In the wake of the EU Referendum, Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Andy Marsh and PCC Sue Mountstevens have written an Open Letter. They say they want to take the unusual step of writing an open letter to reassure our communities that they will do everything they can to keep them safe. Read the full letter by clicking here.
The referendum on the UK membership of the European Union resulted in a ‘Leave’ vote.
Personally, I am very sad. I know that there are others who see this day as a positive step. The challenge is how shall we pull together now to make something robust, positive and helpful from the situation we have arrived at.
The question on many people’s lips is: What happens now?
The truth is that we don’t know and cannot know. We are in uncharted waters and really have little idea of how we shall land.
As Chair of the Bristol Multi-Faith Forum, I have attended a meeting with the Mayor. Present were business leaders, local and national politicians, educationalists from the city’s Universities, and people representing the voluntary sector. The atmosphere was heavy and the conversation recognized that the challenge ahead of us is huge. There is some serious work to be done together as we face the future.
‘Together’ is, I think, the vital word here.
The referendum and the debate before it have uncovered some deeply troubling issues in our country. Issues that we will need to address together.
Bristol is a city that takes great pride in itself as lively, vibrant, multi-cultural, outward-looking and internationally involved. An identity we have found and developed together over years of careful work and shared hopes … and a life we enjoy together. In these uncertain times, it will be a long story of being a city that embraces diversity and is determined to hold on to that sense of everyone having a stake in our common good, that will help us deal with what comes next.
The faith communities of Bristol are well established and resourceful parts of the mix of the life of the city. As faith communities we know about taking the long view, we have experience of holding on to the hope of something good coming beyond the testing times and we have trust in the strength of community. In the ‘multi-faith’ work we have developed over the years we have found great strength in building good relationships between ordinary people so that when the testing times come we have robust friendship and the resources of a diverse community to bring to our search for solutions and the way ahead. As people of the faith communities, we have resources and experience to offer into the debates and the aspirations of the wider community at this time. There will be a need for healing, for the rebuilding of trust and cooperation and for hope. We can travel this road together.
We are where we are today … and we are still in the great city of Bristol. In our faith communities and in wider society let us be committed to the shared, common good so that together we might find strength and opportunities for our peaceful shared life in this country and as global citizens.
Tracey Lewis
Chair of Bristol Multi-Faith Forum.
We publish regular e-bulletins – with information on events, resources and funding. Read our latest edition, published on Tuesday 21 May 2016. Please contact us with any news or information that you would like to have included in future editions. Please forward this to anyone who may be interested in being added to our email list.
Send any event information to me at johanna@bristolmultifaithforum.org.uk.
Read the e-bulletin here
Walkers came from across Bristol to enjoy welcomes, talks, walks and visits to 6 different East Bristol based faith venues on Thursday 12th May. The walk was part of Bristol Walk Fest and organised by Bristol Multi Faith Forum and Bristol Inner City and East Health Improvement Team.
Feedback was overwhelming – “The most interesting walk yet!” said one woman whose aim was to attend a walk on every day of the festival from 1st to 31st May!
Faith leaders were wonderfully hospitable giving up their time to tell the fascinated group about their faith and their place of worship (many of the venues also went above and beyond proving delicious refreshments too!). Huge thanks to all involved.
The places visited were The Hindu Temple , Bristol Bahá’í Centre, The Bristol & West Progressive Jewish Congregation, St. Mark’s Baptist Church, The Shah Jalal Mosque & Bristol Sikh Temple.
To see a gallery of photos of the day click here.
We publish regular e-bulletins – with information on events, resources and funding. Read our latest edition, published on Tuesday 17 May 2016. Please contact us with any news or information that you would like to have included in future editions. Please forward this to anyone who may be interested in being added to our email list.
Send any event information to me at johanna@bristolmultifaithforum.org.uk.
Read the e-bulletin here
Dear IFN member bodies,
We have news of fresh appalling attacks in another European city: Brussels.
As an IFN Officers’ statement of last November, following the Paris attack, noted, terrorists have as their aim the creation of a climate of fear and uncertainty. Their victory begins the moment that people can no longer live in trust and with a sense of shared citizenship.
Following the Paris attacks of November, faith and inter faith groups stood in solidarity. The attacks in Brussels will also have a significance for our lives together here in the UK and we know that our member bodies and people of all faiths and none will be remembering in the coming days those murdered and otherwise affected by the attacks in Brussels and standing together against violence and division.
As we and our fellow officers said after the Paris attacks: “Terrorism has many faces. Sometimes it wears the mask of religion, claiming a justification in religious teaching for its acts. This is rejected in the strongest terms by faith communities.”
Best wishes,
The Rt Revd Richard Atkinson OBE and Mr Vivian Wineman
Co-Chairs
The Inter Faith Network for the UK
We publish regular e-bulletins – with information on events, resources and funding. Read our latest edition, published on Friday 18 March 2016. Please contact us with any news or information that you would like to have included in future editions. Please forward this to anyone who may be interested in being added to our email list.
Send any event information to me at johanna@bristolmultifaithforum.org.uk.
Read the e-bulletin here
Bristol Multi Faith Forum is pleased to confirm that Bristol Diverse Doors Open Day 2017 is taking place from 10.30am to 4pm. This is an annual event, offering the opportunity to visit a range of places of worship. It aims to give a flavour of the many faiths in the city of Bristol. For those who don’t want to do the trail under their own steam, we will be offering the option of joining us on a mini-bus ‘tour’ of a few key places of worship. More information about the day will follow shortly. In the meantime, if you would like to book a seat on the mini-bus, please contact Lily Khandker on 07789040267 (Available Tue, Thur and Fri) or email: info@bristolmultifaithforum.org.uk.
This is an annual event, offering the opportunity to visit a range of places of worship. It aims to give a flavour of the many faiths in the city of Bristol. Last year a total of 14 places of worship opened their doors. In addition, 6 of the 14 venues formed a designated ‘Faith Trail’, each representing a different faith. At each of these six core venues there was an opportunity to participate in an issue based discussion and to ask questions. See photos from the day here.
We publish fortnightly e-bulletins – with information on events, resources and funding. Read our latest edition, published on Wednesday 6 January 2016. Please contact us with any news or information that you would like to have included in future editions. Please forward this to anyone who may be interested in being added to our email list.
Send any event information to me at johanna@bristolmultifaithforum.org.uk.
Read the e-bulletin here
We publish fortnightly e-bulletins – with information on events, resources and funding. Read our latest edition, published on Tuesday 15 December 2015. Please contact us with any news or information that you would like to have included in future editions. Please forward this to anyone who may be interested in being added to our email list.
Send any event information to me at johanna@bristolmultifaithforum.org.uk.
Read the e-bulletin here