Bristol Multi-Faith Forum

BMCS has long supported inter-faith dialogue and our commitment to this has been well-documented and unswerving. However, we have also long advocated the notion that not only should faith communities learn more about each other, in the interest of increasing understanding and tolerance, but we should also work together to improve the society and environment around us.

It is with this objective that BMCS has played a pivotal role in 2005 in supporting the development of the Bristol Multi-Faith Forum. This has included initial exploratory discussion with Bristol City Council and representatives of other faith communities; developing the aims and objectives of the Forum; seeking funding for the new organisation; and finally the appointment of the Forum Development Worker. This latest aspect of the Forum has served to reduce the additional workload placed on our staff and Management Committee in developing the Bristol Multi-Faith Forum, allowing us more time to devote to the development of the Muslim Forum.

As per our proposal, all faith communities will develop their own Faith Forums from which representatives will be sent to the Multi-faith Forum. This we believe is the only practical way to have manageable input from the different faiths.

The Bristol Multi-Faith Forum will then feed into the Bristol Partnership, allowing faith communities for the first time, to impact directly on local policy development. The Forum will also act as a platform for raising issues within the faith communities.

Establishment of the Bristol Multi-Faith Forum is also due in no small part to the work of David Maggs of ISR and the Equalities Unit of Bristol City Council.