Sophie Mitchell, the Events and Programme Organiser for Faith & Belief Forum, has shared her experiences with us.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hi there – I’m Sophie! I was a member of SCM as a student and recent graduate living in Bristol, and then I joined the SCM staff team as their fundraiser. I said goodbye to SCM in 2023, and I am now working at the Faith & Belief Forum, a national interfaith charity. I’m currently living in London with friends and feel very blessed to be part of a wonderful Church of England church in East London. When I’m not at work or church (which is quite a lot of the time), I spend my free time running, wild swimming and very occasionally choral singing. I’m also a regular Greenbelter, so please say hi if you see me there this year!
What role do you currently have?
At F&BF, my role is to run events and programmes to bring people from different faith and belief backgrounds together. Typically, this is through award ceremonies, festivals, workshops, and trainings. Recently, I’ve been working on a national consultation to shape the future of Inter Faith Week. I also run our LGBTQ+ work, running programmes to support LGBTQ+ people of faith and to advocate for better LGBTQ+ inclusion in faith communities. Like all jobs in the small charity sector, my job is incredibly varied, and I often find myself doing wild and wonderful things that are definitely not on my job description. I’m often out and about, meeting different people, attending events and visiting new places of worship. No two days are the same!
How did you decide to work for your current organisation?
When I was applying to F&BF, I felt really called to move back into the interfaith sector. I loved my time at SCM, particularly working in such an inclusive and affirming Christian team. At the same time, I wanted to work with people who were different to me in terms of faith/belief, politics, and life experience. It was a really hard decision to leave SCM, but I would describe my experience as a calling to move back to the interfaith sector – having started my career as a chaplaincy assistant at a university after graduating.
What attracted you to the organisation you currently work for?
Primarily, I joined F&BF due to this calling to re-join the interfaith sector. I really do think that the interfaith approach and values (positive encounter and dialogue with difference, speaking from personal experience, assuming best intentions, empathy, respect, openness) hold the antidote to so many of the problems we have in society, including prejudice, division and polarisation. In joining F&BF, I knew that I would be able to contribute a little towards this. I also love working in a faith-based charity, where everyone is driven by their own faith values, and is committed to the interfaith approach and values.
How did you feel called to your role?
I’m really passionate about describing interfaith as my ‘calling’. Some think that this word is only used for ordained ministry. This simply isn’t true. God calls so many of us to serve faithfully outside the church, and I really feel this for me. For me, the calling to return to interfaith felt like a pull. With little effort or intention, I kept attending interfaith events and meeting interesting people working in the interfaith space. This gave me the sense that God was lining things up for me and pointing me in the right direction. It also just generally made me feel really excited and joyful, which was another indicator that it was part of my calling.
How does your faith help with the challenges you face at work?
I believe that the Bible commands us as Christians to move beyond our circles, to meet the stranger and love thy neighbour. This is sometimes scary and difficult work, especially in the last few years, with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and rising hate crime in the UK. But God calls to work towards peace, justice and reconciliation. Interfaith works towards a world that is connected, accepting and generous – one in which people from different backgrounds live and flourish alongside each other and everyone is uniquely valued. So, in working in this space, though sometimes challenging, I feel that I can contribute a little bit to the reconciling work of God. This gives me a huge amount of strength.
What advice would you give to someone trying to discern their vocation?
Don’t worry about what other people are doing. Focus on yourself and what God might be calling YOU to. Because ultimately, vocation is deeply personal. It’s not about measuring up to someone else’s path or timeline. It’s about listening attentively to where God is gently (or sometimes boldly) leading you.
Discerning your calling is a journey that can take time. Start by being patient with yourself and spending time in prayer and reflection. Pay attention to the things that bring you life, joy, and peace… those can be clues. Be open to where your gifts meet the world’s needs. Share where you are at with the people you trust. And finally, keep showing up with a willing heart, even when it is hard.