Blog
Governance for Thriving: The Path from Vision to Practice – Part 3
Big ideas like “dignity” and “community” can sound abstract. But when we build them into everyday life, they become real. That’s where PTU’s Theory of Growth comes in: we grow at the pace of relationship and learning. How It Works: Each of these steps builds trust and motivation for the next. Working with Our In-Groups:…
Read MoreSeeing the Human in One Another
I was recently at Princeton Seminary to support one of our staff members at a program for young Christian leaders. It’s an excellent program—full of bright, committed people. One of the presenters talked about how many younger folks have mixed feelings about “institutional” religion. Afterward, I joined a small group conversation. I said I wasn’t…
Read MoreSharing Food, Building Trust in Philadelphia
On Sunday afternoon, Viveka Hall-Holt and I had the joy of helping to lead a Potluck Project event in Philadelphia. We were warmly hosted by the Philadelphia Sikh Society, in partnership with University Lutheran Church, the Bahá’í Community, and staff from Interfaith Philadelphia. We were served a delicious vegetarian meal in the tradition of Langar,…
Read MoreClosing The Great Chasm Between Us
Machines of Slander and Fears For sixty years, people have been walking away—from groups, from institutions, and even from one another. Churches, unions, civic clubs, and neighborhood associations—once the backbone of community life—have all thinned out. Groups have walked away from other groups too, retreating into separate worlds of culture, class, and information. But nature…
Read MoreHow We Are Organizing Our Mission
Last week, I shared about our new mission statement at Paths to Understanding: “Gathering Neighbors and Growing Trust.” This new language isn’t just words. It’s shaping how we organize our work and where we put our energy. To live out our mission, PTU is focused in three areas: 1. Local Practice, Shared Tools At the…
Read MoreGathering Neighbors, Growing Trust
For many years, our mission statement at Paths to Understanding has been: “Bridging bias and building unity through multifaith peacemaking.” That statement has served us well. It has helped us focus on creating understanding between people of diverse wisdom traditions and countering religious-based bigotry. We will always do this work—it’s at the heart of who…
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