Representatives of the peak national organisations of Christians, Muslims and Jews met in Sydney this week for the first ever formal three-way discussion between these groups in Australia.

The meeting, at The Great Synagogue, was an opportunity for the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA), the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) and the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) to exchange information and opinions in what proved to be a positive and harmonious manner.

Amjad Mehboob, of AFIC, the Revd John Henderson, of the NCCA, and Jeremy Jones, of the ECAJ, led their respective faith representatives.

Other participants were Rabbi Raymond Apple, Sheikh Amin Hady, Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins, Sister Trish Madigan, Mr Hafez Malas, Mrs Peta Pellach, Ms Wendy Wilkie and Bishop Mar Meelis Zaia.

Participants agreed that Australia generally has a strong record of inter-communal harmony and has the potential to be an example to other societies as to how people of goodwill, from these three religions and others, can work together in the interests of the community.

The meeting took place a week after the three faith community bodies issued a joint statement calling for dialogue, as the way to peace in the Middle East, and condemning violence, vandalism and harassment on the basis of religion or race.

All present took part in the process of information sharing and learning about each other, in an open, warm and honest manner.

The group agreed to reconvene next month, as guests of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils.

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Further Information:

John Henderson, General Secretary, National Council of Churches in Australia - (02) 9299-2215

Amjad Ali Mehboob, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Federation of Islamic Councils - 0408-234-434

Jeremy Jones, President, Executive Council of Australian Jewry - 0411-536-436