Institute for Faith-Based Diplomacy
About the Institute
MISSION
IFBD
The Institute for Faith-Based Diplomacy
The Institute For Faith-Based Diplomacy (IFBD) engages in faith-based diplomacy as a non-governmental approach to bring about reconciliation and facilitate joint problem solving among communities divided by grievances or conflict.
The Institute accomplishes its mission by training of next-generation indigenous leaders in the practice of Faith-Based Diplomacy (FBD) and Faith-Based Reconciliation (FBR).
OBJECTIVES
Raising up the Next Generation of Faith-Based Peacemakers
-
People of faith from all religious traditions
-
People of faith who sense a call to faith-based diplomacy as their life's work
-
People of of faith who will carry on and lead the work pioneered by Brian Cox
Extending Faith-Based Reconciliation as an Alternative to Religious Extremism and Violence
-
Religious extremism as a national security threat
-
Religious extremism as a spiritual problem that requires a spiritual approach
-
Religious extremism is grounded in a paradigm that must be transformed
-
Ideas are powerful that cause the militant to pick up the gun
Enabling the Development of Pluralistic Communities
-
The paradigm of hegemony is the root of identity-based conflicts and an obstacle to establishing a pluralistic and just community
-
A paradigm of pluralism assumes unity through diversity, not uniformity
Healing the Broken Family of Abraham
-
Religious hostility among Jews, Christians, and Muslims is a root problem in many global conflicts around the globe.
-
In the aftermath of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, antisemitism has emerged as the most dangerous and critical problem to be tackled.
-
Jews, Christians, and Muslims each have hostile paradigms that they embrace about each other.
-
Those paradigms must be transformed by a paradigm of faith-based reconciliation.
-
Healing religious hostility among Jews, Christians, and Muslims is the key to solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and developing peace in the Middle East.
-
In our time, it will require a fresh look at each nation’s relationship with Israel.
Developing Public/Private Partnerships Between Track One and Track Two Diplomacy
-
The rise of religion and religious actors in the twenty-first century is the new normal
-
Track one governmental and track two faith-based cooperation brings the strengths of each to a problem
OUR HISTORY
The Institute has its origins in the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy (ICRD).
​
Brian Cox as ICRD Senior Vice President applied faith-based diplomacy to resolve identity-based conflicts in Sudan, Kashmir (both India and Pakistan), Syria, Israel, Palestine and Jordan.
​
In 2008 ICRD partnered with the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University Law School to train and equip faith-based peacemakers through the PACIS (i.e. “Peace”) Project for Faith-Based Diplomacy.
​
The Institute for Faith-Based Diplomacy was officially born on July 23, 2017 and was designed and developed by Brian Cox, John Sandoz, Dana Moldovan, and Gabriel Abdalla.
OUR PEOPLE
GET INVOLVED
IFBD
There are four principal ways that someone can become a part of this global movement of Faith-Based Diplomacy and Reconciliation:
Becoming an IFBD Team Member
Partner
This is a person or organization that volunteers to work with IFBD within their own nation on one of IFBD’s strategic objectives such as strategic friendship with Israel, countering religious extremism and violence, developing a pluralistic community.
Intern
This is a young person who has not yet acquired relevant experience in the field and who will be offered the opportunity to learn by working alongside IFBD’s highly experienced faith-based diplomats and peacemakers in the field so as to gain needed on-site knowledge, skills and experience.
Regional Director
This is a person who undertakes the IFBD intensive training and begins an IFBD cell group in their region. This is evidence that that they are a leader by being able to mobilize others around a vision. The Regional Director will coordinate with IFBD’s President in overseeing the development of projects and deployment of the team.
Associate
This is a person who has completed the IFBD intensive training and will be available to work on specific IFBD projects based on their gifts and experience as part of a team.
THE IFBD FRANCHISE MODEL
The Institute for Faith-Based Diplomacy will create a global movement for faith-based peacemaking through a franchise model.
The heart of the franchise model are core groups established in each region led by a Regional Director. The Regional Director will work under the supervision of the IFBD President and will oversee the training, project development, and deployment on specific IFBD projects. Projects that are consistent with the IFBD vision and objectives include:
01
Countering Extremism
Countering religious extremism and violence with an alternative vision of Faith-Based Reconciliation.
02
Advancing Pluralism
Empowering diverse communities to develop a truly pluralistic and inclusive paradigm.
03
Healing the Broken Family of Abraham
Healing religious hostility among Jews, Christians and Muslims as a key to Middle East peace.
04
Developing Partnerships
Developing cooperative partnerships between track one and track two faith-based initiatives in a nation.