Local Stories from New South Wales
The following is an account of over a decade of interfaith work undertaken by the Rev. Neil Smith.
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Sheik Khamis and Rev Neil Smith |
"My personal involvement in developing relations with other faiths goes back to the early 1990’s when I organized a number of Muslim/Christian dialogues hosted by St. Andrew’s Uniting Church, Glenbrook. When I moved to Newcastle eight years ago I attempted to make contact with the local Islamic community but was unsuccessful. For several years now members of the local Churches have participated in celebrations of the Equinox and Multicultural Concerts organized by the Newcastle Multifaith Association. In these events representatives of many faith traditions participated.
In July 2007 the organizers of the New Lambton Uniting Church Getaway Weekend requested some sessions on understanding other faith traditions and so a group of Rigpa Buddhists and some members from the Islamic community we invited to give presentations. On the day only the Islamic guests were able to come.
In March 2008 I was part of an Interfaith Exposure tour in India and as a result of contacts made there, New Lambton Uniting Church has developed close ties with Hindu and Sikh friends in India who are active participants in their own faith communities and in the Christian community. We have made several attempts to bring these people to Australia to visit to share their insights but the Australian Department of Immigration has beaten us so far.
In September 2008 I attended an Affinity Iftar Dinner at the University of Newcastle and was fortunate to be sitting next to the newly appointed Imam at the Newcastle Mosque, Sheik Mohammad Khamis. The Sheik was very interested in developing relationships with the Christian community and over the next few months I visited the Mosque on several occasions and several people from the Mosque visited the New Lambton Uniting Church and Sheik Khamis spoke at one evening church service. Several Muslim friends including the Imam attended the Induction of the new Chairperson of Hunter Presbytery later in the year.
On Christmas Day the Sheik and several officials from the Mosque attended the Christmas service and brought congratulations from the Newcastle Islamic community on the festival of the birth of Jesus. They said that Muslims believe that Jesus is a prophet from God and therefore we are sisters and brothers and assured us of their friendship and support, at which point the congregation clapped. The Imam was then asked to light the Christ Candle and just managed to avoid setting his sleeve alight on the Advent Candles. During the last year there have been several bus trips into the country with Islamic students from Saudi Arabia joining with members of the local Uniting Church. I have also been bush walking with the Sheik. Also the Sheik has addressed the Retired Minister’s Luncheon and the Hunter Presbytery Easter Youth Camp.
Several members of local churches join the Islamic community for prayers at the Mosque on Fridays and Rev. Brian Brown and I attended the local celebration of the Hajj. Recently in Christ Church Cathedral in Newcastle there was a Multifaith Celebration organized by the Newcastle Multifaith Association and members of many traditions participated and read from their holy writings. This was an official Pre-Parliament Event for the Parliament of the World’s Religions. Several people from Newcastle attended the Parliament and there will be another event held locally in February.
I will be leaving Newcastle in February to become part of the Ministry Team at Bankstown Uniting Church. The Sheik from Newcastle Mosque has offered to come and introduce me to leaders of the Islamic community in Bankstown so that I can develop good relationships with them."
Neil Smith, January 2010.
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Sheik Khamis speaking at
Christmas service at
New Lambton Uniting Church
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Members of the New Lambton Uniting
Church and Newcastle Muslim students
attempting a low ropes course.
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| Preparing for the high ropes course. |