Interfaith webinar to shed light on Cuba’s humanitarian crisis and provide advocacy opportunities

Topic mirrors recent action by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly calling for change in U.S. policy toward the island nation

by Darla Carter | Presbyterian News Service

Easing Cuba’s ongoing humanitarian crisis will be the subject of Tuesday’s interfaith webinar. (Photo by Erin Dunigan)

LOUISVILLE — An interfaith webinar will be held on Tuesday, July 23, to highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Cuba, where economic restrictions continue to hinder the ability of the people to get necessities, such as food and water.

The noon Eastern Time webinar, featuring four main speakers, is being coordinated by the Faith Cuba Working Group, a coalition of denominations and faith-based organizations, including the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), that’s working to change U.S. policy toward Cuba.

“Cuba is at a difficult crossroads and facing an unprecedented political, social and economic crisis, affecting the daily lives and survival of everyday people on the island,” according to the working group, which is part of the Washington Interfaith Staff Community. “Our Cuban church partners are urgently asking for U.S. Christians to advocate for an easing of U.S. economic restrictions and a change in U.S. policy to relieve the suffering of the Cuban people, help them to prosper in their own country, and include them fully in the family of nations.”

The following speakers are scheduled to be part of the webinar:

• U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, the co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
• Dr. William LeoGrande, a government professor at American University in Washington, D.C., and former Dean of the university’s School of Public Affairs.
• The Rev. Carlos Ham, former president of the Caribbean Conference of Churches and past president of the Matanzas Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cuba.
• The Rev. Dr. Russell Meyer, executive director of the Florida Council of Churches.

Catherine Gordon, Representative for International Issues for the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness, will be moderating the discussion.

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts is scheduled to participate in Tuesday’s interfaith webinar.

Viewers will come away with a deeper understanding of Cuba’s ongoing crisis, explore evolving challenges and opportunities for action and learn about the recent impacts of U.S. policy, according to the working group.

The webinar comes on the heels of a Commissioner’s Resolution that was approved by the 226^th General Assembly of the PC(USA) earlier this month. INT-08, also known as CR-05, urges PC(USA) agencies to find ways to “respond to the economic crisis that affects the people of Cuba and our siblings in the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba and to report their progress to the 227th General Assembly.”

The resolution also requests that the PC(USA)’s Stated Clerk declare a churchwide Sunday of Prayer for the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba, and for the U.S. government to remove Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.

Being placed on the list has “led to a dramatic deterioration in the quality of life for most Cubans,” placing a burden on average Cubans who faithfully serve and witness as members of the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba, according to the rationale for INT-08. Also, “growing economic pressures, including a collapsing monetary system, have led many people, especially trained professionals, to emigrate in recent years.”

Read more about the Commissioner’s Resolution and the work of the General Assembly’s International Engagement Committee here and here.

To register for the webinar, “Cuba’s Humanitarian Crisis: A Look at Current Challenges, U.S. Policy and Opportunities for Action,” go here.

The Presbyterian Office of Public Witness is one of the Compassion, Peace and Justice ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.