Inter Faith Week (13 - 20 November 2022) is a week to celebrate the diversity between different faith communities and aims to strengthen inter faith relations at all levels.
The week promotes for Inter Faith Week events to be held across the UK, with schools, museums, sports organisations amongst faith communities and their places of worship all taking part to increase awareness of the different and distinct faith communities in the UK and how people of different faiths contribute to their communities through their lifestyle.
Our Inter-Faith page features a group of people of different faiths living in Suffolk, their insights on their faith and how it impacts their lifestyle. The page can be found here.
Suffolk is a much more diverse county than many people think, not least when it comes to religious beliefs. During this Inter Faith Week (ending 20th November), the diocesan social media accounts will be hosting a number of profiles of people of different faiths in Suffolk, introducing you, its followers, to members of different local faith communities. During a particular time of year when inter faith dialogue and opportunities for deeper understanding between people of faith is encouraged, we hope that this small initiative will act as a catalyst for the building of relationships between the Church of England and other faith communities locally.
The Revd Tom Mumford, currently Vicar of St Mary le Tower in Ipswich, is the DIFA. His role is to advise the bishops and others on matters of interfaith, provide them with points of connection to different faith communities and to promote interfaith dialogue. Tom’s first task has been to make connections with different faith communities in Suffolk, and compile a database of contacts. Tom is also building a team of ‘Assistant DIFAs’ across the diocese. Assistant DIFAs are a new role that will enable relationships to deepen, ensure contacts are up to date, and help plan interfaith events.
If you would like to find out more about different faith communities local to your parish or benefice, get in contact with The Reverend Tom Mumford, Diocesan Interfaith Advisor at tom.mumford@cofesuffolk.org