Temple of Understanding

10/13/2026

Tomorrow, join RNS to examine how religious leaders are mobilizing their congregations, what the data tell us about voter disenfranchisement and what's at stake for communities of color this November. Register now! https://riverside.com/webinar/registration/eyJldmVudElkIjoiNmFhNDQwZTZhNDk0ZTQyZTRmY2VlNzVlIiwic2x1ZyI6ImVsc2Utb3dlbnMtc3R1ZGlvIn0=

10/12/2026

Indigenous Peoples Day is a day to honor the voices, perspectives, contributions, culture, traditions and heritage of Indigenous Peoples worldwide. According to the UN, there are an estimated 476 million Indigenous people across the globe. Learn more about Indigenous Peoples Day:

Indigenous people celebrate their history of resilience with ceremonies, dances and speeches. President Joe Biden officially commemorated Indigenous Peoples Day in 2021.

10/08/2026

Join in this celebration and honoring of Indigenous Peoples, happening Oct. 11 and 12th on Randall's Island in New York City. Learn more: https://ipdnyc.squarespace.com/

10/06/2026

“Four weeks ago, the world saw the shocking images of the catastrophic flash floods that swept through Nepal’s mountain communities with ferocity many have called a ‘Himalayan Tsunami,’” Nepal’s prime minister Balendra Shah said before the UNGA general debate Sept. 24. “The Bhotekoshi-Trishuli disaster was not just a local tragedy, it was a warning to the world. And I ask you today: have we really heard that warning?”

The devastating impacts of climate change, including the catastrophic floods in Nepal, were among the issues that took central stage at UNGA last month. Learn more about how world leaders at UNGA raised the alarm about the climate crisis -- and framed solutions -- at our latest blog post.

As world leaders gathered in New York at the United Nations General Assembly last month, the climate crisis was among the most pressing global issues to take center stage. The high-level week and general debate Sept. 22-28 came the same month as an alarming UNEP report found the world temperature ri...

10/05/2026

Pastors are hitting the road nationwide to get out the vote on ‘The Vote is Sacred’ bus tour, beginning with our special kickoff event TODAY in Kansas City, Missouri!

Proud to have St. Louis’s own Reverend Booker T. Rice rep The Vote is Sacred tour on Fox2Now alongside Pastor Ivan James III. They will be joining us in KC!

Find the bus near you and RSVP to your local event at VoteIsSacred.org

10/05/2026

A supercharged El Niño is bringing the threat of extreme heat, floods, drought and disruptive weather in areas across the globe. Learn more about how communities can prepare and respond during two webinars Wednesday, Oct. 7, organized by Anglican Alliance.

What is El Niño? What signs should we look for, and what could its effects mean for our communities?

Join us for a practical and participatory online session exploring:
• what El Niño is
• the signs to look out for
• likely impacts in different regions
• how churches and communities can prepare and respond

There will also be time to hear what people are already experiencing, share concerns and questions, and pray together.

We are offering the same session twice:

Wednesday 7 October 2026

07:00 UTC — with French and Arabic interpretation
Register here: https://bit.ly/4rJdpOv

19:00 UTC — with Spanish and Portuguese interpretation
Register here: https://bit.ly/4hVzqWY

Anglican Communion Anglican Missions Anglican Church of Melanesia Episcopal Relief & Development Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil ANGLICAN BOARD OF MISSION - AUSTRALIA Anglican Overseas Aid Alongside Hope Westminster Abbey Anglican Communion Youth Network GREEN Anglicans The Communion Forest

10/02/2026

The resolution reaffirms "the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence" and the desire "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence," according to the UN. Learn more: https://www.un.org/en/observances/non-violence-day

Friday's International Day of Non-Violence highlights the remarkable power of peaceful protest.

The day marks the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, a leader who remained committed to the principle of non-violence, even in the most difficult circumstances.

"In these highly charged times, let’s summon the courage, empathy, dignity and shared humanity that Gandhi exemplified throughout his life,” says UN Secretary-General ‌António Guterres.

09/29/2026

"My summer at the Temple of Understanding gave me a truly global and interfaith perspective — learning alongside fellow interns from every corner of the world, sitting in on UN conferences, and speaking with leaders I never imagined I'd meet. At the UN and in the TOU office, I saw the whole world brought together in one place. I left with a deeper sense of purpose and an open mind that will stay with me for life, shaping the work I take on and the leader I become." Hear more from 2026 interns about their experience with the Temple of Understanding internship program: https://templeofunderstanding.org/in-their-own-words-tou-interns-reflect-on-the-2026-internship-program/

09/28/2026

"It is not because of the UN that we find ourselves in this hostile geopolitical reality, but because of our failure to support its work and the values that it was built on," 2025 TOU intern Yann Grechez Elkoubi writes for Deadline Journal.

The UN’s failures are loud, but its victories very quiet.

09/26/2026

The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons provides an occasion for the world community to reaffirm its commitment to global nuclear disarmament as a priority. It has been observed annually since 2014. Learn more: https://www.un.org/en/observances/nuclear-weapons-elimination-day

Achieving global nuclear disarmament has always been a core objective of the work of the United Nations.

On Saturday’s International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stresses:

“It’s time to choose dialogue over division, diplomacy over confrontation, and disarmament over destruction.”