This Sunday, November 15^th, Interfaith Week gets underway with an afternoon conference by Women of Faith.  This event has been put together by the University of Worcester, Diocese of Worcester's Interfaith Resource Group and the Interfaith Forum.  Interfaith week gives people a chance to strengthen good inter faith relations at all levels; increase awareness of the different and distinct faith communities in the UK, in particular celebrating and building on the contribution which their members make to their neighbourhoods and to wider society; and  to increase understanding between people of religious and non-religious belief.

The Week is being facilitated by the Inter Faith Network for the UK and the Department for Communities and Local Government but will be community-led, with local people and groups of different backgrounds holding their own events and to highlight work going on to promote understanding between people of different faiths and beliefs.

The three main speakers for the conference this Sunday, which will be introduced by the Bishop of Worcester, are women who exercise leadership and influence within Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities.

Rabbi Marcia Plumb.  Marcia is the Director of the Spiritual Formation Programme at Leo Baeck College, a rabbinic school in London. She is rabbi of Southgate Reform Syagogue, and the founder of two national Jewish women's organisations. She also works as a spiritual counsellor and has published widely on inter-faith issues, spirituality and women's studies.

Canon Jeni Parsons. Jeni is a parish priest in the Anglican diocese of Gloucester and works in a socially deprived part of Gloucester city. In the past she has worked as a university lecturer, adult educator, and with those training for ordination in the Church of England but is now passionately committed to living and working alongside those who live in urban estates.

Shaista Gohir. In 2005 Shaista set up Muslim Voice U.K. the first Muslim online opinion polling organisation in this country. Publications include "Understanding the other perspective: Muslim and non-Muslim Relations" (July 2006). Two years ago Shaista was appointed executive director of Muslim Women's Network U.K.

The Conference is free and open to men and women

Date: Sunday,15^th November

Venue: The University of Worcester

Time: 12.30-5-00

Booking is essential: Call 01384 573 381 or e mail: wof@dudleycvs.org.uk

ENDS