FAITH leaders in Rugby came together at an inaugural Faith Forum convened by the town’s MP.
John Slinger brought together a dozen faith leaders representing a variety of faiths from across the constituency to strengthen relations between different faith groups.
Participants highlighted the work taking place in Rugby to strengthen community cohesion and build inter-faith understanding.
The annual Peace Walk was also commended, and Mr Slinger noted the recent Many Paths, One World event held at the Benn Partnership Centre which celebrated Rugby’s diverse spiritual and cultural heritage.
The group discussed the need to bring people together across faiths and communities, how loneliness affects residents, and the impact of social media on young people.
The forum agreed that a future meeting would be beneficial and that the group would focus on practical steps that could be taken to strengthen community cohesion.
Mr Slinger said: “It is important for me to hear local faith leaders’ voices loud and clear and to help stimulate meaningful dialogue at the local and national level.
“Whether people are religious or not, Rugby’s strength lies in its diversity and the fact that we are a constituency at ease with itself. Different faith groups and ethnicities coexist peacefully, get on with one another, and engage with each other.
“However, we must never be complacent. The purpose of this forum is to explore ways to strengthen the bonds between us, facilitate communication, deepen understanding, and share our challenges and opportunities – not only in matters of faith but across the wider community.
“I hope this inaugural meeting will lead to further engagement with others who care deeply about these issues. This was just the first meeting, and I will invite more people to the next, most likely including young people.”
