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Our Begininings

Our History at a glance

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 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.

 

Bishop William Swing - Founder URI

OUR VISION

We envision a world at peace, sustained by engaged and interconnected communities committed to respect for diversity, nonviolent resolution of conflict and social, political, economic and environmental justice

Our Mission

We are a grassroots interfaith network that cultivates peace and justice by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and the world.

Our Purpose

The purpose of the United Religions Initiative is to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.

Who We Are

The United Religions Initiative (URI) – Great Lakes is an interfaith networ organization operating in Uganda and harnessing URI global-related work in the great lakes countries. It is an affiliate of the worldwide United Religions Initiative (URI) which is a global interfaith organization with its hub office in San Francisco, CA. URI works with people from different religions, spiritual expressions, and indigenous traditions. Its global purpose is to promote daily enduring interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence, to create cultures of peace, justice, and healing for the earth all living beings”

URI MEMBERSHIP

URI-GL has both group and individual memberships. Group membership is composed of coalitions of people commonly known as Cooperation Circles (CCs).  These CCs comprise of people from different religious backgrounds, spiritual expressions, and indigenous traditions who uphold the virtue of nonviolence, respect for lives, and the need for peace in their communities.

Cooperation Circles range in size from a minimum of seven members to tens of thousands, representing at least three faiths or spiritual expressions and indigenous traditions that subscribe to the shared vision outlined in the URI’s Charter. Some of these are fully fledged organizations and associations attending to different needs within the communities they serve.
On the other hand, individual membership has individuals that support and uphold the values of URI as expressed in the preamble, purpose and principles of URI.

Become an Individual Member

Join a community of grassroots leaders working to end local conflicts, fight environmental degradation, improve economies, empower women, and more. Get started and deepen your journey as a URI Individual Member by signing up here.

Peace Building Across Religions

We listen and speak with respect to deepen mutual understanding and trust.” - URI Principle 5

Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue

URI Cooperation Circles include members of at least three different religions or traditions. By engaging in respectful conversations, members learn, share and build bridges of understanding.
Fabruary 1-7 of each year has been designated World Interfaith Harmony Week by the United Nations. It was launched in February 2011 to promote harmony among people of different faiths at a time when interreligious conflict is claiming lives and livelihoods all over the world.
United Religions Initiative (URI) invites you to join our hundreds of interfaith Cooperation Circles (CCs) worldwide in taking action this year to build peace.

Board of Directors