GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — When the Rev. Mike Burr was told he was being considered named “Person of the Year” by the Western Colorado Atheists and Freethinkers, the group asked if it would be “detrimental” to his church, said Burr, with a chuckle.

He replied, “no,” that he wasn't afraid of any backlash.

“Our congregation is very open,” said Burr, pastor of Koinonia Church in Grand Junction.

“In many ways we (Koinonia and the atheists and freethinkers) share a common ethic — ‘seek the truth and it will set you free.'”

Burr was invited to speak to the group a couple of months ago about the relationship between science and religion.

“I have no difficulty with scientific truth. Truth is truth,” Burr said.

Take the issue of evolution, for example.

“It's a description of the way things happened. It in no way denies the holiness of creation,” Burr said.

Burr has been a pastor for 35 years, most of that time in the Northwest. He came to Grand Junction in 2004 to shepherd Koinonia at 730 25 Road, a congregation aligned with American Baptist Churches of USA and Church of the Brethren.

Koinonia is a Greek word, meaning “fellowship” or “gathering.”

The Atheists and Freethinkers group presented Burr with the Person of the Year award at their monthly meeting Sunday at Mesa Mall's Community Room.

Burr was unanimously chosen for his work with peace and social/environmental justice issues; his leadership in advocating for the poor, disadvantaged and exploited; his advocacy of separation of church and state; his opposition to recent wars waged by the United States; and his opposition to anti-Muslim views and actions.

“I've been a staunch advocate of separation of church and state all my life,” Burr said.

So when the atheists and freethinkers group clashed with city and county officials a couple of years ago regarding the issue of prayer at public meetings, Burr defended the group's position.

“We're very supportive of the atheists' stand on that government has no place establishing any kind of religious observance,” Burr said

Church of the Brethren has always had a strong peace emphasis, much like the Quakers, and the Mennonites, he said.

Burr has stood on corners protesting the Iraq war; he's spoken out against military recruiting in high schools; and members of his congregation travel to El Salvador each summer to build schools in areas ravaged by the years-long civil war that took place there.

“He's a very fine human being,” former WCAF president Earle Mullen said. “He has a long history of service in this community and other places.”

Choosing a church pastor is not necessarily an ironic choice for the group.

A number of people belonging to the atheists and freethinkers group attend church, Mullen said.

“Freethinkers doesn't mean atheists or anti-religious,” he said. “There are a range of views in our organization, and we don't ask. We're broad-minded and open.

“We don't proselytize.”

Koinonia is a progressive congregation that considers itself “spiritual, but not religious,” Burr said.

He interchanges the word “God” with other terms like “ultimate reality.”

“I try and find non-religious language to express what's being talked about...the ultimate wholeness that's more mystery than known; that of which we're a part of but is beyond comprehension or understanding,” Burr said.

He recently completed a mediation training in Denver. One of his goals, he said, is to train others in conflict resolution.

“Anytime you have people working or living together you're likely to have misunderstandings, conflicts,” Burr said. “There are proven ways to do healings, resolve conflicts and work effectively together. It's kind of a theme in a lot of the work that I do, wanting organizations and individuals to be the best they can be — overcoming conflict without being destructive or running away.”