tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90648519311374987582012-02-16T20:04:26.207-08:00Ken Brooker Langstonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064851931137498758.post-47849110470672519592009-03-24T18:58:00.000-07:002009-03-31T20:03:21.501-07:00<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">March 24, 2009</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Dear Representative:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">We write as Christian communions, their agencies, and ecumenical organizations in the United States to urge you to co-sponsor legislation that would end the ban on travel to Cuba (H.R. 874). </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">For decades the U.S. policy toward Cuba has had adverse consequences for the Cuban people</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> and violated important freedoms of U.S. citizens. It has failed in its stated objective to bring about change in the Cuban political system. The hostility between the two governments has harmed relationships between our two peoples, including among people of faith. This has impoverished</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> our knowledge of each other as people, denied the mutual benefits that full and free travel and exchange can bring, and disrupted the close historical bonds between our churches. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">As churches and religious institutions with a long history of missionary and humanitarian activity in the nation of Cuba, we have keenly experienced the impact of the travel ban. U.S. churches, mission agencies and ecumenical organizations at the national and regional levels have suffered from the restrictions, which have reduced their ability to send religious delegations to Cuba and limited opportunities to accompany and support Cuban church partners.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Cuban churches are growing rapidly, presenting new opportunities for U.S. churches and ecumenical institutions to relate to and support their Cuban brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a critical time to open wide the doors to allow greater people-to-people engagement of all kinds and at all levels between the two countries. We must not miss this opportunity.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">We believe that now is the time to reform U.S. policy toward Cuba in ways that benefit all the people of Cuba and the United States. We urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 874 to end the travel ban, a vital step in achieving a sounder policy toward Cuba.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Yours sincerely,</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">African Methodist Episcopal Church</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Alliance of Baptists</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">American Baptist Churches of the U.S.A.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">American Baptist Churches International Ministries</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada, Office of the General Minister and President</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Christian Reformed Church in North America</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Church of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Church World Service</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><br />The Episcopal Church</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Mennonite Central Committee U.S.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Presbyterian Church (USA), Washington Office</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Progressive National Baptist Convention</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9064851931137498758-4784911047067251959?l=newblog4whatever.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ken Brooker Langstonnoreply@blogger.com0