Objectives of the council
All members agreed to the following objectives of the council after 18 months of discussion and consultation between leaders and representatives of different faith communities in Queensland. Queensland Faith Communities Council (the Council) was launched on 23 May 2017.
Vision
We are a Queensland network of Faith Communities committed to:
- advancing interfaith understanding and collaboration
- making a positive contribution within the broader community.
Mission
We do this by:
- engaging in dialogue that enhances our understanding of shared values and develops respect for our diversity
- publicly promoting interfaith relations by working together, through education, guidance and example, to support the positive outcomes of religious freedom, social justice, inclusivity and diversity.
Membership
Membership is open to any religious or faith/belief group or individual in Queensland interested in multi-faith activities, who can demonstrate support for the Vision, Mission and Code of Conduct of the Council.
Code of Conduct
Members of the Council will:
- respect the freedom of those of each faith and no faith within the law (of the land) to express their personal beliefs and convictions
- learn to understand what persons of each faith and no faith actually believe and value, allowing them to express this in their own terms
- be careful not to misrepresent or disparage others’ beliefs and practices, no matter how difficult we might find it to accept them
- respect the convictions of others about food, dress and social etiquette and not behave in ways which cause needless offence
- recognise that all of us at times fall short of the ideals of our faith traditions and never compare our own ideals with other people’s practices
- work to prevent disagreement leading to conflict and always seek to avoid violence, verbal or physical, in our relationships
- recognise that listening attentively and with integrity, as well as speaking honestly are necessary for a genuine conversation
- be honest and courageous in expressing and communicating our beliefs and religious allegiances;
- correct misunderstandings or misrepresentations (not only of our own faith but also of other faiths) whenever we come across them
- not seek to proselytize any other participant
- understand that by “interfaith dialogue” we do not mean a single unified religion beyond all existing religions nor the domination of one religion over all others.