The Rev. Chuck Currie

KPOJ Christmas Eve Morning Interview Podcast

The interview that I did this morning with KPOJ is now available online.

Click here and then download the podcast that reads:

KPOJ POJ-cast 7-8 am 12-24-08

Portland progressive activist Rev. Chuck Currie on the true meaning of Christmas, OR Congressman Peter DeFazio, and listener calls.

A Christmas Eve Podcast Message: Birth of a Kingdom

Use the below link to download the podcast of this message from Rev. Chuck Currie for your iPod or personal computer. 

Download DEC242008.m4a

(click with the RIGHT mouse button on the hyperlink and choose “Save Target As” and save to your desktop or other folder – once downloaded click on the file to listen).

Now On ITunes

You can now subscribe to Rev. Currie's podcasts on ITunes by clicking here.

You can download a PDF copy of this message by clicking here .

Christmas Eve Service Canceled Due To Winter Storm

Due to the on-going Winter Storm - now the biggest snow storm in the last 40 years - Parkrose Community United Church of Christ has been forced to cancel our Christmas Eve service scheduled for 7 pm.  Snow is falling again this morning and freezing rain is predicted again for later this afternoon.  Warmer weather is expected later in the week.  Our regular Sunday service will go forward as scheduled and will include Christmas carols and the Scripture readings that had been scheduled for our Christmas Eve service.

Today On Blue Oregon

The Meaning Of Christmas

Catch Me Wednesday Morning At 7AM On KPOJ

I'm scheduled to be a guest tomorrow morning (Wed, Dec. 24th) at 7 am on KPOJ's "The Morning Show."  If you're outside of Portland you can listen to the show via their website.

Oregon Veteran, Homeless, Dies In Eugene Snow

A man who froze to death in Eugene, Oregon this week was a United States veteran, according to KVAL (via KATU.com):

Thomas Lawrence Egan "was a decorated war veteran who earned a master's degree from the University of Oregon."

Word of Egan's death spread quickly throughout Lane County's community of veterans.  He was well known among veterans support circles.  He served two decades in the Army and Oregon Army National Guard, spent two years serving in Korea and earned several medals and ribbons for his service.

Bud Dickey, a Vocational Rehablitation Coordinator with Eugene's VA Clinic, says Egan's story is tragic. 

Dickey served alongside Egan for five years in the Oregon National Guard.  He calls Egan " a good person who fell on bad times."

"There were several different times when people tried to help him and for certain times, he was OK," said Dickey.  "For whatever reasons, he couldn't stay on track and chose to continue to drink."

Addiction, of course, is a disease. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans reports:

In addition to the complex set of factors affecting all homelessness -- extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable income, and access to health care -- a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse, compounded by a lack of family and social support networks.

KVAL notes in their story that Egan had been awarded:

Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters 

National Defense Service Medal

Humanitarian Service Medal 

Armed Forces Reserve Medal 

Army Service Ribbon

Overseas Service Ribbon 

Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon 

Oregon Faithful Service Ribbon with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Connecticut Recruit-badge

No Worship Today at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ

The snow and ice forced us to cancel worship today at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ.  This is clearly the worst winter weather the Portland area has had in sometime.  Folks in the Midwest or northeast wouldn't be fazed this storm (it would seem modest to many) but Portland doesn't get weather like this often so we obviously don't invest in the kind of equipment or manpower needed to clear the roads.  When it snows like this in the Rose City the police order chains to be out on all cars and request that citizens simply stay home. 

(A photo of our house taken after dark last night)

Here's hoping it warms up before Christmas Eve!

Hazel and I this morning at Grant Park.

Catch Me at 1:10 PM (Pacific) On Chicago's WVON

I'm scheduled to be a guest on WVON's "The Cliff Kelley Show" at 1:10 pm Pacific (3:10 PM Chicago) to talk about the Rick Warren controversy. 

Rick Warren Wrong Voice For Inauguration

I am deeply troubled that President-elect Obama has invited Rick Warren to offer the invocation at the inauguration.  Warren stands opposed to the progressive agenda and to many of the core values that Barack Obama campaigned on.  The symbolism of offering such as prodigious place in history to a figure such as Warren is upsetting. 

What is Warren's record?  People for the American Way reports:

As we've pointed out several times before, in 2004 Warren declared that marriage, reproductive choice, and stem cell research were "non-negotiable" issues for Christian voters and has admitted that the main difference between himself and James Dobson is a matter of tone.  He criticized Obama's answers at the Faith Forum he hosted before the election and vowed to continue to pressure him to change his views on the issue of reproductive choice.  He came out strongly in support of Prop 8, saying "there is no need to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2 percent of our population ... This is not a political issue -- it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about." He's declared that those who do not believe in God should not be allowed to hold public office.

Warren is a good spokesman for the Religious Right but does not represent mainstream Christianity.

Update:  I'm delighted, however, to learn that The Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery will provide the benediction.  Rev. Lowery is an American hero whose ministry of tolerance and justice stands in stark contrast to those who have used religion as a tool to divide Americans.

Update:  The Huffington Post has picked up the story...

On Wednesday, the transition team announced that Rick Warren, pastor of the powerful Saddleback Church, would give the invocation on January 20th. The selection may not have been incredibly surprising. Obama and Warren are reportedly close -- Obama praised the Megachurch leader in his second book "The Audacity of Hope." Warren, meanwhile, hosted a values forum between Obama and McCain during the general election. Nevertheless, the announcement is being greeted with deep skepticism in progressive religious and political circles.

"My blood pressure is really high right now," said Rev. Chuck Currie, minister at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ in Portland, Oregon. "Rick Warren does some really good stuff and there are some areas that I have admired his ability to build bridges between evangelicals and mainline religious and political figures... but he is also very established in the religious right and his position on social issues like gay rights, stem cell research and women's rights are all out of the mainstream and are very much opposed to the progressive agenda that Obama ran on. I think that he is very much the wrong person to put on the stage with the president that day."

Click here to read the full article.   

Weekly Podcast From Parkrose Community United Church of Christ For Dec. 17, 2008

Use the below link to download the podcast of this message from Rev. Chuck Currie for your iPod or personal computer. 

Download DEC172008.m4a

(click with the RIGHT mouse button on the hyperlink and choose “Save Target As” and save to your desktop or other folder – once downloaded click on the file to listen).

Now On ITunes

You can now subscribe to Rev. Currie's podcasts on ITunes by clicking here.

Cold Weather Means Help Needed In Portland

If you have clothing donations (or cash donations for that matter) for those doing without consider getting in touch with Snow-Cap, Transition Projects, Outside In or the Goose Hollow Family Shelter.  These agencies need your help.  The cold weather reminds us of year-round problems.

Photos of the 12/14/08 Portland Snow Storm

Parkrose Community United Church of Christ

Katherine and Frances

Hazel

I'd been hoping against hope all week that it wouldn't snow today.  We had our all-church Christmas Pageant scheduled for this morning.  When I first woke-up it looked like we'd have a green light.  But it became clear as I drove up Sandy Blvd towards the church there were going to be problems.  Cars were sliding all over the place and soon my iPhone started ringing with messages from parishioners stuck at home or on one of the freeways.  Only about 25 people showed up for worship and most of the pageant participants were among the missing.  We made the best of it and sang Christmas carols before I offered a short Communion service.  Then it was back into the car where at one point I flew through a stop sign before landing safely at home with the twins.  We made another short trip out to a birthday party the girls were set on attending (Liz put chains on the car before we left) and then I took Hazel to the park.  Now we're just going to settle in for the big freeze.

 

Letter To Portland City Council Regarding Anti-Camping Ordinance

Dear members of the Portland City Council:

The Oregon Law Center has filed suit in federal court arguing that the city of Portland's anti-camping ordinance is unconstitutional.

As you know, the ordinance has been used to cite, fine and arrest people who are experiencing homelessness in our community even when emergency shelter is not available to everyone who might seek it.

I want to take a moment to reaffirm my personal opposition to the anti-camping ordinance. The ordinance was enacted to target people based simply on their economic and housing status. Sadly, it has been used to "clean-up" Portland's image – to in affect hide the problem of homelessness – during the Rose Festival and other public times. The Oregon Law Center has no doubt made good legal arguments against this ordinance. What I hope the Portland City Council continues to wrestle with is the moral implications of the issue.

The current members of the council deserve praise for working diligently to reduce homelessness in our city. Portland has made progress during difficult times. Hundreds if not thousands of people have moved from homelessness into housing. As Mayor Potter prepares to leave office I want to especially thank him for his leadership on these issues. I'm confident that Mayor Adams, working with Commissioner Fish and others, will make more head way.

Despite our common efforts we all know that homelessness has increased, not decreased, and that over time homelessness has become a problem not faced by alcoholics and drug addicts alone but also by families and veterans. All of these people regardless of circumstance deserve our help. No one should live a third world life in a first world nation.

I have worked for over twenty years in opposition to the anti-camping ordinance because to arrest people under such circumstances violates the civil rights of people who are homeless, because the ordinance is unethical, and because I know we can do better as a community.

Sincerely, The Rev. Chuck Currie

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

We got our tree yesterday from friends Bill and Caroloe.  They run the Wild Goose Christmas Tree Farm - which has a U-Cut for the first time - in North Plains, Oregon. 

Senate Republicans Drive Knife Into U.S. Economy

Senate Republicans today killed the bailout of the U.S. auto industry.  That means more Americans will be out of work in an economy already spiraling out of control.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said this in a statement:

Washington, D.C -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement tonight after Senate Republicans blocked passage of bipartisan legislation to provide short-term, temporary loans to American automakers:

“The House-passed bipartisan legislation protects taxpayers, preserves environmental standards and places tough accountability measures on the auto companies to help ensure their long term viability and competitiveness. The House-passed bill demanded deep concessions from all parties -- the executives, shareholders and the union.

“Senate Republicans’ refusal to support the bipartisan legislation passed by the House and negotiated in good faith with the White House, the Senate and the automakers is irresponsible, especially at a time of economic hardship. The consequences of the Senate Republicans’ failure to act could be devastating to our economy, detrimental to workers, and destructive to the American automobile industry unless the President immediately directs Secretary Paulson to explore other short-term financial assistance options, including TARP and those available to the Federal Reserve. That is the only viable option available at this time.”

Republicans in the senate wanted to cut wages further for auto workers.  Their reasoning is maddening. 

Watch the Dow take another dive tomorrow.  A lot of elderly, middle class and fixed income Americans have modest investments in the market.  They need the extra income to just get by. 

I'm not a big fan of the U.S. auto industry but our nation cannot afford for these companies to go under.     

Susan Thistlethwaite Podcast Interview

Check out this interview with UCC professor / writer / activist Susan Thistlethwaite.

Weekly Podcast From Parkrose Community United Church of Christ For Dec. 10, 2008

Use the below link to download the podcast of this message from Rev. Chuck Currie for your iPod or personal computer.

Download WEDDEC102008.m4a

(click with the RIGHT mouse button on the hyperlink and choose “Save Target As” and save to your desktop or other folder – once downloaded click on the file to listen).

Now On ITunes

You can now subscribe to Rev. Currie's podcasts on ITunes by clicking here.

Christmas Eve In Portland

It’s Christmas Eve in Portland.

And you’re invited.

Parkrose Community United Church of Christ

105th and NE Wygant (just off Sandy Blvd.)

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

7 pm

The Rev. Chuck Currie, preaching

No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome at  Parkrose Community United Church of Christ.

Call 503-253-5457 or visit www.parkroseucc.org for additional information

Is Chuck Currie a useful idiot in the hands of Satan?

Is Chuck Currie a useful idiot in the hands of Satan?

That's what Portland mega-church pastor Gregg Harris sugguested in the comment section of this recent Willamette Week article.

Harris is the pastor of Household of Faith Community Church, a congregation that works to limit civil rights for women and gay and lesbians in the name of the Gospel.

As you might imagine, I find fault with his theology.   

A Model For President Bush To Follow

W, meet Jimmy.

Clean Coal Doesn't Exisit

We keep hearing about "clean coal" as a viable solution to American's environment crisis.  The problem is that it doesn't exisit.

Listen to the 12/04/08 NPR story.

Weekly Podcast From Parkrose Community United Church of Christ For Dec. 3, 2008

Use the below link to download the podcast of this message from Rev. Chuck Currie your iPod or personal computer.

Download WEDDEC032008.m4a

(click with the RIGHT mouse button on the hyperlink and choose “Save Target As” and save to your desktop or other folder – once downloaded click on the file to listen).

Now On ITunes

You can now subscribe to Rev. Currie's podcasts on ITunes by clicking here.

Odetta Dies at 77

Her voice was an accompaniment to the black-and-white images of the freedom marchers who walked the roads of Alabama and Mississippi and the boulevards of Washington in quest of an end to racial discrimination.

Rosa Parks, the woman who started the boycott of segregated buses in Montgomery, Ala., was once asked which songs meant the most to her. She replied, “All of the songs Odetta sings.”

Odetta, Voice of Civil Rights Movement, Dies at 77

Goodbye, Mr. President from Steven Curtis Chapman

I'm betting this song won't make the top 20.

Goodbye, Mr. President

Maybe it will do well with the bottom 30.

via Blake C Hickman

UCC minister offers to die for Troy Davis, death row inmate

United Church News has this remarkable story:

The peaceful tone of the Rev. Marvin Morgan's voice belies the passion of his message: It's time to get "personal" in eliminating the death penalty. Morgan's willingness to take the place of Troy Davis on death row in Georgia appears to be the ultimate gesture.

"If each of us were to be placed in shackles and led to the execution chambers, knowing we are innocent...try to imagine what that must be like," says Morgan, minister of pastoral care and counseling at First Congregational UCC in Atlanta.

On Sept. 22, Morgan and Davis' friend, Steve Woodall, hand-delivered to the office of Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue a letter requesting that Davis' execution be prevented. "If you are not willing to do so," Morgan wrote, "I, Marvin L. Morgan, do hereby request that you (the State of Georgia) take my life instead of that of Troy Davis, and allow Troy to be set free. I am available immediately to be taken into custody so that this request may be carried forward."

The case has drawn world-wide attention - with voices such as Archbishop Tutu and others calling for Mr. Davis to be removed from Death Row. 

Amnesty International reported in 2007:

Troy Anthony Davis has been on death row in Georgia for more than 15 years for the murder of a police officer he maintains he did not commit. Given that all but three of the witnesses who testified against Troy Davis at his trial have since recanted or contradicted their testimony amidst allegations that some of it had been made under police duress, there are serious and as yet unanswered questions surrounding the reliability of his conviction and the state’s conduct in obtaining it. As the case currently stands, the government’s pursuit of the death penalty contravenes international safeguards which prohibit the execution of anyone whose guilt is not based on “clear and convincing evidence leaving no room for an alternative explanation of the facts”.

Amnesty International does not know if Troy Davis is guilty or innocent of the crime for which he is facing execution. As an abolitionist organization, it opposes his death sentence either way. It nevertheless believes that this is one in a long line of cases in the USA that should give even ardent supporters of the death penalty pause for thought. For it provides further evidence of the danger, inherent in the death penalty, of irrevocable error. As the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court wrote in 1993, “It is an unalterable fact that our judicial system, like the human beings who administer it, is fallible. Or as a US federal judge said in 2006, “The assessment of the death penalty, however well designed the system for doing so, remains a human endeavour with a consequent risk of error that may not be remediable.”

A new hearing has been set for November 9.

Please keep all those involved in your prayers.