Dialogue Resources
Center for Religion and Civic Culture- Foundations of Successful Community Partnership
The USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture seeks “to bring academic research and community knowledge together to create a positive impact in society.” Brie Loskota’s article lays out how to build successful relational partnerships in addressing community issues. Loskota provides a template for fostering community partnerships through three phases: personal, mutual, and shared.
The Dialogue Decalogue – Dialogue Institute
Temple University Professor Leonard Swidler defines interreligious dialogue as “a conversation on a common subject between people with differing views undertaken so that they can learn from one another and grow.” Based on this view of dialogue, Professor Swidler developed ten principles for dialogue, the “Dialogue Decalogue.”
Essential Partners
Essential Partners provides dozens of resources for dialogue, organized by topic, sector, content type, and skills. Three especially useful and brief resources for interfaith dialogue include: 11 tips for hard conversations, Reflective Structured Dialogue, and Guide to Dialogues About Israel/Palestine
Essentials of Dialogue – Generation Global
Generation Global offers programs and collaborative partnerships with schools “to navigate difference in a peaceful way.” This Essentials of Dialogue resource provides guidance and activities for engaging young people in the practice of dialogue. Each chapter is divided into two sections: theoretical frameworks, and practical classroom activities and ideas for engagement.
Hartford International University for Religion and Peace - Sharing the Well: (Jewish/ Muslim) Guidelines for Dialogue
Sharing the Well is the culmination of the “Judaism and Islam in America” workshops between 2010 and 2012, in which Jewish and Muslim scholars from universities around the United States came together to share their traditions and learn from one another. This resource guide includes: guidelines on beginning and sustaining open and productive interreligious dialogue; essays and discussion questions from Jewish and Muslim religious, academic, and communal leaders that center shared values and traditions; and examples of Jewish-Muslim engagement programs from across the United States.
Interfaith America
Interfaith America (formerly IFYC) offers over 100 resources for interfaith dialogue and work, especially concerning young adults and on-campus interfaith initiatives. Some useful dialogue resources include: Shared Values Facilitation Guide and Bridgebuilder Basics.
Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington - Guidelines for Dialogue
This two page resource presents guidelines for interfaith dialogue developed by the Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington. These guidelines cover: the purpose of interfaith dialogue, foundational assumptions for entering into interfaith dialogue, the dialogue process, and suggested ground rules for dialogue.
Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston - Dinner Dialogues
This guide from Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston provides an outline for hosting a Dinner Dialogue “to learn about one another’s faith traditions in a respectful format” with a group of 8-12 people at a private home. The guide has concrete suggestions for staffing, a timeline of the event, ground rules, and basic ideas for questions.
The Interfaith Network for the United Kingdom
The Interfaith Network of the United Kingdom (which dissolved in January 2025) offered a variety of dialogue resources. Resources of particular note include: dialogue and difficult issues, which provides guiding questions for hosts concerning the participants, space, timing, and expectations; and practical pointers, a compilation of reflections on interfaith dialogue, examples of successful dialogue formats and activities, and frames for addressing common challenges.
Interfaith Photovoice
"Photovoice uses photographs to give voice to people and issues in a community. It is used by participants to identify needs, raise awareness, and instigate change." Participants use their smartphone cameras to respond to prompts; then, over a series of facilitated meetings, participants engage in discussions across lines of difference. The project culminates in a public photography exhibit, engaging the broader community.
KAICIID
KAICIID is an intergovernmental organization that facilitates dialogue between different cultures and faiths with a focus on religious leaders and policymakers. Many of their resources focus on development projects and international peace building. Some dialogue resources that are useful across contexts include: The International Fellows Programme Interreligious Dialogue Resource, The Project Integration Through Dialogue Toolkit - Handbook, and Heroes of Dialogue.
Nuns and Nones Organizer Toolkit
This toolkit is an evolving document of stories, models, and tools for community building coming out of Nuns and Nones’ collaborations between “Catholic sisters and spiritually diverse millennials.” Of note in the document are sections on structure and practices for dialogue-centered gatherings, city based case studies, and recommended readings.
Scarboro Missions
Scarboro Missions is a Catholic Mission that, for over two decades, has focused on interfaith dialogue and action in their work. This resource offers 25 resources for engaging in interfaith dialogue. “The collection explores the goals, types, and stages of dialogue and touches on issues such as interfaith etiquette, listening, peace-building, hospitality, respectful presence and dialogue-versus-debate.”
Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom
The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom is an organization working “to build trust, respect, and relationships between Muslim and Jewish women of all ages.” Their website includes a resource on Responding to Biased or Offensive Comments.
US Institute of Peace: What Works? Evaluating Interfaith Dialogue Programs
This special report, commissioned by the Religion and Peacemaking initiative of the U.S. Institute of Peace, describes how to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of interfaith dialogue programs. In particular, this report offers a roadmap for measuring and evaluating the success of interfaith dialogue in the context of religious conflict and religious nationalism.
World Interfaith Harmony Week
The “World Interfaith Harmony Week” website compiles resources, articles, and speech transcripts regarding the UN recognized World Interfaith Harmony Week.
Other Dialogue Organizations
Many key interfaith organizations and innovative local interfaith groups have developed their own quality dialogue resources. In addition, there are a number of notable dialogue organizations with creative approaches, including:
"We strengthen American democracy by preparing leaders to bridge divides."
Constructive Dialogue Institute
"A form of conversation where people with different perspectives try to understand each other — without giving up their own beliefs — in order to work together."
Institute for Citizens & Scholars
"We partner with diverse leaders in higher education, business, and philanthropy to transform colleges, workplaces, and communities into hubs for civic development. Our collaborative approach designs targeted programs that build Gen Z’s abilities to find and use reliable information, engage in difficult conversations, and forge solutions across differences to strengthen America."
"We will thrive as a nation because of our ability and willingness to work together across differences. Join the movement of 500+ organizations bringing Americans together across divides to build understanding, trust, relationships, and solutions — to turn down the heat and find a way forward together."
"Living Room Conversations began in 2010 with the idea that a structured, intimate conversation format could empower everyday citizens to discuss important issues with friends of differing backgrounds and political affiliations." Resources include downloadable guides on topics such as Listening Courageously and Conversations in Troubled Times.
Sustained Dialogue Institute
"Sustained Dialogue is a patented and adaptable peace process to transform difficult relationships and resolve conflict."