Interfaith

The Campaign

Faithworks is a new campaign from UMSU for 2010/11. It's time for the union to represent students of religion on campus. The campaign will create events for students of faith or no faith to discuss faith traditions in relation to current affairs and social and religious issues. We will also volunteer together to show that students of faith can bring a positive impact to campus and the wider community. Faithworks will work for all students to create a harmonious inter-faith atmosphere on campus.

Achievements

Created in June 2010 we are a new campaign that has made a big impact on UMSU in our first year! We hosted Muslim-Jewish rappers 'Lines of Faith' in October for an inspiring and lively musical introduction to inter-faith.

In November we had a fantastic Inter-faith week in line with National Inter-faith Week. Ten events were organised ranging from inter-faith volunteering, scriptural reasoning event, a panel debate, a coffee and cake evening for women, an inter-faith fair, charity collection and gospel singing. These events were organised by enthusiastic students, chaplains and faith societies. It was a massive success that launched the concept of inter-faith dialogue and action loud and clear into our union space.
We also played host to Jenan Mohajir from Chicago who works for the inspiring Interfaith Youth Core www.ifyc.org

In our second semester we had the plan to put forward a motion to secure Faithworks' future, but unfortunately we did not have enough people attend that meeting. Instead we filled the term with more Scriptural Reasoning events, this time on the theme of money in religion and bread. Three students on the 3 Faiths Forum Parliamentors Scheme ran *Faithworks Live* a night of musical, dance and singing performances with representatives from different religious traditions. We also had a workshop with Mount Elimu to discuss the role of religion in International development work. This term The Chaplaincy held a Banquet also on a music theme attended by over a hundred people, and the women had their own coffee and cake discussion group.

How to get involved

To get involved please email faithworks@umsu.manchester.ac.uk, or join the facebook group Or visit our website. We are looking for new committee members! Bring your enthusiasm and post a message on our facebook page or email for contact with current committee members.