United Religions Initiative
Global grassroots interfaith network
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The United Religions Initiative (URI) is a global grassroots interfaith network.
United Religions Initiative | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | The Presidio in San Francisco, California, United States |
| Membership | +250,000 people |
| Leaders | |
• Global Council Chair | Eric Roux |
• Founder | William E. Swing |
• Executive Director | Karen Volker |
| Establishment | |
• United Religions Initiative Charter | 26 June 2000 |
Website www.uri.org | |
It has local and global initiatives through more than 1100 member groups and organizations, called Cooperation Circles,[1] to engage in community action such as conflict resolution and reconciliation, environmental sustainability, education, women's and youth programs, and advocacy for human rights.[2]
The organization was founded by William E. Swing, along with David Cooperrider and Diana Whitney.[3] The URI founding 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.[4]
URI also holds consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).[5]
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.[6]
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.[7] The Ugandan groups are also participants in the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund supported by the World Bank.[8]
On December 9, 2025, URI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID to "to formalize their long-standing collaboration and scale up joint efforts in interreligious and intercultural dialogue across the globe.[9]