During the months of May, June and July, despite much happening in the inter-cultural ministries and planning of ministries of Liberation Community and Parkview UCC in Aurora, CO, this log has taken a hiatus.
These months were also marked by Aurora's Mountainview UCC hosting an Interfaith Alliance forum about an anti-immigrant "car impoundment" state ballot initiative, and two actions by Interfaith Worker Justice: for the Employee Free Choice Act federally and for the Colorado Grocery Workers locally.
More news to come in August.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
In the aftermath of a hate crime
Angie Zapata of Greeley, CO was killed last year in a bias-motivated anti-transgender murder. Her life was memorialized in Washington Park UCC last November, when the Denver church hosted the transgender community's annual statewide Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremony.
In an action to prevent further hate crimes, transgender religious leaders gathered this past weekend in Washington DC, pressing for a federal hate crimes bill inclusive of sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity, as well as disabilities.
Among them was Rev. Malcolm Himschoot, Coloradoan and UCC minister. Himschoot worked with Nicole Garcia of Lutherans Concerned - North America, and with Woody Camacho of the Metropolitan Community Church to issue in Spanish a press release on behalf of 50 other transgender faith leaders. Full text can be found at http://www.transfaithonline.org/network/.
The religious leaders' letter to legislators also urged support of a bill currently in the Senate to reform this country's criminal justice system, starting with the creation of a criminal justice reform coalition. "Violence is never the end of the story," said the group, pledging to pray for Allen Andrade and all who live inside prison walls.
In an action to prevent further hate crimes, transgender religious leaders gathered this past weekend in Washington DC, pressing for a federal hate crimes bill inclusive of sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity, as well as disabilities.
Among them was Rev. Malcolm Himschoot, Coloradoan and UCC minister. Himschoot worked with Nicole Garcia of Lutherans Concerned - North America, and with Woody Camacho of the Metropolitan Community Church to issue in Spanish a press release on behalf of 50 other transgender faith leaders. Full text can be found at http://www.transfaithonline.org/network/.
The religious leaders' letter to legislators also urged support of a bill currently in the Senate to reform this country's criminal justice system, starting with the creation of a criminal justice reform coalition. "Violence is never the end of the story," said the group, pledging to pray for Allen Andrade and all who live inside prison walls.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Legislative defeat for young people
In a statewide grassroots campaign to ensure college-tuition equity for Colorado high school students born in or brought to the U.S. as minors, the side of community organizers and progressive faith organizations lost. Clergy members of the United Church of Christ and organizations such as The Interfaith Alliance and Hunger for Justice ecumenical advocacy network had participated in the campaign, including with a late-breaking sign-on letter.
Today's newspaper tells of low college enrollment among Colorado's Latina/o students.
Despite the state legislative setback, some students will continue to meet the challenge of out-of-state tuition prices with high achievement and precious scholarships. Many more will be eligible for college-level academics but unable to pursue their studies because of financial barriers.
Today's newspaper tells of low college enrollment among Colorado's Latina/o students.
Despite the state legislative setback, some students will continue to meet the challenge of out-of-state tuition prices with high achievement and precious scholarships. Many more will be eligible for college-level academics but unable to pursue their studies because of financial barriers.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Annual Bowl-a-thon benefits the Denver Inner City Parish
This year four UCC congregations participated in the Denver Inner City Parish "bowl-a-thon" fund-raiser. Broomfield UCC, Christ Congregational UCC, First Plymouth UCC, and Washington Park UCC all mobilized key supporters and youth to raise pledges and bowl.
The Denver Inner City Parish was founded in 1960 by a UCC congregation moving from the core city to the outskirts of the city. Dozens of UCC congregations, as well as the Rocky Mountain Conference of the UCC, continue to support the Parish financially. Its theology is one of presence, accompaniment, incarnation and humanization. Its ministry has included education, employment, social opportunities for seniors, parenting assistance for young parents, re-entry for prisoners, food, and monthly progressive Protestant worship.
The west side of Denver has long been a predominantly Latino/a neighborhood. Besides the ecumenical Parish, religious options located in the vicinity include Catholic, Pentecostal, evangelical, Jehovah's Witness, and American Indian communities.
The Bowl-a-thon happens every year the last weekend in February and first weekend in March. If your youth group is interested in participating to support the Parish, contect Rev. Allyson Sawtell at asawtell@dicp.org.
The Denver Inner City Parish was founded in 1960 by a UCC congregation moving from the core city to the outskirts of the city. Dozens of UCC congregations, as well as the Rocky Mountain Conference of the UCC, continue to support the Parish financially. Its theology is one of presence, accompaniment, incarnation and humanization. Its ministry has included education, employment, social opportunities for seniors, parenting assistance for young parents, re-entry for prisoners, food, and monthly progressive Protestant worship.
The west side of Denver has long been a predominantly Latino/a neighborhood. Besides the ecumenical Parish, religious options located in the vicinity include Catholic, Pentecostal, evangelical, Jehovah's Witness, and American Indian communities.
The Bowl-a-thon happens every year the last weekend in February and first weekend in March. If your youth group is interested in participating to support the Parish, contect Rev. Allyson Sawtell at asawtell@dicp.org.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Prayers for captives in a foreign land
Jeremy Shaver stood outside with a candle on February 16, spending the evening with 50 members of the faith community just blocks from Aurora's immigrant detention facility. His sign encouraged prayer for immigrants and US immigration reform.Shaver works for The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado as Director of Outreach. He also is on staff at Park Hill Congregational UCC in Denver, CO.
He says, “All faith traditions share a common mandate to welcome and care for all members of our community and love our neighbors as ourselves. As people of faith, we must keep that in the forefront of our minds as we approach the complex issue of immigration.”
The immigrant detention facility is privately-owned by a corporation, GEO Corporation of Florida, that wishes to expand the number of detainees and has Aurora's tacit approval to do so.
The group organizing the vigil, the American Friends Service Committee, is concerned about human rights abuses in detention facilities, as well as the destructive nature of a society that deals with international policy issues by locking up the poor and marginalized.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Mayflower names 'Comunidad Liberación' their own
A local congregation of the United Church of Christ, Mayflower UCC in Englewood, approved official ownership of a bilingual church start ministry on Monday, January 26.
The church start, known as Liberation Community or Comunidad Liberación, was begun by Pastor Anne Dunlap last year, with Mayflower's in-kind and unofficial support.
This month's agreement, to be celebrated in Mayflower's worship service on Sunday, Feb. 1, includes a home for Liberation's finances, and a letter of call for Dunlap. With this call, she can be ordained a minister in the United Church of Christ.
Says Dunlap, "This is a very exciting moment not only for me but also for Comunidad Liberación. It strengthens us to continue dreaming and to put in action the vision God has given us for a bilingual, multi-cultural community of faith which takes justice very seriously."
The church start, known as Liberation Community or Comunidad Liberación, was begun by Pastor Anne Dunlap last year, with Mayflower's in-kind and unofficial support.
This month's agreement, to be celebrated in Mayflower's worship service on Sunday, Feb. 1, includes a home for Liberation's finances, and a letter of call for Dunlap. With this call, she can be ordained a minister in the United Church of Christ.
Says Dunlap, "This is a very exciting moment not only for me but also for Comunidad Liberación. It strengthens us to continue dreaming and to put in action the vision God has given us for a bilingual, multi-cultural community of faith which takes justice very seriously."
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
A year of international mission
Among Latin American countries in relationship with the United Church of Christ, Cuba and Venezuela received delegations in 2008.
"Caravanistas" such as Rev. Max Hale went to Cuba to learn, witness, and assist after hurricane-caused destruction. Sponsored by Christ Congregational UCC in Pueblo, Hale's article appears in a Pikes Peak justice blog.
Annual construction, medical and youth trips were part of the Rocky Mountain Conference's Global Partnership with Venezuela. Read more in the Conference newsletter.
Venezuela trips are planned in April, July and October of 2009, and are currently open to more UCC participants. For more information contact Alice Silver, agsilver@pair.com.
"Caravanistas" such as Rev. Max Hale went to Cuba to learn, witness, and assist after hurricane-caused destruction. Sponsored by Christ Congregational UCC in Pueblo, Hale's article appears in a Pikes Peak justice blog.
Annual construction, medical and youth trips were part of the Rocky Mountain Conference's Global Partnership with Venezuela. Read more in the Conference newsletter.
Venezuela trips are planned in April, July and October of 2009, and are currently open to more UCC participants. For more information contact Alice Silver, agsilver@pair.com.
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