The Griffith University Multi-Faith Centre established on the Nathan Campus on the edge of Toohey Forest, overlooks the surrounding suburbs and the mountains beyond.
In May 2002, the Griffith University Multi-Faith Centre was opened on the
Nathan Campus through generous donations from various individuals and faith
communities. The Centre was envisioned a venue where people from diverse faith,
religious and spirituality traditions can deepen their understanding of their
own faith and actively participate in inter-faith dialogue, education and
action.
As a unit with the Office of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Community
Partnerships), the Multi-Faith Centre also seeks to weave understanding,
education, research and advocacy in inter-faith dialogue towards a culture of
peace in local, national and global contexts.
In this regard, the Multi-Faith Centre joins the efforts of many
organizations and millions of people worldwide committed to building a world
based on principles of peace, compassion, active non-violence, justice, human
rights, intercultural respect, sustainability and spirituality.
Since it’s opening, the Multi-Faith Centre has been host to a number of
events promoting multi-faith dialogue especially through talks and symposia
featuring scholars and practitioners from various faiths. As the Centre
continues to expand its programs in the forthcoming years, it will be seeking
and welcoming opportunities to collaborate with institutions, organizations and
individuals in Australia and internationally to fulfill common visions, goals
and purposes.
Ms. Lily Hwoo
Professor Toh Swee-Hin (S.H. Toh), Laureate of the UNESCO Prize for Peace
Education in 2000, has been promoting education, research and action for a
culture of peace since the mid-70s. He has worked in various North and South
contexts as well as in collaboration with international agencies and networks,
including UNESCO, the International Institute on Peace Education, the Asia
Pacific Center of Education for International Understanding, and the World
Council for Curriculum & Instruction.
[Co-sponsored by Multi-Faith Centre; Griffith University, Queensland Government]
by Garek Fysch, Interfaith Chair of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies
On Thursday 24th July 2008, 6.30-8.00pm , at Multi-Faith Centre, Griffith University, Nathan Campus
Details : Description of the " Lecture on MODEL PASSOVER SEDER "
Speaker: The Rev’d Canon Dr Peter Catt, , The Sub-Dean, St John’s Cathedral Community Anglican Diocese of Brisbane
On Thursday 31st July 2008, 12.00-2.00 PM , at Multi-Faith Centre, Griffith University, Nathan Campus
Details : Description of the " Lecture on Christianity "
Speaker: Arsalan Mozaffari Falarti , Nematollahi Ghadeer Ali Shahi Order
Julia Howell, Associate Professor, Dept. of International Business and Asian Studies, Deputy Director, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University
On Tuesday 5th August 2008 , 7.15pm - 9.30pm , at Multi-Faith Centre, Griffith University, Nathan Campus
Details : Description of the " Lecture on Sufi Spirituality "
Speaker: Gurjeet Singh, Brisbane Sikh Temple
On Thursday August 14 2008, 7:00 -9:15 PM , at Multi-Faith Centre, Griffith University, Nathan Campus
Details : Description of the " Lecture on Sikhism "
Speaker: Dr. Halim Rane, Lecturer, National Centre of Excellence in Islamic Studies, Griffith University
On 19th August 2008, 7.15 -9:15 PM, at Multi-Faith Centre, Griffith University, Nathan Campus
Details : Description of the " Lecture on Islam "
Speaker: Jim Ferguson, President, Buddhist Council of Queensland
On Thursday 28 August 2008, 7.00 - 9.15 PM , at Multi-Faith Centre, Griffith University, Nathan Campus
Details : Description of the " Lecture on Buddhism"
by Ariel Heber, Community Liaison with Queensland Jewish Community Services Inc
On Thursday 13th Nov 2008, 4.00-5.30 pm , at Multi-Faith Centre, Griffith University, Nathan Campus
Details : Description of the " Lecture on MODEL PASSOVER SEDER "
[ Charter of Values ] [ A Million Dollar Donation! ] [ Celebrating Milestones ] [ Contact ]
In December 2000, the Venerable Master Chin Kung of the Amitabaha Buddhist Association of Singapore presented a cheque for One Million Dollars to Griffith University for the Multi-Faith Centre.The Venerable Master is shown here presenting the cheque to the Chancellor, Ms Leneen Forde, in the presence of the Vice Chancellor, Professor L.R. Webb, and the Chair of the Multi-Faith Centre Fund-raising Task Force, Mr Uri Themal.
This extraordinarily generous gift enabled the centre to be built.
At the time of the presentation, the Venerable Master spoke of his vision of multi-culturalism where the whole universe exists and co-exists as one and where all people are (sisters and) brothers of each other and therefore should respect each other. All religions, he said, share the fundamentals and like a tree with many different leaves and branches, there are different beliefs but all are from the same source. The Venerable Master said the purpose in his life, is to understand his religion, and to explain his beliefs and practices to others. He hoped that the Centre would be a starting point which would send a beam of light to all corners of the earth from Griffith University. "If we look beyond our own world, we will work for true peace and will work with each other and our love will reduce conflict with all people," the Venerable Master said.
In accepting the wonderful gift, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Roy Webb, said that the Venerable Master has indicated a greatly enlarged vision for the Multi Faith Centre beyond the wildest dreams in the past and had indicated a support which would endorse a world focus for the Centre.
The Chancellor thanked the Venerable Master Chin Kung not only for the gift but also for his words of wisdom and said that a vision which the Master had shared encouraged her in her position as Chancellor. Venerable Master Chin Kung presenting a gift of calligraphy to the Deputy Director of the Multi-Faith Centre in the presence of the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor and Chair of the Fund-raising Task Force.
At the ground-breaking ceremony in May, 1999, leaders representing five religions and elders of the Indigenous Australian community - dug soil from the proposed site of the centre and placed this soil into a capsule to be included in the Multi-Faith Centre when it was built. Each group blessed the soil and prayed appropriately for the project. The International, National and Local leaders included the Venerable Master Chin Kung of the Amitabha Buddhist Association of Singapore; the Foguangshan Buddhist Order's Master Hsing Ting from Taiwan; Christians: Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, the Most Rev. John Bathersby, Anglican Bishop Ron Willliams, Uniting Church national President, Reverend Professor James Haire, Lt Col Derrick Jessop of the Salvation Army; Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins of Sydney; Hindu Pundit Raj Kumar Mishra; Muslim Imam Abdul Quddoos; and Mr Naysan Faizi of the Baha'i National Assembly. The Griffith University Chaplain, Sister Patricia Blundell, the Chair of the Multi-Faith Centre Fund-raising Task Force, Mr Uri Themal, and the then Chancellor, the Hon John Macrossan, also participated in the ceremony. Uniting Church National President, Reverend Professor James Haire, said the need for such a centre reflected the changes in Australian society. "Australian universities were originally established under clear secularism but the effect of increasing multiculturalism is significantly changing that and Griffith is an example. The university has a strong need for areas of worship for staff and students," Reverend Professor Haire said.
Commencement of Construction was celebrated in October 2001 with a ceremony on the boundary of the construction site which called on blessings on the whole project and featured an address, THE URGENCY OF DIALOGUE, by Associate Professor John D'Arcy May of the Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College, Dublin. Dr May said that the Multi-Faith Centre is so important particularly in the light of the recent tragic events in America, the Middle East and South Asia as it serves the university's twin purposes of truth and reconciliation. This Centre provides the 'space' where this pursuit can happen, the 'place' where the Spirit can move and inspire us. The sounds of a didgeridoo interspersed prayers and chants for the success of the project which were offered by Aboriginal representative Des Sandy; Master Yi Lai, Abbess of the Chung Tian Buddhist Temple and Venerable Wu Tong of the Amitabha Buddhist Association; Baha'i Local President Mr Jef Clark; Christians - Archbishop John Bathersby, Bishop Ron Williams and Rev Ray Hunt; Dr K. M. Bhat of the Hindu Association; Rabbi Raymond Apple of the Great Synagogue, Sydney; Imam Quddoos of the Muslim community; and Torres Strait Islander representative, Ms Rose Eliu . The then Vice Chancellor, Professor Roy Webb, and the Chancellor Ms Leneen Forde both spoke and the Chancellor unveiled a plaque marking the occasion.
At dawn on Thursday 23rd May, a small crowd gathered on a gently sloping hillside, people walked in single file down the zigzag path, passed through the cleansing smoke of an Aboriginal fire-making ceremony and entered the building together thus declaring the Griffith University Multi-Faith Centre open. It was blessed and prayed for by Baha'i; Buddhist monks; Christian leaders and representatives of Anglican, Catholic, Uniting, Lutheran Churches and the Salvation Army; Hindu; Jew; Muslim; Sikh and representatives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. In the same ceremony, the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor, along with the above mentioned representatives, signed the inauguration charter.
CONTACT: email: mfc@griffith.edu.au
Director, Professor Toh Swee-Hin (S.H. Toh), phone: +61 (0)7 3735 7053 or
Administrative Support Officer, phone: +61 (0)7 3735 7052
Fax +61 (0)7 3735 7131
Griffith University, Multi-Faith Centre, Nathan Campus Qld 4111