Letter to presidential candidates from 25 national and 715 local U.S. religious leaders, October 14, 2004

October 14, 2004

Dear President Bush / Dear Sen. Kerry:

As representatives of a broad range of U.S. churches and faith communities we are calling upon you as a presidential candidate to commit to a serious reassessment of current U.S. policy towards Colombia. We believe it is time to envision a new strategy to respond to the needs of both nations and to work for the peace and security of our respective peoples.

Colombia is one of the most dangerous places on earth to be a religious leader, a promoter of peace, or human rights defender. The danger is consistently brought to light as astonishing numbers of religious and civil society leaders are assassinated, threatened and detained. The suffering of the Colombian churches and their call to us for assistance and solidarity compel us to appeal to you to seriously consider recommendations for a new U.S. policy toward Colombia that are outlined below.

We believe it is of great importance for the United States to remain engaged with the government of Colombia and Colombian civil society organizations, but to do so in a manner that will support aspirations for a just and sustainable peace as well as effectively address our shared concerns about drug production and consumption.

In this light, we respectfully urge you to include the following recommendations in a new vision for U.S. policy towards Colombia:

I. A greater commitment to a negotiated, political path towards peace.

After forty years of an ever-escalating armed conflict that has claimed the lives of tens of thousands, Colombian Catholic and Protestant church representatives have been clear that a negotiated political process, though difficult and contentious, is essential to the resolution of the current conflict. Every effort should be made to achieve a politically negotiated peace process inclusive of civil society participation, and based upon verification of ‘truth, justice and the provision of reparations for the victims of war.’

We call upon both Presidential campaigns to make a greater commitment to support Colombian and international efforts towards a negotiated resolution of the conflict in Colombia.

II. Increased attention to social concerns as a preferred long-term strategy to sustainable peace.

The conflict in Colombia and involvement of peasant farmers in coca production is deeply rooted in social and economic exclusion of many of its citizens. Many of the areas most in conflict have little or no social infrastructure or viable economic options. Strategies that rely primarily on military aid or fumigation, and provide only limited social investment in local communities, will not create lasting change.

The United States can make a significant positive contribution to long-term peace and stability in Colombia by shifting the focus of its foreign aid towards a much greater emphasis on effective social development. There are an increasing number of initiatives throughout the country of local governments, churches, and civil society coming together to create lasting alternatives to overt violence and the inequality and poverty that have sustained it. These initiatives, and the communities they serve, could greatly benefit from development funding – with long-term benefit for thousands of people.

The situation of internal displacement in Colombia is a crisis of staggering proportions – and one of the most serious in the world. Almost three million people have been displaced from their homes since 1985. Churches locally and internationally are responding to the great needs of Colombia’s internally displaced, a group that most aptly represents the human face of suffering in the country. We are grateful for the attention provided to refugees and internally displaced persons through U.S. aid, and see this as a positive contribution of U.S. policy toward Colombia. Yet much more remains to be done.

We call for a greater proportion of the U.S. aid to Colombia to be dedicated to investment in sustainable development, humanitarian aid and the defense of human rights.

III. Humane drug policies that meet the needs of those most directly impacted.

We share a deep concern about the consumption and production of illicit drugs. Billions of dollars have been spent on fumigation and interdiction yet, drug consumption continues unabated in our communities, drug offenses have exploded the prison populations, and treatment programs go under funded. This approach is not working.

The churches and faith communities in the U.S. and Colombia are painfully aware of the devastation of drugs in the lives of individuals, families and our communities. We see the end results every day and minister to affected families. It is precisely because we are so well versed in the human costs of the drug crisis that we are well placed to call for effective drug policies that will have lasting impact in all of our communities.

As the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s January 2004 Pulse Check Study of drug abuse in 25 U.S. cities states: powder and crack cocaine remains readily available and there are no clear positive trends on price and purity. As church organizations, we do not claim expertise on the best demand reduction strategies, but we urge you to shift the focus of current drug policy.

We call for increased drug treatment programs and realistic, pragmatic prevention strategies as a much more sustainable and humane way to achieve the goal of reducing drug abuse in the United States.

Thank you for your attention to the great courage and great needs of our Colombian brothers and sisters. We hope to work with you as we seek durable solutions for all affected communities.

Signed,

National Heads of Communion and Faith-Based Organizations

Rev. John L. McCullough
Executive Director and CEO
Church World Service

Rev. Dr. Robert Edgar
General Secretary
National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA

Rev. Ronald D. Witherup, S.S.
President
Conference of Major Superiors of Men

Kathryn Wolford
President
Lutheran World Relief

Bruce Wilkinson
Senior Vice President
International Programs Group
World Vision

Rev. John Thomas
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ

The Reverend Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

James Winkler
General Secretary
General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church

The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church, USA

Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick
Stated Clerk
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Rosanne Rustemeyer, SSND
Executive Director
U.S. Catholic Mission Association

Ken Hackett
President
Catholic Relief Services

Rev. Kenneth Gavin, S.J.
National Director
Jesuit Refugee Service/USA

Gail E. Mengel
National Board Minister
Church Women United

Carolyn Krebs, OP
President
Dominican Leadership
Dominican Sisters
Elkins Park, PA

Marie Dennis
Director
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

Joe Volk
Executive Secretary
Friends Committee on National Legislation

Jim Wallis
Editor
Sojourners Magazine

Arlene DiMarco
Vice President
National Council of Catholic Women
Harrisburg, PA

Maureen Fenlon, OP
National Coordinator
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby

Rev. Ron Stief
Minister and Team Leader
Washington Office
United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries

J. Daryl Byler
Director
Mennonite Central Committee, Washington Office.

Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton
Auxiliary Bishop,
Archdiocese of Detroit
Detroit, MI

Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory
Director
Washington Office
Presbyterian Church, (USA)

US Jesuit Conference
Roman Catholic
Washington, DC

Richard Parkins
Director
Episcopal Migration Ministries
Executive Council
Sisters of St. Francis

Brian Terrell
Executive Director
Catholic Peace Ministry
Des Moines, IA

Krisanne Vaillencourt
Executive Director
Witness for Peace

Patricia Clark
Executive Director
Fellowship of Reconciliation USA

Jim Atwood
Presbyterian Peace Fellowship

Sister Mary M McGlone
Executive Director,
FUVIRESE USA
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
Denver, CO

Dr. Monika K. Hellwig
President
Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
Washington, DC

Phil Reed, M.Afr.
Coordinator, Justice and Peace Office

North American Province
Society of Missionaries of Africa

Leaders from Communities of Faith

The Rev. Russ Melby
Iowa Director, Church World Service
Pastor, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Des Moines, Iowa

Gary L. Cozette
Director
Chicago Religious Leadership
Network on Latin America (CRLN)

Rev. Dr. Ted Farrar
Regional Director
Greater Mid Atlantic
Church World Service/CROP

Rev. Lois M. Powell
Minister and Team Leader
Justice & Witness Ministries
United Church of Christ
Cleveland, OH

Chuck Warpehoski
Director
Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Sister Magdala Thompson, RSM
Board Member
Quest for Social Justice
Mobile, Alabama

Brian Stefan-Szittai
Program Coordinator
InterReligious Task Force on
Central America
Cleveland, OH

Angela Berryman
Coordinator
Latin America and the Caribbean
American Friends Service Committee

Rodolfo P. Jimenez
Lake Regional Representative
Mennonite Central Committee
Mennonite Church USA
Chicago, Illinois

Mary E. Nitzsche
Regional Pastor
Ohio Conference of
Mennonite Church USA
Wooster, OH

John Clark Pegg
Regional Coordinator
Witness for Peace - Upper Midwest
Duluth, MN

Andrew C. Mills
Chair
Witness for Peace-MidAtlantic
Philadelphia, PA

Adalberto Santiago
Director
Missionary Relief Society
Puerto Rico

Edith Rasell
Minister for Labor Relations and
Comm. Econ. Dev.
Justice & Witness Ministries
United Church of Christ
Cleveland, OH

Hazel L. Riggs
Coordinator
Mississippi Disciples Women
Disciples of Christ
Tupelo, MS

Dr. Kent J. Ulery
Conference Minister
Michigan Conference
United Church of Christ
East Lansing, Michigan

Rev. Nancy S. Taylor
President Massachusetts Conference of the
United Church of Christ
Framingham, MA

Rev. Jane Heckles
Conference Minister
So. Cal. Nevada Conf.
United Church of Christ
Altadena, CA

Chairperson Anne Griffis
Action/Global
United Church of Christ
Washington, DC

The Rev. James E. Boler
Acting Conference Minister
Florida Conference
United Church of Christ
Orlando, Florida

Chief Ovate Rev. Sarah-Andrea Morrigan
Trillium Assembly Cynulliad Triliwm
Portland, Oregon

Revered Rey Diaz
Hispanic Caucus of the Wisconsin Annual
United Methodist Church
Port Edwards, Wisconsin

Natalia Cardona
Assistant Coordinator
Latin America and the Caribbean
American Friends Service Committee

Kenneth E. Briggs Jr.
Associate Conference Minister
Ch, Lt Col, USAF (ret.)
Iowa Conference
United Church of Christ
Des Moines, IA

Rev. H. Kurt Wieser
Chairperson
Church in the World Department
WRA, United Church of Christ
Cleveland, Ohio

Susan Mark Landis
Peace Advocate
Executive Board
Mennonite Church USA
Orrville, Ohio

The Rev. William F. Krenz
Chair World Hunger Committee
Lower Susquehanna Synod ELCA
Harrisburg, PA

Brittany Nelson
Lutheran Church
Saddle River, New Jersey

Reverend Fidelia A. Lane
Public Education Task Force
First Church in Windsor, UCC
Windsor, Connecticut

Senior Minister Susan Thorne
Country Club Congregational UCC
Kansas City, MO

Associate Conference Minister
Rev. Jim Morgan
Connecticut Conference
United Church of Christ
Hartford, CT

Mr. Dale Lindsey
Archwood UCC
Cleveland, Ohio

Reverend Stephen Halsted
Community United Church of Christ
Raleigh, NC

Dominick J. Di Noto
UCC
Cloverdale, California

Pastor Jolene J. Cadenbach
Arcadia Congregational Church
Arcadia, California

John W. Becton
United Church of Christ
Chapel Hill, NC

Associate Pastor Marilyn Pagán
Good News Community Church, UCC
Chicago, IL

Associate Conference Minister for
Policy & Finance
Dawn Hammond
Massachusetts Conference
United Church of Christ
Framingam, MA

Minister for Health & Wellness Programs Barbara Baylor
Justice & Witness Ministries
The United Church of Christ
Cleveland, Ohio

Gerald Snyder and Carolyn Cain
United Church in Tallahassee
United Church of Christ
Havana, FL

Central Area Minister
The Rev. Laura Lee Kent
Massachusetts Conference
United Church of Christ
Worcester, Massachusetts

The Reverend Mark Robert Seifried
United Church of Christ
United Congregational Church, UCC
Worcester, MA

Rev. Roger Pohl
Ecumenical Center
First Congregational UCC - Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Minister Mary Harris-Koth
St John UCC
United Church of Christ
Billingsville, Missouri

Rev. Dr. Bruce P. Bouchard
Grace United Church of Christ
Hanover, PA

Elizabeth Massa
St. John's UCC
Emmaus, PA

The Rev. Dr. Roger O. Sherwood
United Church of Christ
Onekama, MI

Elizabeth A. Horvath
United Church of Christ
Crawfordville, FL

Pastor Rev. Charles H. Maney
Spring Valley UCC
Spring Valley, Illinois

Moderator Dan Welburn
Pilgrims' United Church of Christ
Fruitland Park, Florida

The Rev. Tom F. Driver
Professor of Theology and Culture Emeritus
Union Theological Seminary
New York, NY

Pastor Rev. Earl W. Miller, Jr.
NH Conference UCC, CWA
Center Harbor Cong. Church, UCC
Center Harbor, NH

Dorothy M. McKoin
Sebastopol, CA

Lois Pryor
Alameda, California

ShirlianneOlsen
Fullerton UCC
Fullerton, CA

Rose Rushin
United Church of Christ
Huntsville, Alabama

Doris Hoffenberg Jones
First Church of Christ
Glastonbury, Conn.

Kristiine Cole
Peace and Justice Committee
College Community Congregational Church
Fresno, CA

Jean Muir
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Great Falls, MT

Marilyn McCulloch Rampley
Shadow Rock Congregational Church
Phoenix, AZ

Dee Erb
First Plymouth United Church of Christ
Milford, NE

Rev. Willem VandeKamp
First Congregational Church
Alameda, CA

Chair Linda Mahan
Justice and Peace Ministry Team
Plymouth Congregational Church UCC
Fort Collins, CO

Elizabeth Benbrook
UCC
Irvine, CA

Treasurer Annette L. Hanson
Worship Committee
Hyde Park Mennonite
Boise, Idaho

Senior Pastor Rev. H. Kurt Wieser
Liberation Church
United Church of Christ
Lakewood, Ohio

Rev. Charlotte K. White
United Church of Christ
Guilford, CT

Kathleen Peppard
Lay Minister
Community for Interfaith Celebration
Olympia, WA

Conference Minister John Deckenback
Central Atlantic Confernce United Church of
Baltimore, MD

Reverend Lowell H. Brown
Retired from Church World Service
St. Matthew United Methodist Church
Frankfort, IN

Rev. Sharon Von Blohn
United Church of Christ
Mifflinburg, PA

The Rev. Valerie Coe Lowder
Congregational Church of Pinehurst
Pinehurst, North Carolina

Sr. Minister Rev. David W. Ragan
Justice and Witness Ministries
Shadow Rock United Church of Christ
Phoenix, AZ

Janet McManus
St. Luke's United Church of Christ
Philadelphia, PA

Anne Pyciak
St.Paul United Church of Christ
Sterling Heights, Michigan

Loletta Barrett
United Church of Christ
Claremont, CA

Dana Dolsen
Organizer, Eco-Faith
Holladay United Church of Christ
Holladay, Utah

Donald Hall
United Church of Christ
Jacksonville, Florida

Joan Leof
Peace UCC
Rochester, MN

Jenifer Breeze
United Church of Christ
Claremont, CA

Nancy M. Sales
First Congregational,
United Church of Christ
Birmingham, AL

Reverend Joyce Lovejoy
United Church of Christ Clergyperson
New Boston, New Hampshire

Polly Stage Harris
Pilgrim United Church of Christ
Durham, NC

Mrs. Naomi W Faust
Brookmeade Congregational UCC
Nashville, TN

Beverly Ellingwood
UCC
Webster, NY

Mrs. Laurin Hagen
UCC Peace & Action
Custer Community Church
Custer, SD

Elder Patricia Mena
Faith United Church(Presbyterian & UCC)
Oswego, New York

David E. Cave
United Church Of Christ
Moose Lake, MN.

Chaplain Rev. Michael Kirchhoff
United Church of Christ
Hanover Park, Illinois

Bonita J. Hanson
Lutheran Church of the Resurrection
Woodbury, MN
Rev. Sharon A. Benton
United Church of Christ
New Haven, CT

Pastor Joshua
Fellowship of Hope Mennonite Church
Elkhart, IN

Felicity Figueroa
Advocates for Peace and Justice
Irvine United Congregational Church
Irvine, CA

John Bryner
UCC
Chambersburg, PA

Dr.of Theology Ernest Pipes
Unitarian Universalist Church
Santa Monica, CA

Board Chairman Delmar R Yoder
Church Board
Morgantown Church Of The Brethren
Morgantown, WV

Professor Emeritus Delane E. Welsch
Retired
UCC
Mounds View, MN

Rev. Kay Welsch
Retired
United Church of Christ
Mounds View, MN

Gail L. Holmes
Plymouth Cong. United Church of Christ
Madison, WI

Douglas A. Stuart
Eliot Church of Newton
Newton, MA

Susan B. Snow
Peace Dale Congregational Church
Wakefield, RI

Aleita Hass-Holcombe
Just Peace Committee Chair Just Peace
Corvallis, UCC
Corvallis, OR

Rev. Dr. Sandra S. Hulse
First Congregational Church UCC
Palo Alto, CA

Wallace T. Many
Colombia Sister Church Comm
First Church of Christ, Congregational
Middletown, CT

Minister for Global Sharing of Resources Susan M. Sanders
United Church of Christ
Cleveland Heights, OH

Jacqueline Raposo
Wilton, CT

Board Member Richard Schuster
Local Church Ministries
United Church of Christ
Troy, Michigan

Ms. Susan Gabbard
United Church of Christ
Fort Thomas, KY

Rev. Roger Burkhart
United Church of Christ
Rochester, NH

Mary Beth Hill
Plymouth Congregational UCC
Des Moines, IA

Alyson Knop
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Nashville, TN

Retired Pastor Don R, Norenberg
United Church of Christ
Fairview Park, OH

Rev. Dr. Ralph and Verna Faisst
Peach Church
Kewaskum, Wisconsin

Hope Nelson-Pope
Alexandria, VA

Conference Minister Wade Schemmel
Northern Plains Conference UCC
Bismarck, ND

Pastor Mendle Adams
United Church of Christ
St. Peter's United Church of Christ
Cincinnati, Ohio

Jeanine Elliott
Community for Interfaith Celebration
UCC
Olympia, WA

Flora Durfee
Sonoma Congregational Church, UCC
Sonoma, California

Licensed Lay Minister Catharine Cline Bryant
Hudson Mohawk Association, United Church of
Green Island, New York

Inez George
Casas Adobes CC,UCC
Tucson, AZ

Richard A. Skinner
Colombia Sister Church Committee
Hyde Park Mennonite Fellowship
Boise, Idaho

Delegate Irving L. Chidsey
Chesapeake Association, UCC
Webster Congregational Christian Church of the
Havre de Grace, Maryland

Rev. Diane Dunn
UCC
White Plains, NY

Clare Lindsey
Mission Committee and
Seeds of Hope
First Congregational Church of Southington
Southington, CT

Carol A. Johanningsmeier
Suffolk, Virginia

Rev. Cindy Maddox
Associate Pastor
First Congregational United
Church of Christ
Asheville, NC

Linda Hill
Plano, TX

The Reverend Mr. Lester D. Helmeczi
United Church of Christ
Lebanon, PA

Pastor Paul Godshall
Durham Mennonite Church
Mennonite Church - USA
Durham, NC

Laura Saller
Community Church of Christ of
Franconia, NH
Bethlehem, NH

Lilian Grainger
Bainbridge Island, WA

Matt Tooley
Plymouth Congregational Church
Syracuse, NY

JoAnn Ross
Eggertsville United Church of Christ
Eggertsville, New York

Mr. Gordon R Sherman Jr
UCC So. Church Concord NH
Concord, NH

Pastor Frederic Franzius
Mohegan Congregational Church
Uncasville, CT

Harvey and Mary Larson
Wisconsin Dells, WI

Elizabeth Griswold
United Church of Christ
Los Angeles, California

Deacon Jean Anderson DeVito
First Congregational Church
Southington, CT

Rev. Luther C. Pierce
United Church of Christ
Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Rev. Dr. Norman B. Bendroth
United Church of Christ
Cambridge, MA

Chairperson Alice Jurcik
Mission Outreach Committee
2nd Congregational Church, UCC
Greenfield, MA

Reverend Jean M. Alexander
Maine Conference
United Church of Christ
Yarmouth, ME

Project Support Coordinator - CPT Colombia Kryss Chupp
Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT)
Chicago, IL

Dorothy Dale
First Congregational Church
Bellingham, WA

Pastor Barbara Gunsel-Mearns
United Church of Christ
Westminster, MD

Katy Walsh
Catholic
Chicago, IL

Mr. Andrew Stickney
Missoula, MT

Sally May
Jeffersonville, VT

Rev. Laura Westby
United Church of Christ
Thomaston, CT

Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte
Conference Minister
Southwest Conference
United Church of Christ
Phoenix, Arizona

Moderator Rebecca Anderson-Jones
Suisun Fairfield United Church of Christ
Suisun, CA

Rev. Dr. Diana C. Gibson
Presbyterian
Menlo Park, CA

Erik Gardner
Philosophy Lecturer
University of Hawaii
Kaneohe, HI

Nancy Wellman
Toledo Campus Ministry
Sylvania United Church of Christ
Toledo, Ohio

Patricia Morton
Mt. Hollywood Congregational Church
Los Angeles, CA

Mr Ralph B. Brown
Min. Social Outreach,
United Church of Christ
Wheaton, MD

Rev Dr Elsa Patt
Retired Minister
Peace UCC
Rochester, MN

Janet Haarvig
Social Justice
Flathead Valley United Church of Christ
Kalispell, MT

Rev. Anita L. Bradshaw
United Church of Christ
Minneapolis, MN

Nora Matthews
First Congregational Church of Southington
Southington, CT

Rev. Barbara Schenk
UCC
Canaan, CT

Rev. and Ph.D. Hugh Sanborn
Peace and Justice Ministry
Plymouth Congregational Church,UCC
Fort Collins, CO

Ms. Jeri Bair
Pilgrim United Church of Christ
Toledo, OH

Sr. Minister Rev. David W. Ragan
UCC South West Conf. Justice & Witness
Shadow Rock United Church of Christ
Phoenix, AZ

David Williams
Unitarian Universalist
Asheville, NC

Co-Moderator Kristina Burnett
United Church of Hayward, UCC
Hayward, California

Mrs. Jean Townsend
Congregational UCC
Newton, Iowa

Susan R. Yates
United Church of Christ
Alexandria, VA

Rosalie Robson
Justice and Witness Area
Coordinating Team
University Congregational United Church
Missoula, Montana

Rev. Dr. Anne L. Guild-Donovan
Reformed Church in America
Tyrone, NY

Theresa Lever
Coordinating Member
Just Peace Advocates
Vermont Conference
United Church of Christ
Randolph, VT

Senior Pastor Rev. Louise Higginbotham
United Church on the Green
UCC
New Haven, CT

The Rev. Kimberly Buechner Fouse
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Cold Spring, KY

Richard C Berlo
Pilgrim UCC
Cleveland, Ohio

Laurie A. Dermody
East Congregational Church
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Covenanted Minister Rex E. Piercy
Congregational United Church of Christ
Arlington Heights, IL

Pastor Rev. Ian Lynch
First Congregational Church
Brimfield, MA

Karen Miller
First Congregational Church, UCC
Long Beach, CA

Clergy Rendell A. Davis
UCCSWC, Member of Justice & Witness, Comm. SWC Rincon UCC
Tucson, AZ

Moderator Rev. Jordan E. Dickinson
So. West VT Association, UCC
United Church of Christ
Dorset, VT

Rev. Brad S. Lutz
Hospice Chaplain
United Church of Christ
Wilton Manors, FL

Deacon Darrick A.Evans
Evangelist
St.Peters
Cincinnati, Ohio

Rev. Stephanie Pipes Curran
Disciples of Christ
Owensboro, KY

The Rev. Dale A. Hempen
Associate Conference Minister
Massachusetts Conference
United Church of Christ
Plymouth, MA

Pastor Frank Groggett
Union, UCC
West Palm Beach, Florida

Rob Hanson
Colombia Sister Church Committee
Hyde Park Mennonite Fellowship
Boise, Idaho
Dr. Mark Henry Miller
Conference Minister
South Central Conference/
United Church of Christ
Austin, Texas

Pastor Rev. Lucille
Oxford United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
Oxford, CT

William C. Snyder
ELCA
York, PA

Charlotte Hull Whiting
Middle East Peace Vigil
Salem United Church of Christ of Rohrerstown
Lancaster, PA

Rev. Vilma M. Machín
Justice and Witness Ministries
United Church of Christ
Cleveland, Ohio

Rev. Lynne M. Simcox
Interim Conference Minister
Montana Northern Wyoming Conference
United Church of Christ
Billings, Montana

Mrs. Commu Julia Millerr
Community United Church
Raleigh, NC

JoAnn Consiglieri
St. Leo's
Boyes Springs , CA, CA

Ms. Elizabeth Gafford
Congregational
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Martin Anderson
Church Council Member
First Congregational Church of Chicago
Chicago, Il.

Rev. Stephen H. Schuette
Sr. Pastor, Salem Evang. UCC
United Church of Christ
Quincy, IL

Sylvia Baxter
United Church of Christ
Quincy, Illinois

Rev. A. C. Cuppy
Disciple Peace Fellowship
Disciples of Christ
Raymore, MO

Rebecca Herron
Christian Education Coordinator
United Church of Christ
Augusta, Maine

The Rev. Pamela A Moeller, PhD.
Congregational UCC
Valley City, ND

Chair Nels Henry
Church and Ministry Committee
Western Association
Illinois Conference UCC
Canton, Illinois

Gregory Potts
Chicago Theological Seminary
Church of the Open Arms, Oklahoma City
Chicago, IL

Mary Sterling
AFSC
Natick, MA

mr alex brown
first plymouth congregational ucc
littleton, co

Stefanie Collins
San Antonio, TX

Sheri L. Randolph
United Church of Christ
Barstow, CA

Ms. Sarah Wyatt
Little River UCC
Annandale, VA

Wallis Calaway
Woodridge United Methodist Church
Woodridge, IL

Doctor Harold Landwehr
United Church of Christ
Marion, IL

Moderator Carolyn Modeen
UCC
Sun City, AZ

Reverend Tracy L. Hughes
United Church of Christ
Sandusky, OH

Jeanne Ward
Community United Church of Christ
Champaign, IL

Ms Gina L Nye
Norwich, CT

Mary K. Gedert
Catholic
Detroit, MI

Reverend Richard Griffis
First Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
Washington, DC

Reverend Cameron Kaufman-Frey
Morgantown Church of the Brethren
Morgantown, WV

Cynthia Buxton
Peace/Justice task Force
Kingston Congregational Church
Narragansett, R.I.

Ms Jean Rich
Wellesley Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
Wellesley, MA

Theresa Schimmel
Wakefield, RI

Gina Massoni
First Congregational
Church of Walla Walla
Walla Walla, WA

The Rev. Linda Mines Elliott
Meridian United Church of Christ
Wilsonville, Oregon

Rev.Mary Alice Butkofsky
Justice and Peace Ministries
PCC- United Church of Christ
Lancaster, PA

Ms. Juli Kring
Amnesty International Local 23
Gethsemane UCC
Houston, Texas

Shannon Pease
First Congregational
Colorado Springs, CO

Rev. Dearthrice DeWitt
Associate Minister
First Congregational Church of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Rev. Dr. Jerrold L Foltz
Associate Conference Minister
Central Atlantic Conference
United Church of Christ
Centreville, Virginia

Cheryl Langley Duys
Director of Educational and Youth Ministries
First United Church of Christ
Northfield, Minnesota

Reverend Edna Shiflet
Disciples of Christ
Hamilton, Ohio

Pastor Rev. John H. Mack
Frist Congregational
United Church of Christ
Washington, DC

Pastor David W. Poe
Kewanee, Illinois

Rev. Hector E. Lopez
Conference Minister
Central Pacific Conference
United Church of Christ
Portland, Oregon

Reverend A. Rebecca West
Justice and Witness Board
Plymouth Congregaqtional United Church of
Washington, D. C.

Director of Christian Ed. Shayna Appel
Centre Church
United Church of Christ
Brattleboro, Vermont

Pastor Karl Limvere
Zion United Church of Christ
Medina, North Dakota

Rev. Dr. Carl P. Wallace
Executive Associate
Justice and Witness Ministries
United Church of Christ
Cleveland, Ohio

Rev. Leslie Ritter-Jenkins
First Congregational Church of Western Springs
Western Springs, IL

Professor Emeritus Ann Zerkel
Kirkwood College
Faith United Church of Christ
Iowa City, IA

Julie Boswell
Cleveland, OH

Minister for Hispanic Relations Rev. Candita Bauza-Mattos
Office of General Ministries
The United Church of Christ
Cleveland, Ohio

J B Davis
Trinity United Church of Christ
Columbus, Ohio

Ph. D. Eric Paul Jacobsen
United Church of Christ
First Congreg. Church of Madison (UCC)
Madison, WI

Mr. James L. McFadden
JustFAITH team
St. Leo's Catholic Church,
Sonoma, California

Rev. Malcolm Himschoot
United Church of Christ
Denver, CO

Rev. Charlene Hinckley
United Church of Christ
Casper, Wyoming

Keri Riedel
Youth Advisor
Plymouth Congregational UCC
Aberdeen, SD

Professor Philip Wingeier-Rayo
Centro Cristiano Hosanna
Monroe, NC

Reverend Rachel Reeves Schwab
First Presbyterian Church
Neenah, WI

The Rev. John A. Nelson
United Church of Christ
Dover, MA

Mr. Romeo Ramirez
Ciw
Immokalee, FL

Thomas J. Longino
Orinda Community Church
Orinda, CA

Rev. Erin Martin
Southern Pines United Methodist Church
Southern Pines, NC

Elinor Dunnewold
Mission and Service Team
United Church of Christ
Mt. Vernon, OH

Ronald S. Leaman
Trinity United Church of Christ
Wooster, Ohio

Dr. Thomas A. Duggan
Regis University
Roman Catholic/Jesuit
Denver, Co

Reverend Tom H. Tucker
United Church of Christ
Tyler, Texas

John H. Shehan
Southampton, MA

Reverend Tom H. Tucker
United Church of Christ
Tyler, Texas

Jean Coffman
Church of the Crossroads UCC
Honolulu, HI

Pastor (Retired) Robert C. Lane
United Church of Christ
Windsor, CT

Dorothea Nelson
UCC, Plymouth Cong. Church
Syracuse, NY

Joan B. Moyher
Orange Congregational
United Church of Christ
Orange, CT

Jennifer Hill
UCC
Chicago, IL

Yeuell Kay
Maitland, FL

Rev. William H. Daniels
St. Peter's United Church of Christ
Lancaster, PA

Rev. Mr. William B. Strange Jr.
Roman Catholic
White Sulphur Springs, WV

Deacon Nancy Escue
Hope United Church of Christ
Alexandria, Virginia

Co-Moderator Bryan Olson
Student Executive Committee
United Theological Seminary
New Brighton, Minnesota

Chris Peterson
United Church of Christ
MODESTO, California

Rev. Timothy C. Downs
Conference Minister
Southeast Conference, UCC
Atlanta, GA

Jacob Laden
Hope for Colombia
FOR
Madison, WI

Marjory J. Taylor
Virginia Beach, VA

Lora Rathbone
Shalom United Church of Christ
Richland, WA

Judy Sullivan
Church of the Savior, United Church of Christ
Knoxville, TN

Rev. Lauren Padgett
Central Illinois Chapter
The Interfaith Alliance
New Church United Church of Christ
Peoria, IL

Rev. Charles A Kagenda
Emmanuel Reformed UCC
Export, PA

Barbara Joellenbeck
United Church of Christ
First and St. Stephen's UCC
Baltimore, MD

Pastor Joe Roos
Mennonite Church USA
Riverdale, MD

Rev. Daniel R. Hamlin
Greenbelt Community Church
United Church of Christ

Linda M. Bxiby
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Worcester County Ecumenical Council
Worcester, MA

James Hofsteen
Outreach Committee
First Congregational/UCC
Madison, WI

Pastor Dick Mann
Christ United Curch of Christ
Dupo, Illinois

Reverend Robert G. Long
Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area
Minneapolis, MN

Pastor Julia Rendon
Crossroads United Church of Christ
Indianola, IA

Richard Engelhard
UCC
Middletown, CT

Amy Johnson
Youth Director
Wayside UCC
Federal Way, WA

Sandra Dumais
United Congregational Church, UCC
Worcester, MA

Richard Cardell
United Church of Christ
Jacksonville, FL

Rev. Caroline Zaworski
First Congregational United
Church of Christ
Corvallis, OR

Rev/Mrs James and Elizabeth Deitz
United Church of Christ
Oberlin, OH

Rev. Linda M Huff
Interim Minister
First Congregational Church
Bloomfield, CT

Diane Crofts
Mission Committee
United Church of Christ
Newburyport, MA

Wesly Moore
First Congregational Church of Pasadena, UCC
Pasadena, CA

Elder Alfred Aeppli
Mac Pl UC Peacemakers
Macalester Plymouth United Church
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Reverend Larry E. Turpin
United Church of Hyde Park
Chicago, IL

Rev. Bruce S. Dean
United Church of Christ
Judson Memorial Church
New York, NY

Jeffrey Emrich
Wilmette, IL

Rev. Karen Schmeltekopf
Minister
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
San Angelo, Texas

Rev. Dr. Christine Smith
United Church of Christ
Little Canada, MN

Sister Francis Kearney, O.S.U.
Just Faith,Peace & Justice Committee
St. Leo's Catholic Parish
Boyes Hot Springs, California

Mrs. Marilynn Snider
Chicago, IL

Pastor Pastor Dianne Kiesz
United Church of Christ
Eureka, SD

Rev. Jean M. McCusker
Shelton Congregational Church
Shelton, CT

Rev. Jennifer Stoos
Minneapolis, MN

Marilyn Kohring
St. John United Church of Christ
Dayton, OH

Sr. Miriam Spencer
Sisters of St Joseph of Peace
Bellevue, Washington

Andrea
Justice and Peace Action Network
United Church of Christ
Portland, OR

Ellen Campos
Kirk of Bonnie Brae UCC
Denver, CO

Ms. Olivia Simonich
UCC/Friends Congregational
College Station, TX

Liana Rowe
Justice and Witness Ministries
Southwest Conference UCC
Phoenix, AZ

Rev. Wayne and Louise Dalton
Ladera Community Church
United Church of
Portola Valley, CA

Chairman Nelson R. Murphy (Rev.)
Social Action Committee
Ponds Reformed Church
Oakland, NJ

Rev. Alan C. Miller
Conference Minister
Penn Northeast Conference
United Church of Christ
Palmerton, Pennsylvania

Psychologist & Concerned US Citizen Cheryl Stallings, Ph.D.
Methodist Social Principles Advocate
St Francis United Methodist Church
Cary, NC

Rebecca Powell
Walkersville, Maryland

reverend bruce edwards
friedens united church of christ
united church of christ
jefferson city, MO

Rev. Jan Gregory-Charpentier
United Parish of Upton, UCC/UMC
Upton, MA

Rev. Andrew R. Gustafson
Associate Conference Minister for Stewardship
Massachusetts Conference
United Church of Christ
Framingham, Massachusetts

Jennifer Gingras
Director of Christian Education
Trumbull Congregational Church, UCC
Trumbull, CT

Amy Strang
Youth Group
Avon Lake United Church of Christ
Avon Lake, OH

Ms. Donna L. Goodnow
JPANet
United Church of Christ
Chicago, IL

Mr Robert Allen
Church of the Redeemer (UCC)
Westlake, OH

Christine Kwong
New Brighton United Church of Christ
New Brighton, MN

David Fields
First Congregational Church of
Lebanon, CT

Fran Collier
Chairperson Social Concerns Committee
1st Congregational UCC
Sarasota, FL

Mark B. A. Cappetta
Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo
San Mateo, CA

Michael O. Daly
Captain Eagle Lake, MN
Precint volunteer
United Church of Christ
Mankato, MN

Charles Nielsen
Portland, Oregon

Rev Kenneth Kennon
Southside Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church USA
Tucson, AZ

Chris Hofmann
UCC
Mukwonago, WI

Suzanne W Nichols
President of Leadership Council
Church of the Open Arms UCC
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Pastor John Livingstone
First Congregational UCC
United Church of Christ
Canton, Illinois

Janus Wilhelm
Church on the Hill
Salem, Oregon

Katie Griffin
Bethany Christian Church
Disciples of Christ
Evansville, Indiana

The Rev. Richard O. Moore
United Church of Christ
Claremont, California

Convener Curt Luck
Spiritual Enrichment Group
Ladera Community Church
Portola Valley, California

Mr Bill Laben
Boulder, CO

James Moore
First Congregational United
Church of Christ
Washington, DC

Dr. Sally Buckner
Peace & Justice Mission Group
Pullen Memorial Baptist Church
Raleigh, NC

Mr. David Flood
Catholic
St. Bonaventure, NY

Nancy McGuire
Denver, CO

Mrs. Phyllis Ward
Zion United Church of Christ
Henderson, KY

Sarah Rentzel Jones
United Church of Christ
Lancaster, PA

Roger Dartq
Deerfield, Illinois

Sarijane Moorman
New Hope United Church of Christ
Owensboro, Kentucky

The Rev. John A. Nelson
United Church of Christ
Dover, MA

Rev. Robert Strommen
United Church of Christ
Lakewood, Ohio

Mrs. Elizabeth Lincoln
Episcopal Church
North Kingstown, Rhode Island

Tricia O'Hara
First Congregational Church of Sonoma
Sonoma, CA

Dr. Elaine McDuff
Truman State University
Ames UCC Congregational
Ames, IA

Rev. Kristi L. Foster
Associate Pastor
UCC Congregational
Vermilion, OH

Michael Vogt
All Saints' Episcopal Church
Peoria, AZ

Rev. Charles Ross
Retired Clergy
United Church of Christ
Portland, OR

Dr. William F. Simpson
Associate Professor
Shenandoah University
United Church of Christ
Winchester, VA

Lydia Polomski
Woodmont United Church of Christ
Milford, CT

Mark Rosenfeld
St. Francis United Methodist Church
Cary, North Carolina

Amanda Peck
United Church of Christ
Waynesboro, Tennessee

Charles H Copeland
Windsor, CT

Justin L. Hart
Wooster, Ohio

Linda Alberda
Church in the World & F.O.R.
United Church of Christ
Cleveland, OH

Lyndsey Ellis
Project Hope
Dorchester, MA

Barbara G. Underwood
Second Congregational Church/UCC
Coventry, CT

Gabriel Gardner
United Church of Christ
Fort Wayne, IN

Jennifer Van Buskirk
Church of the Apostles
United Church of Christ
Lancaster, PA

Minister Melinda Keck
The First Congregatioal Church of
Kent, CT

Susan Meyer
Community of Hope/UCC
Tulsa, OK

Ashwinee Sadanand
New Britain, CT

Rev. Jeffery F. Hammonds
United Church of Christ
Claremont, North Carolina

Jason Oshetsky
Pittsburgh, PA

Rev. Steven H. Jones
Director of Spiritual Care
Chaplain
United Church of Christ
Muskego, Wisconsin

Margaret Galabrun
United Church of Christ
East Wakefield, NH

Judy Kropf
United Church of Christ
Orrville, OH

Gabrielle Meury
United Church of Christ
Claremont, CA

Bobbi Dykema Katsanis
Seattle, WA

Ms. Darla Anelli
San Jose, CA

Patricia Williams
Director Youth Ministries
Youth Ministries NH Conference UCC
United Church of Christ
Concord, NH

Ferne Clements
Cleveland, OH

Moderator Kathleen A. Harder
Faith Mennonite Church
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Rev. Mary Cathcart
Northwest Christian Church
Arlington, TX

Mr James H Jorgensen
Ames, IA

Kimberley Korb
United Methodist Church
Apex, NC

Terrence J Wells
Old South Church
Boston, MA

Wayne Steffen
Mennonite Community Church
Mennonite Church USA
Fresno, California

Pamela Vernardo
United Church of Christ
Chicago, IL

Ann W. Curby
First Church in Cambridge,
Congregational, UCC
Cambridge, MA

Dr. Seth Parker
Professor of Accounting
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of
Owensboro, Kentucky

C0-CHAIR Regina Berenback
Social Action and Justice Ministry
Barrington Congregational Church, UCC
Barrington, RI

Rev. Tanya Stormo Rasmussen
Teaching Pastor
United Church of Christ
Norwell, MA

Moderator Eric Canon
Forest Grove United Church of Christ
Forest Grove, OR

Co-chairperson Faith Madzar
Pax Christi Massachesetts
Catholic
Natick, MA

Cecile Gilson
Coordinator Justice & Wider Church
CT Conference UCC
Hartford, CT

Reverend Carol Ahrens
United Church of Christ
Mosinee, WI

Mrs. Jean Greenlaw
Shadow Rock Congregational UCC Church
Phoenix, AZ

Rev Barbara Currie
Deering Community Church, UCC
Deering, NH

Donna Olson
United Church of Christ
Rockford, Illinois

Rev. Ron Serino
First Congregational Church of St. Louis (UCC)
St. Louis, MO

Rev. Dr. Gordon E. Ellis
Senior Minister
First Congregational Church
Soutington, CT

Minister Albert H. Keller
Circular Congregational Church UCC
Charleston, South Carolina

Katherine F. Lindquist
Youth Co-Leader
Church of the Savior
United Church of Christ
Knoxville, TN

Barbara Garlock
NC Conference, Church & Society Board
St. Francis United Methodist Church
Cary, NC

Rev. Susan Jelinek
Peace Seekers
United Church of Christ
Cincinnati, OH

Rev Barry Cass
Somers Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
Somers, Connecticut

Rev.Dr. Charles McCollough
Christ Congregation
United Church of Christ
Princeton, NJ

Moderator Jim S. Martin
First Congregational U.C.C.
Ashland, Oregon

Jack and Lorry Denniston
Chapel Hill, NC

Rev. Madeline Edwards
First Congregational UCC
Rock Falls, IL

MSW Jennifer McCalley
UCC
Oakland, CA

Diane Bucchianeri
Fellowship Congregational/
United Church of
Tulsa, OK

Reverend Jane L. Ellefson
Federated Church UCC/PCUSA
Columbus, NE

Marcia C McLaughlin
Spiritual Director
Richmond Beach UCC
Shoreline, WA

Dorothy M Kimball
First UnitedCongregational Church