A day conference is to be held in Glasgow on April 20 to explore how different faiths approach mission and how the Church of Scotland can better understand the communities it is a part of. ‘Honest Conversations: Mission and Belief in Dialogue’ will include representatives of all three of the Abrahamic religions and speakers from the Universities of Cambridge, Cork and Edinburgh, along with the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Chruch of Scotland. There will also be opportunities to engage with others and build relationships.
The Rev Gordon Strang, minister of the three linked parishes of Cromdale and Advie, says: “Interfaith dialogue has long been a bit of a niche interest in the Church of Scotland, maybe because many of our communities haven’t looked too diverse in the past. But that is changing. Learning how other faiths think about mission and outreach, ours and theirs, will be really important, not just for those of us in formal ministry, but for anyone who seeks to reach out to the people around them. This conference will provide the environment for that sort of learning, and also a place where conversations can begin, commonalities and differences understood, and relationships forged.”
The event, at Queen’s Park Church, costs £30, £20 for students or can be accessed free through the study leave scheme for ministers. To book or for more information visit www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news_and_events/events or contact Mirella Yandoli on myandoli@churchofscotland.org.uk or 0131 225 5722