Walking Together: Our Faiths & Reconciliation
7th International Interreligious Abraham Conference
Walking Together: Our Faiths & Reconciliation
On Sunday, 19th of October, the 7th International Inter-religious Abraham Conference was held at the University of Sydney, Webster Theatre. There was an audience of over 210 people who attended this annual conference, which has become the Premier annual interfaith event on the Sydney calendar.
In building on the work and discourse of previous years, the theme of this year’s conference ‘Walking Together: Our Faiths & Reconciliation” aimed at focusing on the important role of relationship-building between people who belong to a diversity of faiths and cultures, especially against the backdrop of the significant local event of reconciliation with the Prime Minister’s apology at the opening of Parliament this year.
Affinity's President and Chairperson of the Abraham Conference Steering Committee, Mr Mehmet Saral, made introductory remarks prior to introducing the MC for the program. He remarked, "We present this year's conference combining the talent and experience of the host organisations for. this day of intellectual discourse and interactive stimulation in the field of inter-religious dialogue and action." Former ABC TV News anchorman, Richard Morecroft was then introduced as the Master of Ceremonies and the host for the afternoon session in a discussion forum
The Conference was officially opened by The Hon Mr Paul Lynch MP, NSW State Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Mr Lynch gave a good account for the issues faced by the Aboriginal community.
Prof Larissa Behrendt, Professor of Law and Director of Research at the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at the University of Technology, Sydney, delivered the keynote address. Prof Behrendt explored ‘the challenges that remain after "sorry". She then gave a reflection over “the bigger themes that emerge from the reconciliation process and the relationship between Aboriginal people and the rest of Australia”.
Following the keynote address, a musical item was presented with the moving sounds of the Aboriginal Didgeridoo performed by Quinto from Didj-Beat, who also performed at the opening of the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Justice Stephen Rothman AM, Former President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW, presented the Jewish perspective on the theme and conceded differences within communities and in particular with minority groups within a community is critical to be acknowledged and accepted.
A/Prof Gerard Hall, Theology faculty - Australian Catholic University, delivered the Christian perspective. He remarked ‘Although reconciliation is a biblical term with theological significance, especially for Christians, its current usage highlights a broader intercultural and socio-political agenda that all Australians can—or should—relate to”.
A/Prof Ismail Albayrak, Fethullah Gulen Islamic Chair – Australian Catholic University, was invited to then discuss the Islamic perspective on the theme. He focused “on one of the central themes in Islam, namely musalaha (reconciliation) and the different types of reconciliation and reconciliatory processes.”
Food for thought led way for a good luncheon generously catered for all appetites and followed the audience to the lawns of the Webster Theatre.
The afternoon session was an interactive discussion forum, with the four speakers from the morning session on stage. Local experts in the audience along with others engaged in an interactive session with a range of questions on the theme.
The Discussion session was then followed by a musical performance called "Bridge over Troubled Water", which was a duet performed by Judy Campbell, North Shore Temple Emanuel & Andrea Catzel from Temple Emanuel Woolahra.
The program was then concluded with a Vote of Thanks from Mehmet Saral, who thanked all of the partners and sponsors as well as the Speakers and musical performers. He invited all of the Steering Committee members to the stage and gifts were handed by each Steering Committee member to each Speaker and Musical performer.
Links for the conference papers and booklet
- Abraham Conference Program Booklet
- Prof Larissa Behrendt's paper
- Prof Ismail Albayrak's paper
- Justice Stephen Rothman's paper
- A/Prof Gerard Hall's paper