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network
International Interfaith Centre (IIC)
The International Interfaith Centre was established in 1993 as a centre for interfaith
- networking, support and information
- encounter
- education and research
Some of these have been more developed than others in the first 10 years but may take more prominence in the next 10 as we continue to reflect on the raison d’être of interfaith activities and how we might contribute to this.
Networking, support and information:
a) IIC participated in many events around the world, building up good contacts which have been invaluable in programming and consultancies, and in sharing contact information with others. We receive a wide variety of requests for interfaith advice and try to connect people to the relevant organizations.
b) In March 2001 we became privileged to co-ordinate
the evolving network of international interfaith organisations which
has the aim to improve communication and co-operation for the benefit
of all. 
c) We are currently producing
- A local resource Directory of Faith Communities in Oxford, as part of a wider programme to increase social cohesion in the city.
- A Global Interfaith Survey with Questionnaire
is under way which will provide statistical information and
content analysis:
- identifying areas of local, national, regional and international concern
- indicating what activities already exist
- identifying reasons why people reject activities as solutions to problems
- assessing what king of programming could address the concerns and rejections
- offering networking possibilities
Shige Wada, IIC, with P K Shamsuddin, WFIRC at Oxford network meeting 2003
d) IIC has provided speakers, symposiums, workshops and consultancies for many organizations, including WCF, CPWR, WFDD, IARF, Religious Experience Research Centre.
Encounter:
a) During its first 10 years, the IIC focused prominently on bringing people into dialogue, particularly those from conflict situations, through conferences, lectures, and seminars in Oxford and other places, addressing many themes.
b) We have begun a series of Faith and Interfaith video interviews addressing personal responses to both. So far interviews are available with John Hick, Keith Ward (both UK), Yehuda Stolov (Israel), Andre Porto (Brazil), Chandra Muzzafar (Malaysia), and Farid Esack (South Africa).
c) IIC published a book Testing the Global Ethic, now sold out, with contributions from many faiths and including a humanist response.
d) IIC has several local community building programmes coming to fruition this autumn, including a youth project, Through Another’s Eyes, based on a Givat Haviva project.
e) In co-operation with others, we will plan programmes for the Barcelona Parliament of World’s Religions.
Education and research:
a) IIC has organized interfaith courses in Oxford
b) A recent development is the Oxford
Centre for Interfaith Studies, currently mostly a vision but
with initial research
underway to help create
- A Global Directory of Interfaith Education: what is it, where does it happen, how to connect with it etc.
- Additional Consultations on Interfaith Education to partner with the existing US Consultation
c) As a co-operative venture with members of
the international interfaith organisations network, IIC is working on
an
Introduction to Interfaith e-learning website as a tool to encourage
people to get connected to interfaith activities and
organisations.
From our small office in the centre of Oxford, we publish an annual (previously bi-annual) newsletter, answer queries from around the world, and receive visitors from many countries and faiths. You are all welcome.
Address: International Interfaith Centre, 2 Market Street, Oxford OX1 3EF, UK.
Tel: 00 44 (0)1865 202745 Fax: 202746
Introduction / Parliament / IARF / IIC / Youth Core / Peace Summit / Minorities / Peace Council / Temple / SpiritualForum / URI / WCRP / WCF / WFDD / WFIRC
| © International
interfaith organisations network 2003 |