Gerry Anderson Receives
"Peacemaker of the Year" Award
by Bob Kinsey

The Peacemaker of the Year Award for 2008 goes to a man who has been a Peace and Justice fixture of the First United Church of Arvada for at least 30 years and before that labored in this field at 7th Avenue Congregational Church where he grew up. He was introduced to his wife Carolyn by Cliff Lewis, then minister of that church. Earlier, Cliff had been Carolyn’s pastor at Manitou Springs and hooked them up. This is important because behind every good male peacemaker is a loving, supportive and committed wife. Carolyn has been that person and we honor her for that as well as for her faithful service especially to First United Church’s educational ministry.

Gerald Anderson has been a member and often chairman of the Board of Mission and Service of the First United Church since joining the First United Church. He has been the prime mover in that church’s receiving of refugees from Poland, Laos, Sudan and Turkey. He has been not only prime mover but a man who took on the responsibility of personally helping these folks with their needs for long periods of time following their arrival.

Gerry, as he is known, has volunteered with the Arvada Food Bank, Arvada Resources for Mind and Spirit (ARMS) and the Denver Inner City Parish – all long term ecumenical commitments of his own church, working to create and sustain structures whereby all local churches could be faithful to the Gospel call to seek justice for the poor. These structures also keep the community aware of the presence and needs of the poor within our own affluent community.

He has kept the church engaged in Church World Service and Bread for the World as well as giving generously his personal resources to them, walking in CROP walks, and supporting the Jubilee 3rd World Debt Relief lobbying work of these organizations.

Largely through his faithful advocacy First United Church has been recognized as one of the 10 top UCC OGHS givers per capita in the nation. This OCWM giving supports the Peach and Justice work of our denomination at a national level. And Gerry has kept his church consistent in receiving the Just Peace Offering, seeing to it that the portion used by the local church is usefully engaged while sending on funds to the Conference Special Peace and Justice Fund. Just this year the offering was well over $500.

Lately Gerry has been involved in groups that work on unjust loan practices that take advantage of people who must borrow to make ends meet. He has also worked to create funds for business micro-loans to women around the world in poverty. Such business success enables these women to improve their standard of living, and empowers them within their family and community structures.

So often when there has been a peace march or vigil throughout his time, Gerry has been present and accounted for. In March he worked to organize at the Church a 5th anniversary candlelight vigil of our invasion of Iraq. The church signboard invited the neighborhood to it. He has been a part of the weekly anti-war vigils at 52nd and Wadsworth throughout those 5 years.

It is probably good that Gerry isn’t here (at the Annual Meeting) to be embarrassed by this award in front of so many. Public speaking hasn’t been his forte though when called upon he speaks up. Gerry’s lifetime work for Justice and Peace is his sermon – the old charge that we should always Preach the Gospel and only use words as a last resort fits his lay ministry. Gerry is a Peace Man who knows there cannot be real peace without justice for all.

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