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Faith Action Network dinner presents awards

FANWA dinner November 10, Renton and Spokane

The Rev. Priscilla Paris-Austin will be the keynote speaker at the Faith Action Network of Washington’s Annual Dinner on Sunday, Nov. 10 in Renton, with a livestream to Spokane.

The Spokane dinner will be held from 4:30 to 8 p.m., at the Glover Mansion, 321 W. 8th Ave.

FAN will celebrate accomplishments in the past year and gather inspiration to “Raise Our Voices” for justice in 2020.

Spokane FAN Board member Jim CastroLang, pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Colville, will present annual awards to advocacy leaders and invite donations to support FAN’s work for inclusion, racial equity and justice. Two Eastern Washington justice initiatives will be recognized in Spokane.

• The Interfaith Leadership Award will be presented to Gen Heywood, pastor of Veradale United Church of Christ, on behalf of Faith Leaders and Leaders of Conscience who put interfaith values into action at Truthful Tuesday vigils in the Spokane Valley and who witness against white supremacy.

• A Justice Leadership award will go to the Yakima Immigration Response Network (YIRN), a group of volunteers supporting immigrant communities in the Yakima Valley since 2017. It is involved in efforts to support immigrant communities by bearing witness to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) flights sometimes twice a week. They have been a supportive presence to immigrants in shackles during more than 35 ICE flights at the Yakima airport, transferring more than 2,700 immigrants from or to the ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, or to deportation.

“It’s important for us to feel solidarity and support for organizing and advocacy across the state,” said Jim.

Spokane contributions will help FAN meet a $30,000 match from Rick Steves, travel guru, who will announce the awards in Renton.

Elise Gooyer, co-director of FAN said: “Our communities are called to work in new ways for social change through education, action, and policy changes like reparations. We are mindful of the 400th anniversary of slavery and African American history, as well as of the crisis and suffering at the U.S. border.

“We have experienced unparalleled wins at the state level, with FAN participating in the success of more than 40 bills in the 2019 legislative session. At the dinner, we will gather strength for the work ahead in 2020,” Elise said.

Priscilla is pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church (ELCA) in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle. Her congregation is Reconciling in Christ, Open and Affirming, and on a journey to be anti-racist. The church is also living into being a sanctuary church for all.

FAN chose Priscilla to speak because of her work locally and nationally to address racial equity and white supremacy in religious institutions and society.

For information, call 206-625-9790 or email fan@fanwa.org.