Editing United Religions Initiative

{{Short description|Global grassroots interfaith network}}
{{Infobox Geopolitical organization
| native_name            = United Religions Initiative
| image_symbol           = 
| symbol_type            = Emblem
| linking_name           = The United Religions Initiative
| membership             = +250,000 people
| admin_center_type      = [[Headquarters]]
| admin_center           = [[Presidio of San Francisco|The Presidio]] in [[San Francisco]], [[California]], United States
| leader_title1          = Global Council Chair
| leader_name1           = [[Eric Roux]]
| leader_title2          = Founder
| leader_name2           = [[William E. Swing]]
| leader_title3          = Executive Director
| leader_name3           = Karen Volker
| established_event1     = United Religions Initiative Charter
| established_date1      = 26 June 2000
| official_website       = [http://www.uri.org/ www.uri.org]
| demonym                = 
| area_km2               = 
| area_rank              = 
| GDP_PPP                = 
| GDP_PPP_year           = 
| HDI                    = 
| HDI_year               = 
| today                  = 
}}

The '''United Religions Initiative''' ('''URI''') is a global grassroots [[interfaith dialogue|interfaith]] network.

It has local and global initiatives through more than 1100 member groups and organizations, called Cooperation Circles,<ref>[http://www.uri.org/Cooperation_Circles.html Cooperation Circles], United Religions Initiative</ref> to engage in community action such as conflict resolution and reconciliation, [[environmental sustainability]], education, women's and youth programs, and advocacy for human rights.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.uri.org/about_uri/charter| title=United Religions Initiative Charter}}</ref>

The organization was founded by [[William E. Swing]], along with [[David Cooperrider]] and Diana Whitney.<ref>Cooperrider, David L. and Diana Kaplin Whitney, ''Appreciative inquiry: a positive revolution in change'', page 31, Berret-Koehler Publishers Inc., 2005</ref> The URI Charter was signed by more than 200 people present, and hundreds more joining over the Internet, at a ceremony in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US, on June 26, 2000.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |date=June 28, 2000 |first=Ervin |last=Dyer |title=Charter Signed for Religious Coalitions |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=20000627&id=nVYNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MG8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4478,4862332}}</ref>

URI also holds consultative status with the [[United Nations Economic and Social Council]] (ECOSOC).<ref>{{Cite web|title=URI and the UN {{!}} URI|url=https://www.uri.org/what-we-do/global-program/uri-and-un|access-date=2020-08-27|website=www.uri.org}}</ref>

==Activities==

Before the formal charter signing in 2000, URI supporters around the world participated together in a project called "72 Hours for Peace", in which more than 250 local organizations united in projects promoting peace and justice during the turn of the millennium.<ref>Talcott, Sarah, ''Building the Interfaith Youth Movement: Beyond Dialogue to Action'', p78, ed. by Eboo Patel and Patrice Brodeur, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2006</ref>

Examples of global and member initiatives documented in the public record:

* The '''Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative''' has played a key role in promoting peace in war-torn northern Uganda.<ref>''Religion News Service'', January 8, 2008, Jason Kane, Ugandan Religious Leaders Set Aside Rivalries in Pursuit of Peace  {{cite web|url=http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=14725|title=Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life|access-date=2009-11-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091130090850/http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=14725|archive-date=2009-11-30|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Ugandan groups are also participants in the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund supported by the [[World Bank]].<ref>Marshall, Katherine and Lucy Keough, ''Mind, Heart, and Soul in the Fight Against Poverty, The World Bank, 2004 pp232-233</ref>

==References==
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==External links==
* [http://www.uri.org United Religions Initiative]

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[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in California]]
[[Category:Interfaith organizations]]
[[Category:Religious pluralism]]
[[Category:Supraorganizations]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 2000]]