Interfaith Festival Brings Unity and Understanding

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On 19 November, at the Victorian Interfaith Networks Festival, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met with other faith communities to share beliefs and increase understanding.

Ashley Parton, Church Regional Communications Director said, “The Merri-Bek City council showcased the diversity of interfaith communities at the Annual Event. Pastors, religious leaders, chaplains, and individual members expressed their faith through invitations to understand how they practice their beliefs at the stalls within the Council Hall.”

He continued, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints highlighted the focus on genealogy and how all children of God are connected through family history both here and beyond the grave.”

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Nathan Petty who helped with the family history table said, “It was a very enjoyable day. Everyone was friendly and interested in what everyone else was presenting. We gave away all our booklets and pamphlets. Many seemed genuinely interested in getting their own family tree started. . . and we all learnt a lot from talking to the people at the other tables.”

Various speakers noted the desire for all within the community to be safe and feel safe amid troubling global uncertainty, wars and famine, and how we can make a difference by embracing all people, their culture, their faith and their contribution to the Merri-Bek community.

Peter Sorenson and Nathan Petty spoke for some time with Sana Hosseini of the Bahai faith. Sana told them he was taught once a week by a member of the Church of Jesus Christ as part of his formal religious upbringing. He was also taught by a member of the Seventh Day Adventists. Nathan later spent some time talking about our Temples with him.

“Sana was lovely,” says Peter. “I will catch up with him again, no doubt.”

Peter and Nathan also chatted with Step Gower from the Salvation Army and discussed possible collaborative efforts. Local church leaders are now looking into doing a project with ‘Salvos’ in the first quarter of 2024.

Other conversations of the day included learning about literature regarding reconciliation with First Nations People, and the importance of Greek Orthodox icon paintings and their importance in the spiritual lives of Greek Orthodox members. Peter plans to attend an icon painting workshop next year in which Greek painters with theological training will teach.

Of the Merri-bek Interfaith Festival, David Cowan said, “It was great to be able to be with like-minded people from other faiths. I have represented the Church at these events for over ten years now. The Church of Jesus Christ is held in high esteem with others in the Interfaith community. We can learn a lot from each other’s faith journey which strengthens my own faith.”