Community principles are the set of articulated shared intentions and commitments of the community. Community principles describe a communal being on the subtle plane. They reflect the heart and soul of a particular group of caring people. We recommend that you listen to the heartbeats of the following wisdom communities by reading their principles and take a moment to reflect. What resonates with you? What might be the heartbeat principles of your wisdom community?

 

Seven Patterns of a Healthy Community

From March until November of 1999, more than 4000 people took part in the Healthy Community Agenda Campaign. They participated in one of 300 dialogues using the Healthy Community Agenda Dialogue Guide. The Dialogue Guide had two purposes. The first was to stimulate action on the local level to build healthier communities. The second was to articulate a message to the nation from the nation's communities about what creates health and improves quality of life. Seven patterns emerged from what they said.

 

A healthy community:

·       Practices ongoing dialogue

·       Generates leadership everywhere

·       Shapes its future

·       Embraces diversity

·       Knows itself

·       Connects people and resources

·       Creates a sense of community

 

from Christopher Freeman Adams and Mary Pittman., January 2000

See Healthy Community Patterns for more information on each pattern.

 

Future Search

Future search is a PLANNING MEETING that helps people transform their capability for action very quickly. The meeting is task-focused. It brings together 60 to 80 people in one room or hundreds in parallel rooms. Future search brings people from all walks of life into the same conversation - those with resources, expertise, formal authority and need. They meet for 16 hours spread across three days. People tell stories about their past, present and desired future. Through dialogue they discover their common ground. Only then do they make concrete action plans.

Future search criteria for success include:

 

Get the "whole system" in the room. Invite a significant cross-section of all parties with a stake in the outcome.

Explore the "whole elephant" before seeking to fix any part. Get everyone talking about the same world. Think globally, act locally.

Put common ground and future focus front and center while treating problems and conflicts as information, not action items.

Encourage self-management and responsibility for action by participants before, during, and after the future search.

 

United Religions Initiative

United Religions Initiative (URI) is a global community with spiritual heart including thousands of members in over 50 countries representing more that 100 religions, spiritual expressions, and indigenous traditions. Its purpose is to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.

 

The URI Charter was developed through a four year global chartering process by several hundred women, men, and youth representing a diverse array of religions, spiritual paths and indigenous traditions. It inspires, grounds and guides all URI activity.

 

URI Principle Summary

 

1. The URI is a bridge-building organization, not a religion.

2. We respect the sacred wisdom of each religion, spiritual expression and indigenous tradition.

3. We respect the differences among religions, spiritual expressions and indigenous traditions.

4. We encourage our members to deepen their roots in their own tradition.

5. We listen and speak with respect to deepen mutual understanding and trust.

6. We give and receive hospitality.

7. We seek and welcome the gift of diversity and model practices that do not discriminate.

8. We practice equitable participation of women and men in all aspects of the URI.

9. We practice healing and reconciliation to resolve conflict without resorting to violence.

10. We act from sound ecological practices to protect and preserve the Earth for both present and future generations.

11. We seek and offer cooperation with other interfaith efforts.

12. We welcome as members all individuals, organizations and associations who subscribe to the Preamble, Purpose and Principles.

13. We have the authority to make decisions at the most local level that includes all the relevant and affected parties.

14. We have the right to organize in any manner, at any scale, in any area, and around any issue or activity which is relevant to and consistent with the Preamble, Purpose and Principles.

15. Our deliberations and decisions shall be made at every level by bodies and methods that fairly represent the diversity of affected interests and are not dominated by any.

16. We (each part of the URI) shall relinquish only such autonomy and resources as are essential to the pursuit of the Preamble, Purpose and Principles.

17. We have the responsibility to develop financial and other resources to meet the needs of our part, and to share financial and other resources to help meet the needs of other parts.

18. We maintain the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct, prudent use of resources, and fair and accurate disclosure of information.

19. We are committed to organizational learning and adaptation.

20. We honor the richness and diversity of all languages and the right and responsibility of participants to translate and interpret the Charter, Articles, Bylaws and related documents in accordance with the Preamble, Purpose and Principles, and the spirit of the United Religions Initiative.

21. Members of the URI shall not be coerced to participate in any ritual or be proselytized.

Earth Charter

The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society for the 21st century. Created by the largest global consultation process ever associated with an international declaration, endorsed by thousands of organizations representing millions of individuals, the Earth Charter seeks to inspire in all peoples a sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the well-being of the human family and the larger living world. The Earth Charter is an expression of hope and a call to help create a global partnership at a critical juncture in history.