2.1. Interfaith Introductions:
Please bring with you a picture/image or item that is special to you
2.2. Audit of members
Minutes:
All HSACRE members had been requested to attend the meeting in person and bring with them a special item to share with other members. The following items were shared and discussed:
Stacey Burman – an item related to Star Wars which reminded her of a magical time in her life;
Ria Searle – photos of her wedding taken in May at a Roman Catholic Church in Wiltshire. Ria had been christened in the Church of England but had been brought up in a Catholic setting and felt Catholicism was her spiritual home;
Tim Wright – a photo of him with his Grandad who had worked as a missionary in Brazil. His grandad’s choices had involved considerable sacrifices, and the photo represented an inheritance of faith. Tim did not see the inheritance as a burden but as a gift to be ‘fanned into flames’.
Dorothy Sadlik – a small silver Airdale Terrier named ‘Honey’ and photos of a temporary wooden shelter (called a Sukkah) erected every year by her family over a period of some 30 years to celebrate the Jewish festival of Sukkot.
Hedson De Castro – a Bible used by the ladies at his Church to offer prayers following the passing of his mother. This had never been closed so he felt his mother was ever-present.
Councillor Ahmad-Wallana – photos taken during his Mayoralty, of a Civic Service attended by representatives of five different religions, which had been held at St Margaret’s Church in Uxbridge. The aim of the event had been to promote diversity and religious harmony, and a charter of peace had been signed.
Councillor Singh – photos of a primary school event at which the children had been interested in learning more about the Sikh religion. He commented that humanity was the best religion in the world.
Jamie Woodhouse – an information leaflet about Sentientism. Members heard that Sentientism was a philosophical world view which attempted to answer deep-rooted and important questions such as who and what mattered and how people could lead a good life. Sentientism rejected intraspecies discrimination and encouraged people to reconsider what had previously been considered normal.
Stacey Burman, HSACRE Advisor, commented that, nationally, the aim was to encourage schools to move away from the traditional religious education model and to instead explore the responses of different religions to questions such as ‘what makes us human?’ It was noted that question, enquiry and dialogue should be at the centre of all religious education. Stories about real people could help bring learning to life.
The importance of updating the website to include information about HSACRE members was noted. By the end of the term, all members were requested to send Stacey Burman an image or photo of a special item, together with a short piece of writing explaining why the item was important to them.
Councillor Singh informed members that Mr Jasvir Singh Rayah, member of HSACRE, had sadly passed away. It was agreed that a card would be sent to his family. A minute’s silence was held in memory of Mr Rayah.