The Rev. Chuck Currie

Today We Lost Pat Williams

 

Photo: Pat Williams (in the blue and white shirt) talks with Mollie Copeland at an event in the Oregon State Capitol building in 2003.

Pat Williams died today.  She was a loving mother and grandmother.  To all of her friends she was a giving person who always wanted to help out and always brought a gift when she came over.  Pat worked with non-profits and the city before taking ill.  She was #1 on the list of people waiting for a kidney and liver transplant.  But that help didn't come in time.

We were on a plane today when she died and so I didn't get a chance to say a last good-bye.  The last time we talked was about a week before we left on our trip back to South Carolina.  She was in good spirits and hopeful that a transplant would occur soon.  Pat and our friend Eileen had made plans to visit my church this coming Sunday.  

Next week Pat's friends and family will gather and celebrate her life.  We'll share stories of Pat's adventures, her generous heart, and of the love that radiated from her.

In the meantime, I have a favor to ask.

Become an organ donor.  OrganDonor.gov reports:

Each day, about 77 people receive organ transplants. However, 19 people die each day waiting for transplants that can't take place because of the shortage of donated organs.

None of us ever knows what tomorrow will bring.  But we can do something to make sure that if our own life is cut short that others can still live.  Click here to learn more about becoming a donor. 

All of us that knew Pat Williams will miss her forever.    

Update:  Pat's memorial service will be held on Tuesday, June 16th at 3pm at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ.  Read the obituary from The Oregonian here.   

Wade Nkrumah, Former Adams Staffer, Sues City

Shortly after a scandal erupted in Portland over allegations that Mayor Sam Adams had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a teen his director of communications, Wade Nkrumah, resigned.  Adams told KATU that Nkrumah resigned because the job had been too stressful for Nkrumah but Willamatte Week reported shortly thereafter that Nkrumah had really resigned because he didn't believe Adams was being truthful.

Willamette Week now reports on a new development in the saga:

Wade Nkrumah, who resigned as Mayor Sam Adams’ spokesman in January, has filed a notice of tort claim (PDF) against the mayor and the City of Portland alleging Adams “damaged his business reputation” when he told KATU that Nkrumah resigned because the job was “not what he signed up for in terms of stress.” 

Nkrumah, a former long-time reporter for The Oregonian, is seeking more than $162,000 in his claim along with attorney’s fees.

The paperwork filed May 14 by Nkrumah’s attorney Michael Hanlon, puts the city on notice that Nkrumah intends to file a claim. In that notice, Nkrumah says he resigned from the spokesman’s job Jan. 26, telling Adams both in a letter and in person that the reason for the resignation was that the mayor had lied to him twice about Adams’ relationship with Beau Breedlove.

Nkrumah says the first lie came in the Jan. 15 interview WWhad with Adams in the presence of Nkrumah and Adams staffer Amy Ruiz when Adams denied any “sexual contact” or “sexual relationship of any kind” with Beau Breedlove.

Nkrumah says a second lie came in a meeting Adams had on Jan. 22attended by 20-plus staffers at the home of chief of staff Tom Miller. Nkrumah says he asked Adams at that meeting if there had been any “flirting” or “touching” before Breedlove turned 18.

“Adams answered unequivocally no,” Nkrumah says in the claim, noting that Adams’ answer was contradicted by subsequent news stories that quoted Breedlove saying he and the mayor had kissed twice when Breedlove was 17, once in a City Hall bathroom.

Nkrumah’s claim goes on to say that Adams was “extremely nervous” at his Jan. 26 meeting with him about what Nkrumah would say publicly about his resignation. Nkrumah says Miller and he agreed later that Nkrumah would respond to all inquiries about the resignation with a “no comment” and that Miller would say he does “not comment on personnel matters.”

While Nkrumah did not go public with his concerns he did meet with representatives of the Oregon Attorney General's office investigating Adam's relationship.

As a reporter for The Oregonian, Wade Nkrumah covered homelessness and neighborhood issues.  From the early 1990's until he left the paper for the mayor's office he was my central contact with the paper. We developed a professional relationship and a genuine friendship.  Friendships often develop between reporters and subjects / sources.  That friendship never meant that he wrote what I wanted.  In fact, he often ignored story ideas that I suggested and when I left Portland for St. Louis to attend seminary and he was assigned to write a profile of me he included negative comments on my work from then-Mayor Vera Katz and others.  Wade is a friend but first he is a professional.

And so when Adams made his comments about Nkrumah to KATU I knew right away that Adams was acting in a Nixon-like manner in an effort to discredit  his former staffer.  Adams just couldn't deal with the fact that he'd made the mistake of hiring someone with such solid ethics that he would quit his job during a difficult time to find work rather than continue working for someone who could never trust the people of Portland with the truth.  I didn't say anything at the time to defend Wade (besides leaving a message on his Facebook page) because I knew he didn't want to get dragged anymore than he already had into the Sam Adams mess.  But now that this information is public (Wade did not tell me about the lawsuit...I found out reading the WW website) I can testify to the honor and integrity of this man.  Portland could benefit from more people like Wade Nkrumah in the media and politics.    

"Dan Bravin Will Destroy Your Lawn and replace it with tasty vegetables"

It turns out that Portland City Hall's new vegetable garden is a Dan Bravin production.  Dan moved to Portland quite a while back now and we worked together with Burnside Advocates Group and other projects right when he arrived (though most of our time back then was spent with a pitcher of beer somewhere near-by).  Now Dan is the founder of Portland Organoponico Project - an effort to teach people how to grow their own food.  Willamette Week recently interviewed him for this terrific article.   

For Fans Of Jim Barlow

There's now a Facebook group.

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. 

The Rev. Dr. Andrew Weaver: Defender Of The Faith

The Rev. Dr. Andrew Weaver, a United Methodist minister and author, died last week.  Talk to Action has the story.  Andrew is perhaps best know for his work uncovering the connections between the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) and right-wing political figures and funding sources.  IRD often vilified Andrew for his work but his scholarship was solid and he brought to light IRD's attempts to undermine the mainline Christian prophetic voice.  Andrew's books on pastoral care belong in the library of every clergy person.

Andrew and I became friends because of this blog.  He made contact with me nearly five years ago and we've keep up a correspondence since then.  We met once in person and talked on the phone occasionally.  He was a strong supporter of this blog - sometimes commenting himself or sending along story ideas - and I'll miss him.  My prayers are with his family and friends.  One of the real gifts of the internet is that it has brought me into contact with people like Andrew.  Andrew was a true blessing for the United Methodist Church.           

The Rev. Kate Lore!

What a great day! My good friend and colleague Kate Lore was ordained today as a minister in the Unitarian Universalist Association. We worked together at First United Methodist Church until she accepted the position as social justice director at First Unitarian Church of Portland. While in that position Kate earned her Master of Divinity degree at Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago by taking classes on a part-time basis (talk about keeping busy). Just minutes after being ordained she was installed as the new Minister of Social Justice for First Unitarian Church. I’m so proud to know Kate. She is one of the most committed people I've worked with in the world of social justice work and the people of First Unitarian Church are blessed to have her spirit on call as a clergyperson.

Photo credit: First Unitarian Church

It Was Ten Years Ago Today

Today years ago today Portland lost one of our leading advocates for causes such as ending homelessness and battling HIV/AIDS when Gene Ediger died.  Gene was the partner of (now) well known Portland blogger Worldwide Pablo (aka Paul Nickell).  During his life Gene was one of the administrators of Baloney Joe's and in his final years he served as the chair of the board of directors for Outside In.  He was an early mentor of mine.  I know for all his family and friends it is difficult to even think that ten years have gone by without him here to rally our spirits or to get the first beer poured.  Gene was such a strong and caring presence that in many ways it is still possible to think of him as being around.  He is always missed and will never be forgotten.

Read The Oregonian article about Gene's passing.   

Photo credit:  The ever talented Sue Elwood Buce.   

Sometimes The Best Laid Plans....

Here's how we intended to spend this afternoon and evening:  First, at a BBQ at our friend Magda's house in SE Portland with the twins.  Then we planned to head off across the river to Vancouver to help our friend Michelle celebrate her birthday.  Instead a truck hit us and nicely banged up our new car as we drove to Magda's.  None of us were hurt, thank God.  The car is another story .  We never made it to the BBQ or to Vancouver but not all was lost:  Symphony in the Park was about two blocks from our house and after spending a little time at that we left the girls with the babysitter we'd already scheduled for tonight and headed over to our neighborhood theater to see The Bourne Ultimatum.  It wasn't how we planned to spend the day but at least we're all ok.          

Sunset High School Class of 1987

Here’s a hard one for me to take in: it was twenty years ago this summer that I graduated from Sunset High School out in Beaverton. This weekend is our reunion and tonight Liz and I had the chance to gather with several Sunset alum and their partners for a “pre-union” get together. One of the great joys in my life is that I’ve been able to stay in such close contact with so many friends from high school and before – people like Heather, Jon, Larisa, Erik, Jani, Kate, Michelle and others I’m blanking out on right now because it is late. Every high school has problems and growing up in the suburbs in the 80s wasn’t always the easiest thing to do but we were so amazingly fortunate to attend a well funded public school that offered a full array of programs. Without teachers like Bill Pressly and Jim Barlow – now two dear friends – I would have been lost as a teenager. Looking back after twenty years it is clear to me how fortunate we all were to be in a community that could afford to fund their public schools. Every child deserves what we had growing up. Now this nearly middle aged man – who looks so young in this picture – has to go to bed to save up some energy for tomorrow night.

Old Friends

Wednesday and Thursday I had the chance to reconnect with some old friends.

Dan Bravin (homeless advocated turned computer fix-it guy turned green business man) joined me at Produce Row Wedneday night where we compared notes about kids and families and he updated me on his new business venture. Dan and his dad are in the process of starting a “green” plumbing business here in Portland and they have a blog to prove it. Green plumbing helps to reduce water consumption and that is a really good thing as global warming heats up the earth.

Thursday morning Joseph Santos-Lyons dropped by the church for coffee. Joseph is a recent graduate of Harvard Divinity School and headed toward ordination in the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). He’s been on the national staff of the UUA for years, writes a blog about his social justice work, and is a Portlander just back from Boston (via the Philippines where he spent several months working with churches).

Check out their blogs and watch out for both of them. These two are going to help change the world in really good ways.

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

We went out to North Plains today where our friends Bill and Carole own a Christmas Tree farm.  Now we're set for the holiday.         

Happy Thanksgiving

"For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

"With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country....

"I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America... He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on."

--Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to his daughter

This is a quote from Mr. Frankin that I posted last year on Thanksgiving.  I enjoy it so much that I'm reposting for those that missed it.  Though I have no strong feelings on this great debate it is a well worded argument. 

We cooked a ham and shared several pies tonight with friends attending our annual Thanksgiving Eve potluck  Tomorrow we'll be joining my family.  A few photos are below...

I hope that you have good Thanksgiving plans and a safe holiday.

The Lord be with you.

Katherine waits for dinner in daddy's study

Frances also waits for dinner in daddy's study

Dinner arrives

More friends gather

O’Connor’s in Multnomah Village

O’Connor’s in Multnomah Village has been one of my favorite Portland restaurants for nearly twenty years – before it even was in Multnomah Village. The food is terrific but the owner is a classic. Steve Arel was on the board of director of Baloney Joe’s during the same period I was. Today The Oregonian profiled his restaurant and they got the story right. Instead of sending in a food critic they sent in a writer to get a flavor for who Steve Arel is.

Steve Arel grew up in the restaurant and bar business under family tutelage back when O'Connor's was downtown's last men-only establishment.

But 18 years after he took over from his dad in 1972, Arel wearied of being a tenant in the battered old Jack London Hotel, the last of three downtown O'Connor's locations. He decided to buy his own building.

Arel, who grew up in Southwest Portland and graduated from Wilson High School, found a place on a street he'd bicycled countless times as a kid. It was a tavern at 7850 S.W. Capitol Highway.

In 1991, Arel transformed it into the new home of O'Connor's. Besides a full bar and a moderately priced menu of eclectic Tex-Mex-Southern-style food, the restaurant has become home away from home for many regulars, and Arel has planted himself firmly as a Multnomah Village asset.

"Steve is probably the most generous business owner in the village," says Luna Jaffe, president of the Multnomah Village Business Association. Jaffe works nearby and eats often at O'Connor's. "He has donated an endless amount of food and beverages to a wide range of events, in addition to operating a consistently well-run restaurant."

Arel upped his community ante four years ago when he bought an adjoining storefront that housed the Multnomah Bank when he was a kid.

The annex, which Arel also calls the Vault, is a music venue at night and can be rented for evening parties. During the day, Arel makes it available at no cost for community groups, including the business association.

"I don't use it a lot during the day," Arel says. "I've been in the community a long time. It's a way of giving back."

That isn’t the only way he gives back to the community. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked Steve to help with a fund raiser and there has never been a time when has turned me down.

We tried to go there just last week but they hadn’t opened up yet (I guess unlike our twins most people don’t think 5:45 am is an appropriate breakfast time). It was a big loss for us. Where else in town can you get food that good from a business owner so committed to his town?

A Brick From Baloney Joe's

Not a lot of people get a brick as a gift when they're ordained into ministry.  But that is just what my friends Erik Sten and Bob Durston got me.  The brick was taken from the rubble of Baloney Joe's after it was demolished while I was in St. Louis.  Baloney Joe's was perhaps one of most famous agencies in Portland history.  For many years it was the last refuge for the "least of these" in Portland.  Over 150 men slept there each night and the shelter provided a medical clinic, jobs program and counseling.  This was the first shelter that I ever worked at (I was on the board).  But Baloney Joe's was much more than just another social service agency.  We served as the neighborhood association for the Burnside / Old Town area, engaged in community organizing and those that worked and lived there served as steadfast advocates for people experiencing homelessness and poverty in our city.  Baloney Joe's closed in the early 1990s after we tried to move the shelter into Old Town and business developers objected.  Controversy over our leadership erupted.  Those who lived in Portland will remember what we endured.  The building sat empty for many years afterwards on the east end of the Burnside Bridge.  I walked away from my four years there - a place I sometimes call the University of Baloney Joe's - with great friends who are still with me today and with the belief that no matter the odds we can still change the world - even if it is sometimes only one life at a time.   

      

Click on the photo for a better look

The Ordination Of Scott Elliott

This morning we made the trek down to beautiful Lincoln City Congregational Church for the ordination of Scott Elliott. Scott was a classmate of mine at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. He was the only other Oregonian on campus. Scott considered calls across the United States (there have been none until recently available anywhere in Oregon) and settled on an exciting opportunity to minister at Riviera United Church of Christ in Palm Bay, Florida. His home church on the Oregon coast was packed for the ordination service. The picture above is of Scott (on the left) with The Rev. John Gantt, interim minister of the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ. Scott and his wife Nancy, along with three of their four children, visited our house on Thursday morning. Florida is fortunate to get such a good group of people from Oregon and the UCC is lucky to have such a talented new minister.

A Lazy Saturday

We spent our Saturday afternoon out in North Plains visiting longtime friends (and Christmas tree farmers) Bill and Carole.  Liz's step-brother and his girlfriend are also in town visiting us.  We're having a great weekend and I hope you are as well.  Peace.   

Erik Sten: Four More Years

Portland City Commissioner Erik Sten has pushed past the 50% mark today in his re-election bid against a candidate backed by the downtown business community. Sten had been targeted by the Portland Business Alliance (PBA) for his support of campaign finance reform, efforts to expand affordable housing opportunities, and because of his attempt to have the City of Portland buy Enron’s PGE. PBA and their allies poured money into the race and Sten’s opponent waged a fiercely negative campaign. Ginny Burdick, a state senator with a once progressive record, will forever be remembered in Oregon politics for selling out her values in her failed attempt to oust Sten. Portland voters rejected the negativity, however, and have re-affirmed the city’s true progressive roots with a tremendous endorsement of Sten’s leadership and policies. Liz and I were glad to be able to join Erik and hundreds of supporters last night as it became clear that voters were supporting his re-election. Last night it looked like a run-off might be necessary. Additional votes changed the story and Burdick conceded this morning. Congratulations to Erik and to everyone who worked for this important victory.

Related Post: Erik Sten for City Council

The Les AuCoin Blog

Former US Rep. Les AuCoin (D-OR) has a new blog.  Check it out.  I volunteered on everyone of his campaigns from 1982-1992 and would still do anything for this guy.  He represented a swing district and instead of walking down the middle of the road thinking about the next election he fought hard against the Reagan military build-up, he worked to help create a federal response to the homeless crisis, and became the first westerner in Congress to break ranks with the NRA and endorse gun control legislation.  Now he teaches and writes.  I still can't think of who to vote for in the democratic primary race for governor.  Maybe I'll write-in Les AuCoin. 

Scott Elliott In The House

When we lived in St. Louis during my three year stint at Eden Theological Seminary there were really only a few people on campus we could fully commiserate with: our fellow Oregonians Scott and Nancy Elliott (along with three of their four great kids). As the only Oregonians on campus we bonded over our shared love of Tillamook cheese and Oregon legend Marcus Borg and we all brooded away the hot and humid Missouri summer days. So it was a great joy for Liz and me to briefly see Scott today as he arrived in Oregon for his ordination exam. The only way the afternoon could have been better: if Nancy and their kids had been here as well. Nancy, along with Meredith Anderson (another close Eden friend), was a life saver for us when the twins were born. We’re disappointed that we won’t be able to attend Eden’s graduation ceremony this May but we hope all our Eden friends remember that our Portland home (which is quite cool in the summer) is always open and visitors are welcomed / encouraged!

Saturday In Portland

We packed in a pretty full family day this Saturday. The weather was pretty decent for spring in Oregon. There was only a trace of rain. We did yard work and Frances and Katherine got to spend a couple of hours playing with friends in the morning.  A trip to Powell's was next on the agenda.  Then we took a long walk through our Grant Park neighborhood this afternoon and later drove over to the Woodstock section of town for dinner at the Delta Café, Portland’s southern cuisine destination. This was the first time we’d been to the Delta since moving back to Portland in December. Check this place out if you're in town. After dinner we took a walk through the Foster-Powell neighborhood to see my old house and to drop-by and say hello to our friends Michelle and John and their cute-as-can-be daughter Madeline. Tomorrow it is off to church in the morning and then hopefully a lazy afternoon. Anything going on in the world I should be concerned about?

Walking For Oregon Senate Candidate Sam Chase

Liz and I took the twins out to Beaverton this morning and went door-to-door for Oregon Senate candidate Sam Chase.  Sam is a great advocate of affordable housing and public education.  He also happens to be a friend.  The race is for an open seat in District 17 (which includes most of Beaverton and NW Portland).  We walked today in a neighborhood next to the junior high school I attended (now a middle school) and where many of my friends grew up.  Sam has the backing of prominent Oregonians such as former Governor John Kitzhaber.  We hope the Democratic primary voters in District 17 get to know Sam and will support him in the election this May.  There is no Republican candidate in this race.         

We've Moved Back To Oregon!

We’ve made the move back to the great Northwest and are glad to be here.  Movers arrived just today with the rest of our stuff.  We’ve spent the last several days unpacking and trying to bring some sort of normalcy to our chaotic lives.   But we already feel so much more relaxed being close to so many family members and friends.  Unfortunately, there are periods in our lives when chaos seems to come in waves.  That is true for us in this moment.  It will be several more weeks before we can declare victory and fully celebrate our move back to Oregon.  But we’re very much enjoying the endless opportunities for good coffee and the love and friendship we’ve felt since coming home.

Read Street Prophets This Reading Week

This is Reading Week at the old seminary.  It is a week without classes where we can catch up on the mountains of books needed to be read before the fall semester starts to come to a close.  I'm using the week to do just that - and to catch up on spending some time with the twins, my wife, and extended family and friends.  So I just don't have time to blog much this week.

Head over to Street Prophets - the other site I write at - if you want to read some quality and updated stuff.

A Report After Returning From Portland

The big reason for my trip back to Portland was to take my ordination exam before the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ’s committee on ministry. Before taking the exam candidates for ministry must write a rather large paper explaining their theology, grasp of UCC polity, and explaining their understanding of ministry. The exam takes place near or at the completion of seminary and after all other references and related materials have been collected and reviewed. A committee of ordained clergy and lay leaders conduct the exam (which is really more like a one-hour interview). You can read more on the process – if interested – by downloading the UCC Manual on Ministry (a PDF file).

The good news is that I received word this morning from our conference minister that the committee will be recommending that I be ordained pending a call to ministry.

That recommendation is now sent to an ecclesiastical council. This council, which will represent a larger group of people in the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ, will review the decision of the committee on ministry, hear a presentation from me and ask questions, and will then make a final determination as to whether or not I get ordained. The ecclesiastical council may be called as early as next month.

Being back in Portland also afforded me the time to meet with Mayor Tom Potter and tour the center where Katrina evacuees are being processed in Oregon. The mayor and I had a good discussion about poverty in the Multnomah County area. I continue to be impressed with how on top of things he and is staff are. The work at the Katrina center, which is being coordinated through several governmental and non-profit agencies, was also impressive.  Dona Bolt, Oregon's homeless education coordinator, arranged the tour.

Of course, being back in the Northwest also gave me the chance to visit with many of my family and friends.

The trip home was not so great.

This map shows how my flight should have gone:

This map shows the actual route taken:

My flight should have landed in the early afternoon on Monday.  But I actually arrived after 2:30 am this morning.  Delta is getting another really nasty letter from me.

But I'll leave you with a happier photo of some of my family and friends.

This was from a nice dinner party at my mother's.

We're looking forward to being back in Portland in October and moving back for good in December.

Mick Schafbuch

Peter Jennings is not the only television legend who passed away this week.

Richard M. "Mick" Schafbuch, former general manager of KOIN-TV in Portland, also passed away from lung cancer.

Mick worked at KOIN all of the years that my father, Steve Currie, worked there as the operations and program manager. When my father passed away in 1998 it was Mick who delivered the eulogy. Mick was a gruff guy with a solid business sense and a love for local television.  The last time we talked was about a year after my father died but just this morning I thought of him and wondered what he would think of my plans for ministry.  He was always very kind to me and our family and will be missed. 

Click here to read The Oregonian's coverage of his death.

Related Post:  Veteran Oregon Newsman Dies

Related Post:  Speaking of Steve Currie

Saying Good-Bye To Friends

This evening we had a small group of friends from Eden Theological Seminary over for dinner.  It was a chance for us to say good-bye to Aaron and Carrie.  Aaron graduated from Eden last month and has been called to a UCC congregation in North Dakota.  Pictured here are (left-to-right) Meredith Anderson, Scott Elliott, Aaron Roberts and myself.  Meredith and Aaron were two of the other Eden students on the study seminar to Southern India that I took two summers ago.  Scott is the only other Oregonian among the current group of students at Eden.  Below are Carrie (left) and Liz.  We're going to miss having Aaron and Carrie around.

   

A Quick Trip To The Pacific Northwest

We made a quick and unscheduled trip out to Oregon and Washington this weekend. Portland’s First United Methodist Church – where I served for several years as director of community outreach – was where I worshiped on Sunday morning. The Rev. Dr. Arvin Luchs (my former boss) preached an excellent Pentecost sermon. FUMC member Paul Nickell (Oregon’s World Wide Pablo) is pictured here. It was a great joy to visit with so many FUMC friends. Mollie Copeland and Christine Paul (both of whom served as managers at FUMC’s Goose Hollow Family Shelter) were very kind in rearranging their schedules and joining the twins and I for coffee before services. The four of us have visited with my sisters, mother and step-father, and a host of friends over a crowded weekend. Powell’s bookstore, Produce Row Café and the new restaurant Gravy were among the many places that between Liz and I we visited. We’re counting the days until we start our move back to Oregon. It won’t be that long.

"Never Place A Period Where God Has Placed A Comma" - Gracie Allen

The United Church of Christ has adopted the “comma” as a symbol of our theology as part of the UCC’s “God Is Still Speaking Campaign.” Comedian Gracie Allen is credited with saying: “Never place a period where God has placed a comma.” What does that mean? For many of us in the UCC it means that God still has more to say to us than just that which was written in the Bible. Over 400 people gathered this weekend on the Eden Theological Seminary campus to celebrate the success of that campaign by forming the world’s largest human comma. The UCC’s effort has drawn considerable media attention and resulted in many visitors to UCC congregations across the country.

Liz and I were there with the twins. 

Fellow Oregonian and Eden student Scott Elliot was there with his daughter Forest.  Even Pastor Dan's parents were on campus for the event.  It was a fun time.  The credit for putting everything together (and for the comma photo) goes to the good folks with the St. Louis Association of the UCC.

Taco Bell Truth Tour Visits St. Louis

The Taco Bell Truth Tour is in full swing this week.  Farm workers and their allies are visiting cities across the country to draw attention to conditions that workers endure to produce tomatoes for Taco Bell.  The fast food chain is being boycotted because of their policies allowing for the exploitation of farm workers.  The boycott is endorsed by the National Council of Churches USA and the United Church of Christ.  Andrew Stelzer, my friend and former colleague from Portland, is now a reporter at WMNF in Tampa and is in St. Louis today covering the tour as it makes its way across the country.  The above picture is of us from earlier tonight at the Eden Campus.  Make sure you join the Taco Bell Boycott.  Click here for the updated news links - including Andrew's stories.  The most current list of religious groups backing the boycott includes:

* National Council of Churches of Christ (in the U.S.A.)
* United Methodist Church
* Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
* United Church of Christ
* Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
* Alliance of Baptist Churches
* American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
* Buddhist Peace Fellowship
* Episcopal Migrant Ministry
* Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
* Unitarian Universalist Migrant Ministry
* Pax Christi USA
* Pax Christi International
* Catholic Labor Network
* Interfaith Worker Justice (Chicago)
* National Farm Worker Ministry
* Bishop John Nevins, DD, Diocese of Venice (FL)
* Peace and Justice Office, Diocese of Venice (FL)
* California Council of Churches
* New Orleans Province of the Jesuits
* Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
* Sisters of Mercy Region 2
* Ohio Council of Churches
* Florida Council of Churches Commission on Social Justice
* The Christian Church in Florida (Disciples of Christ)
* North Carolina Council of Churches Farmworker Ministry Committee
* Church Women United of Illinois
* Florida Church Women United
* Florida United Church of Christ Women
* Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida
* Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida
* Tampa Farm Worker Supporters
* Sarasota/Manatee Farm Worker Supporters
* South Florida Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice
* Orange County (CA) Interfaith Committee to Aid Farm Workers
* Apostolic Catholic Church (SW Florida)
* Fiath Presbyterian Church (Austin, TX)
* First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Findlay, OH
* The Session of Lakeview Presbyterian Church, Florida
* Religious Society of Friends, Ft. Myers Meeting

Old Professors Don’t Die – They Blog

Dr. Russ Dondero, Pacific University’s long-time political science guru, is set to retire this spring from his teaching position. Oregon will never be the same. Who will organize the Tom McCall Forums that Dondero started? Who will set-up all those prized internships with Congressional leaders? Where will the press turn for insightful commentary on election nights? And who is going to write me recommendations when I need them? Someone has to explain away my tenure as a student at Pacific.

Well, there is some good news in the midst of all this darkness. One of Russ’ former students has set-up RussDondero.com so that Oregon’s best known political junkie can blog. Head over and check out his first commentary on who won this month’s McCall Forum: The Prince of Darkness (Richard Pearle) or The Man (Howard Dean). For the record, I was in St. Louis and therefore unable to throw that shoe.

The truth is that Pacific simply won’t be able to replace Russ Dondero.  He is a good man committed to education and the exchange of ideas.  Russ – I’ll proudly point out – is a member of the United Church of Christ.  I’m glad he is blogging so that we can keep up-to-date with his insights. 

E-Mail From Chennai

Earlier this week, I received an e-mail from a friend of mine living in Chennai, India. Below are parts of what he wrote. I thought people reading this site might gain something from hearing a firsthand account of life after the Tsunami. To protect his privacy I have left his name and some personal parts of the correspondence out of this post. Looking to make a donation? Visit Church World Service to learn how you can help out.

Thank you very much for your concern and prayers for me and for our country during the time of this catastrophe. By His grace we are safe from this Tsunami.

At the time of this disaster I was at home with parents enjoying my Christmas with my wife. We were in celebrating a Lepers Christmas and were giving them a Christmas dinner to them. At that moment we were told a great earth quake has come in the sea. We live 40 kms away from the sea coast in Andhra Pradesh state. We and our town are safe but most of the families lost their livelihood and have become orphans. Our Christmas joy did not last for a long time.

Immediately we attended the relief work in my state. My father and mother are involved in the relief work at the moment. Since we have college I need(ed) to come back to Chennai to attend my work in (seminary).

But the trauma of the people is so much worrying us. The epidemic diseases have started to spread and the aftermath of Tsunami is so horrific. My parents are involved in distributing clothes, medicines, and even providing fishing nets and boats to the fishermen, and the cooking vessels to the women.

The church is playing a mighty role and is very much involved in the relief work, and is witnessing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for coming forward to render (your) help at this moment. Primarily we need (your) prayers support. Kindly ask your church and the seminary to join in praying for the victims here.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year from our family to yours.

New Year's Eve

Happy New Year's Eve.  We'll be leaving in the morning from Portland and heading back to St. Louis.  Traveling with us are two very sick babies.  Frances and Katherine got sick over Christmas and by this Monday had developed pneumonia.  We've spent the last five days in and out of doctor's offices.  Both babies are undergoing breathing treatments every three hours and have enough medicines in them to open up a pharmacy.  Our hope is that once home they'll relax and start to feel better.  Your prayers and good wishes for a speedy recovery are appreciated.  Even sick these kids are way cute! 

Christmas in Portland

Yesterday we brought Frances and Katherine to Portland's First Congregational United Church of Christ for a blessing and to give thanks for their birth this past July.  Many of our Portland area family and friends were able to attend.  It was a special occasion and we appreciate the kindness of The Rev. Dr. Patricia Ross, senior minister, and The Rev. Paul Davis, associate minister.  We're spending a few days in Oregon and Washington post Christmas and will post photos when we return to St. Louis. 

Merry Christmas

It is Christmas Eve.  Here in St. Louis the temperature hovers around 10 degrees this morning but I’m soon headed to a milder climate to be with family and friends.  That means no posting here for a day or two (unless something important happens like NASA announces an asteroid is heading toward earth).  Merry Christmas.

PS.  My favorite part of the asteroid story is the NASA illustration of what the end of the earth will look like.

Our Christmas Letter For Family and Friends

Dear Family and Friends,

Without question this has been the biggest year of our lives. On July 8, 2004, we welcomed Katherine Chalmers Currie and Frances Bright Currie into the world. They remain perfect in nearly every way (with the one notable exception of their lackadaisical sleeping habits).

Time flies when you have two babies. It has been two years since we bought our house in Webster Groves, got married, and moved out to Missouri from Portland. Both of us are counting the days until we can return to Oregon (sometime in early-to-mid 2006). Liz is working full time at the house taking care of the children (and some might argue her husband). Chuck is in seminary full time and working part time with St. John United Church of Christ.

We’ve managed to take the babies to Oregon, Washington, California, and South Carolina to visit relatives during brief breaks at the seminary. They’ve met family from across the globe. One special treat was when we surprised Chuck’s grandfather, Rock Bright, by bringing the twins to Puget Island, Washington where he was vacationing with family. Rock loved meeting his great-granddaughters.

Judy Bright (Chuck’s mom) and Alice Smith (Liz’s mom) were both able to be with us the week the twins were born. Alice stayed on for two extra weeks to help out around the house. Chalmers and Carolyn Smith, Liz’s dad and step-mother have also visited. A few of our close friends have also made the trek out here to Missouri over the course of the last years. Visitors are always welcomed and even encouraged.

We hope that all of you have a wonderful holiday season.

Love, Chuck and Liz

Catching Up With Les AuCoin

A few days ago, I e-mailed back and forth with an early mentor of mine: former US Congressman Les AuCoin.  Les served Oregon’s First Congressional District from 1975-1993.  While there he fought for light rail for the metro area, fought to stop the Reagan arms build up, and supported important programs designed to fight homelessness and poverty.  I was a very precocious kid when he let me volunteer on his 1982 re-election campaign.  After that I volunteered on all the rest of his races.  His staff took me under their wing, invited me to staff lunches, and let me sit in on meetings to learn about the issues.  They were wonderful to me.  Les was one of the most honorable public servants Oregon ever sent to Congress.  He keeps busy these days by teaching, writing, and offering commentary on public radio.  Visit his homepage and catch up with one of Oregon’s best political leaders.

Interfaith Group Has Holiday Shopping Ideas

Most of my holiday shopping occurs on Christmas Eve.  It has become a tradition.  My gift buying normally reflects my values.  I try and buy gifts from local artists, stores where unions help provide decent wages and good benefits, and markets that sell goods from outside the country that have been obtained at a fair price instead of at the hands of sweatshop labor.

Eric Berg is a Portlander who I have known since my high school days (he might have already been in college).  These days he is working with the Portland Jobs with Justice Faith - Labor Committee, a group associated with the national Interfaith Worker Justice (formerly known as the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice.

Interfaith Worker Justice has published a holiday guidebook that contains a list of places you can feel good about buying from.  I read through it today and found it very helpful.  The four-page booklet can be downloaded by clicking here.

They also have a great newsletter that you can read by clicking here.  Their stories showcase efforts in cities across the nation to link religious groups to the concerns and needs of workers in the United States and beyond.

And if the name Eric Berg rings a bell for you there might be a reason.  This guy will do just about anything to bring attention to justice issues.  Even tease the FBI. 

Too Sick To Blog

I’m out sick today. So go over and visit WWP’s ever-cool blog.

Link: worldwide pablo: ThURLSday reprise.

My Friend Zaher Wahab

My friend Zaher Wahab was profiled (again) in The Oregonian today.  Zaher is a professor at the graduate school of education at Lewis and Clark College. Liz was actually one of his students when she got her masters degree.  Over the last few years he has made repeated trips back to his home in  Afghanistan to help rebuild that nation’s education system.  He left Afghanistan to obtain his bachelors at Beirut University and later earned a PhD from Stanford University.  This well educated man lives in the same building as my friends Alan Bogner and Mollie Copeland.  Both Mollie and Alan worked with me at Portland’s Goose Hollow Family Shelter.  Zaher offered to be our shelter custodian.  For several years he would arrive each morning (by 6am) to clean-up the shelter before going home to change and head-off to Lewis and Clark to teach.  He sent his meager wages from the job back to Afghanistan to help his family, buy school books for children, and even to build a well.  We became good friends during his time at the shelter. 

For many Oregonians he became the face of Afghanistan after 9/11.  His public presentations on that nation drew hundreds of people nearly everywhere he went.  Zaher was a vocal opponent of the bombing campaign and the later war in Iraq. 

Zaher Wahab is an amazing man.  This picture is of Zaher and our daughter Katherine during our trip back to Portland in late-August and early September.  He'll be giving a free talk at Lewis and Clark on December 7th for those in the area.     

Praying For Friends

My thoughts are prayers tonight are with my friend Heather Hyland. Shelby Hyland, Heather’s beautiful niece, died in an accident on Thursday afternoon in Woodburn, Oregon. We didn’t learn about the accident until returning today from California. All of the Hyland family members are wonderful and caring people. Please join me in praying for Shelby's parents, Heather, and their extended family during this time of terrible loss. Alexa, Shelby’s friend, also died in the accident and several people were injured. I pray for all of them as well.

Welcome, Kennedy!

Oregon bloggers Susan and Sheryl had a baby girl (Kennedy!) on Wednesday. I’ve been reading their pregnancy updates over these last many months and we’ve corresponded a few times on baby matters. It is so exciting to hear the news. Our own little ones, Frances and Katherine, send their best to the family. So do their parents. Welcome, little Kennedy!

Mt. St. Helens: The Volcano Explodes

Liz and I are watching the small explosion now taking place on Mt. St. Helens as it is carried on CNN and KGW.com. My sister Jennifer just called and can see the eruption out her office window. Very exciting (as long as everyone stays safe).

I was eleven years old and living in Portland on May 18, 1980. A telephone call from the newsroom at KOIN-TV woke up our family shortly after 8am. My father worked at the television station as the program director. He let me tag along and head off to the station with him where I spent the next 12 hours or so fetching coffee for Mike Donahue and the other reporters as they covered the biggest story in modern Northwest history. Driving into downtown we could see the huge mushroom cloud over the mountain on what I remember being a hazy morning. KOIN compiled their coverage into a documentary and companion book called Mt. St. Helens: The Volcano Explodes (if I remember the title correctly) that my father helped produce.

My friend Paul Nickell (aka WWP) lost his mother and step-father on that Sunday morning. For me the day was like a great adventure. Paul has a very different memory. On the 20th anniversary of May 18th we went together to the dedication of a new memorial on Mt. St. Helens that lists Paul’s parents as among the lost. Make sure you visit his site to hear Paul's story.

In the meantime, enjoy the show.

Photo credit: The above photo from May 18, 1980 comes from the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Welcome Back

My good friend Paul Nickell is back blogging after his summer vacation. His blog, Worldwide Pablo, is the first site I read - so go take a look.

worldwide pablo: "What I Did On My Summer Vacation"

In Portland: Family, Friends & Tom Potter

Our Portland adventure continues in full swing today. This morning we drove from my mother’s house on Puget Island, Washington to visit folks at Portland’s First United Methodist Church. This was the congregation I served as director of community outreach before leaving for seminary. Then it was off to North Plains for lunch with friends Bill Pressly, Carole Douglas and Jim Barlow. My sister Heather and her husband Rick hosted us later in the afternoon. We returned to southeast Portland for dinner with Liz’s cousin Susan and her family. Our final event was a reception for us throw by Janet and Henry Miller. Many of our old friends were there. Mayoral candidate Tom Potter dropped by with his wife to say hello right after his big event with Howard Dean. That is him in this picture with Liz and I and the babies. I’ll be posting a lot more pictures from the day when we get near some high speed internet access.

Some Darn Cute Kids

We've got more photos of the twins on our homepage. You can see photos of them coming home last week and our outing this evening to the campus of Eden Theological Seminary. Katherine and Frances are some darn cute kids. Frances is the one in this picture.

Speaking Of Faith....

WWP - Oregon United Methodist lay leader, blogger and FOC - is writing about the church, gay rights, and the press. If you need more evidence about the divide between religious progressives and the secular left here it is:

worldwide pablo: Hit and miss

Gene Ross Visits Eden

The Rev. Gene Ross, co-minister of the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ, has been on the campus of Eden Theological Seminary this weekend. The Central Pacific Conference is the conference that I belong to and Gene and his wife, The Rev. Dr. Pat Ross, are longtime friends. They are also the parents of my longtime friend Jon Ross. Gene is in town for a conference and took Liz and I out for lunch today. We had a great time and very much enjoyed having someone else from Oregon around to visit with.

Olympic Torch Visits St. Louis

The Olympic Torch passed by the Eden Theological Seminary campus early this evening. Liz and I were there to watch along with many of our friends from the Eden community. A few pictures from the event are posted here. St. Louis was the first U.S. city to host the Olympics.