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Dear IARF Members and Friends,
As some of you have already heard, Prof. George Williams decided to step down as President and coordinator of the Free Religion Institute to focus on his health. We realise how difficult a decision it was for him. He embraced the office with tremendous enthusiasm after decades of involvement with the IARF (he received the US Chapter’s Distinguished Leadership Award as early as in the 1980s).
He dedicated the last two years to serving the IARF community, free and liberal religion, and building the Free Religion Institute with utmost commitment, contributing his time, skill, and resources. Even though his term ended prematurely, he has brought great energy, inspiration and creativity into the IARF, and earned a place for himself in its 125-year long history. The Institute, the books he donated, the communities and individuals he brought into the IARF and in touch with one another attest that his efforts were not in vain, and have already begun to bear fruit. This work, and the toil of the day-to-day management of this global, diverse organisation in a recovery phase with modest means at its disposal, have undoubtedly left a mark on him and his health. We are grateful for his contribution, welcome his decision to remain on the Council, and hope that his condition improves and allows him to remain an active member of our community for years to come.
Prof. Williams delivering the keynote address at the Congress in Kolozsvár in 2023.
It is my privilege to share this season’s greeting with you. We have just experienced the winter solstice - the longest night of the year. Or, for our Members in the Southern Hemisphere, the summer solstice. Both are turning points.
In the IARF community we are blessed to be able to draw inspiration from the many traditions we share with one another in a spirit of unity and free inquiry. They include beautiful rites and festivals that remind us of the resilience of light in the midst of darkness. But they also point inwards, to the divine sparks that burn in each of us and unite as we gather around flame and light seeking warmth, transformation, guidance, purification and a blessed new beginning. Winter is a time of introspection, of looking into one’s heart. The fires, flames and lights outside guide us to the divine spark within that reminds us of our worth and the worth of all living creatures, of the freedom and dignity we are called to strive to achieve for ourselves and others. Though the vessels are different - like we are different - the flame that they carry is one like the divine flame in us: the diyas of Diwali, the bonfires of Samhain, the lanterns of Halloween, the hearths and candles kept burning all night by Zoroastrians on the night of Shab-e Yalda, the candlelight of the hanukkiah, the advent lights of Christmas, the burning bowl of the Unitarian Fire Communion or the burning charms and sticks in Buddhist and Shinto shrines.
This year the light of one of the vessels is surrounded by exceptionally deep darkness: the hannukiah. We mourn the victims of the terrorist attack on Jewish worshipers on the first day of Hanukkah in Australia. As we witness antisemitic sentiments grow in our societies, let us remember them and all other victims of violence against religious people and violence inspired by religious motives.
After 125 years we enter a new year with a resolve to continue our efforts to realise our shared vision despite setbacks, uncertainties and the chaos of the world around us. Through our advocacy, may we be light-bearers and work for those whose light is thwarted and denied. Let us oppose those who abuse the flame of religion and turn it into a weapon to enslave, demean and deny people their rights. We have made great progress in rebuilding our capacity to represent those who suffer oppression at the UN and elsewhere, and join other voices of liberal religion. Yet we are still a long way from achieving our potential.
May we share the light we gathered through our personal spiritual and intellectual journeys and the wisdom of our traditions as we pursue our mission to explain, promote and share free and liberal religion through the Free Religion Institute.
May we find opportunities to meet and celebrate together - celebrate the resilience of the ideas that kept IARF’s flame alive for so long and the strength we find in our community. Please consider joining the flame of your insight, skill and wisdom with those of our volunteers, and contributing to the work of the IARF in one of its many dimensions.
Finally, let us embrace with light and gratitude those who have passed away in our community this year: Rev. Dr. Richard Boeke, Jarek Kubacki, Br. Sebastian, Rev. Dr. Nobuhiro Masahiro Nemoto, Dr. Kishan Manocha.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I wish you a blessed New Year filled with warmth, hope, fulfilling work and joy.
- Robert Ince
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