Invitation to Conversations on Identity and Inclusion
“In this era in which we live, there has been a global awakening. The world is coming together in ways that have never been possible. There seems to be the prospect, the danger, on the one hand, of a unification on the level of homogeneity, if not uniformity. On the other hand, there seems to be the prospect of a unity within diversity, a recognition of the providential nature of the diversity of religious forms, but awakening to the essential unity that pervades and underlies them.
That is the essential goal of the Sufi message in our time – to unite the segments of humanity, which are like organs of a single body that has become dismembered and that must reunite through the guidance of the heart to function as a single body for the sake of the health of all of the different parts. That is the message that must be heard in this era.” Pir Zia, PBS Interview, 2002
Those wise words echo forcefully in 2019. As the Inayatiyya grows and becomes more diverse, some murids have expressed the feeling of separation – a lack of connection and inclusion because of our different identities, i.e., race, gender, religion, age and more. To affirm the Inayatiyya’s intention of inclusion and belonging, an Inclusion Task Force consisting of murids developed a Statement of Inclusion. But just as the map is not the territory, a statement does not create the experience of belonging.
Growing out of a desire to overcome feelings of separation, the World Wide Message Council has encouraged conversations and communion, exploring that which makes us unique and that which unifies us. To that end, we invite Inayati Order leaders, emergent leaders and leaders in training in all Activities to participate in a series of Zoom calls where we begin to explore our identities – the realities of our lived lives – acknowledging and honoring our differences. We hope to work as a group to discover, “ What does it take to be part of a collective ?”
For now, the inclusion work will live within the Kinship Activity, although it belongs to all Activities. Fatima Hafiz-Wahid and Rabia Povich, experienced facilitators and designers of conversation, will hold the container of these conversations. We offer the specifics below.
While we have worked to accommodate different time zones, Bawa’s teaching schedule and religious holidays, we have not been entirely successful. We are aware that this first round of conversations will not fit everyone’s schedule. We apologize for the last call falling during the break fast of Ramadan on the East Coast. Please know that this is just a beginning. After assessing our experience, we hope to offer another round of conversations later in May and June, perhaps on Sunday afternoons, that accommodates Ramadan (which begins May 5).
Who, When and How:
- A series of four Zoom calls, on Tuesdays: March 26; April 9, April 23, May 7, 2019
- 8:00 to 9:15 pm Eastern (5:00 – 6:15 Pacific)
- Calls are open to all leaders, emergent leaders and leaders in training of all Activities. While participants need not attend every call, we hope participants will be able make many of them. We are not restricting size at this time, waiting to see who is interested. We will work to create a trusting and supportive environment for speaking and listening.
- If you are interested please respond to Rabia. You will be sent the Zoom call-in connection before each call.
If you are interested in communicating about this process or the topic of inclusion, feel free to contact Fatima or Rabia.
Yours in service to the One, in whose Being we live and breathe,
Rabia and Fatima