Springs Activist Wins Peacemaker Award
By Kate Goodspeed
Dennis Apuan, peace and justice activist from First Congregational
United Church pf Christ in Colorado Springs, was awarded the 2005
Peacemaker Award. This award is given to a local church activist
in the Rocky Mountain Conference, UCC, and the selection is done
by past awardees.
Apuan is not only fully active with the Justice and Peace Committee
of First Congregational Church, but also directs the Dynamic Peacemaking
Program at the Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission. The program
encompasses all of the organization’s peace and justice activism
and advocacy work.
In a recent report, Apuan wrote:
“The Dynamic Peacemaking Program
is at the heart of democratic principles and is central to a
healthy world. Part of the dynamic
peacemaking includes community organizing around issues of local,
national, and global concern: educational forums to raise public
awareness of social issues and public policy: rallies, demonstrations,
and nonviolent radical resistance. Through consciousness-raising,
open dialogue, and nonviolent communication, we bridge racial and
cultural divisions in our community. We advocate peaceful conflict
resolution. Our lives are examples of peace.”
Apuan’s nomination form lists four
pages of achievements as a peacemaker, including counter-recruitment
organizing, film
festivals, rallies and demonstrations against the war, and numerous
educational forums and workshops.
“
Through these events and more, Dennis Apuan has consistently provided
courageous, loving, committed, and professional leadership and
inspiration that epitomizes the ‘Courage in the struggle
for Justice and Peace.’ Dennis presents and integrates the
United Church of Christ’s witness for Peace and Justice whether
chairing Justice and Peace Ministry meetings, speaking from a dais,
composing petitions and proposals, organizing and coordinating
major events in which the whole community can participate, risking
arrest in civil disobedience, addressing globalization in Jamaica,
producing educational materials, facilitating teach-ins, rallies,
vigils, and other educational and inspirational events for our
church… writing liturgy for a quiet peace meditation, or
standing for children on the steps of City Hall or in the streets
of Palestine, Dennis has led by example and demonstrated bold,
loving, and effective peacemaking, truly inspiring for us all.”
Apuan’s acceptance speech at RMC’s annual meeting in
Grand Junction was inspiring and moved the gathered crowd to a
standing ovation. Peace and justice making in Colorado Springs
is not a comfortable task, and we in the Rocky Mountain Conference
are proud to have such a gracious and able peacemaker in our midst.
Congratulations Dennis Apuan!
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