Iliff Alumni E-News

July 2016

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Hope, Persistence Through Struggle: Social Advocates, Dan and Beth Whittemore

Photo by Dan Whittemore, MTS '07, from 2015 Parliament of World Religions

When Dan and Beth Whittemore returned from the 2015 Parliament of World Religions last year, they were both inspired and tired. They had a vision of what social justice through the collaboration of religious people could look like. They also knew there was still much more work to be done to move the people of their denomination, Community of Christ, to stand on the side of justice for Indigenous Peoples.

It's not news when we hear about social justice advocates becoming weary and discouraged. They are the world's preachers who spend a lot of time proclaiming without receiving a response. They spend endless hours marching, protesting, and lobbying for dreams that may never be realized in their life time. This story is news because Dan and Beth Whittemore, two advocates we interviewed in our Alumni ENews, March 2016 edition , found courage and tenacity in the face of the seeming hopelessness of their call to action.

When Dan, MTS '07, took a class with Dr. Tink Tinker he learned about the Doctrine of Discovery and its devastating impact on Indigenous Peoples. Both Dan and Beth were changed by this information. For four long years, they strove to convince their Community of Christ denomination to renounce the Doctrine of Discovery and to support The United Nations' Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

I am happy to report that in June, their Doctrine of Discovery resolution was adopted by the Community of Christ World Conference in June. Read the resolution, supporting documents, and resources they used to lobby the 3,000 delegates here.

Thank you, Beth and Dan.

GRATITUDE 53 Weeks of Abundant Gratitude

As part of our expressions of gratitude, we are focusing on one segment of the Iliff community each month. In July, we are appreciating the President's Office .

"Thank you, Lord, for all your blessings."

Offered by

Cesar Mauricio Duran Gonzalez, MDiv '14

Latino Chaplain of Colorado Rapids, CrossTraining

Hispanic Ministry Coordinator, General Board of Global Ministries

Hispanic Ministry Coordinator, Rocky Mountain Conference of The United Methodist Church

Denver, Colorado

JUNE EVENTS See what you might have missed

Click here to see photos from our 2016 Commencement ceremony.

There were many ordination ceremonies in June. If you were recently ordained, please send your ordination photos to cwarejoseph@iliff.edu. We would love to share them!