What is going to become of me? That is my retirement question, BUT it has been my question for a long time.

The Searing

In 24 hours of a day in February 1993, I was visited by an urgent possibility. Some day, probably soon, the world will get so frustrated and alarmed by religiously motivated violence that it will demand that religions, collectively, get their act together. If a United Nations, why not a United Religions? So I committed the rest of my life to the creation of a new culture among religions, whatever the name, whatever the organizational design. The pilgrimage began in earnest.

The Squaring

You all elected me to be your bishop. If I were to pursue the new calling, should I resign? Could I do two things at once? At the very least I ought to run the idea by you and see your reaction.So for two years I preached the same sermon in every congregation, a sermon about the coming United Religions and my role in it, as well as the Christian theological underpinnings of the venture. Ninety-five percent of the Diocese said “go for it while being our bishop.”

The Selection

I had to be wise about what to do with my discretionary time. No more Pebble Beach Pro-Am. No more national church committees. If I got a few days, I’d be off to India, Rome, or Japan, but always back for Sunday visitations. Lots of office work on airplanes. And in terms of one day at a time I would wedge an hour here or an early morning there or a late night in order to be a midwife in the birthing of the URI. I’ve been doing two jobs for the last thirteen years. Also after 1995 I never mentioned the URI in the Diocese of California. I wanted to keep the two passions separate.

The Succeeding

The URI took the low road and aimed for grassroots people instead of religious leaders at the top. Since the signing of the URI Charter in June 2000, we now have offices on five continents, cooperation circles in 65 countries, over three hundred cooperation circles, and about one-and-a-half million people involved.

Today the challenge is whether to aim at being a nice international interfaith group or aim at changing world history. The reason I am going to work for URI at this time is to focus us on the latter goal. I will try to raise one hundred million dollars, be a spokesperson throughout the world, and assist in public relations.

How does my past factor in my future? I look at it as if I have taken all of the Christian core courses and now I would like to declare my major:  interfaith relations. I intend to go deeper in my Christian faith with this curriculum.

In the future if any of you want to explore this journey, just check in with www.uri.org. Otherwise I am taking the witness protection option and will be that figure in the raincoat, hat, and sunglasses shopping quietly at Safeway. “Good night, and good luck”, and may God bless you richly!

Love in Christ,

The Rt. Rev. William E. Swing Bishop