Introducing: We Believe Colorado
Thursday, June 12, 2008
In Denver June 12, trailblazers from Muslim, Jewish, Christian and other organizations took another important step in ensuring that voices from diverse traditions find room at the table of public discourse. We Believe Colorado assembled for a historic night of worship, inspiration and action at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church.
We Believe Colorado was born from Colorado faith leaders’ desire to shift the focus of the values debate and spotlight issues of justice and the common good. The group began to walk out its vision in October 2007, meeting to consider how the discussion in Colorado might be rescued from divisive voices that misrepresent which spiritual and social issues are of true priority.
In April, the group drafted this founding statement:
The debate over values, morality, and faith in the public arena, particularly in election years, often woefully misrepresents the moral and religious principles that most people hold in common. Political parties, the media, political candidates, and even faith-based organizations are often complicit. Our faith communities are far more diverse than many realize. At the same time we have common ground in moral principles and values that bond us in a shared responsibility. The promising future of faith and religion in this country lies in our ability to build a consensus around these shared values. The morality of the common good offers a guide to enact policy based on shared values in a way that may help us survive and flourish on this earth into the future. The determination to open up this values debate has given birth to We Believe COLORADO.
We Believe Colorado has clearly articulated the virtues they hold dear (freedom, human dignity, love, peace, social justice and truth) and communicated how those values translate to important election-year issues including education, the environment, health care, human and civil rights, immigration, incarceration and neglect, international relations/security, racism and discrimination, poverty, public budgets and torture and killing. The group’s website provides greater detail and direction on each point.
By emphasizing harmony over division, dialogue instead of monologue and the common good over limited interests, We Believe Colorado and similar organizations provide an alternative to the false choices often presented to people of faith. We Believe Colorado can be a bellwether both in this election year and beyond.
You can support We Believe Colorado by visiting their website and endorsing the founding statement.
Endorsing organizations include:
The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado
The Colorado Council of Churches
Hunger for Justice--Interfaith Voices Against Poverty
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Colorado
American Friends Service Committee
H.S. Power and Light--Latino Faith-Based Initiative
Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church
United Church of Montbello
Northeast Denver Islamic Center/Greater Denver Interfaith Alliance
