MULTIFAITH DINNERS FOR MP'S IN VICTORIA AREA

The Victoria Multifaith Society organized meetings on May 18th and 29th to discuss the 2010 Interfaith Partnership statement “A Time for Inspired Leadership and Action” with the three MPs in our area, Minister Gary Lunn, Dr. Keith Martin, and Ms. Denise Savoie.

Each of the MPs was met with separately, in their constituencies, with religious representatives
from their respective constituencies. Members of 9 faith traditions were invited to attend: Christian, Judaism, Bahá’í, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, Unitarian, and First Nations.

The 2010 Interfaith Partnership is a multifaith, Canadian and global movement for action on pressing issues of our day. It involves faith communities around the world, dialogue with decision-makers and a gathering of faith leaders prior to the June 2010 Huntsville Summit. It is the sixth such gathering held in conjunction with G8 summits.

Through the 2010 Interfaith Partnership, people in faith communities across Canada and around the world are calling for inspired leadership and action at this critical moment in history. In our diverse faith traditions we have rich histories of addressing poverty, caring for the earth and being peace-builders.

A Summary Report of the meetings can be found here. Photo.

A Media Workshop for Faith Groups was held April 14, 2010, at ICA. An outcome of the Greater Victoria Interfaith Dialogue Project, the workshop was designed and given by well-known author-journalists, Star Weiss and Sid Tafler, and attended by 20 participants of various faiths. The group had the opportunity to pitch story ideas to a panel of of local media experts composed of CBC Radio show host Gregor Craigie, CHEK TV News Director Rob Germaine, and Times-Colonist Editor-in-Chief Lucinda Chodan, to learn from their reactions and advice. VMS is very grateful to the panel members for this incredible opportunity, to Star and Sid for their hard work in the planning and execution of the workshop, and to ICA for hosting, all of which was done on a volunteer basis.

Photos: Workshop, Panel Media Experts, Sid Tafler, Star Weiss

VMS General Meeting, April 11

"Spiritual Approaches to Suffering" with facilitator Kat Purvis-Bellamano

3:00 p.m. Sunday, April 11th, 2010 Photo

Kat's phenomenal talents and skills brought to life the Greater Victoria Interfaith Dialogue Project. On April 11th she helped us to explore the theme honouring the Jewish commemoration of Yom HaShoah, creating bonds of respect, empathy and friendship. Held at the synagogue Emanu-el and attended by roughly 40 people of many faiths, this event was felt to be one of the most successful general meetings held by VMS. Poster available here.

A compilation of faith teachings reflecting on the meaning of suffering, available here, was also presented in a shorter powerpoint version.

Greater Victoria Interfaith Dialogue Project

Sunday afternoons of Jan 31, Feb 7, Feb 14, 2010

Venue: Inter-Cultural Association, 930 Balmoral St.

Poster - Registration Form

VMS World Religion Day Multifaith Fair

Family Fair featuring a main stage programme with speakers, music and dance, displays in the great hall, story-telling, scavenger hunt and a “World Café” with multicultural snacks.

1 p.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, February 6, 2010

Venue: Cadboro Bay United Church, 2625 Arbutus Rd.

Poster

Spiritual Literacy - Educating our Children

2:30 pm, Sunday, November 29, 2009

UVic Interfaith Chapel

Annual General Meeting, UVic Interfaith Chapel

Meeting Minutes

Havens in a Hectic World: Finding Sacred Places

with author Star Weiss took place 3:00 pm, Sunday, June 14, 2009, at the UVic Interfaith Chapel, with 45 present.

"With a wide spectrum of British Columbians, from prison inmates to cloistered nuns; from artists to First Nations Elders, Star Weiss uncovers and discusses the diverse meaning of sanctuary in our society. From a mountain peak to an ancient village, from the Ismaili Jamatkhana in Burnaby to Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, each sacred place leads to a deeper inquiry: How can we find sanctuary in a world defined by productivity and efficiency? Where can we seek refuge?"

March 29, 2009

Reflections on Peace Efforts in the Middle East

Members of various faith groups present in the Middle East were asked to
come together to share “news” that’s often ignored:
activities and movements of genuine goodwill in the region that
create respect and co-operation between communities.

Related websites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIDe_uPe67I and the actual site: http://nswas.org/ Grace Feurvergers book:  Oasis of Peace; http://www. amazon.ca/Oasis-Dreams-Teaching-Learning-Jewish-Palestinian/dp/0415929385 

More videos on Neve Shalom/ Wahat al Salam: http://www.teachers.tv/video/13839; Organization that does photography with Jewish and Palestinian Youth - Givat Haviva: http://www.givathaviva.org/Page/8 ;

Hand in Hand: http://www.handinhand12.org/ ;Barenboim-Said – East-West Divan Orchestra and Foundation: http://www.barenboim-said.org/index.php?id=121 ;

One Voice: http://www.onevoicemovement.org/about-onevoice/ ;http://www.friendsofopenhouse.org/about.php

Muslim Network for Baha'i Rights: http://www.bahairights.org/

Christian Peacemaker Teams: http://www.cpt.org/ "Getting in the Way" in Israel

Muslim Aid Serving Humanity http://www.muslimaid.org/index.php/about-us

The HUMAN RIGHTS GLOBAL DIGNITY CONFERENCE, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights with speakers, displays, workshops, presentations and live music, was held on December 6th and 7th. Over 150 people attended, including 45 children who attended their own workshop by Linda Kavelin Popov on Saturday.

• Photos taken at the conference

• Brochure with programme, Sunday Workshop Information

• Monday Magazine interview - why VMS hosted a conference on Human Rights.

• M-W. Ashford PowerPoint presentation

• Press release
  

Quarterly General Meeting: "God or No God?" Featuring a panel drawn from a variety of Faith groups in the area (Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Unitarian), and keynote by Dr. Paul Bramadat, Director of Centre for Studies in Religion and Society, University of Victoria.

Quarterly General Meeting: "Homelessness", with facilitator Peggy Wilmot and panelists Rev. Dr. Harold Munn, Dr. Bernie Paulie and Philip Symons.

Annual meeting and panel on "Science & Religion", with keynote speaker Dr. Stephen Snobelen and a panel of 5 drawn from various Faith groups: Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Bahá'í, and Unitarian.

Notes from the presentation by Suresh Basrur, PhD: "Hinduism and Science".

Models & Metaphors of Science & Religion, Dr. Stephen Snobelen

Quarterly General Meeting. Theme: Sacred Ecology. 3 to 5 p.m., Nov. 4th, at UVic's Interfaith Chapel. Publicity  sheet - Sacred Ecology Meeting

World Partnership Walk Infosheet 

Birth of the Buddha (Buddhist) Infosheet  Protocol sheet

Annual General Meeting (4^th Sunday, 1:30 pm) Minutes of this meeting.   Board Report

Navroz (Muslim)

Quarterly General Meeting (3^rd Sunday, 1:30 pm) Minutes of this meeting