Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation

“We practice healing and reconciliation to resolve conflict without resorting to violence.” - URI Principle 9
Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation

URI Cooperation Circles work at every level, from influencing policymakers to providing training at the grassroots, to build peace, heal existing tensions, and prevent new conflicts.

Examples of our work in this Action Area:

  • EcoPeace/Friends of the Earth Middle East CC gathered Israelis, Jordanians, and Palestinians to join their voices in calling for cooperative restoration efforts in the Jordan River.
  • In Africa, Shalom Ghana CC ended a 10-year feud between Christians and Muslims by getting youth from both sides together to plant trees the village badly needed.
  • After an increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes in California, USA, the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County CC co-sponsored a "Ring of Solidarity" where over 200 people joined hands around a mosque to show community support for their Muslim neighbors.
Search for Cooperation Circles (CCs) with a focus on Peacebuilding & Conflict Transformation

Stories

"My House shall be a House of Prayer for all People"

The following is a sermon given by the Rt. Rev. William E. Swing on July 28th, 2013, at St. Andrew’s Dune Church in Southampton, New York.

Isaiah   56: 3 – 8
Mark  11: 15 - 19

Jesus did not make up these words:  "My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all people."  Those words were written about 500 years before He was born.   Jesus didn't make up those words, but he thought about them....a lot. And he added a few words of his own.  And he did something dramatic to make those words come alive in the great temple in Jerusalem.