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.