Dear Honorable Members of the Colorado Senate and House,
We the undersigned faith leaders with Together Colorado are excited to express our support of the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) Program, SB19-188, in this 2019 legislative session.
All of our congregants, family members and neighbors have caretaking responsibilities at some point in their life, yet a majority do not have paid family leave to take care of a newborn, care for a seriously ill family member or recover from a personal serious illness. Our current lack of paid family leave often results in lost wages, loss of a job, bankruptcies and agonizing decisions about keeping a job or caring for a loved one.
The Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) Program would guarantee all Colorado workers up to 12 weeks of paid family leave to take care of themselves and their families.
As leaders in our faith communities we hold a vision of God’s Commonwealth where we are compelled to care for our families and neighbors and to work together with our public officials to build a Colorado where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, without exception.
Our communities are healthiest when we come together to ensure that all of our neighbors can live a life of human dignity.
We encourage you to vote yes on SB19-188, the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, this year. It’s good for our families, for our communities, and for Colorado.
Signed by 155 Colorado Faith Leaders:
*Congregations/Organizations listed for identification purposes only.
Imam Husayn Abdullah-Aziz
Ahl al-Bayt Assembly of America, Castle Pines
Rev. Nathan Adams
Park Hill United Methodist Church, Denver
Fr. Stephen Adams
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Parish, Loveland
Msgr. Robert Amundsen
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Lafayette
Rev. Kaila Armbruster
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,Grand Junction
Pastoral Associate Chris Armstrong
Our Lady of the Meadows Catholic Community, Pueblo
Rev. Eric Banner
Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden
Rabbi Eliot Baskin
Temple Emanuel, Greenwood Village
Reverend Dr. Lee Berg
Washington Park UCC, Denver
President Midge Birgers
First Unitarian Society, Pueblo
Rev. Bonita Bock
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Denver
Susan Bolduc
ELCA Lutheran Advocacy Ministry, Colorado Springs
Rabbi Stephen Booth-Nadav
Kavod Senior Life and Wisdom House, Denver
Rabbi Deborah Bronstein
Jewish/Reform Movement, Boulder
Tiawana Bullock
Familyroom Fellowship, Grand Junction
Rev. Bill Calhoun
Presbyterian Church USA, Denver
Pastor Paul Carlson
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Denver
Rev. Dr. Neema Caughran
Center for Inner Peace, Pueblo
Rev. Cole Chandler
Mountain State Mennonite Conference, Denver
Rev. James Chapman
United Church of Christ, Colorado Springs
Fr. Bert Chilson
Catholic, Glenwood Springs
Reg Cox
Lakewood Church Network, Lakewood
Sister Nancy Crafton
Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, Ohio, Pueblo
Reverend Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson
First Congregational Church of Loveland, UCC, Loveland
Elder Norm Davey
The Way Church, Centennial
Reverend Tawana Davis
Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, Denver
Pastor Robert Davis
Denver Park Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church, Denver
Mary Derbort
St. Michael’s Church – Canon City, Cotopaxi
Michele Deslauriers
Catholic Charities Alliance to Combat Human Trafficking, Fe Warren AFB
Rev. Kelly Dignan
Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder, Boulder
The Reverend Mary Ann Dimand
The United Methodist Church, Arvada
Rev. Jeffrey Dodson
First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, Grand Junction
Dr. Jean East
Loretto Women’s Network, Lakewood
Pastor Emily Easton
United Methodist Church, Retired, Pueblo
Pararabbi Dave Edwards
Congregation Ohr Shalom, Palisade
Rev. Alycia Erickson
Pikes Peak Metropolitan Community Church, Colorado Springs
Pastor Kathy Escobar
The Refuge, Arvada
Rev. Sylvia Falconer
Unitarian Universalist, Greeley
Rev. Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry
Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Lafayette
Rabbi Brian Field
Judaism Your Way, Denver
Maureen Flanigan
Unitarian Universalist, Littleton
Rev. Robert Gallagher
Catholic, Colorado Springs
Rabbi SB Gershuny
Congregation Nevei Kodesh, Boulder
Rabbi Bernard Gerson
Congregation Rodef Shalom, Retired, Denver
Rev. Erin Gillmore
Mountain Sky Conference, UMC
Pastor Steven Goering
Mennonite Church USA, Fort Collins
Rev. Steve Goodier
United Methodist Church, Loveland
Pastor Aaron Gray
Redlands United Methodist Church, Grand Junction
Rabbi Fred Greene
Congregation Har HaShem, Boulder
Rev. Emily Hagan
United Methodist, Berthoud
Rev. Jann Halloran
Prairie Unitarian Universalist Church, Littleton
Rev. Amanda Henderson
Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, Littleton
Presiding Elder Dr. Tony Henderson
African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Denver
Rev. John Hild
Christ Congregational United Church of Christ, Pueblo
Rev. Mark Hill
Cleaves Memorial AME Church, Denver
Rev. Jeffrey Hirota
United Methodist, Lafayette
Pastor Paul Howard
Brentwood United Methodist Church, Denver
Associate Rector Ted Howard
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Longmont
Rev. Karen Howe
United Church of Christ, Louisville
Pastor Ann Hultquist
Augustana Lutheran Church, Denver
Rev. Dr. Charisa Hunter-Crump
Cairn Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Lafayette
Rev. Patrick Hurley
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Pueblo
Ellen Ireland
Koinonia, Grand Junction
Dr. Jeff Johnsen
Mile High Ministries, Denver
Rev. Nature Johnston
Episcopal Church of the Nativity, Grand Junction
Rev. Wendy Jones
UU Congregation of the Grand Valley, Grand Junction
Rabbi Hillel Katzir
Jewish Action Network of Northern Colorado, Fort Collins
Susan Kenney,
Catholic, Wheat Ridge
Rev. Stephanie Kidwell
Arvada UMC, Longmont
Pastor Robert Kippley
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Canon City
Rev. Bill Kirton
United Methodist, Denver
Rev. Daniel Klawitter
Episcopal Church, Lakewood
Ryan Koch
Glennon Heights Mennonite Church, Denver
Rev. Ben Konecny
First Congregational Church, UCC, Greeley
Sister Anna Koop
Loretto Community, Denver
Rev. Paul Kottke
Mountain Sky Conference UMC, Denver
Rev. Nicole Lamarche
Community United Church of Christ, Boulder
Christopher Lamb
Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder, Fort Collins
Joseph (Joe) Latino
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Parish, Pueblo
Rev. Bradley Laurvick
Highlands United Methodist Church, Denver
Rev. Wayne A Laws
United Church of Christ, Aurora
Rev. Dr. Jennifer Leath
Campbell AME Church, Aurora
Deacon Dan Leetch
Roman Catholic, Pueblo
Rev. Marnie Leinberger
Milagro Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Pueblo
Reverend Martin Lettow
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Littleton
Deacon Judy Lounsberry
Holy Trinity Lutheran RMS/ELCA, Centennial
Rabbi Evette Lutman
B’nai Havurah Denver Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Denver
Reverend Dr. Charles MacArthur
Presbyterian Church USA, Grand Junction
Sister Patricia McCormick
Loretto Community, Denver
Reverend Mark Meeks
Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church, Denver
Rev. Sally Megeath
Episcopalian Denver
Rev. Amy Mendez
Presbytery of Denver, Denver
Reverend Andrew Midgyett
Shorter Community AME Church, Denver
Rev. Lynn Miller Jackson
United Methodist, Denver
Reverend Amy Morgan
First United Presbyterian Church of Loveland, Loveland
Rev. Mike Morran
First Unitarian Church of Denver, Denver
Rabbi Adam Morris
Temple Micah, Denver
Reverend Brian Morrow
Assumption Catholic Church, Denver
Rabbi Anat Moskowitz
Congregation B’nai Torah, Westminster
Rev. David Mourn
Mennonite, Colorado Springs
Pastor Dr. Eric D. Nelson
Heritage Christian Center, Aurora
Pastor Doug Nelson
The Refuge, Arvada
Dr. H. Malcolm Newton
Denver Urban Institute, Aurora
Rev. David Nii
Community of Christ, Denver
Rev. Kevin Olsen
United Church of Christ, Pueblo
Minister Robbin Otey
A. M. E. Zion, Aurora
Sister Lydia Pena
Sisters of Loretto, Denver
Rev. Amy Petré Hill
Mountain View United Church, Aurora
Br. Scott Michael Pomerenk, BSG
St. Thomas Episcopal, Denver Littleton
Dr. Sandra Powell
Soul Care Full Gospel Center, Aurora
Rev. Stephanie Price
United Methodist, Englewood
Rev. Dr. Terry Purvis-Smith
Presbyterian Church, USA, Arvada
Rev. Harriott Quin
Boulder Community UCC, Lafayette
Rev. James Ray
Baptist Church, Aurora
Chaplain Jane Reina
Pathways Hospice and Ecumenical Catholic Community Fort Collins, Loveland
Reverend Elizabeth Reinking
Epiphany Lutheran Church ELCA, Denver
Rev. Dr. Vernon Rempel
Beloved Community Mennonite Church, Littleton
Lisa Reynolds
Interfaith, Denver
Reverend Dr. Anne Rice-Jones
Rose of Sharon Tabernacle, Lakewood
Rev. Chris Richardson
United Methodist Church, Pueblo
Rev. Amelia Richardson
Dress United Church of Christ, Erie
Rev. Ruth Rinehart
JUUST Living, Lakewood
Barbara Ripperger
King of Kings Lutheran Church, Pueblo
Reverend Ruben Rodriguez
Mountair Christian Church, Denver
Rev. Paul Rosin
All Saints Lutheran Church, Cedaredge
Rev. Nori Rost
All Souls UU Church, Colorado Springs
Sister Vicki Schwartz
Sisters of Loretto, Denver
Assistant Minister Anna Scott
Center for Spiritual Living Grand Junction, Grand Junction
Peter Severson
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado, ELCA, Broomfield
Rev. Simon Shadowlight
Mile Hi Church, Golden
Rev. Christy Shain-Hendricks
Ascension and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Pueblo
Rev. Dr. Douglas Sharp
First Congregational Church, Colorado Springs
Rev. Pedro Silva
United Church of Christ, Boulder
Rabbi Marc Soloway
Congregation Bonai Shalom, Boulder
Rev. Sandra Spahr
United Methodist, Pueblo
Rev. Dr. Stephany Rose Spaulding
Ebenezer Baptist Church, Colorado Springs
Rev. Melissa St. Clair
Heart of the Rockies Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Fort Collins
The Rev. Laura Stephenson
ELCA ordained, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Grand Junction
The Rev. Dr. Laura Sugg
Wheat Ridge Presbyterian Church, Wheat Ridge
Rev. Nadine Swahnberg
Jefferson Unitarian Church, Lakewood
Treasurer Sandy Taylor
Christ Congregational UCC, Beulah
Pastor Caitlin Trussell
Augustana Lutheran Church, Lakewood
Rev. Dr. Timothy Tyler
Shorter Community AME Church, Denver
Rev. Jeni Umble
Living Light of Peace (Mennonite), Arvada
AJ van Tine
Boulder Valley UU Fellowship, Louisville
Marie Venner
Colorado Interfaith Power & Light, Lakewood
Father Joseph Vigil
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Pueblo
Rev. Gary Weaver
Presbyterian Church USA, Pueblo
Rev. Wendy Williams
Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden
Pastor Mary Williams
United Church of Christ, Pueblo
Rev. Karen Winkel
Community Spirit UCC, Montrose
Pastor Sara Wirth
Mount Calvary Lutheran Church ELCA, Boulder
The Rev. Canon Ruth Woodliff-Stanley
Episcopal Diocese of Colorado, Denver
Donna Young
Canon City Sanga, Canon City
Rev. Claire Zilm
United Methodist, Pueblo