Interfaith women’s conference
The Jewish Christian Muslim Association of Australia has held its annual women’s interfaith residential conference.
About thirty women from the three Abrahamic faiths spent the weekend together examining the theme of ‘Women’s Place in Rituals and Worship’.
Individual and panel presentations, group discussions, demonstrations and explanations of elements of prayer and rituals from all three faiths, contributed to a weekend of learning and greater understanding between the different religious communities. Theological discussions- including historical, textual and cultural factors- advanced the depth of appreciation and respect for each other’s faiths.
JCCV Executive Member and JCMA Board Member Frances Prince said: “Participants were eager to learn, with open hearts and minds, about each other’s faith traditions.
Given we had a whole weekend together, we had the luxury of delving into complex issues in a manner worthy of their attention. On a personal note, I have spoken about Shabbat at many interfaith gatherings, but I have never actually had the experience of spending Shabbat at such an event.
Living Shabbat with such a diverse group of women, and explaining our Shabbat rituals in ‘real time’ added a profound dimension to my own experience that I simply did not foresee. The authenticity of a lived experience seemed to magnify everyone’s depth of understanding.
The conference was an outstanding success”
Goodmorning,am Dafalla Aisha,muslim in faith,am a Kenyan,volunteer with the Islamic body supkem,i have challenges as a muslim lady,just to sentatize muslim women in my country understanding the role of a woman in the community,because I work with the grassroot women all over the country.