Weblog hiatus

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

Protesting violence against Latin Americans

Members of the UCC are traveling this weekend from churches nationwide, including from Colorado, to Ft. Benning, GA. There they will raise crosses for civilian victims of US-supported military and paramilitary violence.

Ft. Benning is the site of an army base housing an institute formerly known as "School of the Americas." At this school, nationals of other countries were (are?) schooled in deliberate techniques to inflict terror on women, men, and children as a way of combat. Use of these techniques dates to the CIA-sponsored 1980s Guatemalan repression of peasant efforts toward land reform.

The annual demonstration against the school, now called the Western Hemispheric Institute for Security Cooperation, draws thousands of people, including a core who commit civil disobedience and face jail or prison sentences.

For more on the protest story, see UCC link.

Florida farmworkers find Denver UCC support to hold Chipotle accountable

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers made a long roadtrip from Florida to Denver last week, to combat the lack of transparency from Chipotle management regarding tomato-buying practices that cut workers out of ethical wages.

When CIW got to Denver, they made an October 5th presentation at 6th Avenue UCC. After worship concluded, several church members followed the campaign to the original Chipotle restaurant in South Denver for an afternoon demonstration.

Monday was a long day for the farm laborers, students, and coalition leaders. They camped out at the Chipotle headquarters downtown - not only all day, but also during an all-night vigil. Rev. Malcolm Himschoot attended the delegation meeting that afternoon. Pastor Anne Dunlap played guitar for the group that night. No conclusive answer to CIW's demands was given by Chipotle executives.

For ten years, the United Church of Christ has been in support of CIW campaigns toward worker justice in the tomato fields, beginning with the UCC congregation in Sanibel, Florida.

Though no state (except California) recognizes the right of farmworkers to collective bargaining, human rights, or fair wages, this non-profit and faith-based campaign has had success with McDonald's, Burger King, and Yum! brand restaurants to pressure tomato growers to accept CIW's code of conduct and "a penny more per pound." The UCC denomination, through General Synod, signed onto the consumer boycott of Taco Bell in 2003. This boycott was eventually successful.

Immokalee is a small-town community of Latino and Haitian residents, but their mobilization toward justice benefits migrant tomato farmers up and down the southern coast.

Interfaith Pledge for supporters of immigration reform

Sponsored by the Colorado Council of Churches and The Interfaith Alliance, along with Gov. Bill Ritter and many other organizations, there is now a Colorado Interfaith Pledge on Immigration.

Those signing onto the pledge commit themselves to "community values" and specifically to humane immigration reform.

The public significance of the pledge may help to sway lawmakers who approach immigration as a divisive issue.

To sign on, visit the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition website at http://www.coloradoimmigrant.org/form.php?id=52.

Message for all God's sheep

Eighteen people convened last Saturday at La Foret for a worship service led by Rev. Linda Jaramillo, from UCC national staff. Folks came from Parkview UCC, Mountainview UCC, Washington Park UCC, Mayflower UCC, and the Denver Inner City Parish.

The text and illustrations of the sermon were based on the pastoral life - that is, the life of a sheepherder. For five centuries, this has been the occupation of Jaramillo's family in Southern Colorado.

"Work with leader sheep, make sure they know the sound of your voice," were some tips of the trade she shared. In emphasizing inclusivity, she said that all Christians who care about the example of Jesus should open wide the gate of their experience of the gospel. Whether sheep like each other is not as important as who is the Shepherd. Furthermore, sheeps' job is not to be like one another, but to be their authentic selves.

Jaramillo's message was one of encouragement in forging Latino ministries in the United Church of Christ, whether among Hispanics, Chicanos, Mexicans, Guatemalans, or among those congregations identified as white or Black. She brought news that the Council of Hispanic Ministries will soon create a Southwest chapter.

Meanwhile, the assembly raised an offering for a new bilingual church starting in Colorado - Comunidad Liberacion.

Announcement: September 13 worship service with Rev. Linda Jaramillo

Plan to carpool now for the Colorado worship service on Saturday, Sep. 13 at 4:30, in La Foret's Taylor Chapel. This once-in-a-lifetime event, by and for UCC Latina/o or bi-cultural families, has been planned by both local and national UCC clergy.

Preaching that day is Rev. Linda Jaramillo. Her message, based on Ezekiel 34:11-16 and John 10:7-10 is entitled "Gatekeepers."

Rev. Jaramillo grew up in Alamosa, Colorado, where both Spanish and English languages were formative. Before becoming one of five ministers to service the United Church of Christ as a member of the leadership Collegium, she worked and attended seminary in the Pacific Northwest Conference. Her present position is as Justice and Witness Minister for the denomination.

Local worship planners include Rev. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi, Rev. Malcolm Himschoot, Pastor Anne Dunlap, Rev. Melinda Townsend, and others.

Local church members join "We Are America" march

In the wake of ferocious raids around the country, pro- immigration reform protesters took to the streets in Denver during the Democratic National Convention, with signs saying, "We Are America."

Among the thousands of marchers was Louise West, a member of Washington Park UCC and a long-time middle school teacher.

West says she got involved three years ago, when the historic May 1 walkouts were showing the country how significant the immigrant presence was. When her students got up to leave class that day, "I walked out with them - to make sure they were safe," she says.

The march took place Thursday, Aug. 28 near Civic Center Park. Pictured at left is WPUCC member and Iliff student Nancy Rosas (center), with members of the community from El Centro Humanitario and from Comunidad Liberacion.

Public advocacy toward Justice and Peace

The United Church of Christ Justice and Peace Action Network (JPAN) posts the following:

"Postville, Iowa. Dulles Airport, Virginia. Providence, Rhode Island. Immigrant raids aren’t immigration reform.

In recent months agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have carried out well-publicized immigration raids in factories, meatpacking plants, construction sites and other workplaces employing undocumented immigrants. ICE calls these workers criminals because immigration law forbids employers to hire them, but while workers get deported, often leaving their children with relatives or even strangers, the employers who benefited from their cheap labor will not go to jail.

Since ICE can't deport all 12 million undocumented workers in the country, it has developed a plan that seeks to deport 500,000 workers who have overstayed their visas, offering to deport their US citizen children or legal resident children and spouses as well, presumably as a humanitarian gesture. In case these workers are not sufficiently enticed by this offer, ICE announced that it has over 100 teams of agents working full time to seek out and arrest these half a million people who, even according to ICE, have done nothing wrong except come to this country, accept employment from U.S. companies, pay taxes and support their families.

ICE agents have been seen outside of schools, waiting for parents to come to pick up their children, many of whom are U.S. citizens. In some states ICE has recruited local police to set up road blocks as people come out of churches on Sunday. ICE agents continue to knock on doors in the middle of the night to arrest workers and in the process, terrorize their children.

After the recent raid at Dulles Airport, advocates for immigrants with the National Capital Immigrant Coalition, complained that ICE officials refused to grant the detained men access to a lawyer even though the advocates arranged for one to be present. The tactics employed by ICE have earned sharp congressional rebuff.

Questionable tactics, civil rights violations, and abandoned children will not solve our immigration situation. Both presidential candidates support a comprehensive immigration reform. So does President Bush. Until there is such a bill and unless we start addressing the root causes of migration throughout the world, the tension between undocumented workers and our government will continue.

Please contact your Member of Congress during recess and let them know that while political realities may stall comprehensive immigration reform being achieved by this Congress, that ICE raids are not the American way to deal with our immigration problem."

Comprehensive view of Latino ministry in Colorado

An informal survey of Colorado UCC churches has been nearly completed, with the Unidos por la Esperanza network gaining narrative information and inspiration about Latino ministry in our midst.

Members:
Latina/o individuals (1 or more) are in membership at congregations in Colorado Springs, Denver, Aurora, and Greeley. The language used at these worship services is English. One new congregation is forming which uses both Spanish and English - Comunidad Liberacion has current worshipping attendance of 20 people.

Mission Partners:
Long-time UCC members give time and energy to a number of advocacy and non-profit organizations including Pikes Peak Justice & Peace Commission, Denver Justice and Peace, La Puente, Denver Inner City Parish, Justice for Janitors campaign, Coloradoans for Immigrant Rights, and the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, as well as various housing and relief projects. These organizations sometimes do educational programs at churches to raise awareness. In addition, some congregations have donated to the nearest Catholic church after nearby anti-immigrant raids and deportations.

Clergy:
Currently Rev. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi is the only Latina/o UCC minister in Colorado. She may soon be joined by Iliff student Nancy Rosas. Bilingual ministers (with Spanish as a second language) include Rev. Benjamin Broadbent, Rev. Malcolm Himschoot, Rev. Melinda Townsend, and In Care pastor Anne Dunlap.

Neighborhoods:
Neighborhood ministry remains a challenge for congregations, whether they are located in a lower-income area but attract regional commuters, or whether they are located in an upscale area where the majority of Latinos can work but cannot afford to live. Despite the challenges, some congregations are taking initiative. Click to read the article on "Latino Ministries" in the Rocky Mountain Conference UCC newsletter.

Everyday justice and injustice

News from Colorado's capitol shows that Latinos are organizing for positive social change. Yet, they face daunting opposition.

It can be a long wait for papers legalizing one's status in the U.S.A. Part of the process of is taking citizenship classes in preparation. The Latina Initiative organizes not just citizenship classes, but also efforts at full participation for those who own citizens' rights and responsibilities -- for example, voting. The next workshop is Saturday, July 12, from 9-3:30 at Mi Casa Resource Center, 360 Acoma, in Denver, CO.

Janitors in the Denver Metro area, including Aurora and the Denver Tech Center, recently won a historic negotiation with their employer. Through the Justice for Janitors campaign, SEIU members won a salary increase, more full-time jobs, and family health insurance. The new contract will take effect over the next four years, and will affect virtually every janitorial worker in a major office building.

Day laborers face harassment in Aurora, and opposition to their attempts to secure a safe gathering place. El Centro Humanitario is seeking community members' support and testimony outside the City Council meeting on Monday night, July 14, at 6:30 p.m -- at 15151 E. Alameda Parkway. El Centro seeks a site to ensure fair wages and practices for workers, and reliable labor for employers.

"One in the gospel": New worshipping community begins in Englewood

A new worshipping community in the model of a Latin American base community has begun gathering in the basement of Mayflower UCC. The first worship service (pictured) was Sunday night.

A dozen people gathered for this first service, months after preparation began in the form of a committee gathered by Pastor Anne Dunlap. Her vision spread as she finished seminary and began talking to folks about "a place where whites and Latinos can struggle for justice together."

Dunlap has always believed in the church as a force for change. Her vision of developing a new church arose gradually, with affirmation from mentors, friends, pastors, and a core group of interested worshippers. Mayflower's support has been key - including use of the space, which can be arranged in the round, with a communion table in the middle, and a quilt for babies to play on.

Dunlap has experience in Central America, the Southwest, and the Central Pacific Conference. She plans to stay in the metro area to grow Comunidad Liberacion, while also staying active in non-profit and activist communities.

At Liberation Community's first worship, excitement was high. The bilingual service will continue Sunday nights at 5:30 p.m. at 3001 S. Acoma in Englewood -- no doubt attracting more and more people who believe "we are all unified by a liberating gospel, and by a love for all of America, its land and people."

Immigration Plunge coming soon to Denver

Church folks who can't get to the border can nonetheless find themselves at the 'frontera' in Denver, come August 3-9. That is when the ecumenical Urban Servant Corps will be hosting the first Immigration Plunge in this area, building on the experience of Lutheran-affiliated immersions both in Mexico and at the Mexican border.

UCC members are among those invited to participate. Twelve slots are available for a week-long experience led by Urban Servant Corps member Drew Rindfleisch.

Laura Folkwein is a member of Sixth Avenue UCC and directs Denver's USC program coordinating volunteers for a year at a time living in intentional community. Folkwein says, "I am so excited that Drew has taken this on. It is something we hope to continue in future years."

San Luis Valley ministry relies on UCC contributions

"Every year, La Puente depends on collection at churches for 'migrant kits,'" explains Shirley Bowers, of Hilltop UCC in Parker.

The 'migrant kits' hold hygiene products, washcloth, towel, and sunscreen, commonly used by folks first arriving to the San Luis Valley area. They are looking for work.

Hilltop has sponsored projects such as the collection for more than 20 years, beginning with Jean Sherer's involvement with Advocates for San Luis Valley. More folks were led into this ministry upon visiting La Puente several years ago for an 'interpre-tour.'

Bowers was impressed with the leadership of La Puente. She noticed an ethos which treats each person not as a client but as a guest - whether they are there for a short time, for a 2-year program toward independent living, or long-term.

"This has always been an area with low employment, except for the college, industry, and migrant labor," said Bowers.

She is quick to point out that she is not the only one to have participated in Hilltop's La Puente relationship, with her partner and grandchildren. Church youth have gone to work in a fall gleaning program benefiting area shelters with produce, while adults have supported the food bank, thrift store, Christmas gifts, and many other programs.

La Puente is an official mission partner of the Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Church of Christ. La Puente, which means "The Bridge," also offers 2-year volunteer service placements through the UCC's Partners in Service.

Long-time UCC pastor to lead Denver's Cinco de mayo worship service

Denver's Civic Center Park will host a worship service at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 4, as part of the city's annual Cinco de mayo celebration. Pastor Steve Johnsen (UCC) will lead what he calls "mass" for all in attendance.

Johnsen has served 44 years at the Denver Inner City Parish, an ecumenical mission serving the Latino and greater West Denver community.

Partial to using the Book of Common Prayer, Johnsen's typical worship year also includes a celebration of Dia de los Muertos, Las Posadas, and an Easter Vigil.

This year's Cinco de mayo communion service will feature mariachis including Parish member Hector Madrid. All are welcome.