The Unity-and-Diversity World Council is a nonprofit, tax-exempt California corporation. It was originally formed to develop the ideals and activities undertaken during International Cooperation Year 1965, which was voted into being by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The goal of the U.N. in establishing that year was to encourage a maximum of cooperation among non-governmental organizations. 

Vision:

To establish and sustain a local-to-global cooperating body of individuals, groups, and networks for the pursuit of peace, justice, and an environmentally sustainable civilization for all races, cultures, and religions based on universal ethical and spiritual principles.

Objectives:

(1) To realize our connection to the Source of All Life and to all life forms.
(2) To facilitate personal and social transformation and cooperative activities for global peace and justice.
(3) To create an international vehicle for economic cooperation.
(4) To study and take action on different issues, as well as making recommendations for needed action to institutions around the world
(5) To support the United Nations and its efforts in behalf of global community

Methods:

The methods we use are based upon our search for universal moral and spiritual principles. We welcome the coming together of all ethnicities, cultures and religions into a unity-and-diversity type of community both locally and around the world. We also use the wisdom gained through the work of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in terms of how to achieve loving and truthful social change in a timely manner.

• Leland P. Stewart, Founder/Central Coordinator -- Author/Compiler, World Scriptures
• Elizabeth E. Stewart, Founder -- Compiler, Science and Spirituality
• Andre Graham, Vice-president -- Producer, L.A. Upside Down
• David Turner, Board Secretary; Unity-and-Diversity Minister
• Robin Gillies, Treasurer -- United Nations Association, Pasadena Chapter
• Roger Eaton -- Coordinator, Global Assembly Dialog
• Stephen L. Fiske -- Singer, songwriter, composer, peacemaker, Peace Sunday Producer
• Dr. Gary Herbertson -- Former Staff, United Nations Environment Program
• Bertha Pitts -- Evangelist; interested in interfaith; helped with graphics
• Felix Winston -- Executive Director, Cal State Northridge Interfaith Council

• Hector Aristizabal -- Lecturer/activist, Hispanic community
• Dr. Kenneth Beatty -- Leader, United Religions Initiative Cooperation Circle
• Tahdi Blackstone, D.Min. -- President, Institute of Noetic Sciences, Los Angeles
• Dr. Robert Bonnell -- President, Theosophical Society of Long Beach
• Hum and Rose Bui, M.D.'s -- Leaders of Cao Dai Faith and interfaith work
• Rev. Jan Chase -- Minister, Unity Church of Pomona; Leader, Inland Valley Interfaith
• Bhante Chao Chu -- Head monk, Rosemead Buddhist Monastery
• Dr. Laurel Clark -- Leader, School of Metaphysics; Co-developer, Peace Dome
• Rev. Prof. Theodore Clarke -- Pasadena City College; Religious Science Minister
• Rev. Albert Cohen, Executive Director, Southern California Ecumenical Council
• Byron DeLear -- Congressional candidate; interfaith supporter
• John Falchi -- Educator; former member of UDC Executive Board
• Rev. Tasnim Fernandez -- Sufi Order; Teacher, Dances of Universal Peace
• Dr. Jefferson Tasleem Ghauri -- Founding President, International Association of Religious Freedom, Pakistan
• Dr. Linda Groff -- Professor, California State University Dominguez Hills
• Alanna Hartsok -- Co-director, Earth Rights Institute
• Cliff Ishigaki -- Founder, Orange County Psychosynthesis Center; former Board member, Unity-and-Diversity Minister
• Rabbi Bernie King -- Emeritus, Congregation Shir Ha-ma'a Lot
• Kay Lindahl -- Author, Sacred Art of Listening; Leader, North American Interfaith Network
• Mary Mann, Ph.D.: Co-author, Science and Spirituality; playwright
• Bonnie Mansdorf -- Director, Foundation for a Healing Among Nations
• Irving Sarnoff -- Co-founder, Friends of the United Nations; peace activist
• F. Richard Schneider, Ph.D. -- Founder, Institute of Global Education
• Alan Seaman -- Teacher, meditator; former UDC Executive Board member
• Roger Sorenson, M.D. -- Former participant, Worldview Exploration Seminar
• Jim Stewart -- Director, Earth Day Los Angeles
• Rebecca Tobias -- Interfaith activist; campaign manager for Byron DeLear's Green Party Congressional candidacy
• Rev. Jeffrey Utter -- So. Calif. contact, Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions
• Rene Wadlow -- Editor/Publisher, "Global Perspectives" Magazine
• Rev. Tom Ziegert -- Minister, Venice United Methodist Church; peace activist

• Sharif Abdullah -- Founder, Commonway; Author, Creating a World That Works for All
• Mehnaz-Mona Afridi, Ph.D. -- Muslim scholar; active in Muslim-Jewish dialogue
• Andrew Beath -- Founder, Earthways; Author, Consciousness in Action
• Mobed Zarir Bhandara -- Zoroastrian high priest; editor, Zoroastrian scriptures
• Swami Brahmavidyananda -- Monk, author, member of Vedanta Society
• Ruth Broyde-Sharone -- Producer, "God and Allah Need to Talk" video
• Sister Gita -- Director, Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Center Los Angeles
• Jonathan Granoff -- Global Security Institute; active with United Nations
• Dr. Ananda Guruge -- Professor of Buddhist Studies, University of the West
• Mussie Hailu --  Representative, Association of World Citizens, Ethiopia
• Rabbi Benjamin Herson -- Emeritus, Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue
• MSS Shakti Parwha Kaur Khalsa -- Mother of 3HO Organization; Sikh Dharma
• Richard Millen -- Retired attorney; pioneer in mediation
• Hiroshi Motoyama, Ph.D. -- Founder, California Institute of Human Studies
• Dr. Robert Muller -- Former Assistant Secretary General, United Nations; author
• Mangesh Nadkarni, Ph.D. -- Leader, World Union; specialist on work of Aurobindo
• Huston Smith, Ph.D. -- Author, World's Religions and other books on religion
• Hoang Van Duc, M.D. -- Former Prof. of Medicine, University of Southern California
• Ali Wassil, Ph.D., LL.D. -- Co-founder of UDC: author, lecturer

Leland P. Stewart, B.S.E., B.T.
Founder/Central Coordinator
20 March 2010(10)

We the People hereby declare our interdependence -- our connection
to the Source of All Life and to all life forms.  We affirm that diverse
individuals, groups, and networks are necessary for the creative
development of humanity; and that to strengthen UNITY-AND-DIVERSITY
throughout the universe is our individual responsibility and privilege.

  --From UDC's Declaration of Interdependence

The General Assembly of the United Nations designated 1965 as International Cooperation Year.  It was celebrated throughout the world among nongovernmental organizations as a special time of working together toward common ends.  It was during ICY 1965 that what is now the Unity-and-Diversity World Council was born.  Its original name was International Cooperation Council, which remained until 1979.  At that time a major reorganization took place, and the new name was established.  It appears that our Council is the only organization which formed out of that unique occasion and has continued to this time.

What we discovered during International Cooperation Year and beyond is that there is a need for a people's equivalent to the United Nations coming from the grassroots.  The United Nations does work with nongovernmental organizations (traditionally called NGOs), but these organizations have an agenda largely developed by the U.N. and under its watchful eye.  What we have concluded is that, since democracy comes from the people rather than being established through governments, a parallel development needs to come from the people.

The Unity-and-Diversity World Council has over the years developed a largely parallel structure to the U.N. as it can be applied to individuals, groups, and networks.  For example, we have a General Assembly that meets monthly and which is the only body in UDC that is designed to deal with all of the concerns that people have in attempting to live and to solve their individual and collective problems.  The UDC also has Specialized Affiliates, parallel to the Specialized Agencies of the U.N. 

What it also has, which the U.N. does not officially have, and which is essential to the UDC's work, is involvement in cultivating ethical and spiritual principles.  Hence, the need for a Unity-and-Diversity World Fellowship and a World Interfaith Network, both of which are Specialized Affiliates of the UDC. 

The World Interfaith Network holds monthly interfaith celebrations, which with the two such affiliates we now have meet at the different faith centers in their area on Sunday afternoons.  By meeting on Sunday afternoons these gatherings can reach faith leaders, as well as congregations, who are occupied on Sunday mornings.

The Unity-and-Diversity World Fellowship trains unity-and-diversity ministers and holds unity-and-diversity type services on Sunday mornings.  The Fellowship seeks to provide the kinds of programs which will serve as a center in each community where people of all faiths and no official faith can meet and develop areas of common ground.

A Unity-and-Diversity Wheel has been designed to show where different individuals, groups, and networks are focusing, so that in the World Directory we are once again developing -- this time on our website -- a model for seeing where these entities are putting their energies. 

These cooperative efforts are not just theoretical.  They are also very practical, so that change really does occur.  For example, in the General Assembly we are creating an active network focusing on nuclear disarmament.  This coalition, called the Los Angeles Area Nuclear Disarmament Coalition (LAANDC), is planning to have a booth on Earth Day L.A. at the Santa Monica Promenade on Saturday, April 17th.  Other projects have been carried out or are being planned by UDC-related bodies. 

One very important effort that is going on now is the ordination of Stephen Longfellow Fiske as a Unity-and-Diversity Minister.  Stephen is a very talented singer-songwriter, author, and now producer of the Venice EcoFest. His ordination will take place next Sunday, March 28th, 2 p.m., in his garden at 635 California Ave., Venice 90291.  A potluck luncheon will be served at 2 p.m., to be followed by the ordination.  On upcoming Sunday mornings interfaith services will be held, probably at a location in Venice.  You are cordially invited to come to the ordination and to consider joining on Sunday mornings as well.

Please note that this year is UDC's 45th anniversary, paralleling the U.N.'s 65th.  There is a new energy emerging that speaks well for UDC's future.  More will be said periodically about the Council and its very important work, as well as about other Specialized Affiliates.  Please let us know if you wish to be on this list and are not at the present time.

In the Spirit of Unity-and-Diversity!!!

For information about participation and/or membership, contact UDC at:
Unity-and-Diversity World Council, Inc.
P.O. Box 661401, Los Angeles, CA USA 90066-9201
Phone: 310-391-5735; FAX: 310-827-9187 (contact UDC first)
Email: udcworld1@yahoo.com; Website: www.udcworld.org

P.S.  UDC is in the process of establishing a Unity-and-Diversity Center at 12806 Matteson Ave. #10, Los Angeles, CA 90066-4193.  Call to visit or to offer some volunteer help.  We do need your assistance to carry on our endeavors. 

Unity-and-Diversity Contact Information

Leland P. Stewart, B.S.E., B.T., 
       Founder/Central Coordinator
P.O. Box 661401
Los Angeles, CA USA 90066-9201
Phone: 310-391-5735
FAX: 310-827-9187 (contact UDC first)
Email: udcworld1@yahoo.com
Website: www.udcworld.org