Examples of Religious Rights and Religious Freedom Organizations Today

(What They Do, How They Started and What is their Mission)

Religious Freedom and Religious Rights are two aspects and dimensions that share a common goal in promoting the value and importance of Religion to the lives of individuals. Religion, as I have shared and discussed in the previous articles that I have written, plays a poignant role in the life of an individual, as it shapes the faith of every person, and with that, it creates a majestic depiction and a heartwarming testimony of the life that he or she lives in daily. A person’s life story in totality is created because of the influence that Religion plays in his or her everyday experiences. In this article, I will be discussing and sharing the 5 examples of organizations that focus on the promotion of religious rights and religious freedom all over the world. Let us see and discover on a larger scale, their mission as an organization, what they do as an organization and what are their beginnings as an organization. Let us begin.

ACCORD

 

 

What is the mission of ACCORD as a religious organization?

Accord is known globally and worldwide both as a religious organization and network that consists of over 60 organizations, as well as of  Evangelical Christian Churches wherein their main focus is to eliminate poverty worldwide. Accord’s Vision is that “all Christian relief and development professionals and agencies base their initiatives on biblical principles and work to re-engage the Church in holistic ministry among the poor and needy.”

How did ACCORD begin and start as a religious organization?

Tracing the history of the Accord Network as a Religious Organization, brings them to their starting point, four decades ago. The President of “Food for the Hungry” had a main purpose and intent of responding to the different disasters that occurred in Bangladesh and Guatemala. With that main goal and intent, he ended up waiting on the line in various foreign ministry offices. Due to this unexpected encounter, it was then a valid suggestion during that time that Christian organizations are able to serve better and rapidly if they work in the spirit of unison and togetherness.

Thus, the President of “Food for the Hungry”, immediately returned to the United States, and upon his arrival, he started a community wherein it involved “like-minded organizations.” With that build up, twelve agencies  which include the following are: World Vision, World Concern, MAF and World Relief had their first meeting in the year 1977, at Wheaton, Illinois, in the United States, respectively. The main focal point of the meeting is they wanted to eradicate the prevalent feeling of competitiveness within themselves and replace it with an atmosphere of collaboration within all of them. Accordingly, one of the participating agencies said:

“We wanted to be a fraternity, a place to fellowship, to see each other as colleagues, and to profit by getting together.” And through this, the Accord Network was given birth.  The joint network of agencies incorporated in totality in the year 1978 with the name AERDO which stands for: “The Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations”.

Yet in the year 2010, the whole of the membership came up with a unanimous votation wherein, changing the name of the religious organization and network into ACCORD.

What does ACCORD do as a religious organization?

The interrelation of agencies that are members of of ACCORD are linked with the following characteristics:

• Christ- Focused.

• Relief and Development-Focused.

• Professionally and Fiduciarily Responsible.

As a religious organization, the main thrust and mission of Accord is to cultivate a community wherein churches, individuals and Christ-centered organizations, join forces and work in an equally tantamount pace, wherein they are all directed to the goal of achieving what is best to address relief and development, with the aid of their combined learnings.

Its members work hand in hand to help each other reach and attain its full potential by operating effectively and efficiently in a community wherein skills, support and shared knowledge transpires while working together.

Arigatou International

 

What is the mission of Arigatou International as a religious organization?

Arigatou International is an international faith-based NGO and religious organization that is centered on the mission of promoting interfaith cooperation that aims to greatly realize children’s rights on a global scale with a special purpose of promoting empowerment and involvement for the children and youth, and in return, building a better world for children.

How did Arigatou International begin and start as a religious organization?

The beginnings of Arigatou International can be traced back in the year 1990, following its establishment in Japan. Beforehand, it was named as Arigatou Foundation by the Japanese Buddhist organization, Myochikai, respectively. Following its establishment in the year 1990, in 2012, the name of the organization was changed to Arigatou International wherein the intent of changing its name is to accompany the formal incorporation of it as a non-profit organization.

The headquarters of Arigatou International can be found in Tokyo, Japan, while its other main offices are located  in Geneva, Switzerland, Nairobi, Kenya  and New York, USA. The appointed director of these offices  reports directly to the President of Arigatou International, in the person of Rev. Keishi Miyamoto. The fiscal year for operations of Arigatou International begins on the first of April every year and ends on the 31st of March of the next year.

What does Arigatou International do as a religious organization?

Arigatou International, as a religious organization and international faith-based NGO is focused on the four major initiatives which shows to the people, what they do as a religious organization and how they function as one which includes the following:

 

1. Global Network of Religions for Children (Nairobi) – this network is intended to provide a global platform that will promote inter-religious cooperation which is centered holistically for the betterment of the children.

 

2. Ethics Education for Children (Geneva)- this programme is both interfaith and intercultural in context, and is widely intended for the promotion of the great value of learning to live together, as well as a guide that is designed for the educators and youth leaders worldwide. This on a global scale will help children all over the world, respect and understand people from other cultures and religions in the different parts of the world.

 

3. Prayer and Action for Children (New York)- this initiative is intended to promote mobility within people from diverse religious traditions and with that in the long run, will improve children’s lives through practical acts of service and prayer.

 

4. Interfaith Initiative to End Child Poverty

(Nairobi)- the main thrust of this initiative is to end the poverty that children face in the facets of abuse, neglect and destitution. Arigatou International listens to these children, gives them something that they can strongly rely on and advocates strongly on their behalf and helps them with guidance in solving their problems.

Religions for Peace (RFP)

 

What is the mission of Religions for Peace as a religious organization?

The main thrust and mission of RFP is to advance peace throughout the world. RFP is known as the world’s  most represented and largest coalition that comprises of senior religious leaders that are all bonafide members of the World Council from all

religions across the globe. Specifically, seventy national members, six regional inter-religious bodies, the Global Youth Network and the Global Women of Faith Network.

How did RFP begin and start as a religious organization?

The early traces of RFP as a religious organization was during February of  2001 when it launched its Global Women of Faith Network. Because of its successful launching, the initiatives of RFP continued during the month of October in 2011, as it convened 130 diverse religious leaders of 30 countries, in order to address the intent of overcoming fear, division and despair brought about by the 9/11 attack that happened during the month of September 2001 in the World Trade Center of the United States.

THE RFP as a religious organization through its council and members have seen the fruits of their efforts vivid in the participating religious leaders for the participating countries, thus this inspired them to continue with their main motive of advancing peace throughout the globe. RFP continued working by addressing pressing concerns  that are related in advancing peace in the global state and to mention a few, such as: The First Coordinated Multi-Religious Action for Millions of Orphans and Vulnerable Children impacted by HIV/AIDS in June of 2002, the Kyoto 8th  World Assembly in July of 2006, and the International Multi-Religious Summit in Sri Lanka held in March 2008.

Because of the many efforts and events that RFP has done and organized, they continued to soar into greater heights at the present time and year which adds up to their colorful history of making Peace as a Global language that everyone can achieve and adhere into if togetherness and unison is vivid from one nation to the other in all parts of the globe.

What does RFP do as a religious organization?

Religions for Peace or RFP is known to be an international multi-religious organization that is centered on the principles of religious representativity and on reflecting the fabric of religious demography that leads the religious organization to attain and foresee holistic, comprehensive and sustainable peace. Their efforts, actions, movements and goals are centered on their 6 Strategic Priorities as follows:

• Promote Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies.

• Advance Gender Equality.

• Nurture a Sustainable Environment.

• Champion Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion.

• Strengthen Inter Religious Education.

• Foster Multi-religious Collaboration and Global Partnerships.

Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO)

 

What is the mission of CAFO as a religious organization?

The main thrust and mission of the Christian Alliance for Orphans, or more notably known as CAFO, is to help grow and stimulate Christian communities that are committed to global orphan care, adoption and foster care in the local church. It is a religious organization and alliance that unites a network of churches and more than 80 Christian organizations with their God-driven initiatives.

How did CAFO begin and start as a religious organization?

The colorful and remarkable history of CAFO or the Christian Alliance for Orphans began with its

birth in the year 2004 wherein 38 Christian leaders gathered as one in a special gathering for the religious organization. Despite serving in various fields, all of them share an individual sense within themselves that God desired to call His people to decisively step up in fostering the youth and the orphans around the world.

They all pledged to “leave egos and logos at the door” and to advance altogether for this vision in a shared and unified action as a religious platform. Through this shared vision, the Christian Alliance for Orphans or CAFO has united  650 church members and 190+ respected organizations through their efforts, rolled into one. The united and joint initiatives of CAFO, equipped and inspired Christians all around the globe, to live out effectively the call and challenge of the Holy Bible to give care and love for vulnerable children and orphans.

What does CAFO do as a religious organization?

CAFO’s size and scope work has shown significant growth over the years but the mission of promoting adoption, foster care and global orphan care in the most accessible form remains. The membership core for  CAFO will greatly depict as to what the organization performs and does for its members and recipients as follows:

• Member Organizations- the member organizations are required to exemplify the highest commitment to good governance, financial integrity and most importantly, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Its members are the greatest representations of the total continuum of response to the orphans worldwide. The total continuum includes the totality of the most admired names in domestic foster care, global orphan care, adoption and advocacy.

• Member Churches- the member churches must hold the necessary convictions that are consistently aligned with the organization’s statement of faith and they should share an in-depth desire in seeing God’s people that are fully equipped in defending the fatherless. A lot of the nation’s strongest church orphan ministries are those whose organization’s members both receive and give mutual support as part of the organization’s holistic community.

•  Individual Members- the individual members should remain steadfast to their commitment to the organization’s statement of faith and its mission in entirety. Through their influential spheres, as well as to their annual dues, they continuously aid the ongoing work of the organization’s community.

With these joint initiatives of CAFO with regards to what they do and perform as a religious organization and alliance, they steadfastly and expressively remain to their founding principle of creating a community that cares for the children in Jesus name in the most personalized and sustained personal commitment and dedication.

Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY)

 

What is the mission of ICNY as a religious organization?

The main thrust and mission of ICNY is to continuously work and promote joint initiatives and efforts that will greatly help in overcoming prejudice, misunderstanding and violence by activating steadfastly the power of the city’s grassroots, civic and religious leaders and their respective communities as a whole.

How did ICNY start and begin as a religious organization?

The meaningful and transcendental history of ICNY began in the year 1997, when it was founded by the Very Reverend James Parks Morton, who is also the former Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. After its founding, ICNY worked tirelessly for two decades with a hundred of grassroot faith community leaders that are from a varied range in spiritual, ethical and religious traditions that includes the Buddhist, Christian, Confucian, Jain, Jewish, Humanist, African Diaspora, Hindu , Muslim, Native American, Sikh, Zoroastrian and Taoist communities that exist in New York City.

Following the September 11, 2001 attack, the works and initiatives of ICNY were increasingly centered on providing assistance to the disenfranchised and immigrant religious communities whose leaders are considered as the most poignant resource of knowledge for its community members who tried to engage effectively in New York’s civic life.

What does ICNY do as a religious organization?

The ICNY as a religious organization adapts a unique methodology in performing their duties. The methodology includes the following tenets as follows:

• Defining Interfaith- this is defined and done by ICNY as an awareness movement wherein it promotes  positivity to its members that can be found in religious diversity.

• People Engagement- this is defined and done by ICNY by encouraging its members of different faiths to work together for the betterment of society.

• Purposeful Social Change- this is defined and done by ICNY to its members as an integrated effect of changing their social patterns and attitudes towards the other religious communities.
• Improving Social Well-Being- this is defined and done by ICNY to its members through a promotion of their holistic individuality and in return will better the community he or she is living in.