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Westminster Interfaith Newsletter
Issue 63 – September 2009
National Interfaith Week event – Zoroastrian Centre, Harrow
Westminster Interfaith has great pleasure in publicising this important interfaith event entitled: "Religious Philanthropy and Social Action: Tools for Cohesion & Building Stronger Communities", organised by the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE) on Wednesday 18th November 2009:
The seminar will examine why religious faith communities undertake to perform charity and what impact it has on the national landscape not only within the individual religious faith community but benefiting the whole inter faith society. One common example often overlooked is the use of religious buildings by other religious faith communities. For instance, the Zoroastrian Centre in Harrow, which is primarily for the use of the Zoroastrian Community, is also used by other communities who do not have a large centre of their own such as the Tamil community for their rights of passage, or by Harrow Council for fund raising events. Besides use of Church halls, a Christian example is the Church Urban Fund. These examples not only unique to the Zoroastrian or the Christians, but is valid for all of the 9 world religious faith traditions in England. By extension they contribute to improving inter faith relations, thus aid cohesion hence making stronger communities.
The seminar will commence in the afternoon at 2pm with a plenary session with national representatives of the 9 world religious faith traditions in the England giving a short crisp 10 minute presentation on the theme of the seminar. Their presentation will cover the origins of charity in their individual religious faiths and examples that are currently benefiting inter faith society in the England. Instead of going alphabetically, our intention is to request presentations from religious faiths that are the longest established in the England, starting with Christianity, then Judaism. Another option would be the numerical followers as per the last census starting with Christianity, then Islam.
Around 3.30pm there will be break for afternoon tea and finger refreshments. At 4pm will commence workshops, finishing at 5pm followed by feedback and wrap up by 5.15pm.
ZTFE intends to schedule this seminar on Wednesday 18th November, because it is the death anniversary of our patron Mr Faridoon Zartoshty.
The Jashan ceremony will commence at 5.30pm till 6.45pm followed by a simple community meal around 7pm. The ZTFE will offer the seminar participants to witness the Jashan ceremony if they so desire and welcome to share the meal, which will not be consecrated.
Please inform Malcolm Deboo at the Zoroastrian Centre if you intend to attend.
Tel: +44 20 8866 0745 Fax: +44 20 8868 4572
Email: secretary@ztfe.com
