Interfaith Council grew out of the ashes of 9/11. Faith groups who gathered in Spokane, Washington to commemorate the first anniversary of 9/11 realized that the tragedy called for a bold effort to create a living model of diverse people working respectfully together to build peace.

Eleven Days of Peace was held, beginning on 9/11 and culminating on 9/21, International Peace Day. Each day a faith group led a commemoration at the Clock Tower in Riverfront Park, lifting up their faith’s strongest teachings on peace. Purposeful conversations over the next year led to establishing the Interfaith Council on September 21, International Peace Day 2003.

The founding group represented varied faith traditions including: African Methodist Episcopal, American Baptist, Bahá’í, Roman Catholic, Christ Holy Sanctified, Community of Christ, Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Disciples of Christ, Episcopalian, Friends (Quaker), Hindu, Jewish, Lutheran, Mennonite, Muslim, Native American, Nichiren Buddhist, Presbyterian, Tibetan Vajnayana Buddhist, Unitarian, United Church of Christ, United Methodist, and Unity.