We are co-creating the first IDG Toolkit from a Faith Perspective, building on the existing IDG framework to translate into practical, faith-rooted exercises for leaders and communities worldwide.

Country: USA (Global)
IDG HUB: IDG Global Faith Community
Link to website: https://seattleupce.instructure.com/courses/1258
Link to presentation: JLI Presentation

At the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI), we’ve been exploring how the IDGs can be contextualized for faith communities. In collaboration with Seattle University’s Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement, we held multi-session workshops with faith leaders at events such as the Parliament of the World’s Religions and United Nations related events. These revealed how strongly the IDGs resonate with faith leaders, while also showing where adaptation can make them even more meaningful in local contexts. We have also developed a study guide “Inner Development Goals and Addressing Global Challenges” designed for both individual as well as group engagement within faith communities. During JLI (we have more than 3,500 member in our network) Town Hall conversations we’ve seen growing momentum. Several organizations immediately volunteered to pilot the toolkit in their regional hubs, showing a clear appetite for testing and applying IDGs in practice.

This work builds on the IDG framework by creating new entry points for communities of faith. It shows that inner development is not a new idea for faith communities, but that aligning their ancient wisdom with a global IDG framework creates pathways for collaboration and mutual understanding. In a time of polarization and crisis of meaning, this matters greatly. It strengthens trust between worldviews, deepens local resilience, and creates shared language for leaders in policy and community spaces.