Ten Years of Faith-Fueled Action to End Gun Violence!
February 2025 Digest
In this edition of the Digest:
Regional Meetings to Connect our Members and Increase our Effectiveness
Lobby Day is February 6: please register!
Firearms Legislative Updates from the Advocacy Team
Public Health Strategies ERPO Updates
CFCU Congregation Sponsors Just Faith Gun Violence Program
An Invitation to Breathe: a Prayer by Rev. Mollie Hat
Our Featured Congregation: Green Mountain Presbyterian Church
CFCU February Calendar
2025 Quarterly In-Person Meetings - One in Each Region!
Building Relational Power:
Connecting and Planning for the Future
CFCU’s Steering Committee is looking forward to building on the excitement and enthusiasm generated at our 10th Anniversary event last September! (Click here to see the Program if you missed the meeting.)
As we transition from an all-volunteer organization into a professional nonprofit, we are committed to facilitating collaboration among our member congregations, based on proximity. To promote this goal CFCU’s Outreach and Engagement (O/E) Team has divided our 56 member congregations into four geographic regions: South, Central, West and North. Friends of CFCU are asked to self-select the region in which they live to be included in these collaborative efforts.
As we move into the future, it’s critical that we seek insights and guidance from our member congregations and Friends of CFCU. Therefore, we have decided to schedule four regional in-person meetings throughout 2025. Planned and hosted by member congregations within each region, these meetings will be designed to:
Foster connections and build relationships
Shape CFCU’s action agenda for the future
Share about CFCU’s transition to becoming a nonprofit organization
Learn about what’s working in member congregations
Reinforce our commitment to end gun violence with faith-fueled messages and actions
The first quarterly meeting will occur on Sunday, April 6, 2025, in the Central Region with further logistics, including location and time to be determined by a Central Friends and Member Planning Committee. So, please mark your calendars and keep your eyes open for further information! (In future Digest issues, we’ll announce dates and details regarding the remaining three meetings.)
CFCU’s O/E Team Liaisons will be coordinating planning in each region so if you are interested in getting involved, please contact one of the following:
This is a great opportunity for Friends of CFCU to help shape our future activities!
Article submitted by Cheryl Fleetwood, Central Presbyterian Church
Join the 2025 Gun Violence Prevention Lobby Day
Gun violence prevention groups across the state are gathering on Thursday, February 6th, to advocate for critical gun reform. Join us to learn about the bills being considered, and then visit your senator or capitol representative to encourage their support!
Date: Thursday, February 6th Time: 8:30 - 1:00 PM
Location: Central Presbyterian Church,
1660 Sherman Street, 2 blocks north of capitol Breakfast provided
The 2025 session of the Colorado General Assembly began on January 8. Seven gun-related bills have been introduced so far, with more expected. Below is a summary of the bills and their status in the legislature as of this writing. If you have questions or comments about any of these bills, please contact: advocacy@cfcu-co.org.When you receive an email with your Rapid Response Network Alert for a bill, please contact the legislators on the legislative committee that will be hearing the bill. The RRN Alert will have all the information needed.
If you are not currently receiving the Rapid Response Network Alerts, and would like to, please contact communications@cfcu-co.org
Here are the firearm related bills currently being considered in the legislature. You can read about their current progress and our Advocacy Team information about them.
SB25-003, Semiautomatic Firearms & Rapid-Fire Devices Read an article in The Denver Post about the hearing on this legislation: here.
SB25-034, Voluntary Do-Not-Sell Firearms Waiver
HB25-1062, Penalty for Theft of Firearms
HB25-1055,Repeal Firearm Dealer Requirements & State Permit: CFCU strongly opposes
B25-059, Supports for State Response to Mass Shootings
HB251133, Requirements for Sale of Firearms Ammunition
HB25-1128, Income Tax Credit for Firearm Safety Device
2025 promises to be a busy legislative session for gun bills, and the Advocacy Team could really use some help. If you think you might be interested or you know someone who might be, please contact us at advocacy@cfcu-co.org for more information. We’re busiest by far during the four-month session (ending this year on May 8), so it would be fine if you wanted to commit only to that time period (although we’d welcome your participation year-round). Thanks for considering our request.
From Public Health Strategies
ERPO (Extreme Risk Protection Order)
Passage and strengthening of ERPO have been a major CFCU priority, but we’ve been equally focused on implementation and public education to realize its life saving potential though our ERPO Public Education/Suicide Prevention Work Group that is part of the Public Health Strategies Action Team. Contactpublichealthstrategies@cfcu-co.org if you’d like to become involved.
Attorney General Weiser’s Office (OAG) Leading Effort for ERPO Training and Public Education
The OAG’s task force also produced a new community ERPO brochure that includes contact information for the ERPO Hotline and Suicide Crisis Hotline . Please give some thought as to the best way to distribute this information within your congregation—especially those who can file ERPO petitions e.g. educators and health/mental health professionals.
ERPO Trends in Colorado
The Denver Post recently published the following report on ERPO trends in Colorado by Christopher Knoepke, an assistant professor of Cardiology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and part of FIPI (Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative) which has been analyzing petitions and court documents associated with every extreme risk petition filed in Colorado since they became available.
"Red flag laws are used in Second Amendment sanctuaries, just less frequently". DENVER POST Nov. 24, Perspective
Over a three-year period beginning in 2021, 353 petitions were filed under Colorado’s red flag law, and 39% of those petitions led to firearms being relinquished
Given that *60% of firearm deaths are suicides, researchers were surprised that just 8% of the petitions included only threats of self-harm. (* Suicides comprised 70% of firearm deaths in 2023)
54.6% of petitions across Colorado were filed by law enforcement. These petitions were granted 94.3% of the time; petitions filed by people outsideof law enforcement were granted just 35% of the time
Thirty-seven percent of all petitions in Colorado between 2020 and 2022 were filed in counties that made proclamations against red flag laws
CFCU Member Congregation St. Michael's Episcopal Church Sponsors Gun Violence Prevention Program
St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Colorado Springs is sponsoring a program to address issues of gun violence from a faith perspective, through a group process. The small group will be using a program grounded in Christian faith developed by Just Faith Ministries entitled “Preventing Gun Violence: From Rhetoric to Real Solutions.” The group will meet every other week on Monday evenings beginning February 3, and it will be facilitated by Rev. Vicki, Deacon Gary, and parishioner Andrew Wettemann. Participants will confront the painful reality of gun violence as they engage in holy dialogue across their differences and discern how their faith calls them to respond.
Fee for class is $35 per person and books are self-purchased. Scholarships available. For more information or questions, contact Rev. Vicki at vicki@stmikeschurch.com.
In the midst of a deluge of orders, information, fear-mongering, and uncertainty, you invite us to breathe.
We breathe in your Spirit, we exhale.
We breathe in your Love, we exhale.
We breathe in your Peace, we exhale
We breathe in, and exhale our fears, our grief, our anger, our despair to you.
You hold all your beloveds, and invite us to breathe in this Holy moment and the next.
May the breath remind us to turn toward one another, seeing the ways you are working in this world. May we notice the ways we are called to action, the ways we are continuing to be transformed, one breath at a time.
We breathe in your fierce love, we exhale.
We breathe in your sustenance, we exhale.
We breathe in your Hope, we exhale.
Root us in your powerful love, Amen
Written by Rev. Mollie Landers Hatt, Associate Pastor, Lakewood UCC
Featured Congregation for this Month:
Green Mountain Presbyterian Church
Green Mountain's pastor is Rev. Dr. Gretchen Hope Wilson.
Worship is every Sunday at 10 am
The church is located at 12900 West Alameda Parkway Lakewood, CO 80228
Our featured congregation this month is one that has a long history in Colorado. Green Mountain Presbyterian Church began in 1883 as a Bible School meeting in a tent near 11th and Larimer in Denver. Originally named the First United Presbyterian Church of Denver, during most of the early 20th century, it was located at 14th and Lincoln, near the Capitol. With a membership of over 1000, in the 1960's the church relocated to Green Mountain, and eventually took the name "Green Mountain Presbyterian Church."
The church's focus on issues of justice, began early in their history, including support for a Japanese American church in Denver during WWII, and partnered with other churches to build Kentucky Circle Village housing project after the war. Today they continue to live their core values of faith, community, compassion, generosity and inclusivity through The Action Center, the Second Wind Fund, CROP Walk and many other activities in which food, clothing and shelter are shared with anyone who needs it. Green Mountain has two women's circles, Lenten and Advent studies and a vibrant music program. Just recently Green Mountain has joined CFCU to support our efforts to end gun violence.
Marcia Charleton, who is the CFCU rep for Green Mountain, has been a member of Green Mountain Presbyterian since she moved to Colorado from St. Louis six years ago. She was attracted to the church because of the good sermons and the great music. She quickly became involved in The Action Center, singing in the choir and many of the mission focused activities of Green Mountain. As a member of CFCU she also serves on the Outreach and Engagement Action Team.
Marcia has two daughters and four grandchildren--two boys and two girls. She is concerned about her grandchildren living in a world of school shootings and practice lockdowns.
One of Marcia's passions is quilting. She has been sewing since she was 10 and basically taught herself. Today she creates both quilts and clothing. You can see a photo of one of Marcia's quilts to the left.
CFCU is grateful to both Marcia and her church--Green Mountain Presbyterian!
Monday, February 3, 9:30 AM: Outreach/Engagement Meeting on Zoom. Please contact Cheryl Fleetwood (membership@cfcu-co.org) for more information.
Thursday, February 6, 8:30 AM - 3 PM: Lobby Day at Central Presbyterian Church.
February 10, 10:30 AM: Advocacy Meeting on Zoom. For more information, please contact Stephanie at advocacy@cfcu-co.org
Tuesday, February 11, 1:30 - 3:30 PM: Executive Committee Meeting on Zoom. For more information please contact Alana Smart (publichealthstrategies@cfcu-co.org)
Tuesday, February 18, 3 - 5 PM: Steering Committee Meeting on Zoom. For more information please contact Alana Smart (publichealthstrategies@cfcu-co.org)
Thursday, February 20, 10 AM - 12 PM. Communications Meeting on Zoom. For more information please contact Daryl Foelske (dfoelske@gmail.com)
Wednesday, April 2, 10 AM -12 PM: Public Health Strategies Meeting on Zoom. For more information please contact Alana Smart (publichealthstrategies@cfcu-co.org)
Sunday, April 6, time to be announced: Central Regional Meeting at Central Presbyterian Church. Please contact Cheryl Fleetwood (membership@cfcu-co.org) for more information.
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