People Unite Worldwide in Congratulating URI Founder's Nomination

URI's Founder and President, the Right Rev. William E. Swing, has been chosen as one of six finalists for the San Francisco Chronicle 2018 Visionary of the Year. Members of the worldwide URI community unite to offer support and congratulations.

Read the following messages as people around the world unite in celebration:

Dear Right Rev. William Swing,

Greetings of peace from Seoul, Korea. I am glad to hear the recent news about you that you have been chosen for “Visionary of the Year” by San Francisco Chronicle. Congratulations for being recognized for your hard work regarding United Religion Initiative for creating cultures of peace, justice and healing on Earth and all living beings. I think and feel that you deserve the title “Visionary” and to be added “Luminary” for the world peace and harmony. It might be proper for you that not only “Visionary of the Year” but also “Visionary of the Decades.” I would like to be your Buddhist companion and supporter on URI movement for the future as well as the past since its beginning.

With blessings,

Jinwol Lee

Zen Master and Abbot of Gosung Monastery

Dear Bill,

This extraordinary achievement is a matter of immense pride and joy for the whole of the URI community. Your energising leadership and dedication is inspiring grassroots action in a world which is reeling from violence and hatred.

Gratitude and blessings for everything you do.

 

Kiran Bali MBE JP  -  Global Chairperson

 

United Kingdom

 

Dear William Swing:

It is an honor for the USA and for the whole world; the recognition you received from the San Francisco Chronicle. It is really is an accurate distinction, because you are the great visionary of one of the most important needs of the present humanity´s history, such as Interreligious Dialogue and building the Culture of Peace. More than a decade ago, you initiated me on this path with your United Religions Initiative. I give my deep gratitude because, since then, I have embraced that path that has taken me to different places in the planetary geography, giving my contribution to the health of human beings and Mother Earth.

Today, as Coordinator of URI for Latin America and the Caribbean, I bring in my voice as one of the 14 countries of our region that sows your legacy through 50 Cooperation Circles in urban communities as well as in the most remote ones. God bless you today and always.

Enoé Texier

Caracas, Venezuela

Dear Reverend Swing,

From the Congo River where I stand right now, I can see how your ideals were able to flow throughout the planet. How this wonderful vision for global peace was able to cross obstacles and mountains to become a real driving force and a tremendous river of hope, not for a world to come, but a world you and we are proud to live in today. I'm pleased to announce you're no longer alone. You are part of a movement. Your recent nomination in San Francisco proves how valuable you are. Many congratulations from ACIP. We reap the vision you sow.

Richie Lontulungu

Communication Officer

All Congo InterFaith Platform (ACIP)

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Dear URI Team,

We, on behalf of Travel Agent Cooperation Circle (CC) Lahore-Pakistan, all URI CC coordinators, the regional coordinator of URI Dr. James Channan OP, and all URI members, warmly congratulate the Rt. Rev. William E. Swing for this honour and award. This is an excellent, un-countable and un-measurable moment of proud excitement and pleasure for the Rt. Rev. William E. Swing and the whole URI community.

Asad Yameen

Coordinator, Travel Agent Cooperation Circle, Lahore, Pakistan

Truly rejoiced to learn about Bishop Swing's nomination. Will pray that he receives this award for his magnanimous noble work through his compassionate leadership.

A leader with a rare combination of compassion, intelligence and courage to mark his presence through the increasingly challenging times, proving that Love and Peace will prevail. His persona amplifies the message of Oneness and Humility. So fortunate to work under your able leadership and pledge to carry your legacy in every possible way.

Qutub Jahan Kidwai, Mumbai, India

URI Regional Coordinator, West India
Deputy General Secretary,
URI Asia Executive Council

I, on behalf of Love Care Foundation warmly congratulate the Rt. Rev. William E. Swing for this honour. This is excellent news and a proud moment for the whole URI family. It’s a privilege for us to be associated with URI.

Warm Regards,

Reema Malhotra

Director-Projects

Love Care Foundation (Ghaziabad, North India)

Es un honor para nosotros formar parte de la familia URI.

Nuestra felicitación al Obispo William Swing por ser la persona que tuvo la visión de proponer el encuentro, de corazón a corazón,  entre seres humanos de diferentes creencias, y que dio origen a URI, a fin de construir la paz en el mundo.

(English translation) It is an honor to be part of the URI family. Our congratulations to Bishop William Swing as the person who had the vision to propose the meeting, heart to heart, between people of different beliefs, and that gave rise to URI in order to build peace in the world.

- Rabbi Arieh Sztokman, Argentina

It is a great joy to be able to experience such good news. I, as a member of this beautiful community for several years, and today as a URI Multiregion member, am very emotional to express my admiration for this nomination. These are times when more than ever I feel on the right path.

Francisco Morales

Baraza member, URI Multiregion

Cosmic Comunity Cooperation Circle

Aymara Indigenous Nation 

Argentina

Caro Reverendo Bispo William Edwin Swing – Presidente da URI UNITED RELIGIONS INITIATIVE

Seu primeiro pensamento e o mais recente tem alimentado o mundo com os frutos do Amor de uma nova religiosidade nascida da compreensão universal de um Pai Único de todos nós. Nós o acompanhamos e tem o nosso apoio, sempre e desde a Fundação da URI e seu início no Brasil.

Sabino Souza Hüttner – O LIVRO DE URANTIA – UNISOES - URI

Susana Hüttner Palaia – O LIVRO DE URANTIA – UNISOES - URI

São Paulo, Brasil 

English translation: 

Dear Reverend Bishop William Edwin Swing - President of UNITED RELIGIONS INITIATIVE (URI)

His first thought and his latest thought have fueled the world with the fruits of the love of a new-born religiosity of universal understanding of a single Father of us all. We accompany him and he has our support, which we have provided from the founding of URI and its beginnings in Brazil.

Sabino Souza Hüttner - The URANTIA BOOK - UNISOES - URI

Susana Hüttner Palaia - The URANTIA BOOK - UNISOES - URI

São Paulo, Brazil

From Merida, Venezuela:

Estimado reverendo William E. Swing, reciba desde el Circulo de Cooperación Quinaroa nuestras palabras de Admiración, Agradecimiento por su labor y contribución a la gran familia de URI, personas con un alma integradora como la suya son las que necesitamos para seguir contribuyendo a mejorar nuestras condiciones de vida, también para que las voces de nuestros ancestros sigan calando en el mundo de hoy, porque las civilizaciones trabajarían mejor si no olvidamos las palabras de los mayores, si trabajáramos bajo la experiencia. Su alma tiene una mirada que traspasa las fronteras de lo posible, así que ha hecho de sus sue;os realidades creando lazos fuertes entre los diferentes pensamientos que hoy rigen el mundo. Usted en un momento de su vida tuvo ese sue;o, lo planifico y consiguió las personas que tenían la misma inquietud, así que usted tiene la visión de águila, tiene la capacidad de ver entre lo espiritual y lo terrenal, lo que le conlleva a unir estos dos mundos y hacer de el un instrumento que le sirve a millones de personas. Muchas gracias y felicitaciones. Que usted ya es un Gran Visionario del mundo.

Dear Rev. William E. Swing, receive from Quinaroa Cooperation Circle our words of admiration, and gratitude for your work and your contribution to the great family of URI. People with an integrative soul like yours are what we need to continue to contribute to improving our living conditions. Also, for the voices of our ancestors that continue permeating today's world, because civilizations would work better if we do not forget the words of our elders, and if we work under their experience. Your soul has a look that transcends the boundaries of the possible, and that has made our dreams into realities will create strong ties between the different thoughts that rule the world today. You, in a moment of your life, had that dream; or, planned and managed people who had the same concern, so you have the Eagle Vision and the ability to see between the spiritual and the earthly, leading you to unite these two worlds and make an instrument that serves millions of people. Thank you very much and congratulations. You are already a great visionary in the world.

 

From Quinaroa Cooperation Circle, receive our best wishes for wellness, love, happiness and strength, and our wishes that nature continues to guide your steps and light the way, with more people willing to continue working for noble causes.

 

Estimado William,

Cuando a mi vida llegan noticias como esta, con una carga emotiva y espiritual, ratifico que estamos en el camino correcto que conduce a la cercanía del ser supremo. Cada obra , cada paso, cada semilla que usted ha sembrado, hoy está repartida por el mundo y se manifiesta en aquellos que le hemos dado de alguna manera continuidad a la tarea de luchar y promover la paz en el mundo. Hoy URI celebra. Hoy, celebramos tus hermanos.

Recibe desde Venezuela, mi país natal, un abrazo fraterno cargado de bendiciones y de profunda admiración ante tal nominación, por tu magnifica obra espiritual.

Ángelo Cantautor,

Cooperation Circle of Latin American Musicians

(English translation)

Dear William,

When news arrives like this in my life, with an emotional and spiritual charge, I confirm that we are on the right path that leads to the closeness of the supreme being. Each work, every step, every seed that you have sown, today is distributed around the world. It is manifested in those whom we have given, in some way, continuity to the task of fighting and promoting Peace in the world. Today, URI celebrates. Today, we celebrate your brothers.

Receive from Venezuela, my native country, a fraternal hug, full of blessings and deep admiration for such a nomination, for your magnificent spiritual work.

Ángelo Cantautor,

Cooperation Circle of Latin American Musicians

(Venezuela)

Estimado Reverendo

En nombre de todos los integrantes del CC para el Dialogo de Caracas, Venezuela queremos felicitarlo por ser seleccionado dentro de los seis Finalistas para la distinción de VISIONARIO DEL AÑO por Diario Crónica de San Francisco .

Es una distinción que nos llena de orgullo a toda la gran famillia de URI y es un inmenso merito para la gran red de paz, fraternidad y sanación que nos une a todos los miembros de la Iniciativa de religiones Unida.

Le enviamos todo nuestro apoyo y seguimos en nuestro compromiso de apostar por un mundo mejor y en paz.

con nuestros mejores deseos

Rev. Marina Shinji Tirado
Monja Zen
Precidente del Centro Zen BOdaishin
Coordinadora del CC para el Dialogo
Caracas Venezuela

(English translation)

Dear Reverend,

On behalf of all the members of the Cooperation Circle for the Dialogue of Caracas, Venezuela, we want to congratulate you for being selected within the six Finalists for the distinction of VISIONARY OF THE YEAR by San Francisco Chronicle.

It is a distinction that fills the entire URI family with pride and is an immense merit for the great network of peace, fraternity and
healing that unites all the members of the United Religions Initiative.

We send all our support and we continue in our commitment to work for a better and peaceful world.

With our best wishes,

Rev. Marina Shinji Tirado
Zen Nun
President of Zen Center Bodaishin
Coordinator of the CC for Dialogue
Caracas, Venezuela

Estimado Rev. Swing reciba mi felicitación por su nominación como VISIONARIO DEL AÑO. Me siento honrada por pertenecer a la familia URI, familia que usted inició y que esperamos seguir expandiendo por el mundo.

Adriana Reyes

Caracas, Venezuela

(English translation)

Dear Rev. Swing, receive my congratulations for your nomination as VISIONARY OF THE YEAR. I am honored to belong to the URI family, a family that you started and that we hope to continue expanding throughout the world.

Adriana Reyes

Caracas, Venezuela

In Austria / Lienz, on top of a mountain, we will ring the "Bell for Peace and Friendship" for Bishop Swing. It shows the symbols of 12 religions, and the words, "I ring for peace and friendship," above stones gathered from all over the world and from the holy places of the different religions. 

With our best wishes for him from the bottom of our heart. 

Elisabeth Ziegler-Duregger

(See video below)

Reverendo William E Swing, Fundador y Presidente de URI:

Estar Postulado entre los seis finalistas para la distinción Visionario del Año , por la Crónica de Francisco, Periódico de San Francisco, E.E.U.U, es el resultado de que el recorrido para llegar a esta nominación, ha logrado el objetivo que usted ha ofrecido al mundo, a través de la Fundación URI, una Ventana de luz para fomentar la Paz, la Justicia y la Solidaridad entre los Pueblos.

Que la Paz siga abrazando su misión.

¡Éxito Reverendo Swing!

Andreamaría

Cantautora Venezolana

Círculo de Cooperación Latinoamericano de Músicos URI

San Diego, Estado Carabobo Venezuela

(English translation)

Reverend William E Swing, Founder and President of URI:

Being nominated among the six finalists for the distinction Visionary of the Year, for the Chronicle Newspaper of San Francisco, USA, is the result of your journey to reach this nomination. You have achieved the goal that you have offered to the world, through the URI Foundation, a Window of Light to promote Peace, Justice and Solidarity among the Peoples.

May Peace continue to embrace your mission.

Success, Reverend Swing!

Andreamaría

Venezuelan singer-songwriter

URI Cooperation Circle of Latin American Musicians

San Diego, Carabobo State, Venezuela

Estimado hermano William Swing me da mucha emoción que usted sea uno de los seleccionados entre los postulantes al reconocimiento como el Hombre Visionario, porque habla muy bien de lo que significa formar parte de URI. Quiero desearle que sea la persona Distinguida como Visionario del año 2018. Para mí, como mujer indígena será como distinguir la lucha por la justicia, la sanación de la madre Naturaleza para que haya Paz en el mundo. Felicitaciones por su gran visón y que sea el mejor. 

Sofia Painiqueo Tragnolao
Consejera Global URI AL&C

(English translation)

Dear brother William Swing, it gives me a lot of emotion that you are one of those selected from the candidates to be recognized as a Visionary, because it speaks very well for what it means to be part of URI. I wish you to be the person distinguished as Visionary of the Year 2018. For me, as an indigenous woman, it will be how to distinguish the struggle for justice, and healing of Mother Nature, for peace in the world. Congratulations on your great vision and make it the best. 

Sofia Painiqueo Tragnolao 
Global Counselor, URI Latin America & the Caribbean Region