Statements
Making statements on current issues
Some groups and councils make statements from time to time about
inter faith issues. Statement making can be important but can also
have its problems - See The Local Inter Faith Guide for some of the
issues involved.
It is vital that any public statements by a council or group do
properly reflect views within it, or it will become discredited. Where
statements are made, consensus is of great importance. If a public
statement of policy or views is agreed only by a narrow margin, it is
unlikely to be supported by the defeated minority. If general
agreement cannot be reached on a matter, it may be preferable to leave
it to the individual faith communities to make their views known as
they wish, following the opportunity to hear the views of others in
the course of the discussion on the issue. It may not be necessary to
take a position, but rather simply to state a shared concern and
suggest some principles for consideration.
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