Speaking at the 10th Anniversary celebration of Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence, Phil Weiser spoke about his own faith.
My faith teaches me ‘Justice, justice shall you pursue.’ This raises the question, why say it twice? Well one answer is, it’s so important that we need to emphasize it. Another answer is you must pursue justice justly. It’s not enough to advance the cause of justice, you need do it in a just way. What you all are doing is the epitome of “Justice, justice shall you pursue.”
And what I also want to say is, I believe that this cause, this just cause, is going to prevail. And we see the progress we have made, and we should take heart from it. And what we can also say is, all of us need to engage and ask others to join this work. I often say that our democracy is not a spectator sport, it’s a team sport. You are all on our team, Team Colorado, working to save lives. We need to build, as you have been doing, a more expansion team, building more awareness about this issue because gun violence prevention is advanced when more people know how we save lives, who is working to save lives and who is not. When people put in the work, we make progress.
This excerpt is taken from a speech given by AG Phil Weiser at First Plymouth UCC On Sunday, September 22 at the 10th Anniversary Celebration of CFCU. Here more of the speech by clicking the button above.
Mark the 12th Sandy Hook Anniversary, Dec. 11 -15 by Planning an Awareness Activity for Your Congregation
December 14 marks the 12th anniversary of the heartbreaking Sandy Hook grade school shooting that was a turning point for so many of us. The Newtown Action Alliance will be hosting the National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence on December 11 in Washington D.C. Newtown Action Alliance
Historically, CFCU has staged outdoor vigils and posted signs and banners to raise awareness about the unacceptable toll gun violence takes on our children and communities. As CFCU embarks on its next decade, we feel it’s important to remind our congregations about why this work must continue and engage new supporters. So, we are proposing an inward-facing,congregational approach this year from Dec. 11 -15. CFCU congregations are encouraged to host a prayer/meditation, candle lighting or presentation; sing a special song; bring in a speaker; publicize opportunities to volunteer. We will be sending out a list of awareness activities in November, but given how busy December is, it’s important to reserve time now for this awareness activity. This is also a time for creativity. If your congregation has an idea for an awareness activity, please send it so we can share it with our CFCU reps.
From the CFCU Advocacy Team
Article submitted by Stephanie Greenberg, Congregation Bonai Shalom
In Memory of Vic Bencomo
Vic Bencomo, husband, father, combat veteran, friend, and community activist, passed away on October 1st from a service-related illness. Vic was a steadfast champion of the causes he believed in. For a number of years until his illness, he was Senior Ambassador of Giffords Gun Owners for Safety Colorado chapter. He will be missed by all who knew him.
U.S. Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Federal Ban on Ghost Guns
This November, vote YES to support mental health services for veterans, youth, and victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes and safety and gun violence prevention programs in schools.
CFCU supported the passage of legislation to put Prop KK on this November’s ballot. More funding for mental health services for Colorado’s most vulnerable populations and school safety is desperately needed. Prop KK will provide these funds through a modest excise tax on gun manufacturer and retailers' sales of guns.
Federal Judge Poised to Dismiss Gun Owners' Challenge to Boulder County Assault Weapons Ordinances
In 2022, the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, the National Association for Gun Rights, and five Colorado residents sued Boulder County, Superior, Louisville, and Boulder challenging local firearms ordinances that generally prohibited the sale, transfer and possession of large-capacity magazines (more than 10 rounds) and semi-automatic guns deemed assault weapons. On September 30, U.S. District Court Judge Nina Y. Wang indicated that she was prepared to dismiss the lawsuit due to a lack of standing among the plaintiffs, finding that they failed to demonstrate why the ordinances injured them. She added that if the plaintiffs offer a sufficient justification for why the government defendants should not prevail, she will move forward and decide the merits of the constitutional challenge. As of this writing, the plaintiffs have not offered the required justification.
Ballots will be mailed to Colorado voters 2-3 weeks before the election. If you’re not registered to vote, now is the time to do it. It’s easy and quick to do online at the Colorado Secretary of State’s website: https://www.coloradosos.gov/voter/pages/pub/home.xhtml
If you’re not sure if you’re registered, you can use the same link to check, and you can also find the nearest location for a polling place or drop box. The stakes in this election couldn’t be higher -- your vote is essential.
Help Save Young Lives -Become a HIP Volunteer!
CFCU volunteers have been involved with this life changing and lifesaving program since its founding in 2021. HIP (Handgun Intervention Program) helps youth convicted of first time, non-violent firearm offenses chart a new and safer path through education/training, community support and individualized planning. Upon successful completion of HIP and probation, their record is expunged.
HIP begins its 11th cohort on Monday night, Nov. 4 from 4:30 - 7:00 at First Mennonite.
The Church of St. Michael the Archangel was established in 1957 in Colorado Springs as one of three chapels under the wing of Grace Church Vestry, but achieved full parish status in 1966. It has grown through the decades, expanding the worship space the facilities, installing an organ and creating beautiful grounds. Rev. Matt Holcombe is the current Rector.
St. Michael has an 8 a.m. Holy Eucharist service and 10:30 a.m. Choral Eucharist service, and has a healing service every Wednesday at noon. It is a parish that is welcoming to all, and “we hope visitors find their spiritual home, where they can be fed spiritually,” said Deacon Gary Durress.
St. Michael is relatively new to CFCU and joined in the early spring of 2024. The issue of gun violence is a very important one to those in leadership and the congregation.
Deacon Gary Durress
We interviewed Deacon Gary Durress, who has been on the staff at St. Michael for four years. He is a retired police officer and served in the Colorado Springs Police Department for 34 years. He retired in February 2020 and was ordained in June 2020.
“God put the topic of gun violence on my heart,” said Gary. “I asked myself, what is God calling me to do around gun violence prevention?”
Gary said that he asked bishops and Episcopal leaders what the church is doing with the issue of gun violence, and really asked the question, how is our faith calling us to reduce gun violence?
“What I experienced as a police officer was people who are victimized, hurt, or have lost their lives due to shootings. A person who might be having an emotional crisis and uses a weapon to end their life, and it’s so immediate,” he said.
In 2023, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Kym Lucas identified gun violence prevention as the “fifth reality” that creates brokenness in our world and requires healing and reconciliation. Gary joined a Statewide committee (Diocesan working group on gun violence prevention) that presented a Resolution on Reducing and Preventing Gun Violence at the Episcopal convention the beginning of the October.
This resolution names action steps in gun violence prevention, including creating safe spaces in places of worship with congregations developing specific policies on gun possession on church property.
In the discussion of the resolution, some did worry about infringement of 2nd amendment rights. Gary said he asked sincerely in the session “why do you feel God calling you to be armed in God’s church?”
"We respect people having weapons. But myself carrying a weapon for 34 years, I know it changes a person’s demeanor with how they interact with people. And it will change how you interact with God in a worship service.”
The resolution also calls for listening to those hurt by gun violence in congregations, creating safe spaces for sharing stories, and learning about violence prevention (like Extreme Risk Protection orders).
Since the resolution passed, now that statewide committee is moving into listening sessions. “We’re trying to be active listeners and move through some of the apprehension of this resolution passing,” Gary said.
St. Michaels is also unique because they have a Mental Health First Aid Trainer-in-Residence, a position that deals with the number one cause of gun violence: suicide. Their trainer in residence, David Galvan, trains QPR (Question. Persuade. Refer) and Youth & Teen Mental Health First Aid as well as “Soul Shop, a faith based initiative that equips faith leaders to minister to those that have been impacted by suicide.”
Article Submitted by Pastor Alice Horner Nelson, Calvary Baptist Church
November 12: 1:30-3:30 PM. Executive Committee meeting. For more information please contact Alana Smart (publichealthstrategies@cfcu-co.org)
November 19: 3:30 - 5:30: Steering Committee Meeting. For more information please contact Alana Smart (publichealthstrategies@cfcu-co.org)
November 20: 10:00 - 11:30: Public Health Strategies Meeting on Zoom. For more information please contact Alana Smart (publichealthstrategies@cfcu-co.org)
November 20, 10 AM - 12 PM. Communications Meeting on Zoom. For more information please contact Daryl Foelske (dfoelske@gmail.com)
December 11: National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence (Watch for more information about local activities later this month.)
Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence, P.O. Box 18770, Denver, Colorado 80218, USA
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