Page 174 - Appreciative Leadership

The Courage of Inspiration 147

games over and over in their minds, to volunteers who work selfl essly
in service of a candidate or a cause, to entrepreneurs who work end-
less hours to bring their new product to market, to nurses and phy-
sicians who daily tend to those in need, the courage of inspiration
invites people to greatness.
One of the more inspiring stories of the twentieth century is that
of the United Religions Initiative. In a time of war, hunger, and abuse,
it is a story of hope: a story of how an inspirational vision and path

forward can make a positive difference in the world on a daily basis.

It was the middle of the night in the fall of 1993. William Swing,
then bishop of the Episcopal diocese of California, had received a

call that day from the United Nations. The institution’s fi ft ieth anni-
versary was pending, and UN organizers wished to celebrate with
an interfaith service in Swing’s home church, Grace Cathedral—
the site of the original UN charter signing. Swing couldn’t sleep.
Why, he thought, do political leaders and diplomats spend their
lives working for peace, when so many of the world’s confl icts are
religious in nature? When aren’t religious leaders involved?
This night of insomnia proved fateful. Inspired by a vision

of a United Nation of religions, Swing embarked on a quest. He
convened a global summit—a “Call to Action”—to share his
vision and outline the path forward. Over a period of fi ve years,
the budding movement expanded its reach, studied and learned
from effective global movements, envisioned the future, and

designed systems and structures. The United Religions Initiative
(URI) was chartered in 2000 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its pur-
pose statement has become a beacon in a world torn apart by
religious hatred: “to promote enduring, daily interfaith coopera-
tion; to end religiously motivated violence; and to create cultures
of peace, justice, and healing for the Earth and all living beings.”
Today, the United Religious Initiative serves people in 72
countries through a network of 450 local “Cooperation Circles”