1. Death of Caroline Blair
We're sorry to announce that Caroline Blair died last week. As a key member of Kensington Unitarians and a long time supporter of Summer School and hard-working member of the Summer School Panel for a number of years, she will be greatly missed. She was also a Leader on the Youth Programme. Her husband Jim and daughters Jennie and Iona invite people to join them at the following services. For more information contact info@kensingtonunitarians.org.uk and we'd appreciate you letting us know if you plan to attend either service.
Farewell Service – Friday 18 September at 1.45pm
There will be a farewell service at Ruislip Crematorium, (Breakspear Road, HA4 7SJ) on Friday 18 September 2015. Arrive at the West Chapel by 1.35pm.
Celebration of Life – Saturday 3 October at 2.30pm
There will be a longer memorial service at Essex Church on Saturday 3 October from 2.30pm. This will be followed by a reception.
If you would like to make a charity donation to the Meadow House Hospice in memory of Caroline you can do so via this JustGiving page:
2. IARF Europe and Middle East Regional Conference 2016
Advance notice is given that the International Association for Religious Freedom ( IARF) regional conference 2016 will be in Skopje and Tetovo in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia from 22 - 25 August 2016.
Theme: Religion and Conflict Prevention
Tentative details:
Monday 22 Arrival
Tuesday 23 Full programme
Wednesday 24 Full programme
Thursday 25 Departure and/or extra time for international meetings and (tentatively) European Liberal Protestant Network meeting
Friday 19 - Monday 22 pre congress trip (Pilgrimage with Albanian Bektashis)
Details will be shared on the IARF website as and when available. All are welcome to attend.
3. Media Coverage
Oat Street Unitarian Chapel in Evesham participated in Heritage Open Days (Evesham Journal 8 September 2015)
Kingswood Meeting House – “Wychall Church “on the side of love” gets go ahead for same sex marriage (Redditch Advertiser 9 September 2015)
The Chief Officer joined with representatives of faith bodies in signing a Letter to the Editor on Welfare Reform which was published in The Daily Telegraph (11 September 2015). It is the third letter on the page.
and more unusually
The Chief Officer was interviewed by RTV21 (Kosovo TV station) during an IARF visit to Tirana, Albania for the inauguration of The Odeon, the Central Bektashi Sanctuary of the World Bektashi Community. It is, of course, in Albanian and also features the Rev Wytske Dijkatra, President of IARF from 21.36. The Bektashis are fully recognised in Albania (20% of the population) but suffer discrimination in Kosovo and FYR Macedonia lacking official recognition. The Tekke (Monastery) featured at the beginning was where the IARF delegation spent a night two days before in Gjakova, Kosovo and were made most welcome by Baba (Father) Mumin Lama.