The Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday 10th March 2004 at the London Inter Faith Centre, 125 Salusbury Road, London NW6.

In his Treasurer's Report, Mr. Norman Taylor reported that the leaflet and poster operations showed a surplus of 454 pounds 39p, and that we have on credit with Lloyds Trustee Savings Bank the sum of 8035 pounds 78p.

The Administrator's Report was sent by Trudie Charles. The print run of 12,000 leaflets proved just sufficient, and there was a strong demand for posters. More orders were received for ten or twenty leaflets, and fewer for one hundred or more. First time orders and enquiries revealed the value of advertising, of the private distribution of leaflets and of the website. Much positive appreciation was expressed on the order forms. There are repeated requests for the schools' leaflet, and pleasing reports of its use in schools. Use of the "organisation" space on the order form has given some idea of where our support comes from - individuals, religious groups (mainly Christian-based), Churches Together, Peace and Justice groups and inter faith groups. Not many orders are received from the non- Christian faiths celebrated in the prayer leaflet. Many people ask for information about events organised in different parts of the country. This information is mostly available from local rather than national sources.

The Chairman's Report was presented by Mr. Om Parkash Sharma MBE. He began by congratulating Carmel Momen and her husband on the birth of their son Dreyfus on 12th January. We are pleased that Carmel has indicated her willingness to continue as our Minute Secretary. The Chairman also informed the meeting of the resignation of one of our Sponsors, Bishop Victor Guazzelli, on account of ailing health. The names of three organisations had been added to our list of supporting organisations - Christian CND, the Gandhi Foundation and the Three Faiths Forum.

The Chairman reported that the 2003 gathering for prayer for peace had been held at the Hounslow Mosque on 19th October, and that the Imam, Sheikh Nisar Ahmed Hussain-Sulaimani, had expressed a wish to be involved in our work. The 2004 Week will begin with Evening Prayer in Westminster Abbey on 17th October, at which the preacher will be one of our Sponsors, the ' Revd. Marcus Braybrooke. On 24th October there will be an inter faith gathering at the Southall Gurdwara. This will form part of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the first opening of the Guru Granth Sahib.

The Chairman thanked our Administrator, Trudie Charles, for her valued service, and regretfully informed the meeting that that for domestic reasons she would not be able to accept nomination for thee post in 2005. The Chairman also thanked Martyn Payne for his work on the schools leaflet; Roger Grainger for his work on the main leaflet; Philip Austin for his help with the website; Norman Taylor and me for our work as Treasurer and Secretary; and the London Inter Faith Centre for the use of their premises for our meetings.

The co-option of the following Sponsors was confirmed Philip Austin, of the Northern Friends Peace Board, Sheikh Nisar Ahmed Hussain-Sulaimani, Imam of the Hounslow Mosque, and Sidney Shipton, of the Three Faiths Forum.

The following were elected to office Chairman, Mr. Om Parkash Sharma MBE; Vice-Chairman, the Revd. Megumi Hirota; Secretary the Revd. Sidney Hinkes; and Treasurer Mr. Norman Taylor. The following were elected to the Executive Committee Sister Regina Baumgart BK, Ervad Rusi Bhedwar, Maggie Brizzi, Fergus Capie, Roger Grainger, Sheikh Nisar Ahmed Hussain-Sulaimani, Joyce Meadows, Carmel Momen, Imam Mohammad Ovaisi, Martyn Payne, Param Sandhu and Sidney Shipton.

Mr. Lawrence Amboldt FSI was appointed Auditor.

The Executive Committee, meeting in the afternoon, discussed the best way to publish items from the leaflet without depressing sales of the leaflet. It was resolved to post notices of future events on the website, and sample portions from leaflets of previous years, including the leaflet for use in schools. Web users should be encouraged to place orders, arrange events and report local observances of the Week.

The Committee also agreed that Bishop Peter Broadbent, the Bishop of Willesden, should be invited to attend the gathering for prayer for peace at the Southall Gurdwara on 24th October 2004, in view of his role of Bishop with special care for the Sikhs.

The Committee appointed Trudie Charles as Administrator for the coming year.

The Revd. Fergus Capie addressed the meeting on the philosophy of inter faith work. He distinguished between what he called the "horizontal" or ecumenical approach, which reached out to others in their differences, and what he called the "vertical" approach which took its stand on ultimate reality and the past. We have to be both true to self, he said, and open to others, and not compromise our own integrity. In response, the committee resolved to use again in the leaflet the essay "Shared Faith Worship" last used in the leaflet of 2002.