Inter-Faith Origins and Key Organisations in the UK

• Inter-Faith activity in the UK takes place at UK, national, regional and local levels and includes groups concerned with the relationships between two religions, three religions, or many religions.

• Established bi-lateral organisations operating at a UK level include the Council of Christians and Jews. Trilateral groups include the Three Faiths Forum (concerned with Muslim-Jewish-Christian relations). Established multi-lateral groups include the World Congress of Faiths and the European section of the World Conference on Religion and Peace. The United Religions Initiative also has a UK initiative.

• Inter-Faith groups also have varied aims and objectives (see A Short Introduction to Inter-Faith Activity) ranging from relationships between individuals of different religions to relationships between religions and local authorities.

• The Inter Faith Network for the United Kingdom is a key inter-faith body, linking over 90 organisations including national representative bodies from among the religions; other national inter-faith organisations; local inter-faith groups; and academic and educational bodies concerned with relationships between the religions. There is now also a Scottish Inter Faith Council; an Inter Faith Council for Wales; and a Northern Ireland Inter Faith Forum.

• Both on its own, and together with other, the Network has produced good practice documents relating to inter-faith relations and to the relationships between religion and public bodies Code of Practice - Building Good Relations with People of Different Faiths and Beliefs.

Written by Professor Paul Weller