Category: News

Our neighbour France has again suffered an atrocity which leaves in its wake dozens dead and injured and a community and country in mourning.  Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected by this cowardly and horrendous attack.

Such attacks are designed to rupture the fabric of civil society – not just in France but throughout Europe and beyond: to create suspicion, fear and hatred.

It is vital that in the UK we continue to work for a society which is marked by commitment to tackle tough issues with honesty and constructiveness and to work peacefully to resolve disagreement. Extreme voices and actions have no part in this.

Communities will, and must, continue to reject and stand against brutal violence where it is claimed by perpetrators to be in the name of their religion.

It is vital, too, that we support communities that may be rendered vulnerable by events overseas or at home.  There must be no room for prejudice which singles out any community because of criminal actions carried out by a few in the name of its religion.

Our thoughts turn back to France and indeed to all countries around the world affected by terrorism.   In the UK, many will be holding vigils and times of prayer.  We join our prayers to theirs.

We publish regular e-bulletins – with information on events, resources and funding. Read our latest edition, published on Wednesday 13 June2016. 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

On Thursday 7th July people of different faith communities in Bristol got together to talk about the result of the EU membership referendum result.

It was a lively meeting where we talked about the ways in which some in our communities had experienced increased tension and incidents of low level  hate crime. We encouraged faith communities to support their members in reporting even the smallest incidents of friction or abuse – either to SARI or the police. And we discussed a wide range of issues arising from the new place that we find ourselves in; education, being a city of Sanctuary and maintaining an open welcome for refugees and asylum seekers; engaging with the economic and employment stresses that will arise in this time of uncertainty; challenging racism in all its forms … and much more.

We emphasized how it is a time to stand together in the good relationships that already exist within our multi-cultural city and to continue to be committed to peaceful coexistence and partnership.

Bristol is a city that cherishes its diverse and vibrant multi-cultural community and culture and we all have a part to play in protecting and sustaining that identity.

Bristol Multi Faith Forum has been invited to work with the Mayor’s strategy group in response to the issues arising from the vote to leave the EU. It was very good to have this opportunity to begin the conversation with people of our faith communities about both the immediate consequences and priorities and the great strengths that people and communities of faith have to bring to the conversations of the city in this time of change.