RELIGIOUS LEADERS STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF WORKERS RIGHTS Arise Chicago, established in 1991 by religious leaders, is an interfaith non-profit organization
dedicated to promoting economic and social justice in the workplace. All religious traditions believe in the rights of workers to have their dignity in the workplace. Drawing on our sacred Scriptures that proclaim that each person has been created in the image of God and therefore deserving of respect, we believe that all workers should be: Paid a living wage that allows them to meet the basic needs of their families. Provided with full healthcare benefits for them and their families. Employed by companies that abide by all applicable laws - including proper minimum wage and overtime payment. As stated by the law, able to freely join a collective bargaining unit without harassment, intimidation, or retaliation. Treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve.
Congregations listed for identification purposes only.
Rabbi Alison Abrams, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, Chicago Rev. Jose Acevedo, Jr. Church Monte De Zion, Chicago Rev. David K. Antieau, St. Nicolai United Church of Christ, Chicago Rabbi Batsheva Appel, KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation, Chicago Rev. Rufino Arce, Church Of God, Chicago Bro. Bede Baldry, DeLaSalle Christian Brothers, Chicago Rev. Thomas A. Barclay, Intl Presiding Elder, United Pentecostal Council, Assemblies of God Rev. Jesusa Barreto, Inglesia de cristo Misionera, Chicago Fr. Jim Barrett, St Margaret Mary Catholic Church, Chicago Rev. Bonnie Beckonchrist, First United Methodist Church, Arlington Heights Rev. Betty Jo Birkhahn-Rommelfanger, Church of the Incarnation, Arlington Heights Rev. Dr. Phil Blackwell, First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple, Chicago Fr. Charles Bolser, C.S.V., Saint Viator Catholic Church, Chicago Sr. Pat Borchardt, Congregations of St. Joseph, LaGrange Fr. Corey Brost, Clerics of St. Viator, Arlington Heights Rev. Dr. Norval I. Brown, Thornton United Methodist Church/Grace Church, Thornton Rev. Erik Christensen, St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Logan Square, Chicago Sr. Benita Coffey, Benedictine Sisters of Chicago, Chicago Rabbi Shoshanah Conover, Temple Sholom, Chicago Sr. Carol Cook, Sisters of Charity, Blessed Virgin Mary, Chicago Rev. Jason Coulter, Ravenswood United Church of Christ, Chicago Sr. Carol Crepeau, Congregations of St. Joseph, LaGrange Fr. Brendon Curran, O.P., St. Pius V Catholic Church, Chicago Fr. Charles Dahm, O. P., St Pius V Catholic Church, Chicago Rev. Dan Dale, Wellington Community Church, Chicago Rev. Lillian Daniel, First Congregational Church, Glen Ellyn Rev. Roger Dart, United Church of Christ, Lake Forest Cantor Michael Davis, Lakeside Congregation, Evanston Rev. Stanley Davis, Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago Bro. Halil Demir, Zakat Foundation, Bridgeview
Sr. Kathleen Desautels, Eighth Day Center for Justice, Chicago Rev. Richard Diaz, Higher Power Community Church, Chicago Fr. Larry Dowling, St. Agathas Catholic Church, Chicago Rabbi Ellen Dreyfus, B'nai Yehuda Beth Sholom, Homewood Rabbi Laurence Edwards, Congregation Or Chadash, Chicago Rabbi Bruce Elder, Congregation Hakafa, Winnetka Sr. Dorothy Gartland, Sisters of Providence, Chicago Sr. Joanne Gintre, Sisters of the Living Word, Arlington Heights Rev. Alejandro Gonzalez, Iglesia, Centro De Restauracion En Cristo, Aurora Bro. Michael Gosch, Viatorians, Chicago Rev. Dr. Larry L. Greenfield, American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago, Chicago Fr. Dominic J. Grassi, St. Gertrude Catholic Church, Chicago Sr. Jeanette Halbach, Our Lady of Victory Missionary, Chicago Fr. Daniel Hall, Clerics of St. Viator, Arlington Heights Bro. Gerald B. Hankerson, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Chicago Rev. Alice HarperJones, Kenwood United Church of Christ, Chicago Fr. Kurt Hartrich, O.F.M., St. Peter's Catholic Church, Chicago Rev. C. J. Hawking, Arise Chicago and Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church, Oak Park Rev. Isabelino Hernandez, Church of God, Chicago Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann, Mishkan Congregation, Chicago Fr. John Hoffman, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, La Grange Rev. Blair Ann Hull, Congregational Church, Deerfield Rev. Matthew Johnson, Holy Covenant United Methodist Church, Chicago Rev. Monte Johnson, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Chicago Rev. Robert Jones, Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago Fr. Tom Joyce, Claretians Missionary Fathers, Chicago Sr. Rose Ann Kaiser, Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, Chicago Rev. Fred Kinsey, Unity Lutheran Church, Chicago Sr. Martha Marie Kirbach, Dominican Sisters, Chicago Rev. Jonathan Knight, IL Conference of the United Church of Christ, Westchester Sr. Donna Kustusch, Dominican Sisters, Chicago Rev. Gregory Seal Livingston, Mission of Faith Baptist Church, Chicago Rev. Sherrie Lowly, Berry Memorial United Methodist Church, Chicago Rev. Tomas Lozada, Iglesia De Dios Fuente de Amor, Chicago Rev. Franciso Lozada, Iglesia De Dios Fuente de Amor, Chicago Cantor Arik Luck, Beth Emet: The Free Synagogue, Evanston Rev. Janet E. MacLean, Pilgrim Congregational Church, Oak Park Rev. Michael Mann, Northern Illinois Conference of United Methodist Church, Elgin Rev. Dr. Ben Manso, Prinera Iglesia Bautista Hispanic De Elgin, Elgin Rev. Claire Marich, First United Methodist Church, Downers Grove Sr. Mary Martin Colbert, School Sisters of Notre Dame, Homer Glen Sr. Barbara Mass, Sisters of the Living Word, Arlington Heights Rev. Lois McCullen Parr, Broadway United Methodist Church, Chicago Sr. Francesca McGarry, Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, Chicago Bro. Brian McLaughlin, SVD, Divine Word Missionaries, Chicago Rev. Kevin McLemore, Epiphany United Church of Christ, Chicago
Rabbi Rachel S. Mikva, Ph.D., Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago Rabbi Victor Mirelman, Rabbi Emeritus, West Suburban Temple Har Zion, River Forest Rev. Dr. Jorge L. Morales, Illinois Conference United Church of Christ, Westchester Rev. Mary Beth Moran Cross, Chicago Metro Assoc. of United Church of Christ, Westchester Rev. Richard Mosley, Jr., Hemenway United Methodist Church, Evanston Deacon Dennis Mudd, St Joseph Catholic Church, Libertyville Rev. Craig Mueller, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Chicago Rev. Liz Munoz, St. James Episcopal Cathedral, Chicago Rev. Luis Nater, El Sendero De Uerdad, Chicago Sr. Rose Therese Nolta, Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, Northfield Fr. Robert H. Oldershaw, St. Nicholas, Evanston Rev. Dr. James Olson, United Church of Christ, Chicago Rev. Bonnie Osei-Frimpong, Disciples of Christ, Chicago Fr. Tom Pelton, Maternity Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Chicago Rev. Dr. Rex E. Piercy, Congregational Church, Arlington Heights Rev. Jeffrey Phillips, St. John United Church of Christ, Arlington Heights Sr. Lisa Polega, Sisters of the Living Word, Chicago Msgr. Patrick J. Pollard, Notre Dame De Chicago Parish, Chicago Rev. Richard J. Prendergast, St. Jospahat Church, Chicago Rev. Luis P. Ramirez, Teeray Life Church, Chicago Rev. Freddy Ramos, Christian Family Church, Dimension De Gloria, Wheeling Sr. Rita Ramos, Sisters of the Living Word, Arlington Heights Rev. Rodney Reinhart, St. Clement's Epis, Harvey, St. Joseph/St. Aiadan's, Blue Island Rev. Leslie Ritter-Jenkins, First Congregational Church, La Grange Rev. Larry Roberts, Sr., Trinity All Nations, Chicago Sr. Helen Rodriguez-Marin, Julia Center, Chicago Rev. Erma Lou Roller, Northern IL Conference of the United Methodist Church, Downers Grove Rev. Fransico Rosario Igl. De Dio Pentecotol Mi. Monte Cormelo, Chicago Rabbi Brant Rosen, Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Evanston Rev. Dr. Paul Rutgers, President Emeritus, Presbytery of Chicago Sr. Joellen Sbrissa, Congregations of St. Joseph, LaGrange Park Sr. Marlene Schemmel, Congregations of St. Joseph, LaGrange Park Rev. Marti Scott, Euclid Ave. United Methodist Church, Oak Park Ms. Elena Segura, Office of Immigrant Affairs and Education, Archdiocese of Chicago Rabbi Isaac Serotta, Lakeside Congregation, Highland Park Fr. Michael Shanahan, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Chicago Rev. Stephen H. Swanson, St. Pauls Lutheran Church, Villa Park Sr. Rose Mary Sullivan, Congregation of Notre Dame, Chicago Sr. Brigid Tembo, Sisters of the Living Word, Arlington Heights Rev. John Thomas, Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago Fr. Raymond Tillrock, St. Barnabas, pastor emeritus, Chicago Fr. Jason Torba, Saint Ferdinand Catholic Church, Chicago Rev. Dr. Oscar L. Varnadoe III, Trinity United Church Of Christ, Gary Sr. Kristine Vorenkamp, Sisters of the Living Word, Arlington Heights Rabbi Michael Weinberg, Temple Beth Israel, Skokie Rabbi Max Weiss, Oak Park Temple, Oak Park
Rev. Warren Wiggins, United Church of Hinsdale, Hinsdale Rev. Dr. Eugene Winkler, United Methodist Church of Northern Illinois Conference, Naperville Rev. Dr. Janette C Wilson Esq, Rainbow PUSH, Chicago Rev. Wendy Witt, First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple, Chicago Rev. Sara Wohlleb, United Church of Christ of the Illinois Conference, Chicago Rev. Tim Yeager, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Chicago Rev. Moises Zamudio, Puerta Al Cielo, Chicago Rabbi Michael Zedek, Emanuel Congregation, Chicago Sr. Mary Ann Zrust, Sisters of the Living Word, Arlington Heights
Arise
Chicago
builds
partnerships
between
faith
communities
and
workers
to
fight
workplace
injustice
through
education
and
organizing
and
public
policy
changes.
www.arisechicago.org
