A Letter to Members of the United States Congress from Church Leaders, Non-Governmental Organizations, Citizen Groups and Academics Regarding the Human Rights Crisis in the Philippines

February 9, 2009

Dear Members of the United States Congress,

We, the leaders and members of faith-based, labor, and human rights organizations concerned with the on-going human rights crisis faced by our friends and colleagues in the Philippines’ civil society, wish to express our support and appreciation for the attention and efforts by members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to ensure that our military aid to the Philippines is not exacerbating an already tragic situation. In 2007, the US Congress voted for the first time to attach human rights conditions to the military aid our government is providing the Philippine government. Partly as a result of this high level of scrutiny by the US Congress, there was a dramatic decline in the extra-judicial killings in 2008. Unfortunately, though the number of extra-judicial killings has declined significantly over the past year, widespread human rights abuses continue.

As you may recall, the United Nation’s Special Rapporteur for extrajudicial killings, Philip Alston, noted in his report to the United Nations in 2007:

Many in the [Philippine] Government have concluded that numerous civil society organizations are “fronts” for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed group, the New People’s Army. One response has been counter-insurgency operations that result in the extrajudicial execution of leftist activists. In some areas, the leaders of leftist organizations are systematically hunted down by interrogating and torturing those who may know their whereabouts, and they are often killed following a campaign of individual vilification designed to instill fear into the community.1

The perpetrators of these abuses continue to enjoy impunity and there is strong evidence that Philippine military officials responsible for human rights abuses will never face justice. In one glaring example, this past October the Philippine Supreme Court found that there is convincing and corroborated evidence that at least one high-level military official is responsible for human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances and torture, yet there has been no official investigation. In March, Human Rights Watch summed up the government efforts by stating, “Of the hundreds of political killings since 2001, not a single military official has been convicted,” and “the principle of command responsibility has yet to be applied in a single case.”2

We are also alarmed at reports that the Philippine government is increasingly using politically motivated prosecutions to charge and detain political activists, labor leaders, attorneys, academics and clergy. As the UN Special Rapporteur warned in his 2007 report,

1 United Nations, General Assembly. Interim Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Phillip Alston. August 16, 2007. Available at http://www.twincitiesamnesty.org/A_HRC_8_Philippines_Advance_Edited.pdf 2 http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2008/03/25/philippines-justice-absent-killings-and-disappearances “Senior Government officials are attempting to use prosecutions to dismantle the numerous civil society organizations and party list groups that they believe to be fronts for the CPP.” In particular, the Rapporteur identified the Inter-agency Legal Action Group (an ad hoc mechanism comprised of representatives of several executive branch agencies including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Department of Justice) whose sole purpose is to “bring charges against members of these civil society organizations and party list groups.” Most charged have not “actually committed any obvious criminal offence.” Unfortunately, by working hand-in-hand with the military, the prosecutors for the Department of Justice appear to be subverting the justice system.

Finally, we are concerned by reports that the AFP is continuing its vilification campaign against members of civil society organizations. For example, in 2008, the AFP-Civil Military Operations unit has conducted “symposiums” in Mindanao in which they accuse every member of one particular democratically elected trade union of being terrorists simply because of their union membership.

The impact of these actions is severe. Due to the continued attacks on segments of Philippine civil society, democracy in the Philippines is suffering. In 2008, the second year in a row, Freedom House downgraded the Philippines by ranking it as merely a “Partly Free” country.

For FY 2008, the US Congress conditioned a small part of US military aid, just $2 million out of a total of $30 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF), on three conditions: (1) the Philippine government’s successful implementation of the UN Special Rapporteur’s recommendations; (2) the prosecution of those in the military and others responsible for the human rights violations; and (3) the end of the vilification of legal civil society organizations by the military. These same conditions are in the FY 2009 State Department Operations Bill reported out by the Senate Appropriations Committee (S. 3288) last July.

The Philippine government did not meet any of these conditions in 2008, however, the Department of State provided the Philippines with the full FMF allocation. We are very concerned about the lack of transparency in the reporting process.

The experience in 2008 demonstrates that conditioning only a portion of the military aid, and then sending it without significant scrutiny, sends the wrong signal to the Philippine government, because the human rights violations have continued with impunity.

We urge the US Congress to require that: • The Department of State’s human rights certification is made publicly available in order to promote greater transparency and understanding between the United States and the people of the Philippines, • The human rights conditions on FMF enumerated above are in the FY 2009 omnibus appropriations bill and • The Philippine government receives no further FMF until it meets all of three human rights conditions.

These steps are necessary to ensure that U.S. military aid does not directly or indirectly promote human rights violations and undermine democracy in the Philippines. The rights and freedoms of the Filipino people depend on it. Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon Elisa Massimino, Executive Director General Secretary Human Rights First National Council of Churches USA Barbara Shailor, Director Rev. John L. McCullough International Department Executive Director and CEO AFL-CIO Church World Service Andy Stern, President Rev. Gradye Parsons Service Employees International Union Stated Clerk of the General Assembly Presbyterian Church USA John Hovis, President United Electrical, Radio and Machine The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori Workers of America (UE) Presiding Bishop and Primate; The Episcopal Church Jeff Rechenbach, Secretary-Treasurer Communications Workers of America Rev. John H. Thomas General Minister and President Eric Dirnbach, Deputy Director United Church of Christ Strategic Affairs UNITE HERE! The Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins General Minister and President Jessica Rutter, Strategic Campaigner Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Rev. William G. Sinkford, President John Cavanagh, Director Unitarian Universalist Association of Institute for Policy Studies Congregations Bama Athreya, Executive Director Rev. Dr. Roy I. Sano, Bishop, retired Brian Campbell, Attorney The United Methodist Church International Labor Rights Forum

Christopher Epting, Bishop Bernadette Ellorin, Secretary General Deputy Ecumenical and Interreligious Bayan USA Relations The Episcopal Church Katrina Abarcar, Coordinator Katarungan: Center for Peace, Justice, Bishop Stephen P. Bouman and Human Rights in the Philippines Executive Director ELCA Evangelical Outreach and Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS Congregational Mission Chairman Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Filipino United Network (USA)

Rev. Emmanuel G. Orendain, Moderator Galatea King, Co-Chair National Filipino Presbyterian Council Board of Directors Filipino American Coalition for Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos Environmental Solidarity Senior Program Director for Faith & Order and Interfaith Relations; National Council of Churches USA The Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte Co-Executive, Maureen Shea Common Global Ministries of the Director, Office of Government Relations Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) The Episcopal Church and United Church of Christ Washington, DC

The Rev. David Vargas Christina Cobourn Herman Co-Executive, Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate Common Global Ministries of the Justice Peace/Integrity of Creation Office Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Washington, DC and United Church of Christ Emira Woods, Co-Director James E. Winkler, General Secretary Foreign Policy in Focus Mark Harrison, Director, Peace with Justice Program Stephen R. Shalom, Co-editor General Board of Church and Society Philippine Reader United Methodist Church Shaun Martinez Rev. Alex Vergara, President Coordinating Committee Pong Javier, Communication Director United Students Against Sweatshops National Association of Filipino American United Methodists Dr. Howard Zinn, Author A People’s History of the United States Rev. Canon Brian J. Grieves Professor Emeritus Senior Director for Mission Centers, Boston University Director, Advocacy Center; Canon Margaret S. Larom, Program Officer Kimberly C. Stietz, Director International Justice and Peacemaking; International Public Policy; Rev. Dr. Winfred B. Vergara, Officer Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Asian American Ministries The Episcopal Church Rev. Dr. Y. Franklin Ishida, Director Asia and the Pacific Mission; Rev. Dr. Xiaoling Zhu ELCA Evangelical Outreach and Area Executive for East Asia and the Congregational Mission Pacific Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Derek Duncan Program Associate, Advocacy and Amy Woolam Echeverria, Director Education Mission Education and Columban Justice, Peace, and Integrity Interpretation of Creation Office (USA) Common Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Rev. Kathryn J. Johnson, Executive and United Church of Christ Director Methodist Federation for Social Action Rev. Dr. Wallace Ryan Kuroiwa (Ph.D.) Minister and Team Leader Orlando Tizon, Ph.D., Assistant Director Justice and Witness Ministries Denise Curry, Outreach Coordinator United Church of Christ Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International

Sr. Maryann Brigid Lawlor, RGS California Congregational Leader Dr. Rick Schlosser, Executive Director Sisters of the Good Shepherd California Council of Churches/ California Council of Dr. John Lloyd Ogilvie, Churches IMPACT President, Leadership Unlimited Sacramento, CA Chaplain, United States Senate, (1995-2003) Bishop Warner Brown Sr. Winifred Doherty, RGS Resident Bishop, San Francisco Bay Area United Nations Representative California Nevada Annual Conference Good Shepherd International Justice Member, Council of Bishops Peace Office United Methodist Church

Joel Hanisek, William McKinney, President; United Nations Representative Dr. Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan, Ph.D. Presbyterian Church USA Associate Professor of Old Testament; Jun Stinson, Development Assistant Rev. Richard Poethig Pacific School of Religion Missionary in the Philippines Berkeley, CA

Rev. Dr. Bryce Little Rev. Debbie Lee Liason, Spanish Evangelical Church/ United Church of Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal Program Director Presbyterian Church USA PANA Institute Berkeley, CA Rev. Eamon Sheridan, SSC, Coordinator General Council - Central JPIC Rabbi Steven B. Jacobs, Founder Missionary Society of St. Columban Progressive Faith Foundation (Hong Kong) Los Angeles, CA Rachel R. Redondiez, Co-Founder Arizona Committee for Human Rights in the Rev. José Olagues, Associate Executive Philippines Grand Canyon Presbytery San Francisco, CA Phoenix AZ Executive Board Arkansas American Federation of State, County, Rev. Ruskin Falls, Pastor and Municipal Employees Local 3299 - Pulaski Heights Presbyterian Church University of California Employees Little Rock, AR Oakland, CA

Colorado Executive Board Rev. Daniel Klawitter Sacramento Central Labor Council Religious Outreach Coordinator Sacramento, CA FRESC Denver, CO Kuusela Hilo, Executive Board Asian-Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) Los Angeles, CA Rev. Michael Yoshii & Rev. Ruth Robert McCauley Cortez, Regional Political Organizer Co-Chairs Philippine Solidarity Task SEIU-UHW Force Berkley, CA California-Nevada Annual Conference;

Ramon Alcantara, Union Representative Laddie Perez-Galang, Chairperson SEIU Local 1000 Asian-American Ministry Caucus of Sacramento, CA California-Nevada Conference United Methodist Church Amy Hines, Organizer AFSCME Local 3299 M. Theresa Basile, Sacramento CA Communications Director Methodist Federation for Social Action Danny Park, Executive Director California-Pacific Chapter, CA Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance California Anore M. Shaw, Member Justice Advocacy and Caring Committee Lucia Lin San Francisco Presbytery Student Worker Front, UCLA, Oakland CA Los Angeles, CA Rev. Dr. Frank Alton, Pastor Lillian Galedo, Executive Director Immanuel Presbyterian Church Filipinos for Affirmative Action Los Angeles, CA Oakland, CA Rev. Michael Leslie, Ordained Minister Stephanie Sayo, Coordinator Cumberland Presbyterian Church Filipino Community Support (FOCUS) San Francisco, CA Silicon Valley, CA Rev. Robert Forsberg, Pastor Rev. Dexter McNamara, Director High St. Presbyterian Church Interfaith Service Bureau Oakland, CA Sacramento, CA JoAnn Yoon Fukumoto Rev. Jay Olson, Associate Executive Peace with Justice Educator Presbytery of Sacramento California Pacific Conference Sacramento, CA United Methodist Church Los Angeles, CA Rev. Nancy Clegg, Hunger Action Enabler Presbyterian Hunger Program Teresita Bautista Sacramento and Stockton Presbyteries Filipino American Coalition for Sacramento, CA Environment Solidarity San Francisco, CA Douglas P. Sibley Board of Church and Society Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, PhD, President California-Nevada Conference Environmental & Engineering Research Group Pinole, CA

Joi Barrios-Leblanc, Lecturer Rev. Kathleen Ross, Pastor Filipino Literature Walteria United Methodist Church UC Berkeley Torrence, CA Berkeley, CA Dr. Ruben S. Gualberto, M.D., Elder Dr. Peter Chua, Chair Filipino American Community Church Critical Filipino and Filipina Studies Bakersfield, CA Collective San Jose State University Rev. Ben Vasquez, Curator San Jose, CA St. Matthews Episcopal Church/ Parish of San Roque, Philippine Dr. Angie Ngoc Tran, Ph.D. Independent Church Professor, Political Economy National City, CA California State University, Monterey Bay Rev. Rey Del Mundo, Priest Terrence Valen, Executive Director Parish of St. Mary, Philippine Filipino Community Center Independent Church San Francisco, CA Milpitas, CA

Rev. Peter Tagdulang, Priest Rev. Fr. Efren B. Picart, Priest Gerald E. Shenk, Professor of Social History Philippine Independent Church Coordinator, Teacher Preparation San Leandro, CA Program in History/Social Science Social & Behavioral Sciences Rev. H. Wilson de Ocera, Pastor California State University, Monterey Bay United Methodist Church Seaside, CA Daly City, CA

David Campbell, Director Marion Maningo, Moderator California Communities Program Faith Community Church UCC Department of Human and Community Oakland, CA Development University of California at Davis Rev. Dennis Duhaylungsod, Pastor Davis, CA Filipino American UCC Freemont, CA Lyle Prijoles, Chairperson League of Filipino Students Rev. Leomyr de Jesus, Pastor San Francisco State University Filipino American Evangelical UCC San Francisco, CA Fremont, CA

Rev. Margo Tenold, Co-Director Ben Kobashigawa, MA Coordinator Council of Churches of Santa Clara County Asian American Studies San Jose, CA San Francisco State University

Rev. Gerry Engnan, Priest Dr. Masao Suzuki, Representative Immaculate Conception Philippine Friends of the Filipino People- East Bay Independent Church/ Professor of Economics St. Mark's Episcopal Church Mills College Van Nuys, CA Oakland, CA

Kathryn Poethig, Ph.D. Rev. Stephen Glauz-Todrank California State University Monterey Bay Skyland Community Church Seaside, CA Los Gatos, CA

Professor Johanna Poethig Rev. Frank Beltran, Pastor California State University, Monterey Bay First Filipino American UCC Seaside, CA San Bruno, CA

Aurora C. Lopez, Manager Rev. Kathryn Schreiber, Minister Raza Leadership Program Kristina Burnett, Co-Moderator Spanish Speaking Citizens' Foundation Mary Mino, Co-Moderator East Bay, CA Betty Shumway, Financial Secretary United Church of Hayward UCC Kelly Hayes-Raitt Hayward, CA PeacePATH Foundation Santa Monica, CA Rev. Brandon Austin, Pastor Patti Conner, Conference Lay Minister Apollo Victoria, Coordinator South Hayward United Methodist Church Habi Arts Hayward, CA Los Angeles, CA Administrative Board Marisa Mariano, Chair Martinez United Methodist Church BABAE Martinez, CA San Francisco, CA Val Pascual, Moderator Nestor Villatoro, President Cosmopolitan Evangelical UCC American Guatemalan Association San Jose, CA Los Angeles CA Rev. Dr. Felicisimo Cao, Pastor Jay Conui, Co-Director Doris Mananghaya, Church Council Chair Asian Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Saniata Melchor, Church and Society Leader Advocacy and Leadership Valley Faith United Methodist Church Oakland, CA Sunnyvale, CA

Sr. Donna Miles Rev. Irene Pak, Associate Pastor Adult Education Coordinator Daesung Presbyterian Church Sisters of the Good Shepherd. Sunnyvale, CA Los Angeles, CA Rev. Aart Van Beek, Pastor Rev. Farao Wendt, Pastor Parkview Presbyterian Church Vine Moni Congregational United Sacramento, CA Church of Christ Fremont, CA Rev Agustinus Tiwa, Pastor Indonesian Presbyterian Fellowship Rev. Jeffrey Spencer Sacramento, CA Niles United Church of Christ Fremont, CA

Rev. Jack Raymore, Pastor Rev. Mary Lynn Tobin, Pastor Rev Jean Shaw, Associate Pastor Rev. Bill Habicht, Associate Pastor Northminster Presbyterian Church Davis Community Church Sacramento, CA Davis, CA

Rev. Warren Barnes, Pastor Dr. Michael Gass, Elder Grace Presbyterian Church Davis Community Church Sacramento, CA Davis, CA

Rev Philip Trinh, Pastor Rev. Brian M. Spangler, Pastor Grace Community Presbyterian Peace Presbyterian Church Vietnamese Church Elk Grove, CA Sacramento, CA Rev. Everett D. Bosch, Pastor Rev David Thompson, Pastor First Presbyterian Church Rev Gary Cox, Associate Pastor Tracy, CA Westminster Presbyterian Church Sacramento, CA Rev. Larry Emery, Pastor Community Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. Keith E. Edwards Walnut Grove, CA Interim Pastor First Filipino Presbyterian Church Rev. Kathy McIntosh-Smith, Co-Pastor Azusa, CA Woodland Presbyterian Church Woodland, CA Rev. Nelson L. Castorillo, Senior Pastor Brawley First United Methodist Church Brawley, CA District of Columbia Dr. Robin Broad, Professor Rev. Jack F. McNary, Associate Pastor International Development Program Marie Segur, Elder School of International Service Wayne MacRostie, Elder American University Carmichael Presbyterian Church Carmichael, CA. Florida Fr. Ben Alforque, MSC Rev. Robert Ilay, Priest Riverside Vicariate Vicar Forane Cathedral of Jesus of Nazareth, Diocese of San Bernardino Philippine Independent Church Parochial Vicar, St. Catherine of Alexandria Tampa, FL Riverside, CA Hawaii Rev Richard Hutchison, Pastor Rev. Bob Miyake-Stoner, Pastor First Presbyterian Church Trinity United Methodist Church Stockton, CA Pearl City, HI

Rev Byron L Nelson, Interim Pastor Rev. Nobuko Miyake-Stoner, Pastor Trinity Presbyterian Church Harris United Methodist Church Stockton, CA Honolulu, HI

Rev. Amy C. Wake, Associate Pastor Rev. Richard Williams, Campus First United Methodist Church Minister, Agape House Honolulu, HI University of Illinois, Chicago Chicago, IL The Rev. James A. Tweedie, Pastor Mililani Presbyterian Church Dr. Mary Nelson, President Emeritus Mililani, HI Bethel New Life, Inc. Chicago, IL Rev. Barbara Grace Ripple, retired United Methodist Church Rev. Dr. Robert Preston Price Hawaii District Superintendent. 1998-2004 Cosmopolitan United Church Aiea, HI Melrose Park, IL

Rev. James A. White, Senior Pastor Iowa Aiea United Methodist Church Rev. Dr. Mark Achtemeier Aiea, Hawaii Assoc. Professor of Theology and Ethics Dubuque Theological Seminary Charlene Cuaresma, President Dubuque, Iowa Helena Manzano, Vice President Filipino Coalition for Solidarity Kansas Hawaii Rev. David Hansen, retired Wichita, KS Amy Agbayani, President Filipinos for Affirmative Action Maine Honolulu, Hawaii Rev. Marvin M. Ellison, Ph.D. Professor of Christian Ethics Rouel Velasco, Youth Leader Bangor Theological Seminary National Federation of Filipino Portland, Maine American Associations, Hawaii Rev. Alan D. Cogswell, Pastor Illinois Riverside United Methodist Church Bishop Valentin N. Lorejo, Jr. Porter, Maine St James Parish Philippine Independent Church Maryland Chicago, IL Dr. Rachel M. Goldberg, Assistant Professor Bishop Hee-Soo Jung Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution Northern Illinois Conference Salisbury University The United Methodist Church Salisbury, MD Chicago, IL Jon Melegrito, Coordinator Rev. Primitivo C. Racimo, Priest-in-Charge Justice and Compassion Ministry St. Margaret of Scotland Episcopal St Paul's United Methodist Church Church, Chicago, IL Kensington, MD

Rev. Matthew Lang, Program Associate Rev. Roger Scott Powers, Pastor Council for a Parliament of the World's Light Street Presbyterian Church Religions Baltimore, MD Chicago, IL Michigan Rev. Melissa Anne Rogers, Pastor Rev. Peter Monkres, Pastor First Presbyterian Church First Congregational Church Ann Arbor, MI Grand Marais, MN

Rev. Gary L. Hansen, Bishop, Rev. Kathryn Nelson, Lead Pastor North/West Lower Michigan Synod, Rev. John Clark Pegg, retired Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Tom Liddle, Chair Lansing, MI Philippines Partnership Committee Peace United Church of Christ Minnesota Duluth, MN Dr. Eleazar Fernandez Professor of Theology Rev. Douglas King, retired Rev. Glen Herrington-Hall Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area Director of Admissions Woodbury, MN Rev. Dr. Christine M. Smith Professor of Preaching Mary Beaudoin United Theological Seminary of the Women Against Military Madness Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN New Brighton, MN Carole Rydberg Meg Layese, Coordinator Northwest Neighbors for Peace Philippine Study Group of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN St. Paul, MN Missouri Jim Fournier Rev. Nancy W. Carle, Pastor St. Paul, MN Broadway Presbyterian Church Project for Pride in Living Sedalia, MO

Michael Russelle Nevada St. Anthony Park Neighbors for Peace Chito Quijano, St. Paul, MN Chairperson, Union Organizer National Nurses Organizing Committee Rev. Douglas Mitchell, Associate Pastor Bayan-USA Westminster Presbyterian Church Las Vegas, NV Minneapolis, MN Rev. Carol Woods, Pastor Rev. David M Liddle, Pastor at large Westminster Presbyterian Church Presbytery of the Twin Cities Las Vegas, NV Minneapolis, MN Rev. Jim Houston-Hencken Elsa Batica First Presbyterian Church Filipino-American Women’s Network of Las Vegas, NV Minnesota Minneapolis, MN Rev. John J. Auer Rev. John H. Emerson, retired Dr. Timothy M. Johnson, Pastor Pastor Emeritus Cherokee Park United Church First United Methodist Church St. Paul, MN Reno, NV Rev. Ross Doyel, Pastor Brian O'Shaughnessy Henderson Presbyterian Church Executive Director Henderson, Nevada Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State

Rev Bruce Taylor, Pastor Julia Camagong, Executive Director Spanish Springs Presbyterian Church Philippine Forum Sparks, NV New York, NY

Vilma Manalo Gorre, Advisor Patrick Purcell Raising Our Asian Rights Director of Special Projects University of Nevada UFCW Local 1500, New York Las Vegas, NV Jason Spoor, President New Jersey Northwest Suburban Teachers Union, Rev. Rusty Eidmann-Hicks, Pastor IFT-AFT Local 1211, New York Rev. Adam Tietje, Associate Minister Holmdel United Church of Christ Ramon Mappala, Spokesperson Holmdel, NJ New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines Adam D. Diaz, Executive Director New York, NY Lakas Diwa-Filipino Community Alliance of New Jersey Rev. Douglas P. Cunningham, Pastor Jersey City, NJ New Day United Methodist Church Bronx, NY Rev. Dr. Elizabeth S. Tapia, Director Center for study of Christianities in Dr. Lourdes Beneria Global Contexts Professor of Urban Studies Drew University Theological School Cornell University Madison, NJ Ithaca, NY

Rev. Dion R. Tanion, Pastor Rev. Dr. Lester Edwin J. Ruiz Rev. Gil Panganiban, Co-Pastor Former Academic Dean Asian American Ecumenical Church New York Theological Seminary United Church of Christ New York, NY Cresskill, NJ Rev. Mieke Vandersall, Director New Mexico Presbyterian Welcome Rev. Tura Hayes, retired New York, NY Presbyterian Church USA Farmington, NM Rev. James K. Law, Pastor Chinese United Methodist Church Cam Duncan, Instructor Chinatown, NY National Labor College, NM Rev. Judy Stevens, PhD, Pastor New York St. Paul's United Methodist Church Rev. Earl Arnold, Stated Clerk Staten Island, NY Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse Syracuse, NY

Rev. Charles H. Straut, Jr. Ohio Consultant in Ministry Sr. Rose H. Kern Brooklyn, NY HandCrafting Justice, Columbus Columbus, OH Rev. Laurel Nelson, Pastor First Presbyterian Church Oregon Chair of Mission & Advocacy Rev. Henry DeGraaff, Co-founder Committee Christian Urgent Action Network El Presbytery of Genesee Valley Salvador Wyoming, NY Jacksonville, OR

Rev. Lucy E. Jones, Pastor Pennsylvania Reservoir United Methodist Church Rev. David D. Tietje, Senior Pastor Shokan, NY St. John’s United Church of Christ Red Lion, PA Rev. Gordon V. Webster, Co-Pastor Downtown United Presbyterian Church Dr. Steven Tuell Rochester, NY Associate Professor of Old Testament Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Rev. Garrett E. Anderson, Pastor Pittsburgh, PA Brick Presbyterian Church Perry, NY Rev. Dr. Julia Sheetz-Willard Administrative Coordinator Rev. Eileen Weglarz, Rector Dialogue Institute and Journal of St. Mark's Episcopal Church Ecumenical Studies Mount Kisco, NY Temple University Philadelphia, PA North Carolina Rev. Laura Spangler, Pastor Rev. Bruce Gascoine, Associate Pastor Lloyd Presbyterian Church St. Paul's United Methodist Church Winston-Salem, NC Allison Park, PA

Rev. Dr. Douglas Wingeier, Pastor Rhode Island First Congregational United Church of Rev. Jovelino Ramos, retired Christ Presbyterian Church USA Asheville, NC Cranston, RI

Rev. Drew Henderson, Associate Pastor South Carolina Covenant Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. Phillip Baker Charlotte, NC Professor of Missiology and Evangelism Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary Rev. Dr. Rebecca Todd Peters Columbia, SC Assistant Professor, Religious Studies Elon University Tennessee Elon, NC Eugene TeSelle, Professor Emeritus, Vanderbilt University Divinity School, Nashville, TN

Texas Steve Watrous, Represenative Rev. Levy Laguardia, Pastor SweatFree Communities Board Umphress Road United Methodist Church Milwaukee Clean Clothes Campaign of Dallas, TX Wisconsin

Rev. Salvador Ramirez, Jr. Pastor Shelley Lykset Houston Trinity United Methodist Church Student Pastor Houston, TX Ellsworth United Methodist Church Ellsworth, WI Virginia Hunter Mabry Augusta Coalition for Peace and Justice Waynesboro, VA

Arnedo S. Valera, Esq. Executive Director Migrant Heritage Commission Arlington, VA

Joanna Quiambao, Southeast Coordinator Sandiwa-National Alliance of Filipino American Youth Woodbridge, VA

Washington Theodore E. Smith, Elder Wedgwood Presbyterian Church Seattle, WA

Ronald Antonio, Chairperson Arts Kollective Organizing Committee Seattle, WA

Beth A. Manger Peace and Justice Committee Wedgwood Presbyterian Church Seattle, WA

Aileen Pruiksma Pacific Islander and Asian American Ministries United Church of Christ Seattle, WA

Wisconsin Rev. Dr. Darrel Robertson, Pastor Presbyterian-Congregational Church Ashland, WI