Successful conference and launch
The Community Faiths’ Forum ran a major conference at the start of December looking at faith based engagement in community and social issues in Northern Ireland with upwards of 150 people in attendance from a broad range of faith communities. The conference also launched a report “Faith in Community – a long term investment” which examined in detail the extent and variety of community engagement in Northern Ireland.
The speakers at the conference included Tony Macaulay, who was engaged in producing the research report, and Doreen Finneron, until recently director of the Faith-based Regeneration Network in Britain who reflected on faith-based engagement with community issues there. The conference was opened by Minister for Social Development, Nelson McCausland MLA, who spoke knowledgeably on the topic.
A quote in the research report from a community activist is that “If faith based community work was taken away, there would be a huge gap in the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland.” The conference examined both the extent of involvement and problems and opportunities. Problems include the lack of recognition of the sector, the perception or occasional reality of proselytising, and over-regulation on health and safety grounds which could prevent hospitality. Opportunities include the role that faith communities can play, particularly in an era of state retrenchment, and the ubiquity of churches and other faith communities and the way they reach right into local communities, with current untapped potential.
The day included programme for young people and school students who came later in the day, with drama provided by Youth Initiatives, music from Beyond Skin, and further reflection on the issues.
The report is available from the Community Faiths’ Forum http://www.ccwa-ni.org.uk/cff/
Photos from the day are included in the Archive section of this website.