Abraham Conference committee members Rev Dr Manas Ghosh, Zia Ahmed OAM, and Rabbi George Mordecai offer prayers for peace at the Listening Circles. Photos: Supplied
On Sunday 28 June, members of Sydney’s Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities gathered for the Abraham Conference Listening Circles at the premises of the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations (CCCMR) in Blacktown. The interfaith initiative is shaped by a simple but demanding purpose: to listen deeply to one another in a time of pain, fear and uncertainty.
Hosted by the Abraham Conference Organising Committee, of which the Columbans are an active member, the gathering moved away from the usual format of keynote addresses and panel discussion of conferences past. Instead, participants were invited into facilitated circles where speaking from personal experience and listening without interruption became the heart of the event. The format reflected the conviction that, amid conflict and polarisation, communities need not only statements and analysis, but also safe spaces where grief can be heard and humanity recognised.
This year’s Listening Circles responded to the heavy emotional burden carried by many since the violence of 7 October 2023 in southern Israel, the devastating war in Gaza that followed, and the recent the antisemitic terror attack in Sydney. Participants came to acknowledge the suffering of innocent people, the fear felt by families and communities, and the longing for safety, dignity and peace.
Facilitated by experienced mediators from the three Abrahamic faiths, the Listening Circles prioritised personal experience over political argumentation. The circles were intentionally intimate and respectful. The guiding principles of the circles were designed to maximise empathy; active, non-judgmental listening; and shared humanity.
Facilitators established clear guidelines: each person would have time to speak; others would listen without rebuttal, advice or judgement; and the focus would remain on personal experience rather than argument. This discipline of listening created a space that was both gentle and courageous. Participants could name sorrow, anxiety, helplessness and hope, knowing their words would be received with care. Focusing the conversation on human emotion rather than geopolitical alignment alleviated pressure to “win” an argument, which transformed the room into a sanctuary for mutual respect, leading to a collective desire for peace.
Jewish, Christian and Muslim participants at the Abraham Conference Listening Circles. Photos: Supplied
For many, the most powerful moments came not from finding easy answers, but from discovering that pain can be shared across religious and communal boundaries. A Jewish participant could speak of fear for relatives and rising antisemitism; a Muslim participant could express anguish over the suffering in Gaza and anxiety about Islamophobia; a Christian participant could reflect on the challenge of holding compassion for all who suffer. In the act of listening, participants encountered not abstractions, but neighbours.
After the formal circles concluded, participants continued conversation over food and drink. These informal exchanges allowed new connections to form and gave people an opportunity to carry the spirit of the circles into ordinary conversation. The desire expressed by many to continue this model suggests that compassionate listening is not a one-off response, but a necessary practice for divided times.
For CCCMR, participating in the Abraham Conference aligns seamlessly with its dedication to interreligious dialogue. In a diverse society, creating opportunities for people of different faiths to encounter one another as neighbours is essential for dismantling stereotypes.
The Abraham Conference Listening Circles offered a modest but meaningful sign of hope. They did not attempt to solve the conflict, nor erase the differences among those present. Rather, they affirmed that Jews, Christians and Muslims can sit together, speak honestly, listen generously and recognise in one another the same desire for peace. In doing so, they pointed to a path of healing that begins with the courage to hear the other.
Kim Chong is the Media & Community Liaison at the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations in Sydney.
Related links
- Read more from the current Columban Interfaith eBulletin.
