by Ella Vickers - CCJ Campus Leadership Programme 2023-24 

Prior to Interfaith Week, the Durham University Interfaith Student Network (DISN) gathered to discuss initial plans. Han and I coordinated the icebreaker task which entailed ‘speed faithing’ using the questions from the CCJ training, placed in a rainbow bag (symbolic of inclusivity). This proved successful, with the lead chaplain Gavin responsible for the 5 minute timer and I was able to take on his role towards the end, to enable him to also take part. Representatives from the Hindu, Islam, Jewish, Catholic and Buddhist societies were present, alongside Han who represented Inclusive Christian Movement Durham as well as being a CCJ Campus Leader. Interfaith Week plans followed a similar structure to previous years, with each faith society holding an event on one day of the week. We clarified social media plans (reinstating the DISN Facebook, merging this with Instagram to reach a wider audience and making introduction posts for each person of DISN). Gavin ensured our events wouldn’t clash with the County Durham Interfaith Network gathering at the Oriental Museum (Han and I attended this). It was valuable to have Gavin as Lead Chaplain implicitly chairing/facilitating this meeting alongside all of us. 

The first Interfaith Week event was the Interfaith Quiz organised by Han and I for the Saturday evening. Han and I met 3 times during the planning. Preparations involved composing an email to send to presidents of the faith societies asking for 10 quiz questions, accessible to an audience who may not have full comprehension of the faith. This was an inclusive way to embrace the interfaith nature of the week, enabling faiths to compose their own questions as opposed to Han and I. It took a while for many to answer (some questions were inaccessible so we had to politely ask for less tricky ones) but we did receive all societies’ questions in time, to which Han combined into a PowerPoint. We decided the budget would be best spent on good prizes, to attract people to what could be considered a mundane quiz and to not include alcohol, clubbing or specific food types (to be inclusive of all faith practices): x5 £15 Pizza Express vouchers (1st prize), x5 £10 Waterstones vouchers (2nd prize), x5 small house plants from Durham indoor market (3rd prize) and a pack of toilet roll (last prize). I wrapped these prizes in ribbon and put them in a wicker basket for pleasant presentation, Han booked a seminar room (capacity of 50 people), we agreed to provide sweet treats (I made cookies, we bought vegan and gluten free biscuits and other quiz participants baked) and composed a reflection to be used before each Interfaith Week event, to pause and remember all those involved in the Israel-Palestine (and worldwide) conflict. 

On the day of the quiz, Han and I arranged the room with tables in clusters, wrote a title on the whiteboard, placed the baking and napkins by the door and arranged a table at the front for the prizes. 14 people were present in total, with Buddhists, Jewish, Catholic, ICMD members and atheists present. Three quiz teams were formed, we left time for introductions, the reflection was peacefully embraced, a 15 minute break worked well and everyone ended up with a prize to take home (we were concerned that it was a small number of participants, yet, the way in which all could go with a decent prize lifted spirits and instilled a good energy to launch Interfaith Week). Tim and Rebecca (college chaplains) hosted the quiz, which worked wonderfully as there was a good energy, combining jokes and a down-to-earth approach. We agreed that dog collars wouldn’t be worn, to not project an ideal of Christian dominance, instead, colour and summer shirts were worn! Gavin moved round each team for each of the 6 rounds, to enable all to benefit from the lead chaplain’s wealth of knowledge. People seemed settled and comfortable, seen through the way in which people would help themselves to sweet treats throughout the quiz. 

Overall, the quiz was a positive event, seen through the increased knowledge and laughter; a light-hearted yet informative evening. Next time, I would ensure there is a greater push on social media in advertising this e.g. on college chaplaincy Instagram pages and posters placed in person, in colleges. We look forward to hosting the next interfaith event, in January/February, to which we are already in conversation with Gavin about.