The Council of churches is one of the ways we as American Baptists live out our Unity in Christ in Colorado by providing a voice to the larger community. It is also a way that we can live out our theme for this Annual Gathering “Being the Body of Christ From Here to the Ends of the Earth.” Our belief together is that we already are “One in Christ” and need to work together on issues of common concern. As a Council of Churches, we have a Unity Commission and a Justice Commission to enable that to happen.

To quote from Isaiah 58, the prophet suggested that acts of worship are not valued by God unless the community is working to overcome injustice and to free the oppressed, to care for the hungry, the poor and the homeless. Jesus refers to this same passage in Matthew 12 stating that his role was to do the same, to heal the oppressed and meet a variety of needs in the community at large. In many ways while living out our unity, we, through the Colorado Council, provide that prophetic voice to not only support acts of charity, but to influence and change the system where it is not providing justice for all and serving the needs of a broad segment of our society.

I will share some of the activities that we are involved with through the Colorado Council in order to help us all be more aware of the scope of our activities together.

• Healthcare Reform — $750,000 grant from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation along with three other organizations to provide education about the health care needs of a large segment of our state population for three years
• With Eco-Justice Ministries – provide education on environmental issues
• Promote affordable housing with Housing Justice organization and with the Colorado Housing Investment Fund Coalition
• Preventing domestic violence with Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Creating a curriculum for education on Immigrant issues
• Developing an educational program for churches about families with special needs
• Participate in Christian – Jewish dialogue with the American Jewish Committee
• Participating in a dialogue with African-American and Latino church leaders
• Sponsor the Easter Sunrise Service at Red Rocks each Easter
• Legislative advocacy on issues we agree to speak to

I am open to sharing additional information with anyone about the Council. At present, Rev. Anne Dondapati is on the Justice Commission and Rev. Mary Tellis in on the Unity Commission. Our Executive Minister is on the Full Council by virtue of his position and I am on the Executive Committee.

Rev. Gordon J. Kieft
Colorado Council of Churches Executive Committee Representative