About Us

Barnet Multifaith Forum began in 2004 with support and encouragement from Barnet Council. The Forum made a commitment to promote interfaith dialogue and cooperation, in order to

• learn more about one another’s faiths
• promote respect, tolerance and understanding for the integrity of each other’s beliefs, cultures and traditions through inter-faith dialogue
• publicly symbolise to the residents of Barnet the peaceful co-existence that exists between the borough’s faith communities
• advise the Council and other local public service providers on cultural, religious and related social issues and to actively promote community cohesion

History

The Forum has membership of almost 30 faith-based organisations located within the London Borough of Barnet and is served by an Executive Committee which has representation from all major world faiths. In addition, Barnet Council and Barnet Police are ex-officio members of the Executive Committee. All member organisations pay a subscription of £10 per year To offset administrative costs.

The Executive

The Executive Committee meets monthly usually at Hendon Town Hall. In addition the Forum hold Plenary Sessions during the year which are open to all.
Examples of speakers at the Plenaries have been, Mr Brian Pearce of the Interfaith Network of the UK, the Hon. Barney Leith of Baha’i, a panel from the Police, Muslim and Jewish communities on facing terror.
Some of the themes include ‘Standing Together in the Face of Terror’ after the London bombings with presentations from national Jewish and Muslim communities, the Borough Commander and the Mayor; identifying an Action Plan wider Forum members; engaging with Barnet Council on the Cricklewood, West Hendon and Brent Cross £2.3bn regeneration area.

Revd Bernd Koschland, Chair
Father John Hawkins, Hon. Secretary