Griffith University

Address:Multi-Faith Centre
Griffith University, Nathan campus
170 Kessels Road, Nathan
Brisbane, QLD 4111 Australia

Director (outgoing): Prof. Toh Swee-Hin (S.H.Toh)  (from June 2003-August 2009)
Contact: Yaseen Haider, Administrative Support Officer
Phone: +61 (0)7 3735 7052    Fax: +61 (0)7 3735 7131
Email: mfc@griffith.edu.au
Website: http://www.griffith.edu.au/community/multi-faith-centre

Brief Description/History

In the late 90s, local faith leaders in Brisbane, notably members of the Interfaith Multicultural Forum and Griffith University administrators played key roles in the envisioning and founding of the Multi-Faith Centre (MFC). The Centre was opened in May 2002 on the Nathan Campus through generous donations from Ven Master Chin Kung and the Pure Land Learning College as well as various individuals and faith communities. In accord with the university’s commitment to community engagement, the Centre was envisioned as a venue where people and communities 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. While fostering respect of differences among faiths, such interfaith dialogue most importantly can lead participants to find a common ground of shared values and principles such as love, respect, justice, compassion, integrity, forgiveness, reconciliation and active non-violence. The MFC essentially seeks to weave understanding, education, research and advocacy in inter-faith dialogue towards a culture of peace in local, national and global contexts based on the following Charter of Values:

• Recognition of the reality of religious pluralism, and the multi-faith and multi-cultural nature of Australian society.
• Respect for the rights of participants to their own religious traditions and practices.
• Promotion of dialogue between people of different religions, faiths and philosophies.
• Working co-operatively towards a peaceful and just society –  locally, nationally and globally
  

In this regard, the MFC 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.

The generous funding provided by Ven Master Chin Kung, the MFC's Patron, Ms. Lily Hwoo and the Pure Land Learning College to build the Centre and support staffing and programs to promote interfaith dialogue for a culture of peace, as well as inaugural donations from other faith institutions, deserve grateful acknowledgement. Various faith communities including the Everald Compton Foundation have also assisted with grants and in-kind support (e.g., volunteers, co-sponsorship) for specific MFC projects and activities. The Queensland Government, especially through Multicultural Affairs Queensland (MAQ), have regularly supported MFC projects as part of MAQ’s  multicultural assistance program. Assistance has also been provided by Lord Mayor's office, Brisbane City Council, in organising the Multi-Faith tours of places of religious worship. 

The MFC receives policy guidance from members of its Advisory Committee who are prominent Australian and regional leaders in faith, interfaith organizations, education, media and business organizations, institutions, peak bodies and communities.  Core staff include a full-time Director, an administrative support officer, a part-time special projects coordinator and casual student assistants.      

The MFC can look back on its six years as a fruitful period of consolidation of years of implementation of its vision and mission through a wide range of programs and activities.

Activities

[Visit website for details of annual activities http://www.griffith.edu.au/community/multi-faith-centre]

To fulfil its vision, goals and charter, the MFC has designed, implemented and/or facilitated a range of active programs and activities including inter-faith dialogue forums, multi-faith prayer services, meditation classes, interfaith organizing, celebration of religious festivals, multi-faith concerts, workshops, conferences, symposia, exhibitions, visiting fellowships, research, publications and networking. Increasingly, these activities have been conducted in cooperation with numerous local, national, regional and international faith communities, institutions, organizations and partners.

Since June 2003, when the inaugural  Director (Professor Toh Swee-Hin) was appointed, MFC has held over 70 inter-faith dialogue forums focusing on many different themes and topics, including:  Harmony and Multiculturalism; Building a peaceful and non-violent world; Faith, spirituality and health; Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples; Refugees and compassion; Role of faiths in promoting environmental sustainability; Effective policing for multicultural societies; Women, faith and spirituality; Integrating interfaith perspectives in faith-based schools; Islam: the middle way” and alternatives to “terrorism”; Buddhist perspectives on DNA; Christianity &  Violence/Non-violence; faiths, religions and human rights; faith, spirituality and health; and raising children.

Many of these MFC forums and other activities have been held to commemorate significant international events like the International Day of Peace, World Environment Day, National Harmony Day, Refugee Week, National Reconciliation Week, International Human Rights Day, and the UNESCO’s 800th Anniversary of Rumi. The MFC has also helped to promote recognition and respect of the diversity of faiths through multi-faith prayer services as a part of many of its events. Several faith leaders and scholars have been invited as visiting fellows to share their knowledge and wisdom with local communities and Griffith staff and students.

Faith and spirituality development activities have been organized or hosted to encourage and facilitate efforts of members of the university and wider community to deepen their faith and spirituality, and promote continuing education in their traditions, civilizations and philosophies. For six years until 2008, the MFC cooperated with the University Chaplaincy in holding the Annual Commencement Service that included a multi-faith prayer and a keynote address by a faith leader. The MFC also serves as a venue for faith formation, spiritual growth and meditation classes, and jointly coordinates with the Griffith University Muslim Students Association a mosallah or prayer room for Muslim students and staff. In 2005, a multi-prayer service was held to express condolences and solidarity for all peoples affected by the tsunami disaster. The MFC has provided introductory seminars on meditation from various traditions including Christian, Buddhist and Hindu.

Each year, the MFC draws on its limited budget to host a few visiting fellows and speakers to promote education and research on inter-faith dialogue, peace education and related fields, in collaboration with Griffith staff and students, and the wider community.  Increasingly, numerous faith communities and institutions have co-operated with the MFC in co-hosting visiting speakers (Australian and overseas) including theologians, clergy, imams, sangha and religious studies scholars.

Over the past six years, the MFC has worked closely with schools, teachers and administrators to promote the integration of interfaith perspectives in the curricula and institutional policies and environment of educational institutions, especially faith-based and increasingly also state schools. Hundreds of school students  have annually visited the MFC to participate in interfaith activities celebrating Harmony Day, Refugees Week, World Environment Day, International Day of Peace,  and Reconciliation Week.  During 2007, the MFC cooperated with Edmund Rice Education in a year long series of workshops for teachers resulting in a set of curriculum modules written by teachers for including perspectives from diverse faiths in teaching various topics and themes. The MFC has also provided interfaith panels to help students from Studies in Religion and Religion and Ethics classes to understand and respect other faiths, while also affirming many common values for peace, harmony, justice, compassion and sustainability.

Since 2004, the MFC has held at least one major event annually involving participants from various countries, regions and across Australia.  In 2004, the Asia-Pacific Youth Inter-faith Dialogue enabled 20 Australian youth and another 20 youth from 10 other Asian-Pacific countries to interact and learn about each other’s cultures, faiths and positive lessons in interfaith dialogue for building peace.  In August, 2005, an International Interfaith Dialogue Symposium on the theme “Cultivating Wisdom, Harvesting Peace” was hosted by the MFC in cooperation with UNESCO and diverse faith, interfaith, civic and educational institutions worldwide. A book of papers presented by the speakers, including very well-known and internationally respected faith leaders, has also been published together with the almost 100 recommendations for educational and social policies and practices.

In early 2006, the MFC co-organized a Symposium which brought together faith, government and civic leaders to reflect on the Dec, 2005, violence at Cronulla, and suggest many practical ideas to prevent such types of conflicts. On May 1, 2007, the MFC  cooperated with many faith, interfaith and educational bodies in holding a National Forum on the theme of “Living under Religious Laws and Civil Laws: Conflict or Harmony?” which clarified that Australian members of faith communities are able to successfully live within the framework of both their faith laws as well as Australian  civil laws.

In February, 2008, the MFC and the Brisbane-based Believing Women for a Culture of Peace organization, together with numerous other faith, interfaith, multicultural and educational institutions and communities, hosted an Asia-Pacific conference on Women, Faith and a Culture of Peace, showcasing exemplars of women seeking to transform faith communities across faiths to build more peaceful, just and gender-equitable societies. 

In February, 2009, the MFC and the Pure Land Learning College co-organized an Interfaith Summit held at the Brisbane City Hall, on the theme of One Humanity, Many Faiths: An Interfaith Summit for Peace and Harmony in Australia and the Asia-Pacific Region. This major event received funding and institutional support of Ven Master Chin Kung and the Pure Land Learning College, as well as endorsement for the  Summit’s vision and goals from several key peak bodies of faith communities, including the National Council of Churches,  Catholic Bishops Conference, Uniting Church, Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC), Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils, Hindu Council, Sikh Council and the Baha’i Community. The Summit brought together over 350 leaders and representatives of diverse faith and interfaith institutions to dialogue on how the core values, beliefs and practices of their faiths are promoting peaceful and harmonious relationships in Australia and a number of Asia-Pacific countries. 

Over three days, considerable interfaith dialogue and sharing of ideas and experience occurred through a varied program  of  plenary panels from faith leaders sharing core values, principles and practices of their faiths that uphold peace and harmony;  concurrent panels focusing on specific issues (e.g., preventing violence, promoting human rights, building sustainable futures; education for a culture of peace; promoting social justice, fostering intercultural respect and reconciliation, building peaceful and democratic societies and cultivating inner peace);  and  participatory interfaith dialogue circles that encouraged all delegates to share personal success stories of  faiths in promoting peace and harmony. The program also featured an evening of sacred music and multicultural performances,  an exhibition of  posters, paintings and text on “Faiths, Peace and Harmony,” and a post-Summit guided tour of  four places of worship in Brisbane.

In March 2008, the MFC received a $30,000 grant from Multicultural Affairs Qld under its multicultural assistance program (2008/09) to conduct a year long In-service Development Training Program in Interfaith Understanding and Dialogue. Designed for faith leaders and workers, and personnel and representatives of multicultural, educational and governmental agencies, the program comprised a flexible series of learning opportunities to deepen  understanding of  the beliefs and practices of diverse faiths; workshops on key principles, and strategies in interfaith dialogue; serving or participating in significant faith festivals or ceremonies; attending various  thematic interfaith dialogue-forums hosted or co-sponsored by the Multi-Faith Centre in cooperation with diverse faith communities and institutions, and introduction to various meditation methods. Based on an “interfaith passport” documenting participation in diverse faith and interfaith events or ceremonies, some 40 participants completed the program and received a Multi-Faith Centre certificate on completion of the program in early 2009. It is hoped that these graduates will serve as local leaders for interfaith dialogue for a culture of peace in their diverse faith communities.

The MFC is one of the recipients of a Q150 Community Funding Grant to prepare a web-based report on the past and present programs and activities to promote interfaith dialogue among faith communities in the Brisbane area. This project, undertaken during 2008 is most relevant to the vision and themes of the Q150 Celebrations – “reflect on our past, imagine our future” – the key themes of history, people, places, and future.
 
The MFC encourages all Griffith University staff and students to participate in its interfaith dialogues and other activities. Various University Faculties, Departments and Centres have provided co-sponsorship of specific events  relevant to their academic fields of interest, while scholars have been invited to present talks in interfaith dialogue panels and conferences organized by the MFC. A number of staff and student faith groups have also used the MFC as a venue for their faith studies, celebrations and other meetings. The MFC cooperates with the Griffith University Muslim Students Association in coordinating the use of the mosallah or Muslim praying room that was built as an annex of the MFC. Since its establishment, the MFC has also provided advice to the University on the provision of prayer rooms on other campuses. Possibilities for the MFC to design and implement university-level courses in interfaith understanding and education have also been explored with relevant academic divisions. 

Where the schedule is feasible and proposed activities are consistent with the MFC’s charter of values, rooms are made available for the occasional use of various community groups and university staff or students associations or units. Increasingly, to meet the cost of  “wear and tear” and maintenance, a user fee is charged. Activities include meditation; faith meetings and celebrations; retreats; conferences; workshops, seminars; and university academic or administrative functions. 

Since its establishment, the MFC has developed active linkages, exchanges and partnerships with a broad range of local, national, regional and international organizations and institutions, including the major global interfaith movements such as a Religions for Peace, Parliament of the World’s Religions and United Religions Initiative, and governmental bodies (e.g., Multicultural Affairs Queensland) and intergovernmental agencies such as UNESCO. 

The Centre has been increasingly consulted by government departments, academic institutions, interfaith groups, multicultural associations, schools, and individuals to provide advice and contacts for inter-faith events and activities, including multi-faith prayer services. Through consultations, meetings and conferences, the MFC Director was provided valuable opportunities to enhance awareness of the vision and programs of MFC as well as strengthen networking at local, regional and international levels. Possible initiatives and projects for cooperation between the MFC and the other agencies are also explored as an outcome of these meetings.

The MFC Director has served, at the invitation of the Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs, as a member of the Australian delegation to the Asia-Pacific Interfaith Regional Interfaith conference for peace and cooperation (Waitangi, New Zealand, 2007; Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 2008).  He has also been invited to participate in numerous interfaith, faith, intercultural and peacebuilding conferences in several countries and regions, including the 2550th Anniversary of the Buddha conference at UNESCO, Paris (organized by the Pure Land Learning College and Buddhist member states of UNESCO); the 8th World Assembly  on Religions for Peace, Kyoto, 2006; the Parliament of the World’s Religions, Barcelona, 2004;  the Interfaith Education Seminar, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Indonesia, 2005;  the Buddhist-Muslim Dialogue, co-hosted by the International Movement for a Just World and  International Network of Engaged Buddhists, Thailand, 2006; the International Conference on Islamic Scholars, Indonesia, 2004; and the Asian Conference on religions for Peace, Philippines, 2008.

The MFC Director, Prof. Toh, was also invited to join the Australia 2020 Summit in Canberra (April 19th-20th) as one of the 100 participants in the discussion stream on “Australia’s Future Security and Prosperity in a rapidly Changing Region and World.” In his session dialogues, he emphasized the relevance and importance of interfaith dialogue for promoting national and regional peace and harmony as well as the contribution of peace education to building a culture of peace at local, national and international levels. He noted that Australia’s “security and prosperity” is interdependent with the needs and rights of peoples in all other regions to live with peace, justice, human rights, intercultural/interfaith respect and ecological sustainability.

The MFC has produced and published several reports and conference or symposia proceedings and other resources for raising awareness of interfaith dialogue for a culture of peace, including:

• Recommendations of  International Symposium on Cultivating Wisdom, Harvesting Peace  sent to all delegates and Ministries of Education and National Commissions and regional offices of UNESCO (January 2006)
• Proceedings of International Symposium on Cultivating Wisdom, Harvesting Peace in a book format for international distribution (2006)
• Report: Enhancing Interfaith Dialogue in Queensland submitted to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Multicultural Affairs Queensland (March 2006)
• Poster Exhibition Manual. Multi-cultural and Multi-faith Perspectives in Education for Sustainable Development (February 2006)
• Report Multi-cultural and Multi-faith Perspectives in Education for Sustainable Development submitted to the Australian National Commission for UNESCO (October 2006)
• Symposium Proceedings and Recommendations. National Symposium, Responding to Cronulla: Rethinking Multiculturalism. Posted on the Multi-faith Centre website (November 2006)
• Many Faiths One Humanity. An educational resource for integrating interfaith perspectives in educating for a culture of Peace. A joint project with Edmund Rice Education (2007)
• Living under Civil Laws and Religious “Laws” in Australia: Conflict or Harmony, May 1, 2007 (Forum Report)
• Asia-Pacific Interfaith Symposium on Women, Faith and a Culture of Peace, February 23-25, 2008 (Report)
• Many Faiths, Shared Values. Inspirational quotations for peaceful and harmonious living and relationships (2009)

Outcomes & Achievements
Based on its six years of work, the MFC has accomplished a range of positive outcomes and achievements that have been positively received by many leaders and communities from diverse faiths and interfaith networks.

• The MFC’s interfaith dialogue forums and other related activities have helped to promote a deeper understanding and respect of diverse faiths among participants, thereby contributing to a climate of greater harmony at local, national, regional and international levels.
• The presence and work of the MFC have encouraged and facilitated various faith leaders to enhance the level of interfaith dialogue and interaction within their own communities, through interpersonal and social contacts and projects  as well as institutional programs (e.g., integration in curriculum and learning strategies in schools, including in-service training of teachers and curriculum development).
• The MFC is increasingly being consulted by various faith institutions and other educational and social institutions for advice on undertaking interfaith activities and programs.
• By focusing on a range of key themes and issues of social and cultural importance and relevance to Australian society and the global community, the MFC’s approach to interfaith dialogue has helped members of diverse faiths to (a) discover their common and shared values and principles while respecting differences  and (b) consider creative ways to cooperate in overcoming these conflicts and problems.
• Various local faith communities have responded to the MFC’s invitation to co-operate in action projects to assist interfaith dialogue initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region.
• The graduation of 40 members of diverse faith communities from the MAQ-funded 2008 interfaith dialogue training program will add an important dimension of sustainability. Through their training, the graduates will hopefully catalyse and expand interfaith understanding in their local faith communities throughout Brisbane .
• Through its interfaith activities as well as networking and outreach initiatives, the MFC has enhanced its local, national and international reputation as one of Australia’s pioneering centres for advancing the vision of interfaith dialogue, so urgently needed in today’s world beset with multiple conflicts, including those motivated by “religious” perspectives.
• Governmental agencies have drawn on the experiences and expertise of the MFC to promote and integrate interfaith perspectives in governmental policies and programs.
• The MFC has been successful in obtaining regular funding from various governmental bodies and faith-based organizations to conduct specific projects to promote interfaith dialogue towards the  building of  a culture of peace.
• The MFC has an Advisory Committee that includse some of Australia’s and other internationally respected faith and interfaith leaders and advocates, as well as representatives from religious affairs media, universities  and business.  

Helping factors in facilitating the success of interfaith dialogue activities
Drawing on the MFC’s experiences in implementing a wide range of programs and activities for promoting interfaith dialogue for a culture of peace since its establishment, the following helping  factors  can be identified:

• the openness and commitment of many leaders and members of diverse faith communities and institutions towards understanding and respecting other faiths as an integral dimension of building a peaceful and multicultural Australia and world;
• the availability of  faith leaders and educators in the wider community to volunteer their knowledge, wisdom, theological and spiritual resources and voluntary energies for various MFC programs;
• the willingness of faith, interfaith, multicultural and educational institutions and organizations, especially senior leaders,  to be identified as institutional co-sponsors of MFC-initiated programs, activities and events has been very helpful  in empowering members of  their communities to attend and develop their interest in interfaith dialogue;
• apart from “theological” interfaith dialogue, necessary for deepening understanding of each other’s faith, a central focus by the MFC vision and mission on finding the common ground in shared values and principles across diverse faiths and encouraging communities to work together in building a culture of peace;
• the efforts by the MFC and other faith institutions and leaders to be attentive and sensitive to wider societal issues and problems that can impact on interfaith dialogue, and to effect constructive conflict resolution as a key part of interfaith organizing, have been crucial;
• the availability of a multi-purpose building with facilities located in a tranquil  environment for events and functions, as well as a design that provides a “neutral” welcoming and safe space for members of different faiths to gather and interact;
• the positive lessons drawn from the experiences of  other interfaith programs, projects and organizations at local, national, regional and international levels;
• the interfaith vision and commitment of  Ven Master Chin Kung, the MFC Patron Ms. Lily Hwoo and the Pure Land Learning College in generously providing substantive funds to support the building of the MFC and staffing and program, and the openness and innovativeness of Griffith University to the establishing of a multi-faith centre;
• the interest in and funding support by government agencies, especially Multicultural Affairs Queensland (MAQ) for interfaith projects and initiatives as an integral dimension of multiculturalism;

Difficulties encountered in interfaith dialogue initiatives/activities
Inevitably, undertaking any new complex initiative and project such as the MFC has its share of difficulties, some of which have been overcome through patient efforts, while others continue to be challenges.

• As experienced in interfaith work worldwide, a key challenge lies in overcoming the reluctance or rejection of some faith leaders and members in some communities or institutions to participate in interfaith relationships. Such exclusivist attitudes are not easy to change. Hopefully it can slowly happen through the intra-faith educational efforts of members and leaders within their faiths. Another strategy may be to begin first by bringing peoples of different faiths to focus on common issues and problems that affect all regardless of faith (e.g.’ environmental crisis; violence; local/global justice; reconciliation; human rights etc). From this interfaith dialogue for action in building peace, hopefully there may be more openness to moving to theological interfaith understanding.
• All faith communities and institutions have very busy schedules of their regular faith activities and practices, including prayer, rituals, festivals, and faith studies and formation. Hence, it may not be easy to find as much time to participate in interfaith activities.  Hopefully as the number of members interested in interfaith understanding grows, the capacity of  a community to nominate representatives to attend interfaith events will also be enhanced. Possibilities for coordinating and synergizing the energies and resources of various faiths also need to be explored and organized.
• While moral and in-kind support of faith communities for implementing the MFC’s interfaith programs has been most generaous, the issue of sustainable funding for the MFC has been a primary challenge since its establishment. In many faith communities, understandably resources are always urgently needed to sustain various projects and programs, including places of worship, schools and a range of  educational and social services. Hopefully, it may be possible to also raise funds from a diverse range of faith communities for interfaith work.
• The location of a multi-faith centre within a university context presents opportunities for linking the community engagement dimension of the Centre’s vision and mission with the academic components. However, to effectively accomplish this goal, it will also be necessary for Centre staffing roles to be integrated in the academic structure, thereby enabling the institutionalization and mainstreaming of interfaith dialogue in academic courses and programs.  

The Future of the Multi-Faith Centre
The MFC needs to consolidate and deepen its programs and activities in promoting interfaith dialogue for a culture of peace. Hopefully, sufficient resources will be raised to enable a greater number of  individuals  and communities to be reached. In this regard, the MFC’s current reputation and trust built over the years among diverse faith communities will be very helpful in enhancing its leadership role in catalysing faith and interfaith bodies to develop closer coordination and cooperation in pursuing a common vision of promoting dialogue toward a culture of peace.

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