The idea for URI came to California Episcopal Bishop William Swing in
1993, after an invitation by the United Nations to host a large interfaith
service in San Francisco, marking the 50th anniversary of the signing of the UN
Charter. He asked himself, “If the nations of the world are working together
for peace through the UN, then where are the world’s religions?”
Through dozens of
meetings with world religious leaders, he discovered a thread of competition, a
focus on expanding individual denominations, and little institutional
commitment to building bridges. But in those at the grassroots of the world’s
religions, he found a deep desire for cooperation and peace. From this
inspiration, the vision for URI took shape: a supported network connecting
people across religions and cultures in the service of peace and justice.
Bishop Swing hired a
small staff in San Francisco, led by Executive Director Charles Gibbs. In
partnership with Professor David Cooperrider from Social Innovations in Global
Management at Case Western University and Dee Hock, developer of VISA and the
Chaordic Alliance, they launched a four-year organizational design process that included
meetings among hundreds of stakeholders of diverse religions, cultures and
disciplines all over the world. What emerged was a group of committed founders
who formed the heart of URI’s global community, and a highly regarded,
inclusive Charter that provides a unique, grassroots-based structure and a set of principles for action on behalf of the common good. With
the signing of this Charter, the global URI organization was born on June 26,
2000.
You are warmly
invited to participate in the life of URI and become part of this extraordinary
force for peace and justice around the world.
Welcome!
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