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During September, congregations within the Uniting Church in Australia, as well as other interested individuals or groups, are encouraged to create a community of hospitality, conversation and friendship with people of all faiths (and no faiths) throughout their neighbourhood.

A fairly new concept to many of the Victorian and Tasmanian Uniting Church congregations, Interfaith September kicked off this year with a conversation about Feminism and Faith, held by Uniting Through Faiths. We were delighted to share this event with Dr Sharada Sugitharajah, a Senior Lecturer in Hindu Studies at Birmingham University. An eminent guest for such an important conversation and with such an expansive bibliography, Dr Sugitharajah is also on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion. This small but intimate conversation was opened by the poetry of Ee’da Brahim. A spiritual, passionate, vibrant young woman who bridges many cultural divides. Originally from Malaysia with Indian/Malay heritage, I have had the pleasure of hearing Ee’da perform many times, however each time I hear her, it is like the first.

The second event Uniting Through Faiths was a part of, partnering with Victoria University, was an Interfaith conversation with a group of students and academics that were visiting from the Islamic University of Malaysia. This was a candid conversation, which included specific guests invited to talk about their research. The conversation ranged from sexuality within the Uniting Church, to a case study of transgendered people within Malaysia. For such an open, honest and at many times confronting conversation, riotous laughter was plentiful. Personally, this was one of the most touching and significant conversations I have been a part of.

Identity, Place & Religion: An Interfaith Conversation (a group of students and academics from Islamic University of Malaysia)

Throughout our time, Uniting Through Faiths has met many amazing people and partnering with them is always something to look forward to. Having met Richard Leigh, of Campfire Films, the possibility of using his great skills was always going to take shape. And throughout this month, two Uniting Church congregations opened their doors to an Interfaith Film Festival. Reverend Jay Robinson, in partnership with Frankston Interfaith Network, and Reverend Brendan Byrne utilised Richard’s skill as an excellent facilitator. Both movie nights were successful in opening the heart, minds and mouths of those who came.

Some of the significant days, which land within September, are the anniversary of 9/11, Social Justice Sunday and the International Day of Peace. This year, I was honored to partner with the Tasmanian branch of Religions for Peace, the University of Tasmania through the Director of Student Services, Colin Clark and the Buddhist Chaplain, Thay Thong Phap, to celebrate International Day of Peace. The event was held at the University of Tasmania’s Sandy Bay campus. Only the beauty of the event itself supplanted the splendor of the Sandy Bay campus, overlooking the water with the sweet scent of springtime hanging thick in the air.

A Mosaic of Light - The Colour of Peace: An Interfaith Conversation (University of Tasmania)

Dr Mariam Chaalan, Sydney based doctor, humanitarian and poet extraordinaire graced us with her presence and her poetry. Mariam lives interfaith daily; her mother is Christian and her father is Muslim. We had also, the immense pleasure in hearing the poetry of Serkan Honeine and Proctor McKenzie. Mariam confronted us with her beautiful poems of loss and suicide, while Serkan spoke of that ever-elusive family-work-life balance. From the contemporary spoken word, to the rhythmic structure of Proctor McKenzie, for most of the individuals in the room, there was not a dry eye to be found. The dulcet tones of Gurleen Kaur Grewal and Jagmeet Singh Grewal, resonated throughout the room as they sung devotional Sikh music. There is something significant about the singing of Sikh music; it is prayer in the most raw and unabiding form, connecting our hearts with whatever form God takes, with whatever it is that makes an individual whole. It really was an incredible day and an incrediable way to finish the month; we were Welcomed to Country, had blessings rained down upon us and filled our minds, our hearts and our ears with all sorts of notions of peace. We later filled our stomachs with homemade goodies, all the while challenging the idea of ‘peace’ only existing within the paradigm of non-violence and understanding that peace must begin within ourselves first.

All in all, Interfaith September was a great success in 2014, and we look forward to expanding this concept in Victoria and Tasmania in 2015.

April Robinson
Interfaith Research & Network DeveloperUniting Church Synod (Vic & Tas)