyone from yours,
or other Buddhist groups you are in contact with, are interested in exploring
the possibility of engaging in SACRE activities, please ask them to get in
touch with me, and where vacancies are available, I will endeavour to put
then in touch with the NASACRE Recruitment Officer.
To find out more about your local SACRE, look under the
Members page in the NASACRE site, or search the
web specifying : e.g. ‘SUFFOLK SACRE’
If you or someone in
your group would like to become Buddhist Representative on your local
Authority SACRE , and you live in one of the mentioned Regions please let me
know as soon as possible, sending me any details about yourself and your
experience that would enable your local authority to make on informed
decision about your application : please send it to :
mmarcigaglia(_at_)yahoo.co.uk
where the (_at_) stands for @;
Mariano M. , Tel 020
72520804 (evenings and weekends)
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Following
on from national Interfaith Week due to start on the 12th of
November 2009, at the Buddhist Society we are planning to hold an event on Multifaith Chaplaincy, to be held at our premises (at 58 Eccleston Square SW1V 1PH http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=SW1V+1PH&countryCode=GB)
on 13th
December 2009,
14:00 onwards
Event : Panel discussion moderated by F. Hyde-Chambers
Topic : Challenges and opportunities of Multifaith
Chaplaincy, with special regards to Faith, Ethnicity and Gender
We look forward to receiving your questions
for the panel ; please send them to mmarcigaglia(at)yahoo.co.uk
Some initial
suggestions :
1. Are we bridging the
gaps or just muddling the waters, out of PC and driven by the Community
Cohesion Agenda ?
2. Significance of Spiritual Care and Physical care in the various traditions
3. What does it mean to be a (Muslim) woman and lead a multifaith
Chaplaincy Team
4. Is Chaplaincy in the NHS worth the 40 Million
pounds spent annually on it ?
5. Future of
Multifaith Chaplaincy
We
could ask the following groups/projects to send some representative to the
Event
Rep from greenwich Peninsula
Chaplaincy Team
http://www.greenwich-peninsula-chaplaincy.org.uk/chaplains.html
For
further details contact the Site Chaplain, the Rev'd
Malcolm Torry,
Greenwich Peninsula Chaplaincy, 37 Becquerel Court, West Parkside,
London SE10 0QQ, 020 8858 3006
If you want to leave a message for a Chaplain
Please call 0208 852 1336 and leave a message on the answerphone which is checked daily.
email: info@greenwich-peninsula-chaplaincy.org.uk
Oxleas Spiritual and
Cultural Care Team please contact:
http://www.oxleas.nhs.uk/site-media/cms-downloads/Leaflet_March_08_.pdf
Qaisra Khan
Spiritual and Cultural Care Coordinator
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Pinewood House, Pinewood Place
Dartford DA2 7WG
Tel: 01322 625713
Email: qaisra.khan@oxleas.nhs.uk
BHCG
Keith Munnings, Roger Green, Ven. Ananda Mangala
Armed Forces Chaplaincy
Dr Sunil and one or two other minority Chaplains ? (e.g.
Sikh lady)
Kalyana Mitra
Chris Blomely
Ananda Network &
Hospice Trust
Peter Goble
Police/Fire Brigades/Ambulances Contact
South East London Street Friends
Prof. Harbhajan Singh, chairman
of Thamesmead Interfaith Forum and secretary of Greenwich Pensioners’ Forum
Narinderkaur597@msn.com
020 8316 7746 - Mobile
The Royal Brompton and Harefield
NHS Trust Multifaith team
The Revd. Robert Thompson MA MTh, Lead Chaplain
The Royal Brompton and Harefield
NHS Trust
Sydney Street
London SW3 6NP
0207 352 8121(Switchboard) ext 4736
University Chaplaincy & Prison Chaplaincy
Tom Short
Sandy Bedfordshire MK44 3RS
t.short@herts.ac.uk - Home
01707 284076 - Home 01767 641076 - Mobile
20 years Angulimala (Bedford + Littlebay)
HE Chaplaincy for 6 years (Uni
of Hertfordshire)
Trustee of Bedford Council of Faiths
Chelsea and Westminster Multifaith
chaplaincy Services
http://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/services/multifaith.htm
(Humanist Lady volunteer)
The Revd Dr Christina Beardsley
Head of Multi-faith Chaplaincy,
Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Office
christina.beardsley@chelwest.nhs.uk
020 8746 8083
(interesting : looking for people : http://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/volunteering/multiFaithChaplaincy.html)
http://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/news/archive_pages/2008/DiversityAwarenessWeek%20.html
Olympics Chaplain
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/london2012/5166600/Londons-Olympic-Park-begins-to-take-shape.html
http://www.achurchnearyou.com/stratford-st-paul/
Reverend Kelvin Woolmer
Vicarage Maryland Road
Stratford London.
E15 1JL Tel: 0208 279 4053
St
Thomas'
Hospital Chaplaincy (+Fire Brigade)
Imam Rashid Ahmed
Revd Mia Hilborn (Head of
Chaplaincy & Spiritual Healthcare)
Sr Christiane
Lehair
Revd Paul Mason
Revd Rosemary Shaw
Venerable U Uttara
National Chaplaincy Personnel ?
Reverend Edward Lewis, Hospital Chaplaincies Council
Mr Tim Battle, Hospital Chaplaincies Council
Reverend Susan Hollins, Lead
Chaplain SE England
Bishop Michael Perham, Hospital Chaplaincies Council
Ron Maddox ?
Royal Marsden ?
Rev Chris Lee, Senior Chaplain, Free Church (eg Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal), ext 1040 or 3651
Imam Sadeq Hansali, Muslim, ext 2818 or 3074.
At the Chelsea
site, London:
Rev Alistair McCulloch, Church of England, ext 2818 or
1680
Deacon Pat Soule,
Free Church, ext 2818.
At the Sutton site, Surrey:
Rev Christine Latham, Church of England, ext 3074 or 1139
Father Luke Verhees,
Roman Catholic, ext 3074.
Islington Faith forum
ROSALIND MILLER convenor of
Islington Faiths forum <rosalind.miller8@btinternet.com>
and
Fiona Weaver lead Chaplain London
Met University and a member of Islington Faiths forum f.weaver@londonmet.ac.uk
Homerton's Multifaith Team
http://www.homerton.nhs.uk/news-and-events/press-releases-latest-news/2009/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-hospital-chaplain-audio-slideshow/index.html
http://www.homerton.nhs.uk/patient-information/your-stay-in-hospital/spiritual-and-religious-care/index.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8011000/8011744.stm
Sr.
Phaedra Pamphilon-Green tel:
020 8510 7385; 0208 510 7773 ; (Hospital : 020 7352 8171)
email: Phaedra.Pamphilon-Gr@homerton.nhs.uk
Madhu Agarwal
tel: 020 8510 5191 email: madhu.agarwal@homerton.nhs.uk
After the National Secular Society called for an end to NHS funding for
hospital chaplains, arguing the £40m annual cost could be better spent,
reporter Angus Stickler visits Homerton Hosptial in east London to find out.BBC
radio 4 spent a day with hospital chaplain Phaedra Pamphilon-Green
talking to patients, grieving relatives and hospital staff (including
other chaplains on site) about the value of the chaplaincy. The four minute slot
appeared on the prestigious Today programme.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8011000/8011744.stm
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Looking for a
Chaplaincy Course in the South East ?
The University Of East London is offering a Certificate
in Spiritual, Religious and Cultural Care
One year, part-time, evening programme with fieldwork
placements.
More details here : http://www.uel.ac.uk/psychology/programmes/undergraduate/spiritual-care.htm
---------------------
St Mary's University College (Twickenham) : Healthcare
Chaplaincy Foundation Degree
What: 2 year minimum day/block release
course run by St Mary's University College (Twickenham) in Richmond Upon
Thames.
Who: St Mary's University College (Twickenham)
Where: St Mary'S University College, Richmond Upon Thames, TW1 4SX
http://london.floodlight.co.uk/london/course-details-reviews/st-marys-university-college-twickenham/healthcare-chaplaincy-foundation-degree/16180339/31100886/course-info.html
---------------------
Newham College Of FE : Chaplaincy
in Corporate and Community Settings BA Hons
What: 3 year full
time course run by Newham College Of Further Education in Newham.
Who: Newham College Of Further Education (Read More)
Where: University
Centre Stratford, Newham, E15 4HT
http://london.floodlight.co.uk/london/course-details-reviews/newham-college-of-further-education/chaplaincy-in-corporate-and-community-settings-ba-hons/16180339/33096089/course-info.html
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RE Council
Newsletter Aug 2009
Dear
Reader,
Welcome to this issue of the REC newsletter. If you have information about
projects, conferences, reports or developments you’d like included in the
next one please email it to me by 28th September. It
should be in the format of a heading, two or three sentences giving the
basics and a website or email address where readers can obtain fuller
details.
Best wishes,
Sarah Smalley, Executive Support Officer, RE Council of England and Wales
Sarah@religiouseducationcouncil.org <mailto:Sarah@religiouseducationcouncil.org>
*New Welsh RE Centre *
A recent and very important development for RE in Wales has been the
opening of the St Mary’s Centre at St Deiniol’s
Library in
Hawarden. It has been established to provide a national centre for
the subject, with a mission to promote excellence in RE in Wales and
to represent Wales on both UK and international RE scenes. Its
Executive Director is Tanya ap Sion.
For further information see
www.st-marys-centre.co.uk
<http://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org/mailinglist/lt.php?id=ZU5TB1FQC0oJUEkEBl8%3D>
*Baptist Union Schools Project*
The Baptist Union, through its Mission Department, is currently
working on a 2 year project producing resources and training that
will help each Baptist church engage effectively with its local
school. A pilot scheme will be run with some churches from September
09 for 6 months. Some of the resources already available can be seen
at
http://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org/mailinglist/lt.php?id=ZU5TB1FQDEoJUEkEBl8%3D
*/RE/**silience*
Only a month into the /RE/silience project, there
has already been
significant progress. The Project Support Officer has now been
appointed and REsilience team members are delighted
that Wendy
Harrison has agreed to take on this role. Work on identifying
existing materials and strategies is well under way and there is now
a detailed plan to identify the work packages that will determine the
way the project will work, particularly in this, the planning and
research phase that lasts until the end of March 2010. More
information is on the REC website at
www.religiouseducationcouncil.org.uk
<http://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org/mailinglist/lt.php?id=ZU5TB1FQDUoJUEkEBl8%3D>
*Training on Buddhism for RE teachers and co-ordinators *
Clear Vision
<http://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org/mailinglist/lt.php?id=ZU5TB1FQDkoJUEkEBl8%3D>
offers Buddhist-inspired training days, half days and twilights.
These can be tailored to local syllabus needs and can provide a
stimulating and relaxing insight into the Buddhist way of life.
Training sessions can take place at the Manchester Buddhist Centre
<http://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org/mailinglist/lt.php?id=ZU5TB1FQD0oJUEkEBl8%3D>
, or your local venue. At the Buddhist Centre Clear Vision can
combine RE-related exploration of Buddhism and activities related to
personal development, stress management and yoga or Tai Chi. For
further details please contact munisha@clear-vision.org <mailto:munisha@clear-vision.org>
or phone 0161 839 9579.
*
*Inter faith Music Event*
A very successful and enjoyable inter faith music event was held this
June and another one has already been planned for next year. The next
event is scheduled for Wednesday 23rd June 2010 atLondon
Interfaith
Centre 125 Salusbury Road London NW6 6RG Time: 7.30
to 9.30pm. For a
brief report of this year’s event see
http://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org/mailinglist/lt.php?id=ZU5TB1FQAEoJUEkEBl8%3D
*Report on a school RE session on Hinduism*
http://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org/mailinglist/lt.php?id=ZU5TB1FQAUoJUEkEBl8%3D
Hindu Academy training session
As continued efforts to promote community cohesion and respect for
diversity, the Tower of London has arranged a series of talks
covering different religions for their staff. The session on Hinduism
was conducted by the Hindu Academy. For further details see
http://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org/mailinglist/lt.php?id=ZU5TB1FTCEoJUEkEBl8%3D
*The JAINpedia project*
/JAINpedia/is an ambitious five year project taking
Jainism into the
21st century. Thousands of beautiful, rare and sacred manuscripts and
artefacts will be put on the internet along with specially written
translations and explanations. Featuring hundreds of original
articles and a comprehensive glossary, /JAINpedia/will
be available
to anyone anywhere for free. Alongside the technical development
there will be an extensive outreach & education programme with major
and regional exhibitions and INSET sessions. For more information
visit www.jainpedia.org
<http://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org/mailinglist/lt.php?id=ZU5TB1FTCUoJUEkEBl8%3D>
or email chetna.kapacee@jainpedia.org <mailto:chetna.kapacee@jainpedia.org>
*Conference: Helping your Students to Become Successful Learners in RE*
Date: Friday November 6th Venue: Wellington Hall Leyland Lancashire
The New Secondary Curriculum is presenting opportunities and
challenges for RE colleagues. Through this conference teachers will
have a clearer understanding of RE's role in the new Secondary
Curriculum requirements, opportunities to develop new classroom
techniques to engage all pupils, an enhanced understanding of how to
assess pupil progress in RE and explored new ideas to engage students
when learning outside the classroom. For more information please
follow the courses link on
http://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org/mailinglist/lt.php?id=ZU5TB1FTCkoJUEkEBl8%3D
*Equality and Human Rights Commission *
Following extensive consultation in recent months, the EHRC has now
published its Strategic Plan for 2009-2012. It contains detailed
information about the projected work programmes of the Commission
directed at achieving the aims set out under its strategic priorities
which have relevance to religion and belief and by extension RE.
The Strategic Plan (and an Executive Summary) can be found at
http://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org/mailinglist/lt.php?id=ZU5TB1FTC0oJUEkEBl8%3D
.
The EHRC has also published a substantial document listing 48
indicators of “what people need in order to fully participate in
society” covering issues such as being healthy, engagement in
lifelong learning and an adequate standard of living. The indicators
have been developed to allow the EMF to monitor progress in tackling
inequality in key areas, and include ‘freedom to practise your
religion or belief’ and ‘cultural identity and expression’. The
EMF report, a summary of this and background briefing can be found at
http://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org/mailinglist/lt.php?id=ZU5TB1FTDEoJUEkEBl8%3D
.
Yesterday's RE Council newsletter
was sent out with two errors in the
links from the following stories.
Baptist Union Schools Project
The Baptist Union, through its Mission Department,
is currently
working on a 2 year project producing
resources and training that
will help each Baptist church engage
effectively with its local
school. A pilot scheme will be run with
some churches from September
09 for 6 months. Some of the resources already
available can be seen
at:
www.baptist.org.uk/resources/children-youth-resources.asp?section=10
<http://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org/mailinglist/lt.php?id=ZU5TCVNRAUoJUUkEBl8%3D>
Report on a
school RE session on Hinduism
http://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org/mailinglist/lt.php?id=ZU5TCVNQCEoJUUkEBl8%3D
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Immigration Rules changes for Ministers of Religion
Message from the Network of Buddhist Organisations
THE UK Border Agency have
new proposals for British Citizenship, for which they are currently inviting
comment.
If your organisation has monks here on visas, who may wish to apply for
British Citizenship in the future, now is the time to have your say.
Most of us got caught napping over the new visa system. Don't let it happen
again.
This could be important if your organisation has immigrant monks in the UK on Tiered (2 or
5) visas.
The UKBA are accelerating their process of rolling out the issue of Identity
Cards for Foreign Nationals.
Go to the NBO home page (http://www.nbo.org.uk/home.htm) and click the 'Immigration Rule
Changes' button to read more.
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Consultation on
new single Equality Duty on public bodies
The Equality Bill,
(on which see Circular 09/09), which is currently before Parliament includes provision
for a new single Equality Duty on public bodies. This builds on existing
public duties relating to disability, gender and race but covers the
‘protected characteristics’ of age, religion or belief, sexual orientation
and gender reassignment as well.
The new Duty will
require public bodies to tackle discrimination; advance equality of
opportunity; and promote good relations. It requires public bodies to
consider how their spending decisions, employment practices and the services
they provide affect people in the groups with ‘protected characteristics’. It
will also require public bodies with 150 or more employees to report annually
on their gender pay gap; black and minority ethnic employment rates; and
their disability employment rates.
The aim is for the
new Equality Duty to come into force in April 2011. This will allow time for
the public sector and business to prepare, and for the Equality and Human
Rights Commission and others to provide comprehensive guidance. Enforcement
of the new Equality Duty will be by judicial review or through the Equality
and Human Rights Commission.
The Government has
now issued, as promised, a consultation paper setting out its proposals for
the specific requirements to be set out in secondary legislation, made under
the Bill, intended to ‘help public bodies meet the new Equality Duty in an
effective and proportionate way’. The consultation document, entitled Equality
Bill: Making it Work— Policy proposals for Specific Duties—A Consultation can
be found at: www.equalities.gov.uk/pdf/Specific%20Duties%20Consultation%20DocumentWEB.pdf
The
consultation period runs until 30 September. More details are at: www.equalities.gov.uk.
Public authorities
will not be required to publish a separate equality scheme. Instead the
intention is that their objectives, action to be taken by them and the results
of this are to be developed as part of an organisation's core business
planning and reported on in normal business processes, such as annual reports
or school profiles.
The public sector
spends £175 billion every year buying goods and services. The consultation
document proposes that contracting authorities should:
·
when setting out their equality objectives and the steps they intend to take
to achieve them, include how they will ensure that equality factors are
considered as part of their public procurement activities to help contribute
to the delivery of those objectives
·
consider using equality criteria when awarding contracts where these relate
to the subject matter of the contract and are proportionate (eg requiring firms bidding for a diversity training
contract to report the proportion of black or minority ethnic people they
employ)
·
stipulate equality contract conditions where these relate to the performance
of the contract and are proportionate (eg an agency
managing the recruitment process for a contracting authority might be
required to advertise all vacancies with part-time or flexible working
options).
Other proposals
set out in the consultation document include requiring public authorities to:
·
publish equality objectives and set out how they intend to achieve them,
reporting annually on progress against these objectives;
·
show how they have considered equality when thinking about service delivery
and designing policy;
·
involve employees, service users and other relevant groups.
The proposals in
the consultation document apply to public authorities operating across Great Britain in relation to non-devolved
functions, and to public authorities operating in England. Separate
consultation documents will be issued by the Scottish Executive and the Welsh
Assembly Government setting out their plans for specific duties for relevant
Scottish and Welsh public authorities.
Following this
consultation, the Government will continue to refine its policy before
publishing draft regulations next year for consultation.
Equality and Human
Rights Commission: Human Rights Inquiry
The Equality and
Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published a report setting out the
findings of a Human Rights Inquiry undertaken under its statutory powers. The
Inquiry, which was announced in March 2008, was chaired by Dame Nuala O’Loan.
The Inquiry’s two
main terms of reference were: to assess progress towards the effectiveness and
enjoyment of a culture of respect for human rights in Great Britain; and to
consider how the current human rights framework might best be developed and
used to realise the vision of a society built on fairness and respect and
confident in all aspects of its diversity.
The Inquiry sought
to establish the extent to which respect for the human rights of individuals
was embedded in service delivery in England and Wales today; to look at the
barriers to the assertion, enjoyment and delivery of human rights; and to
identify models of good practice; to identify opportunities which may be
transferable from one sector or organisation to another.
The Inquiry report
does not explore in depth the application of the different specific rights
set out in the European Convention on Human Rights (which the Human Rights
Act incorporated into UK law); or consider areas where these may be in
conflict with one another. Rather, it explores attitudes to human rights and
the way in which a human rights approach is being applied in different public
sectors.
Alongside the main
report of nearly 200 pages, an Executive Summary has been published. Both can
be found on the EHRC website together with material relating to
representations made to the Inquiry and transcripts of its hearings, at www.equalityhumanrights.com/fairer-britain/human-rights/human-rights-inquiry.
Hard copies of the documents can be secured from the EHRC.
Note on Circular
material relating to Governmental issues
The inclusion in
Network Circulars of material relating to particular Governmental action,
such as legislation, particular policies or published documents is included
for information purposes and implies, of course, no particular view on them
on the part of the Inter Faith Network.
Best wishes,
Harriet Crabtree
Dr Harriet
Crabtree, Director
The Inter Faith Network for the UK
8A Lower Grosvenor Place
London SW1W 0EN
Tel: 020 7931
7766 Fax: 020 7931 7722
Email: ifnet@interfaith.org.uk Web: www.interfaith.org.uk
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National
Interfaith Week : Resources
Inter Faith Week will run from 15 to 21 November. Its aims
are:
·
to strengthen good inter faith relations at all
levels;
·
to increase awareness of the different and distinct
faith communities in the UK, in particular
celebrating and building on the contribution which their members make to
their neighbourhoods and to wider society; and
·
to increase understanding between
people of religious and non-religious belief.
The Week is being facilitated by the Inter Faith Network for
the UK and the Department for Communities and Local Government but will be
community-led, with local people and groups of different backgrounds holding
their own events and to highlight work going on to promote understanding
between people of different faiths and beliefs.
News Release from Communities and
Local Government 24 March 2009
Enquiries about the Week can be sent to enquiries@interfaithweek.org.uk
Useful resources :
South East England Web Forum
South East Interfaith Events
Interfaith
Network for the UK
Events
Nationwide
Some
Interfaith Week ideas
Some
Ideas for Schools and SACREs
NASACRE
and DCSF Advice
Building Good
Relations with People of Different Faiths and Beliefs -
Short guidelines
for inter religious encounter and dialogue, suitable for group and classroom
discussion use.
http://www.ifyouthtrust.co.uk/
The Inter Faith Youth
Trust is offering a small grant programme for inter
faith events/activities taking place in Inter Faith Week involving
young people. Visit the Inter Faith Youth
Trust website for more information.
http://www.3ff.org.uk/documents/Interfaithweek-ThreeFaithsForumResources.pdf
Guidelines produced
for DCSF by Three Faiths Forum for Inter Faith Week on ‘inter
faith encounters’ in schools
http://www.interfaithweek.org/connect-web.pdf
Connect: Different Faiths, Shared Values, an inter faith action guide
for young people
http://www.eefaithscouncil.org.uk/interf.htm
East of England Interfaith week events
http://www.faithnetsouthwest.org.uk/joomla/index.php?option=com_jevents&task=cat.listevents&Itemid=82
http://www.faithnetsouthwest.org.uk/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=413:increasing-awareness-in-inter-faith-week&catid=38:general&Itemid=56
SouthWest events
http://www.nerfn.org/page/events-listing/national-interfaith-week-14th---21st-november-2009/
North East
http://www.faithnorthwest.org.uk/inter-faith-week-2009.html
North West
-------------
Network Of
Buddhist Organizations
INTER FAITH WEEK LAUNCH EVENT, THURSDAY
12 NOVEMBER 2009
The Network of Buddhist Organisations has indicated that it
will be acting as the lead organisation in assembling and running a cross
community exhibition about Buddhism at the launch of Inter Faith Week on 12
November.
The launch will take place in London at the Queen
Elizabeth II Conference Centre opposite Westminster Abbey. The formal
proceedings will begin at 11.30am and conclude around
1.15pm, followed by a
vegetarian buffet lunch. We plan that the Exhibition will remain open after
lunch until 3pm and there may also
be other activities during this period. Further details about the programme
will be made available via the NBO web site.
The Exhibition is a key part of the launch – giving an insight
into the work of faith communities and inter faith
bodies in the UK and some of the
many events and projects which will happen during the Week. Faith communities
will be key exhibitors. The NBO and
possibly the Buddhist Society will be represented among the invitees. The
Buddhist exhibition space will be organized and manned by Yann
Lovelock, Munisha, and Chris Ward; Sunil will be providing a Rupa which sits two feet tall. We also have a banner from the Chaplaincy
Support Group and a banner which we use for MoD events. We
have A4 leaflets for Health Care Chaplaincy and for the Buddhist
Chaplaincy Support Group.
-------
The Board of the Deputies of the
Jews
On Mon 16th November we will be hosting a
roundtable on ‘Inclusion of People
with Learning Disabilities in Faith Communities’. We hope that this event
will incorporate representatives from various faiths who have experience with
working with learning disabilities in the faith context. This event will be
co-hosted by the Judith Trust, which is a Jewish charity specialising in this
area. Are there any obvious invitees from the Buddhist community
On Thu 19th
November we will be co-hosting a seminar with the Hindu Forum of Britain on
‘Women in Faith’, to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by women
of faith. There will be a plenary session with keynote speakers, and then
three intensive discussions on:
1.
Leadership:
Both religious and lay.
2.
Relationships,
marriage and divorce
3.
Education
and continuity.
Which women should we
invite from the Buddhist community?
We are looking for around
5 Buddhist invitees for each event. Munisha is
certainly welcome to nominate herself for the second event. From my (all too
limited) reading, it seems that contemporary Buddhism has an interesting
modernist vs traditionalist debate about the role
of women in the faith, i.e. some sources seeing re-birth as a woman as a
relative misfortune vs. Buddhism being one of the first religions to give
women an institutional role through allowing nuns. It would be good to feed
that in to some of the sessions. I am given to understand that the
organisation Sakyadhita might also be able to help,
if they have a UK branch.
Phil
Rosenberg
Interfaith Officer
Board of Deputies of British Jews
6 Bloomsbury
Square, London WC1A 2LP
Telephone: 020 7543
5400
Fax: 020
7543 0010
~ 0 ~
Dear Everyone,
I am sending you details of advice (adapted from advice originally publicised
by the Hindu Forum of Britain), concerned with
the risks of the transmission of swine flu at meeting places. This advice
therefore varies slightly from that in the leaflets which have been sent to
every home.
The text of this advice is available from the NBO website at http://nbo.org.uk/home.htm
<http://nbo.org.uk/home.htm>
, on the Resources
button on the left hand side.
Further advice that I have seen suggests that handwashing
should be practised a minimum of 10 times a day, and it is important to dry
the hands thoroughly, preferably on a disposable towel, as pathogens are more
likely to survive if the hands are not well dried.
Although the impact of swine flu on this country has so far not been serious,
attack rates of between 25 and 50% are possible, especially as we approach
the coming winter, the traditional influenza season. It is as yet
too early to know what the mortality pattern will be but it is entirely
possible that it will be unlike that to which we are accustomed, (affecting
mainly the frail and elderly), and that it may therefore have a much higher
impact on the working population, including healthcare workers. The impact of
anti-viral tablets when used on the large-scale is entirely unknown. Without
being alarmist, it is possible is that we are seeing the start of something
quite unlike anything that we have experienced for generations. We therefore
have a responsibility to minimise the risk of transmission, having regard to
all sections of the community.
Further information is available on the links which are included at the
bottom of the website article.
With all good wishes,
Sally Masheder, Secretary of the Network of
Buddhist Organisations
From: Warwick Hawkins
Sent:
Friday, May 01, 2009 1:59 PM
Subject: Pandemic Flu guidelines and FCCC
minutes
Dear FCCC members,
If an influenza (flu) pandemic happens in the UK, everyone will
need to play a part in managing how it affects our society. At such a time,
faith communities have an important role to play in victim support. Strong
leadership from faith communities is vital when large scale incidents trigger
concerns about social cohesion. Moreover, large scale fatalities raise
specific issues for faith communities that need to be addressed. Communities
and Local Government has now re-issued a document, Faith Communities and
Pandemic Flu: Guidance for faith communities and local influenza pandemic
committees, which is intended to provide valuable guidance on the faith
dimension of a flu pandemic. It provides tools and a roadmap for good
practice, and should be read alongside the more general emergency planning
guidance Key Communities, Key Resources: Faith Communities and Civil
Resilience. (June 2008)
Both documents can be found at this link - http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/influenzapandemic
.
The
revised guidance (May 2009) updates previous guidance (issued June 2008) on
the same issue. As you know, it was initially drafted by a working group of
the Council under the chairmanship of John Devine, along with representatives
of the Church of England, Methodist Church, British Muslim Forum, Hindu
Council UK, Sikhs in England, Agency for Jewish Education and the Inter Faith
Network for the UK. The revised version has been drawn up over several months
and in consultation with the FCCC working group and with other Government
Departments including Cabinet Office and the Department of Health. Certain
sections, for instance on infection control, have been updated to bring them
into line with the latest Department of Health guidance. Although the
guidance has not been developed as a direct response to the present outbreak
of swine flu in Mexico and elsewhere, the current
situation may make it particularly relevant to those to whom it is aimed.
I also attach, for your information, the minutes of the last
full FCCC meeting. We are about to embark on the review process and will be
in touch about this in due course. In the meantime, please let me know if
there are any issues you would like to raise at the 9th June meeting.
<<Minutes of the 10th Meeting - FCCC - 160309 - FINAL -
YPB.doc>>
Best
wishes,
Warwick
(Secretary) , 020 7944 0530
Warwick Hawkins , Head of Faith
Communities Engagement
Cohesion
and Faiths Division, Communities and Local Government
~ 0 ~
FIFE Newsletter:
September 2009
Chaplaincy Further Education Chaplaincy
September Faiths in Further Education Newsletter
Welcome to September FIFE. We hope the new term is treating you kindly amidst
all the pressures within the sector at this time. Highlights this month
include:
• SMSC good practice template (section 3, attached)
• Service Level Agreement document (section 1, attached)
• New Inquiry into Lifelong Learning released (section 1)
• Important dates for your diary (sections 4 & 5)
• Bradford College chaplaincy post (section 6)
With best wishes,
John Breadon, John Wise & Harjinder
Singh.
In this issue:
September Faiths in Further Education Newsletter
1. FVB (faiths, values & beliefs)
Issues and Resources
2. AFAN News
3. FE Sector Governance
4. CPD & Training Matters
5. fbfe Forum
6. Chaplaincy Changes and Jobs
~ 0 ~
Organ Donation and Faith : The NHS
proposed flier
See the July 09 Bulletin for an extensive
coverage of the subject matter
You can find here a flier by the NHS giving a concise
overview of where the Faiths stand on the issue
~ 0 ~
DFID Community
Linking Programme (DCLP)
I am writing to let you
know about the launch of the DFID Community Linking Programme (DCLP). It will
offer funding and learning opportunities to community groups in the UK - including, very importantly,
faith based groups - that are in touch with a community group in a developing
country.
The programme is funded
by DFID and delivered by a consortium of the British Council, Inter Faith
Network for the UK (IFN), Institute for Community Cohesion (iCoCo), and Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). Each member
of the consortium has experience of working with community groups in the UK and/or other countries. IFN is
involved because DFID is keen to see involvement from faith communities and
it is expected that the cross learning by community groups in the UK will include a strong inter faith
dimension.
Over the next six
months, DCLP is conducting a survey to try and find out how many community
groups in the UK already have links with a
community group in a developing country, and what activities their link
involves. A link might be a charitable project with a community
in a developing country, an exchange programme or visits to a particular
community, or a wide-reaching community partnership, or something different.
If you are an
umbrella or linking body we would like to ask for your support in encouraging your
members to take part in the survey which is currently available at www.dfid.gov.uk/DCLP as it is important that as many
groups as possible participate so that the faith dimension is credibly
profiled in the survey. Please feel free to forward on this
email. We would also be glad if you could publicise this important
piece of work in your mail outs, newsletters and e-bulletins. DFID’s Press Release on the programme is also attached in
case helpful. There will shortly also be flyers available for distribution –
please let the British Council know if you would like these and, if so, how
many you require: dclp@britishcouncil.org
If you are a
community group (such as a faith group or inter faith body) and are in touch with a community
group in a developing country, it would be very helpful if you could complete
the short survey at: www.dfid.gov.uk/DCLP. If your group was one of a small
number which kindly completed a pilot survey you do not need to do the survey
again as your information will be incorporated within the main survey.
The British Council will also contact some groups to give a
more in-depth case study to showcase good practice in linking. The
information gathered through the survey will help shape DCLP and will help
ensure that the grants, learning and support elements of the programme
enhance what groups are doing already. The findings of the survey will be
presented to the UK government in Spring 2010 and also
made publicly available.
When community groups complete the survey, they will have
an opportunity to join the DCLP mailing list, which will mean that they will
be amongst the first to know about grants and learning / support
opportunities when they become available in spring 2010.
If you have any further questions, please contact Jane
Grantham at dclp@britishcouncil.org or 0161 957 7790. Jane Grantham
will also be able to answer questions about the survey and project.
If you would like to talk with the IFN office about the survey
or the project please contact Paresh Solanki paresh.solanki@interfaith.org.uk or Elin
Henrysson elin.henrysson@interfaith.org.uk Tel 020 7931 7766.
Best wishes,
Harriet Crabtree,
Director
The Inter Faith
Network for the UK
8A Lower Grosvenor
Place, London SW1W 0EN
Tel: 020
7931 7766 Fax: 020 7931 7722
Email:
ifnet@interfaith.org.uk Web: www.interfaith.org.uk
Registered
charity no. 1068934. Company limited by guarantee no. 3443823
registered in England.
~ 0 ~
Free screening of
‘A Zen Life – D.T.Suzuki
There will be 3 free public
screenings of “*A ZEN LIFE - D.T. Suzuki*” at universities in the UK next month. As producer / director
of this documentary, I cordially invite you to attend, and ask you to kindly
let others know whom you think might be interested.
“*A ZEN LIFE - D.T. Suzuki*” is a 77-minute documentary about Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki
(1870-1966) the Japanese lay Buddhist, prolific writer and teacher credited
with introducing Zen Buddhism to the West.
With an excellent grasp of English, Daisetsu Suzuki
was highly successful at getting Westerners to appreciate the Japanese
mentality, and Japanese to see the merit of Western logic. He earned
widespread respect for his deep insights into Eastern and Western religions
and philosophies. The effect he had on Western psychology, philosophy,
religious thinking, and the arts was profound.
A variety of excerpts from Dr. Suzuki's talks about Zen and Shin Buddhism,
Christianity, and psychoanalysis punctuate the film. Inter-faith
dialogue and mutual respect were, in his mind, keys to peace.
Interwoven with film footage, photos and audio recordings of D.T. Suzuki
are interviews of many people who knew him, including Huston Smith, Gary
Snyder, Robert Aitken, William Theodore de Bary, Donald Richie, Mihoko Okamura, and Dr. Albert Stunkard,
with rare historical footage of Fr. Thomas Merton, John Cage, Erich Fromm, and the voice of Christmas Humphreys.
A pioneer in improving East-West relations, his numerous writings in English
and Japanese, translated into many languages, serve as an inspiration even
today. Daisetsu Suzuki's message is all the
more important now, in light of contemporary conflicts stemming from
divergent ways of thinking.
*SCREENINGS IN THE UK*
*Glasgow*
*Monday, 23 November, 6:30 pm*
Interfaith Chapel, University of Glasgow, West Quadrangle
Screening followed by Q&A with director
No reservation necessary
/For further information about the Glasgow screening, /
please contact Joan Keenan, Interfaith Chaplaincy, on *0141 330 5419 *or joan.keenan@admin.gla.ac.uk
<x-msg://44/%22mailto:>
*Manchester*
*Tuesday, 24 November, 5:15 – 7:30 pm* (doors open 5 pm)
Arts Lecture Theatre, Lower Ground Floor, Samuel Alexander Building
University of Manchester
Screening followed by Q&A with director
/No reservation necessary for the Manchester screening/
*London*
*Thursday, 26 November, 6:30 – 8:30 pm* (reception afterward)
Brunei Lecture Theatre, SOAS, Russell Square
University of London
Screening followed by Q&A with director and panel discussion
/*Please reserve in advance for the SOAS event* by contacting/
info@azenlife-film.org <mailto:info@azenlife-film.org>,
ts@soas.ac.uk
<mailto:ts@soas.ac.uk>, or tl3@soas.ac.uk
<mailto:tl3@soas.ac.uk>
or call *01442 890882*
These events are sponsored by The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation The Great
Britain Sasakawa Foundation
2 preview clips can be found on *YouTube*:
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVp9i4QIUUU*
<http://%22/>* *
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RksY8GFJ460*
<http://%22/>* *
Very truly yours,
Michael Goldberg
Executive Producer / Director
The DT Suzuki Documentary Project
Japan Inter-Culture Foundation
*www.azenlife-film.org <http://www.azenlife-film.org/>*
*e-mail: info@azenlife-film.org <mailto:info@azenlife-film.org>*
DVD distributor: www.martygrossfilms.com
<http://www.martygrossfilms.com/>
~ 0 ~
The MOD are reviewing the
provision of Religious Advice to the Armed Forces
Dear All,
I attach a
letter which arrived today from the MOD. This has almost certainly been sent to
me in my capacity as the Buddhist member of the Faith Communities
Consultative Council, a role I stepped into a few months back and arising
from my work in the NBO. In accordance with this role of providing a channel
to the Buddhist community, I am circulating a copy of the letter and
attachments to those who I think are most involved with the Armed Services.
The MOD are
reviewing the provision of Religious Advice to the Armed Forces and
reinforcing this as a separate role to that of the Buddhist Civilian Chaplain
and the Endorsing Authority.
My
understanding, (which could be wrong), is that Ron Maddox has filled a role
of Buddhist Religious Advisor to the Armed Forces for a number of years and
predating the appointment of Civilian Chaplain. It is this advisory role that they wish to
review to create an enlarged and broader two tier structure. (I would be
grateful if a copy of this email and attachments could be sent to Ron Maddox,
as I do not have his email details. Although it may be that he has received
the letter directly from the MOD.)
The two
tiers being proposed comprise of a Consultative Forum – which would meet
periodically and have members from organisations representing Buddhists (and
other faiths) and a ‘wider consultative group’ which would be contacted in
writing and would be composed of a wider range of Buddhist ‘stakeholder’
organisations.
My initial
observation is that the list of stakeholder groups is limited to just the NBO
for Buddhists. I would imagine that the Buddhist Society, Angulimala,
and perhaps TBSUK and one or two other groups may wish to be on the ‘Wider
Consultative Group’. I notice that although each faith listed in Annex B has
several organisations, only two for each faith are listed on Annex A as
providing members to the Consultative Forum.
I suspect that determining which subset of groups sit on the
Consultative Forum may be problematical for most faiths. Hopefully, since the
Buddhist faith has so few organisations active in this area, it will not
prove too difficult for us to resolve.
So I ask for
suggestions and comments for:
- organisations who may wish
to be listed as a part of the
Wider Contacts Group
- who should form the
Consultative Forum
- what our view is of this
proposal both in general and in detail
The MOD
request that comments on their proposals reach them by the 16th
October.
I am happy
to collate any comments and respond to the MOD on this matter.
Best Wishes
Chris Ward
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