Advocacy Opportunties
Declaration of Peace
The Social Justice Committee of National Capital Presbytery encourages our churches to learn about the "Declaration of Peace" already endorsed by Christian denominations and churches and other faith communities. The schedule of activities may be found at: http://www.declarationofpeace.org/take-action.
Former moderator of the PCUSA and present director of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, Rick Ufford-Chase has offered an invitation to join him to make a joint Presbyterian Witness for Peace. Meet for the 10:00 a.m. gathering at Upper Senate Park at which there will be an interfaith ceremony and rally at 10:30 followed by an interfaith religious procession around the Capitol at 11:30. These activities will be followed by a peace presence and nonviolent resistance, including risking arrest for those who chose at the US Senate. You can register for the various activities at the Declaration of Peace website. And respond to Rick's invitation at ppfwitness@gmail.com.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform and Just Coffee
Both the 2004 and 2006 General Assemblies of the PCUSA passed resolutions on immigration reform. The resolution from 2004 comes with a study guide on immigration/migrations that is still quite relevant. The Social Justice Committee of the Presbytery recommends that churches use the resolutions and study guides for study in the churches. You may access the two resolutions by clicking 2004 or 2006.
The 2006 resolution commends Just Coffee as a visionary approach to alleviating one of the root causes of migration from Southern Mexico, namely, loss of livelihood. Therefore the committee recommends that the churches of the Presbytery partner with Just Coffee by serving Just Coffee at church activities and selling it in whatever way the church deems appropriate. You can learn more about Just Coffee at its website http://www.justcoffee.org. For more information, please call the Rev. Dr. Parrish W. Jones at 202-262-1850 or e-mail him at parrish.jones@starpower.net.
Speaker on Immigration: The Rev. Dr. Parrish W. Jones is also available to speak in churches on immigration/migration and the church's response to the debate and ways we can minister to the alien among us. You may reach him at 202-262-1850 or e-mail him at parrish.jones@starpower.net. Parrish has been involved with the Presbyterian Border Ministry for 15 years, involved in ministry to migrants peoples for over 30 years and serves as a Presbyterian representative on the Border Working Group advocating for policies changes that would end the deaths on the border.
Colombia
Absent from the U.S. media is anything to do with Colombia, yet, our government is spending billions of dollars in Colombia while the Colombian government and its surrogates perpetrate grave injustice on the poor, the indigenous and the Afro Colombians. Since 1985 over 3.5 million people have been displaced. The U.S. State Department estimates that about 3 million persons are living in displacement at any given time. There are many causes of displacement: violence from the civil war and from drug trafficking, aerial spraying by the U.S. in hopes of eradicating cocaine, and the avaricious acquisition of land through whatever means necessary for profit by corporations.
Church leaders and others who have stood up for Human Rights have been threatened, detained by police or right wing paramilitaries and often assassinated in and effort to intimidate them into silence. However, being faithful to God, they have continued to work for justice. Recently, Members of the Colombia Mission Network, partner presbyteries with the Presbyterian Church in Colombia and the World Mission Division assisted Milton and Adelaide Mejia and their sons to come to the U.S. to gain respite from the threats and violence. Another church leader and human rights lawyer is in process of fleeing to another South American country, most likely Venezuela.
As the government of Colombia claims that it is now safe to vacation in Colombia, the threats and the violence continue. Few in the Presbyterian Church feel safer. Quite the contrary!
NCP has a long term interest in and commitment to Colombia through the Rev. Dr. Alice Winters who felt the call to missions, attended seminary under the care of NCP and was ordained by it, has served there for 25 years. She asks us to make the situation in Colombia a matter of prayer and study.
LEARN MORE:
There are several speakers in the Presbytery who are involved in the Colombia Mission Network and who have been to Colombia. You may also visit the website of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship where there is much info about Colombia and the Accompaniment program. http://www.presbypeacefellowship.org,
Elder Patricia Forner of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Herndon, VA
Has been to Colombia several times, served for one month as a Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Accompanier in Barranquilla, Colombia, serves on the Internally Displaced Persons Ecumenical Working Group and is a member of the PCUSA Colombia Mission Network. Contact her at fornerg@aol.com or call at (703) 758-8667.
The Rev. Dr. Parrish W. Jones, minister at large in Presbytery of the James, member of the NCP Social Justice Committee, PCUSA Colombia Mission Network, Presbyterian Member of the Colombia Steering Committee, attends New York Ave. Presbyterian Church, has been to Colombia twice for about 5 weeks total and is leading a Peace Delegation to the Presbyterian Church September 2006. Parrish may be reached at 202-262-1850 or e-mail him at parrish.jones@starpower.net.
The Rev. Tamara Leonard Lara, Associate Pastor of Darnerstown PC is a member of the PCUSA Mission Network. Tamara is married to a native Colombian and has visited Colombia many times for family and for the church. She may be reached at marasweet@yahoo.com or dpcassociate@comcast.net or call 240-672-3376.