Dear Friends, As we near the end of a year for which words like "historic" and "world-shattering" seem too tame, I am drawn to Charles Dickens' description of the upheavals of an earlier century. "It was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness. It was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. We were all going direct to Heaven. We were all going direct the other way." How very similar and how completely different our age is from his. Who will determine its outcome? The answer is simple: you and me. All of us together. As the world has witnessed undreamt-of religious, political and social change, whose ultimate meaning is far from clear, we at the Council were not mere observers. In keeping with the best of our history, we offer a forum of sanity, a focal point where people of good will come together. To reason, to discuss, and most of all to transform our ideals into realities — ensuring that what prevails is hope, not despair.

Support the Council’s work to bring people of conscience together for a more hopeful future. Your gift makes a world of difference.

Which is why we ask for your financial support at this critical moment, enabling the Council to continue its all-important and effective work that weights the scale on the side of hope and light, not gloom and darkness.

What have we achieved in 2011? Programs and plans that organizations many times our size would be proud to claim. Our principal work this past year has been planning the 2014 Parliament of the World's Religions, a gargantuan task. If the 2009 Parliament is any indication, 2014 will be an even more decisive event in the interreligious movement, and among all who understand that dialogue among the world's traditions is not just important, but indispensable. It is the life blood of the world’s ability to transform itself from religious provincialism to harmony. But it is an ambitious proposition — requiring substantial financial resources, including the time of our dedicated staff.

As a central part of our mission to bring people of conscience together, we have offered several webinars, featuring the leading lights from a wide range of the world's religions and spiritualities. They have discussed vital topics, from "Equipping Religious Leaders for Interreligious Work" to "Ending Poverty: Practical Steps” to "10 Strategies to Respond to the Rising Hate in the U. S."

As always, we continue to expand our Partner Cities Program, our Social Cohesion Project — now an official program of the city of Malmo, Sweden in that city’s efforts to reduce ethnic and religious strife. Peacenext.org, our social network website, and on-the-ground efforts to enshrine interreligious dialogue round out our local, regional, national and international work.

As you can imagine, all these programs cost money. So please, donate generously now.

As a sage rabbi said, not in the prior century, but in the prior millennium, "It is not incumbent upon you to finish the work of perfecting the world. But neither are you free to desist from the task."

We hope you agree. And that you will contribute generously, now, to what is clearly one of the most urgent — and hopeful — causes of our day.

Thank you.

Peace,

Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid
Chair, Board of Trustees
Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions