155 Together Colorado Faith Leaders Urge State Legislators to Vote Yes on CO FAMLI Act (SB-188)

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

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