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Raising Up the Next Generation of

Faith-Based Peacemakers

Using Faith to Create a Culture of Reconciliation

ABOUT

The Institute for Faith-Based Diplomacy

Faith-based reconciliation is an alternative approach to traditional diplomacy and negotiating peacemaking. It differs from those methods in that it is principally a spiritually-based effort to soften hearts. 

IFBD uses Faith as the framework to create a culture for reconciliation.

Faith-Based Reconciliation

01

Creates Space for Healing

Employs a deliberative process that seeks to create a reconciling spirit for the healing of historic wounds that energize hostility between communities.

02

Builds Bridges Across Divides

Builds bridges between leaders of opposing communities in order to foster trust and break down the walls that perpetuate distrust and hostility.

03

Fosters Joint Problem Solving

Facilitates constructive, trust-based, joint problem solving necessary to resolve a range of issues that perpetuate distrust and hostility.

IFBD Global Leadership

Brian Cox
Founder and President

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Cristian David
Senior Vice President
Global Expansion

IMPACT

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IFBD in India

Under the leadership of IFBD Regional Director Ramzan Khan, IFBD teams have been established in Ladakh and West Bengal and the Northeast. Teams are also in the process of being formed in Jammu and Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh. They have conducted Civil Society meetings in Leh, Kargil and Kolkata to introduce IFBD and the Eight Core Values to middle-level leaders. They have conducted Faith-Based Reconciliation workshops in Leh and Kargil to soften hearts and engage in constructive joint problem solving, resulting in a ground-breaking social contract.

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IFBD in Zambia

Under the leadership of IFBD Regional Director Japhet Mphande, an IFBD Core Group has been trained for work in Zambia and Africa. They are presently reaching out to the small Jewish community in Zambia as well as Christian leaders as the beginning of their work, facilitating strategic friendship between Zambia and Israel.

IFBD in Romania

Under the leadership of IFBD Regional Director Ciprian Georghe Luca, an IFBD Core Group has formed and been trained. The two areas of focus for the team's work will be post-conflict reconciliation in Ukraine and strategic friendship between Romania and Israel. Meetings have been conducted in Romania with government leaders and in Brussels with EU and NATO leaders focused on post-conflict reconciliation in Ukraine. IFBD has hosted two panel discussions with political, religious and NGO leaders focusing on post-conflict reconciliation in Ukraine. An exploratory mission to Ukraine was conducted by an IFBD team in November 2024 to begin this process.

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IFBD in Ireland

Under the leadership of IFBD Regional Director Daisy Simwawa, a team was formed and trained in December 2024. The focus of their work will be on Healing Religious Hostility Among Jews, Christians and Muslims: Beginning with Antisemitism.

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IFBD in Israel

Under the leadership of IFBD Regional Director Luke Gasiorowski, an IFBD team is being formed.

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IFBD in USA

Under the leadership of Brian Cox and Arthur Gross-Schaefer, an IFBD Core Group is being formed to focus on the problem of antisemitism in the Santa Barbara community and on the campus of UC Santa Barbara. It is hoped that a template can be produced for use in other communities.

THE KEY ELEMENTS OF FAITH-BASED DIPLOMACY

PUBLICATIONS

The rise of religion and religious actors - combined with nonstate actors - require a new paradigm that acknowledges the cultural and historical factors at the heart of many identity-based conflicts, and advances the role of nation-states in resolving them. 

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The Faith-Based Reconciliation Process

  • It is not interfaith dialogue or traditional conflict resolution

  • It is a process of softening hearts as a prelude to constructive joint problem solving

  • It is a transformational process in fields of intractable identity-based conflict

  • It invites God into the process through prayer and fasting

  • It is an innovative approach to diplomacy and peacemaking developed over the past thirty years by Brian Cox, who brings together a unique background in politics, theological and pastoral training, conflict resolution, and international experience.

Civil Society Meetings

  • Half-day meetings of middle-level leaders and stakeholders

  • Sharing the vision and objectives of IFBD

  • Sharing the Eight Core Values of Faith-Based Reconciliation

  • Introducing the paradigm of Faith-Based Reconciliation into the society

  • Creating a public conversation about a new paradigm for the society

 

Indigenous Teams

  • We begin the IFBD presence in a nation by identifying a potential regional director who catches the vision of IFBD and can share it with others

  • The regional director recruits a team which is then trained in the principles and methodology of Faith-Based Diplomacy and Reconciliation

  • The team, together with the global leadership of IFBD, defines the specific mission for that nation

  • IFBD teams utilize common principles and methods but indigenize them to their cultural context

  • The work of each team is unique but is in harmony with other IFBD teams

Join The Movement

The Institute is dedicated to establishing indigenous core groups under a Regional Director in each nation or region.  Through these core groups, the next generation peacemakers can be identified and trained to expand faith-based reconciliation in regions where identity-based conflicts have prevented peaceful coexistence.  Join today to learn more.

Welcome to the Movement!

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