A Party for Rev. Barbara Dua

Rev. Barbara Dua is retiring as director of the New Mexico Conference of Churches after many years leading that great ecumenical organization. 

Please join the New Mexico Conference of Churches in a Thanksgiving Reception for Barbara's Ministry on Sunday, November 15, at Monte Vista Christian Church, 3501 Campus Blvd. NE, 3:00-5:00 p.m.

There will be a basket at the reception for you to drop a letter or a card expressing your appreciation to Barbara for her service to our community. And if you cannot attend and still want to honor Barbara, send your card/letter to The New Mexico Conference of Churches, P.O. Box 606, Bernalillo, N.M. 87004-0606.  (By the way, Babara is on Facebook, in case you want to communicate with her that way).

I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the times when Barbara collaborated with Bread for the World.  In particular, I would like to highlight our local celebration of Bread for the World's 30th anniversary. Barbara, Rev. Julian Phillips and the NMCC helped us put together a very successful event, which featured keynote speaker Father Bill Byron ( who collaborated with Art Simon in the founding of Bread for the World) and Rev. Jim McDonald, Bread for the World's vice president of policy and programs.

It was great to hear the national VIPs discuss the history of our organization and our letter writing campaign for that year, which was entitled  Elections Matter: Vote to End Hunger.  

But it was just as good to hear Barbara's reflection on a related campaign promoted by the National Council of Churches and the New Mexico Conference of Churches entitled, Faith and Community Voices Against Poverty: Let Justice Roll. This is the leading national faith, community, labor and business coalition committed to raising the minimum wage to a living wage at the state and federal level.

Barbara has long been an advocate of economic justice. And even though she won't be at the forefront of this effort through the NMCC, I'm sure she will be doing what she can in the background.  

But for now, that goes in the "To Do" basket.  Our task at hand right now is to celebrate with Barbara on Nov. 15.  And please don't bring a gift.  Barbara requests that in lieu of presents that you make a donation to The Storehouse.