Inverness Inter Faith Group
You can contact the Inverness Inter Faith Group by emailing Rosemary MacKinnon from Highland Council or the chair of the group Dr Reddy Redeppa.
Interfaith Picnic 2010
On 3rd July, the Inverness
Inter Faith Group hosted their second annual Inter Faith picnic in WhinPark.
This was enjoyed by over thirty followers of five main world faiths. Participants
came from far and wide, including members of the Skye Inter Faith Group. They
were joined by Frances Hume and Maureen Sier of the Scottish Inter Faith
Council, who took the opportunity to announce that Inverness would
be the venue for the launch of Scottish Inter Faith Week 2010 at the end of
November, to be hosted in partnership with the local Inverness Inter Faith Group.
As was the
case a year
previously, the weather held fair and warm and the mixture of all ages
as well
as several faiths resembled a large extended family, eating, talking and
playing together in a spirit of happy harmony. The children had a great
time
and enjoyed boating and taking a toy train ride.
Inter Faith Links with NHS on Spiritual Care
Dr Geoff Lachlan with Councillor Alex Graham, Chief Superintendent Cowie and a selection of medical professionals and Inter Faith supporters.
On Monday 7th December the Inverness Group celebrated Inter Faith Week with a presentation by Dr Geoff Lachlan, former general surgeon at the BelfordHospital in FortWilliam, who has made significant contributions to the development of a context for spiritual care in the NHS in Scotland. The event was introduced by Dr T. Reddy, present chairperson of the Inverness Group. There were welcomes from Councillor Alex Graham as Depute Provost and Chief Superintendant Cowie of the Northern Constabulary and a good attendance by a mix of senior hospital medical staff and supporters of inter faith.
Dr Lachlan explained spirituality as an everyday experience for the majority of people such as finding meaning and purpose to life, rather than the less well observed practice of a religious faith as such. He described recent developments in medical knowledge which recognise the important inter-relation of mind and body and a recognition of promoting well-being as part of treatment. Healthcare chaplaincy is undergoing professionalisation and aims now to support staff as well as patients.
Summer Picnic 2009
Whin Park was the venue for a glorious inter faith picnic in July 2009. It was a pleasant surprise to see blue skies with uninterrupted sunshine throughout the day which shone down on the 30 or so present. The picnic was a great opportunity for members from the Inverness and Skye Inter Faith groups to come together. It was really heartwarming to see families from diverse faith traditions enjoying sunshine, different cuisines, boat rides, games, conversation and walks along the river Ness and canal banks.The group was unexpectedly joined by a couple from Saudi Arabia who had been walking in the park. The evening before they had been walking the banks of the river when some drunks had followed them and called them names. They told those gathered that the picnic had restored their faith in Scottish hospitality and friendship!
The Scottish Government and the Scottish Inter Faith Council support inter faith dialogue at a national level and this is reflected in the support that the Highland Council’s Equal Opportunities Office has given to the local group in Inverness, which has members from the Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and Baha’i faiths. A spokesperson stated that although the faith groups may have different ways of expressing their beliefs individually, there was clearly a global desire to share common elements and to find ways of promoting a more united expression of faith. The Inverness group is also planning to have a public occasion to mark Inter Faith Week in November.