BRIEF HISTORY
The seed for URI was planted in 1993 when the United Nations (UN) invited William Swing, Episcopal Bishop of California, to host an interfaith service in San Francisco for the 50th anniversary of UN. From this inspiration, a vision took shape to create an organization whereby people of diverse faiths and from all sectors of society would cooperate for peace and justice for all.
From the first global summit in 1996 to the Charter signing in 2000, URI engaged thousands of people from diverse faith traditions to create the URI Charter. Five global summits and numerous gatherings and consultations took place in different regions of the world.
Today, the URI includes thousands of members forming 340 Cooperation Circles (CC’s) in 60 countries representing more than 120 faith traditions. The Peacemakers' Circle is a founding Cooperation Circle of URI.
Currently, The Peacemakers' Circle also shares office space with the REGIONAL COORDINATION OFFICE of URI in Southeast Asia and the Pacific (see www.uriseapacific.org or www.uriseapacific.blogspot.com ).
For more info on URI visit: www.uri.org
