Gail Phares to receive Faith Active in Public Life Award

Each time the Council holds its bi-annual Legislative Seminar, we honor those whose public lives reflect their faith commitments. The Faith Active in Public Life Award calls attention to someone whose faith permeates every aspect of life, private and public in ways that honor the justice claims that undergird our faith traditions. Gail Phares has done this through her lifelong work with Witness for Peace. Traveling in 1982 to Nicaragua with a group known as the Carolina Interfaith Task Force on Central America (CITCA), Gail later helped this group form Witness for Peace, the longest known non-violent presence in an active war zone in history. Among others joining Gail in the quest to tell the truth about U.S. government funding for the wars in Central America, was Sister Evelyn Mattern of Council fame.

For over 30 years Gail has continued to lead truth seeking delegations to Nicaragua, as well as Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, Cuba, Mexico and Colombia. Witness for Peace remains dedicated to its founding vision and mission of changing the U.S. policies and corporate practices that contribute to poverty and oppression in the Americas.

As the debate continues about border walls and immigration, we should recognize the connection between those events brought to light by Gail  and others 30 years ago and the refugees seeking shelter today. Gail Phares knows this truth. We celebrate her lifelong Witness for Peace and give thanks for her Faith Active in Public Life.

Please join us in celebrating Gail on Thursday, March 28 at North Raleigh United Methodist Church during our Legislative Seminar. Registration information can be found here.