URI
The Interfaith Cooperation Circle of Central Virginia is part of a larger organization called the United Religions Initiative or URI. Here is some information about our mother organization directly from their website:URI
United Religions Initiative (URI) was founded in 2000 by an extraordinary global community committed to promoting enduring, daily interfaith cooperation and to ending religiously motivated violence. Today the URI includes thousands of members in over 65 countries representing more than 100 religions, spiritual expressions, and indigenous traditions.
URI is a global community with spiritual heart. Members from diverse backgrounds pioneer interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding skills. Its core organizational principles include inclusive membership, self-organizing initiatives and decentralized governance. Together, we are designing an effective communications and knowledge sharing network and exchanging best practices for local, regional and global organizing. We are deepening friendships and fostering solidarity. URI believes that people everywhere when inspired to cooperate for the common good, will find solutions to end religiously motivated hate and violence and will create initiatives that build cultures of peace, justice and healing. You are invited to participate in this unique global organization and imagine how to ignite the spirit of URI in your community.
URI is Organized Locally, Regionally and Globally:
The heart of URI is the global network of locally organized “Cooperation Circles.” The Regional teams, made up of Global Council trustees and regional coordinators, work in eight regions to sustain local Cooperation Circle (CC) membership groups, provide communication links, and develop URI through interfaith partnerships. The Global Council Trustees are elected by the Cooperation Circle member groups and serve three-year terms of office. Affiliates are individuals or groups, such as single-faith groups, who choose to affiliate with URI, are in alignment with URI’s principles, but do not have the rights and responsibilities of Cooperation Circles.
Cooperation Circle is the basic unit of URI membership and consists of local or virtual groups that include at least seven members and at least three different religions, spiritual paths and indigenous traditions. CCs organize around local needs and visions and operate within the parameters of the Preamble, Purpose and Principles of the URI.
