Fijian Faith Leaders Dialogue on Truth, Reconciliation and Unity

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Starts in 13 Days, 8 Hours

2025-02-05

Country: Fiji
City:

  • Organizer

    Pacific Conference of Churches

  • Location

    4 Thurston Street, Suva, FIJI

  • Email

    [email protected]

2025 Fiji Faith Leaders Dialogue:  “Truth Telling, Healing and Reconciliation for Our Nation” 4 to 6 February, 2025 – Suva Fiji   Introduction:  As Fiji prepares for the establishment and work of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Fiji’s diverse faith communities are invited to gather for 3 days of deep sharing and listening and discussion to discern a shared vision of Truth-telling, Trauma Healing and Reconciliation.  This Faith Leaders’ Dialogue, which is independent of the TRC process has been developed through a process of intentional dialogues among a diverse group of faith leaders, convened and facilitated by the Fiji Council of Churches and Pacific Conference of Churches.  The aim of the Faith Leaders’ Dialogue is to provide a safe space and closed process for honest and deep sharing and reflections, small group discussions on the issues of Truth-telling, Healing and Reconciliation in the context of Fiji’s political crises and ethnic based violence over the last four decades.  In a nation where 98 percent of the population identify with a faith tradition, Fiji’s faith communities have a responsibility to guide their people not only in times of crises, but also in times of opportunity for meaningful engagement in processes that bring social cohesion and peacebuilding among communities and can support the “de-othering” of people who are culturally or religiously different and eventually lead to a culture of love and reciprocity among the people who call Fiji home.    Participants:  The Fiji Faith Leaders’ Dialogue will be comprised of leaders and representatives of Fiji’s faith communities. It is envisaged that 3-4 representatives from each of Fiji’s major faith organisations will attend, including a leader, a women’s representative and youth representative, to ensure that the dialogue is an inclusive and intergenerational gathering.  This dialogue will be a closed gathering with no media or government representatives, to allow the free expression of ideas, reflections, opinions, concerns, fears and hopes.     Process:  The gathering, over a period of three days, will include a mixture of:
  1. keynote presentations on the theme, 
  2. Short presentations on topics of truth telling, trauma healing, reconciliation from various faith perspectives: faith leaders or representatives will be asked to give short presentation from their scriptures and religious traditions
  3. small group discussions for reflections on the presentations, sharing on the themes of the dialogue and possible processes for sustained community interfaith dialogues.