| Key points from the
conference
- Faith communities have great potential to contribute to the
"social inclusion" agenda. Their inclusion in public life is
an essential part of the process of securing the benefits which flow
from a diverse society.
- Inter faith organisations, of all kinds, also have much to
contribute to national and local life.
- The prevailing culture can be resistant to faith community
involvement in local and national life. Work to tackle ignorance and
prejudice about religion is crucial, as is tackling racism.
- There is an increasing desire on the part of central and local
Government to bring faith communities into a structured process of
consultation on a variety of issues including regional and local
plans.
- There are many different areas of local government policy where the
input of faith community and inter faith organisations can be given.
- Local faith community and inter faith organisations rely heavily on
the work of volunteers. This is a tremendous strength. It is also a
reason why it can be difficult for them to put forward, at short
notice, appropriate individuals to give input on their behalf to
projects and policies.
- Good practice guidance for local government on involving faith
communities and working with local inter faith councils would be
helpful, but there needs to be flexibility in applying models to local
circumstances.
- Inter faith co-operation and common action has an important role to
play in improving the quality of life in the local community. This can
involve input by local inter faith councils to the formulation of
policy, the implementation of action programmes and the delivery of
public services.
- Faith communities and inter faith organisations will want to retain
control of their own agenda and not simply be co-opted to the agenda
of central or local Government.
- Faith communities and inter faith organisations need to be well
informed and prepared if they are to play a significant role in public
life. Lack of funding and appropriate infra structures can be a
problem.
- Faith communities are very diverse and find themselves in very
different situations locally.
- There is no single "correct" blue print for local inter
faith organisations and patterns of multi faith representation,
although there is a need for more representative inter faith
structures to relate to local authorities and other public bodies.
- If local inter faith structures seek public funding then they will
need to be in a position to deliver "quality value" to the
funder in terms of effective co-operation and consultation.
- Where there is a move towards a more representative type of inter
faith council, there is still a need to maintain opportunities for
members of different faiths to meet one another more informally in
pursuit of mutual understanding.
- The Local Inter Faith Guide: Faith Community Co-operation in Action
(IFN/ICRC 1999) is a useful resource for setting up and maintaining a
local inter faith initiative. Advice from councils of voluntary service
on management issues is also helpful.
These key points are not intended to be exhaustive and, in particular,
do not replicate all points from the workshops.
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