The Rev. Chuck Currie

Ready For The Season (and Yes On 66 & 67!)

We're pretty much ready for the hoards of child who will soon descend on our house. Frances and Katherine got their costumes back in the summer.  They've been ready for months.

The Yes on 66 and 67 message on Liz's pumpkin refers to two ballot measures Oregonians will consider this January.  

The Oregon Center for Public Policy reports:

A Step Toward Balance

Measures 66 and 67 move Oregon closer to a tax system based on ability to pay

Today, low-income Oregonians pay a larger share of their income in state and local taxes than wealthy Oregonians. In fact, the highest-income Oregonians pay the lowest share of their income in state and local taxes. In addition to raising needed revenue, Measures 66 and 67 begin to address this imbalance.

Facing a revenue crisis brought on by the recession, the 2009 Legislative Assembly enacted two measures that will raise $733 million in new revenue in the 2009-11 biennium.^[1] The modest tax increases on corporations and wealthy Oregonians helped avoid deeper cuts in education, health and human services and public safety than those already made to address a projected $4 billion shortfall in General Fund revenues.

One well-established principle for judging a tax system is whether revenues are raised based on the ability of taxpayers to pay the taxes.^[2] Oregon’s tax system — all state and local taxes combined — currently fails that test, but the two revenue measures enacted by the 2009 legislature take Oregon one step closer to having a tax system based on ability to pay.

Measures 66 and 67 are a step toward a balanced tax system

After accounting for the deduction of state income taxes on federal tax returns, the lowest-income Oregonians currently pay 8.7 percent of their income in taxes, the highest share among all income groups. Middle-income Oregonians pay 7.9 percent. The wealthiest 1 percent — households with income in excess of $410,000 and averaging over $1 million — pay only 6.1 percent of their income toward state and local taxes.^[3]

By 2013, both revenue measures will be fully implemented. Several changes aimed at ameliorating the fiscal crisis brought on by the recession — to avoid additional cuts in public services — are only temporary, and these will have expired.^[4]

When Measures 66 and 67 are fully implemented, Oregon will have made some progress toward a tax system based on ability to pay. The lowest-income Oregonians will still pay the same 8.7 percent of their income in state and local taxes, but the share will increase for those at the highest levels of the income scale.^[5] For the wealthiest 1 percent, for example, state and local taxes will increase from 6.1 to 6.6 percent of their income. For the next highest 4 percent of taxpayers, taxes will increase from 7.0 to 7.1 percent of income. These slight changes for those at the top 5 percent of the income scale constitute a small but important step toward making our tax system better based on ability to pay.

The Yes on 66 and 67 campaign has been endorsed by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and many others.

Click here to learn more about the campaign.

Preaching In Forest Grove This Sunday

This Sunday I'll be preaching at 11am 10 am at Forest Grove United Church of Christ. If you're in the area come by. More information on the congregation can be found at: http://www.fgucc.org.

Oregon's Earl Blumenauer On Barack Obama In The New York Times

Oregon's Earl Blumenauer is profiled today in The New York Times:

WASHINGTON — Representative Earl Blumenauer should be experiencing the most fulfilling days of his more than 35 years in public service.

The liberal Democrat from Portland, Ore. — known for his bowties, his Trek bicycle and a pragmatic brand of progressivism — embraced Barack Obama’s presidential candidacy early in 2008 and campaigned hard alongside him, steadily gaining confidence that the young senator from Illinois was the ideal liberal remedy to eight years of conservative dominance.

Now political reality has set in, testing Mr. Blumenauer’s faith that Mr. Obama’s election and big Democratic majorities in Congress would yield quick advances in the progressive agenda.

Instead of forging ahead, Mr. Blumenauer, 61, finds himself fighting to retain one of the touchstones for liberals this year, a public insurance option in the health care overhaul, and is watching his hopes of curbing global warming grow cold in the Senate. Mr. Blumenauer, a seven-term congressman, is bracing for a tough vote on sending more troops to Afghanistan while he frets about the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay remaining open.

“It has been a hard landing for a lot of the people that I represent,” Mr. Blumenauer, referring to his largely liberal constituency, said as he assessed the first months of the Obama administration.

Full story.

(Note: this last hyperlink comes from this blog and not the NTY story.  I just count myself as one of the people the congressman represents and we were together when he endorsed Barack Obama in 2008).

Contact Ron Wyden, Senate Finance Committee Members And Save Health Care Reform

The Senate Finance Commitee is set to vote on the public option tomorrow (Tuesday, Sept. 28th).  This will be a critical vote and all the committee members need to be contacted now.  Members include:

MAX BAUCUS, MT 
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, WV 
KENT CONRAD, ND 
JEFF BINGAMAN, NM 
JOHN F. KERRY, MA 
BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, AR
RON WYDEN, OR 
CHARLES E. SCHUMER, NY 
DEBBIE STABENOW, MI 
MARIA CANTWELL, WA
BILL NELSON, FL
ROBERT MENENDEZ, NJ

THOMAS CARPER, DE

CHUCK GRASSLEY, IA
ORRIN G. HATCH, UT
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, ME
JON KYL, AZ
JIM BUNNING, KY
MIKE CRAPO, ID 
PAT ROBERTS, KS 
JOHN ENSIGN, NV
MIKE ENZI, WY

JOHN CORNYN, TX  

MoveOn.org sent out this action alert today to Oregon suppoters of the public option:

Tomorrow, Senator Ron Wyden will be voting on the public health insurance option—can you call his office right away?

Here's what's happening:

The Senate Finance Committee, of which Sen. Wyden is a member, is debating an awful health care bill that doesn't include the public option—the key to expanding coverage and bringing down costs.

Progressives have offered amendments that would add the public option to the bill, and the committee will begin voting on them tomorrow. Meanwhile, conservatives are pushing a bogus "trigger" amendment that would kill the public option through indefinite delay.

So we've got to show Sen. Wyden that his constituents are demanding real health care reform with a strong public health insurance option that's available immediately. Tell him to vote "yes" on the public option amendments, and "no" on the trigger.

Here's where to call:

Senator Ron Wyden
Phone: 202-224-5244

I both called Senator Wyden's office and faxed him this letter.

Please call your members of Congress NOW even if you have done it before. 

Time is running short. 

18,000 Oregon Homeless Kids "Moral Failing"

Statement by The Rev. Chuck Currie On Oregon Report Showing 18,000 Homeless Kids In Public Schools

Today the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) announced that “Oregon’s homeless student population for the 2008-09 school year was 18,059, an increase of nearly 14 percent from last school year.” The increase represents a moral failing on the part of our state.  

The increase was termed “predictable” by state officials in light of the nationwide economic crisis but the department also noted that the number of homeless students has increased every year for the last six years (since numbers were first tabulated).

We can be thankful that the Oregon Department of Education and local school districts have worked diligently to provide high quality educational services for homeless children within our public schools. Studies have shown that homeless children in public schools achieve academic success at the same levels as their housed peers.  

“Oregon schools are getting these students into class, despite their dire and often chaotic living situations,” State Schools Superintendent Susan  Castillo said.  “Thanks to the infusion of federal stimulus dollars for the Homeless Student Education program, over half of Oregon school districts will have additional funds to help serve students and families faced with homeless living situations this year.  District staff, public and nonprofit agencies and advocates need to work together cooperatively at this time, since the number of people affected by the economy is far too large for any single public entity to handle alone.”

At the same time, Oregon has no viable plan to fight homelessness or poverty.  Little attention has been paid to this issue and what efforts have come out of the Governor’s office have been little more than band-aid approaches. 

In 2007, religious leaders from across Oregon wrote Governor Kulongoski, Senator Wyden and then-Senator Smith calling the large number of homeless students a “moral scandal.”

Today’s numbers show that Oregon’s political leadership continues to largely ignore the plight of those facing homelessness in our society.  Over 18,000 homeless children in our schools is evidence of that.

-- The Rev. Chuck Currie

# # # 

News Release                         OREGON DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

September 18, 2009 

State Releases Homeless Student Count: Numbers Jump with Recession

SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that Oregon’s homeless student population for the 2008-09 school year was 18,059, an increase of nearly 14 percent from last school year.

The recent one-year jump, predictable in the wake of the state’s major economic recession, shows a spike in the upward trend that Oregon has experienced since this count began six years ago. Since the first count in the 2003-2004 school year, the number of homeless students in Oregon has risen 122 percent.

Number of Homeless Students in Oregon By School Year

•   8,143 (2003-04)
• 11,294 (2004-05)
• 13,159 (2005-06)
• 15,517 (2006-07)
• 15,859 (2007-08)
• 18,051 (2008-09)

Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act Program for Education of Homeless Students, homeless students are defined as those students who lack fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. A homeless family could live in an emergency shelter or share housing with others due to loss of housing or economic hardship, stay at motels, or live in cars, parks, public places, tents, trailers, or other similar settings.

“Oregon schools are getting these students into class, despite their dire and often chaotic living situations,” Castillo said.  “Thanks to the infusion of federal stimulus dollars for the Homeless Student Education program, over half of Oregon school districts will have additional funds to help serve students and families faced with homeless living situations this year.  District staff, public and nonprofit agencies and advocates need to work together cooperatively at this time, since the number of people affected by the economy is far too large for any single public entity to handle alone.”

Additional Findings From the 2008-09 Homeless Student Count

• 18,051 of Oregon’s 564,094 students (3.2 percent) were homeless for some period of time during 2008-09.
• 8,268 homeless students were in elementary schools (enrolled in grades K-5).
• 3,568 homeless students were in middle schools (enrolled in grades 6-8).
• 6,215 homeless students were in high schools (enrolled in grades 9-12).
• Just as in past years, the largest numbers of homeless students (2,134) were in 12^th
 grade.
• 3,041 students within the total count were unaccompanied homeless minors who had been abandoned by parents, or had run away from home or foster care placement.
• 13,312 homeless students shared housing with relatives or friends due to economic hardship, such as foreclosure, homes destroyed by floods or fires, job losses, etc.
• 754 students in Oregon lived in a motel as their primary residence during the 2008-2009 school year.
• 1,712 homeless students lived in a shelter or transitional housing as their primary residence.
• 2,264 students were “unsheltered,” meaning they lived in cars, sheds, tents, on the streets, and/or in structures not meant for human habitation.
• 50 of Oregon’s 197 school districts reported zero homeless students enrolled during 2008-2009. 

“Unfortunately, families living in poverty struggling to get by is not a new concept in Oregon; it’s a reality we’ve been dealing with for years,” said Castillo.   “District staff work diligently to ensure these students can participate in public school along with their peers, and receive the additional help they need to attend school without stigmatization. This year, due to increased foreclosures and high unemployment, we are also faced with a group of students new to poverty that we are helping during this difficult time. As we do so, we are always mindful of the need to avoid labeling the very students we are assisting. ”  

Federal funds for educationally-disadvantaged students are used in most Oregon districts in combination with funds targeted specifically for assisting homeless students.  Oregon also received slightly over $1 million in additional federal McKinney-Vento funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“Oregon leads the nation in combining federal funds to support homeless students,” said Barbara Duffield, Policy Director for the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. “By ensuring that federal programs are working in tandem to meet homeless students’ needs, Oregon has developed a model that should be replicated in other states.”

Nationwide faith call-in today for health care: Tuesday, Sept 15

Toll-free number:  1-888-797-8717

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and the Oregon Interfaith Health Justice Campaign are joining with people of faith across the nation by calling our on legislators to support health care reform.  Now is the time to let your members of congress know your belief that health care that covers everyone is a moral imperative.

The time is NOW!
We have never been so close to making health care reform happen in the U.S. But what that reform will look like depends on who has the ear of our elected leaders. If we want a health care system that reflects our faith-inspired values, it will be up to us to communicate those values.

Tips for a successful phone call:
-Dial the toll-free number 1-888-797-8717.
- Once you are connected with the Capitol Switchboard, ask for the offices of your Senators or Representative by name.
-Once you are connected with the office, ask to speak with the health care staffer.
-Tell them your name, what congregation you are from including the city and state.
-Tell them that enacting health reform this year is a moral imperative.
-If you know they are a strong supporter of health care reform thank them for their support.
-Feel free to tell them about why you see health reform as a moral imperative and what you hope to see included in health reform legislation.

This toll-free number was made possible with support from the United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries and the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church in collaboration with Faithful Reform in Health Care.

[If we are so successful that you get repeated busy signals, don't worry... your dialed attempt will be counted! Just send an email with the same message instead: Senators   Representative]

Frances & Katherine Join Governor For Children's Health Care Bill Signing

Frances (far left) and Katherine (far right) joined Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski as he signed a bill this morning expanding health care to 80,000 children.  Children First for Oregon notes that the legislation signed today will "provide health care coverage to 95 percent of Oregon’s uninsured children over the next two years."  That's a great accomplishment for the governor and Oregon's legislature.

Katherine and Frances attended the event this morning with their mom (my wife), Liz Smith Currie, who works as the policy director for the Oregon School Based Health Care Network.

The above photo comes from KGW in Portland.

Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski, left, shares a smile with Katherine Curr(ie), 5, as they hold House Bill 2116 after Kulongoski signed it at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland on Tuesday. Don Ryan/The Associated Press

 

Photo published in the August 5, 2009 edition of The Eugene Register Guard.

Hass, Deckert Put Wealthy Ahead Of Children, Poor (Updated)

$733 million in additional state budget cuts – impacting public safety, schools and critical human services – may be coming down the pipe after the Oregon Senate failed to pass legislation increasing taxes on the wealthiest Oregonians. A two-thirds vote was needed to pass the increase. Senator Mark Hass(D-Beaverton) joined Republicans in killing the proposal after being lobbied by the Oregon Business Association, headed by former state senator Ryan Deckert (D-Beaverton). In effect, Hass and Deckert put the interests of the wealthiest Oregonians ahead of those Jesus would have called the “least of these” in our state. If more budget cuts are forced by their actions the moral responsibility will rest with them. The tax increases were responsible and needed. One of the proposals, for example, would have forced companies like PGE and Qwest to pay more than the $10.00 now required under the state’s minimum tax law. The Oregonian has the story.

Update:  Hass changed his vote today and the increases have passed.  Some compromise was involved but the vote was a step in the right direction.  But I won't ever forget that Hass and Deckert played a political game of chicken with the future of children and programs for the poor at stake.     

Reaction To New Report Showing Dramatic Increase In Oregon Homeless Population

The state of Oregon today released new numbers that show a dramatic increase in homelessness across the state.  “The number of people in Oregon identified as homeless increased 37 percent from the same time last year, according to the statewide One-Night Homeless Count,” reports Oregon Housing and Community Services, the state agency that coordinates homeless programs. 
 
This disaster was preventable had the federal government during the last eight years done more to build affordable housing and to support programs that prevent homelessness.  Instead, the Bush Administration pursued economic policies that benefited the wealthy at the expense of those Jesus would have called the “least of these” and the predictable result is increased poverty and homelessness.  Rather than challenge these policies Governor Kulongoski did little during his first term to address homelessness and in his second term created a Bush-driven policy council which has written a ten year plan to end homelessness.
 
But the plan will fail.  It offers no real solutions - only baby steps that will help a few but leave many behind.  Homelessness will only end when poverty is eradicated.  The solution to ending homelessness will also require universal health care and universal mental health treatment.  The governor’s ten-year plan to end homelessness will be soon forgotten and unless our elected officials show true courage to fight the systemic causes of poverty and homelessness there will be more people living on the streets and in shelters a decade from now than there are today.  That solution will require tax reform and a national strategy to end poverty on both a state and national level.  What is required now are bold leaders and bold solutions.
 
To have so many people homeless in Oregon is nothing more than a sin.

Reaction to California Proposition 8 Court Decision; Oregon Implications

My prayers today are with the people of California as they deal with the impact of a court decision that takes away fundamental rights that should be guaranteed to all citizens. The General Synod of the United Church of Christ called for full marriage equality in 2005 and many of our churches in California and around the nation are actively working toward that goal. As an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, I condemn discrimination against gays and lesbians, affirm that God’s love is for all, and pledge to continue working to overturn the 2006 Constitutional Amendment voters passed in Oregon outlawing gay marriage. Scripture has been misunderstood and misused in the debate over equality for gays and lesbians but the gay and lesbian community should know that many Christians have repented of that sin and now stand shoulder to shoulder with their cause.

Related Link:  California's Proposition 8 upheld, proponents of marriage equality vow to continue efforts (United Church News)

Update: The Oregonian has published this statement as a Letter to the Editor in their May 28, 2009 edition.

Portland Health Care Panel Discussion on Thursday, April 16th

On Thursday, April 16th from 6-8 pm there will be a health care reform forum at Portland's First Unitarian Church(1011 SW 12th Ave.)  U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer, State Senator Alan Bates and Dr. Mike Huntington with Physicians for a National Health Program will be among the speakers.  The organizers have invited me to moderate the discussion.  Click here for additional information.  The forum is open to the public. 

EMO Seeking Health Justice Campaign Organizer

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon has an exciting job opening:

The primary focus of this position is to develop and initiate an interfaith health justice campaign targeted at Oregon’s diverse religious communities, in order to educate, engage, and mobilize religious Oregonians to speak out for state and federal level health care reform that increases health care access and that reduces racial, income, and geographic disparities in access to health care.

This campaign is based on a unique partnership among a religious organization (Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon), a health reform advocacy organization (The Archimedes Movement), and an advocacy group for social and economic justice that organizes under-represented communities (Oregon Action). This education, engagement, and advocacy campaign will give special emphasis on outreach to the following three constituencies: congregations whose members are largely drawn from low or moderate income communities of color; congregations located in rural areas of Oregon, especially rural areas East of the Cascade Mountains, in the Willamette Valley, in Southern Oregon and along the Oregon coast, and small business owners in any of the above or other congregations.

Click here to learn more.

A Tragic Loss For Oregon

My prayers tonight are with the late Rabbi Aryeh Hirshfield, his family and the people of Congregation P'nai Or in Portland.

The Oregonian reports on this tragic loss:

The death Tuesday of Aryeh Hirschfield, 65, rabbi of Portland's Congregation P'nai Or, has spurred Oregon's faithful to reach across religious lines to comfort and challenge one another.

"With his passing, the loudest voice for interfaith work and peace between religions has been silenced," said Imam Mamadou Toure of Beaverton's Bilal Mosque. "The greatest tribute that we can give to him is to pick up where his voice left off."

Hirschfield, who was an accomplished composer and musician, was vacationing in Oaxaca, Mexico, when he died. He was snorkeling near the town of Pochutla with his family. His wife, Beth, and his youngest sons had returned to shore but left the boat for him so he could continue to snorkel.

The family was in Mexico to attend the wedding of Hirschfield's son Isaiah. Hirschfield's other survivors include sons Jonathan, Aviel, Dove and Elisha.

Details about Hirschfield's death and his funeral arrangements are uncertain, but the outpouring of grief on his behalf was intense and immediate.

Cassandra Sagan, a member of P'nai Or who has known him for 15 years, said Hirschfield was a brilliant liturgist.

"A service was not just talking about things, it was the thing itself," she said. "It was holiness. It was forgiveness."

Katharine Cahn, who had known Hirschfield for more than three decades -- he sang at her wedding 30 years ago -- said he "brought life back to Judaism. ... He was able to go down into a well and pull up a jewel from the bottom, a jewel that for many people had gotten to be rote, and he could bring it to life."

Click here for the full story.

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

Come What May: I'm Invited To Screen "Pro-Life" Movie

Will President-elect Obama and Congress "make life more difficult for the unborn?"  That's the charge made by Household of Faith Community Church, which is promoting a new "pro-life" film entitled "Come What May."

The Oregon-based congregation sent my office an invitation to a screening of the film.  Read their hyper-partisan invite and my response calling on them to support common ground approaches advocated by the president-elect to reduce the number of abortions and to support families.

Response from Rev. Chuck Currie to Household of Faith Community Church.    

(Note how they assume all pastors are men).

Update:  I should have done a little more homework.  It turns out this film was made before the election.  It was hoped it would become popular enough to sway voters, according to Christian Film News.

Willamette Week today (12/03/08) posted a small article about my letter to Household of Faith Community Church.  Read the story here.

Live On KEX Tuesday AM; Live ON KBOO Tuesday PM

Tuesday morning around 8:20 (maybe a little after) I'll be on the air with Paul Linnman on 1190 KEX to talk about why I'm opposed to Oregon Measure 62.  You can get a preview of what I'll say by clicking here.

Later in the day I'll be in the studios of KBOO radio for a 6 pm discussion on how gender impacts homelessness.  This is really a great conversation to have and you can listen to the show - Outloud - both on air and on the internet.

So tune in.  The lines will be open on KBOO with questions.

One 2008 Christian Voters' Guide To Oregon's Fall Ballot Measure

As a member of the Public Policy Committee for Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO), one of the responsibilities I share with other committee members is in making recommendations as to what ballot measures EMO should support or oppose each election cycle.  EMO's Fall 2008 voter guide is now available.  The introduction states:

This voters’ guide to ballot measures for the Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, statewide general election in Oregon is provided as an educational resource by the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) Board of Directors and Public Policy Committee. EMO is a statewide, ecumenical association working to respond to the needs of Oregonians.

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon’s position statements reflect a vote of its board of directors based on the recommendations of its Public Policy Advocacy Committee.

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon has adopted a “Statement of Social Principles,” which guides our public policy advocacy work. In this statement, we affirm the value of involvement with civic affairs and the governmental process:

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon believes that the demands of the Gospel and our understanding of our diverse religious traditions call us to participate in civic life. Our faith traditions give us a unique and important perspective to offer the community in deliberations on civic, legislative and governmental matters. EMO believes that every person should be given the opportunity to be informed about the policies and processes of government at every level.

As we consider each ballot measure, we keep in mind this statement of principles and seek to make recommendations that are consistent with our past positions and our biblical and theological core principles. We ask that you prayerfully consider the wisdom of your own tradition and process of discernment in exercising your civic duty.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland and the Greek Orthodox Church abstained from EMO’s deliberations regarding the November ballot measures. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese releases all public policy statements through the Oregon Catholic Conference.

Here is how we came down on the ballot measures up for consideration this fall:

Measure 54: Deletes unenforceable constitutional language
Vote YES

Measure 55: Minor redistricting change
No Position

Measure 56: Eliminates double majority requirement
Vote YES

Measure 57: Increases sentences for specified crimes
Vote NO

Measure 58: Limits bilingual education
Vote NO

Measure 59: Tax break for high-income taxpayers
Vote NO

Measure 60: Teacher evaluation based on “performance”
Vote NO

Measure 61: Mandatory minimum prison sentences
Vote NO

Measure 62: Dedicates lottery funds to law enforcement
Vote NO

Measure 63: Eliminates specified building permit requirements
Vote NO

Measure 64: Cuts political funds for public employee unions
Vote NO

Measure 65: Creates open primary elections
No Position

Download the full voter guide to read our reasoning on each of these recommendations.  Copies of the ballot guides are available for bulk purchase for use in churches and other groups.  Please contact EMO at 503-221-1054 or e-mail emo@emoregon.org.

Live Blogging The Interfaith Forum on Ethics of Torture and Human Rights Pt. 3

The Rev. Dr. George Hunsinger has taken the stage here at Portland's Interfaith Forum on Ethics of Torture and Human Rights.  Dr. Hunsinger is the founder of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture and Hazel Thompson McCord Chair of Systematic Theology at Princeton Seminary.

He has been talking about how small the movement against torture was in 2005 and 2006 when he first formed the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.  Churches and other religious groups failed at first, he suggests, to respond to the crisis to scandal exposed by Abu Ghriab.  Now most major religious organizations have spoken out and demanded an end to torture by the U.S. Government and others.      

Dr. Hunsinger believes that the use of torture is one of the most important moral issues of our time - and he is right.  He is urging both political parties to place planks in their platforms rejecting the use of torture.  Click here to learn more.

The work undertaken by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture provides us with an example of how religious communities can make a difference.   

Live Blogging The Interfaith Forum on Ethics of Torture and Human Rights

Today over 100 people have gathered in NE Portland to attend the Interfaith Forum on Ethics of Torture and Human Rights, an event sponsored in part of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.

As background, it should be noted that many Oregon religious leaders - myself included - went on record this year in a letter to U.S. Senator Gordon Smith opposing torture.   

We are Oregon religious leaders representing many faiths, denominations, and regions here in the state of Oregon. We write to express our moral opposition to the use of torture as a method of interrogation by any agency of the U.S. Government, and to ask you to strongly support a provision of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 that applies the interrogation standards of the Army Field Manual to all agencies of the U.S. Government.

Torture is universally condemned by people of faith and conscience as contrary to our most deeply held values. For Christians, opposition is based, in the words of the National Council of Churches “on our fundamental belief in the dignity of the human person created in the image of God and in the rights accorded to all persons by virtue of their humanity.”

This view is also expressed by the National Association of Evangelicals, which has endorsed An Evangelical Declaration Against Torture. This Declaration is grounded in a Christian view of the sanctity of life, and in a commitment to human rights which finds expression in Christian sources dating to long before the Enlightenment. This statement reads in part:

Human rights, which function to protect human dignity and the sanctity of life, cannot be cancelled and should not be overridden. Recognition of human rights creates obligations to act on behalf of others whose rights are being violated. Human rights place a shield around people who otherwise would find themselves at the mercy of those who are angry, aggrieved, or frightened… Among the most significant human rights is the right to security of person, which includes the right not to be tortured.

The Jewish Tradition also strongly condemns torture, and this has been expressed recently when 600 North American Rabbis signed the Rabbinic Letter Against Torture. This letter states that:

We understand that the most fundamental ethical principle, which results from our belief in God as Creator of the world and Parent of all humanity, is that every human being is seen as reflecting the Image of God. Torture shatters and defiles God's Image. 1 The purpose of torture is to remove a person's pride, humiliate that person, or make his or her life so painful that the person does or says whatever the interrogator wants. Torture 'works' by attempting to deprive a human being of will, spirit, and personal dignity. The humanity of the perpetrators, as well as the victims, is inevitably compromised by the use of torture. Jewish tradition calls for humane treatment even of one's adversaries.

Strong statements opposing any use of torture by the US government have also been issued by The Rabbinical Assembly (of Conservative Rabbis), the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, the Union for Reform Judaism and the Jewish Council on Public Affairs.

The teachings of Islam are also quite powerful, “Oh you who believe! Stand forth for Allah witnessing with justice. And do not let hatred of a people sway you into injustice, but adhere always to justice. That is true piety.” (Qur’an, 5:8) The spirit of this Qur’anic decree calls for an end to torture and for the universal guarantee of humane treatment and due process for all prisoners. For Muslims the use of torture under any circumstances is abhorrent. Such means can never serve the ends of justice and peace.

There are of course other, more pragmatic arguments against the use of torture. The most important of these, is that the U.S. must set a standard of international behavior regarding the use of torture. How can we complain when other nations use torture against our soldiers if we continue to practice torture ourselves?

But ultimately, we believe that this is a moral issue that cannot be compromised regardless of the weight of the pragmatic arguments. We support the Statement of Conscience issued by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture:

Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions, in their highest ideals, hold dear. It degrades everyone involved -- policy-makers, perpetrators and victims. It contradicts our nation's most cherished ideals. Any policies that permit torture and inhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable. Nothing less is at stake in the torture abuse crisis than the soul of our nation. What does it signify if torture is condemned in word but allowed in deed? Let America abolish torture now -- without exceptions.

We ask you, Senator Smith, to act strongly in support of policies that clarify once and for all that no agency of the United States may ever use torture, by supporting the application of the US Army Field Manual interrogation standards to all agencies of the US government, including the CIA, and to all sub-contractors of US government agencies.

The first speaker this morning is Dr. Richard Amesbury, Associate Professor of Ethics; Associate Professor of Religion, Claremont Graduate University.  He is the author of the new book Faith and Human Rights: Christianity and the Global Struggle for Human Dignity (Fortress, 2008). 

Oregon Sets Forums On Ethics of Torture & Human Rights

Three Oregon cities will host interfaith discussions in July on the "Ethics of Torture & Human Rights."  Dr. George Hunsinger, founder of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, will be the keynote speaker.

• Portland—Interfaith Forum on Wednesday, July 23, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1624 NE Hancock Street. Fee: $15, includes lunch.
• Eugene—Lecture by George Hunsinger on Wednesday, July 23, 7:30 to 9 p.m., at Central Presbyterian Church, 555 E. 15th Avenue. No fee, but please fill out and send attached registration form.
• Bend—Lecture by George Hunsinger on Thursday, July 24, 12 to 1:30 p.m., at Nativity Lutheran Church, 60850 Brosterhous Road. Fee: $10, includes lunch.

Click here for the brochure.

Oregon religious leaders have campaigned against the use of torture by U.S. forces involved in military conflict.

Tonight Was A "Steve Novick" Night

We've just returned from a fund raising event for Steve Novick, one of two leading candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate from Oregon.  Former Governor John Kitzhaber was the host.  We saw many friends from various parts of our lives there.  If you haven't voted yet be sure you do.  Steve Novick is the only candidate standing up for progressive values with detailed plans for legislation.  That's why I support him.  We need his voice in the United States Senate.

Katherine and Frances, by the way, have become mini-celebrities during this senate race.  A photo of the two of them can be seen on Steve's website and several people came up tonight not to talk to us - the parents - but to shake hands with the twins.

Steve and the twins

Steve and Governor Kitzhaber

Liz talked with long-time friend Marie.

Frances and Katherine do a little dance and show how fun political events can be.

Oregon May 2008 Primary: My Endorsements

Ballots have been mailed out now to Oregon voters and decision time has arrived.  Voting matters (anyone who thinks otherwise should remember the year 2000 when the national election was stolen and events were set in motion that would led us to war and economic woes).  So here is how I plan to vote in some of the contested races:

President

Barack Obama is my choice.  No shock there.  I first endorsed Senator Obama about a year ago and have had the chance to meet him twice since then.  He was against the war when his main opponent – Senator Clinton – folded in the face of poll numbers and endorsed George W. Bush’s crusade.  Senator Obama has detailed positions on the environment and poverty and I expect if elected he won’t abandon his values.

Related Link:  Why I'm Joining Obama for America

United States Senate

Steve Novick has had a solid reputation in Oregon politics for many years.  My wife worked with him on the campaigns to beat back Bill Sizemore’s attempts to gut funding for Oregon’s schools and social service programs.  He won me over when he became the first and only senate candidate to offer up a detailed plan to fight poverty.  Jeff Merkley, his primary opponent, hasn’t offered much in the way of specifics and has engaged in negative campaigning.  Novick, on the other hand, reminds me of Paul Wellstone and Wayne Morris, two political legends from the senate.

Related Link:  Steve Novick Endorsed by Rev. Chuck Currie

Portland Mayor

Sam Adams has earned my vote.  Let me tell you something about Sam:  he worked, as everyone knows, for Vera Katz when she was mayor.  Katz was about as mean as they get and she never forgave anyone who crossed her.  It got to the point that our arguments over housing policy were so heated that she wouldn’t talk to me and had this firm habit of having to go to the bathroom every time I got up to testify at council.  But Sam kept the communication lines open with me and other advocates.  As a city commissioner out on his own, Sam has been a strong supporter of affordable housing and homeless programs.  I wish very much that he talked more about those issues in this campaign but I believe is heart is in the right place.  Sho Dozono hasn’t given me a reason to vote for him but has offered several reasons not to (including negative statements he made about homeless people during the KGW debate).

Portland City Commissioner, Position # 1

I’m voting for Charles Lewis.  Lewis is one of an abundance of Harvard grads we have running in Oregon this year.  He founded a music program for kids and has the endorsement of Stand for Children.  Portland could use another children’s advocate on the city council.  Jeff Bissonnette, who has a solid record in social services, would be my second choice in this race and I hope he runs for another office soon. 

Portland City Commissioner, Position #2

This is the position vacated by Erik Sten, a long time friend and homeless advocate.  Jim Middaugh, Erik’s former chief of staff, is running for the spot and I’m voting for him.  Why?  He knows the issues involved and clearly has the kind of progressive values we need on the city council.  None of the other candidates has his kind of insight. 

Other Important Races

There are, of course, some other races taking place this May.  I’ll be voting for Kate Brown for Secretary of State.  Jackie Dingfelder should be the next state senator in District 23.  Cyreena Boston is running for the Oregon House in District 45 and I think she'll do a terrific job. 

Deborah Kafoury is running for Position 1 on the Multnomah County Commission.  Liz and I would both be voting for her if we lived in the district.  We urge everyone who does live in that part of the county to vote for this experienced former legislator and Transition Projects board chair.

Disclaimer

As a minister in the United Church of Christ, I trust deeply in the Constitutional principle of separation of church and state and my endorsements are therefore personal ones and do not reflect on or speak for the church I serve or my denomination. But as a citizen I believe that all Americans must engage in the political process as individuals for democracy to thrive.  So I choose to be involved. 

   

Why I'm Voting For Steve Novick

Today I want to announce my support for Steve Novick’s candidacy for the United States Senate. My endorsement is a personal one and in no way reflects any endorsement by my denomination or church or their views on the race. I offer this support for Steve Novick simply out of the virtue of being an Oregonian concerned about the future of our national community.

This campaign is about who can best protect our environment, who can best end the war, who can best help ensure that all Americans have health care, who can best get the economy moving again, and who can best address the rising tide of poverty that grips our communities. Steve Novick is that candidate.

He has offered specific plans but more than that in his lifetime of experience in public policy he has demonstrated a willingness to fight for the common good. Steve Novick is a politician in the tradition of Tom McCall, Wayne Morse and Paul Wellstone.

I am particularly impressed that Steve Novick is the only candidate to take seriously the issue of poverty and to offer detailed plans for legislative action that will help Oregon address the issue.

The incumbent in this race has helped to create many of the challenges we now face: he voted for the war and voted for economic policies that have increased deficits and thrown our economy into crisis mode.

Steve Novick’s unique ability to draw people together in common cause will help turn America around and that is why I will vote for him in this election.

Use the below link to download the podcast of this statement for your iPod or personal computer.

Download Novick.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 my podcasts on ITunes. Just open the ITunes application and use the search function to find

"Chuck Currie"

then click on the "Subscribe" button.

Related Link:  Steve Novick Endorsed by Rev. Chuck Currie

Related Link:  Chuck Currie endorses Steve Novick

Oregon On The Menu

Back in the late fall we held an auction at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ to raise funds for our ministry. We had all kinds of great items to bid on: weekend get-a-ways at beach homes, golf outings, and hand quilted blankets (just to name a few). Liz and I offered to cook an all-Oregon meal for someone as one of the items to bid on and believe it or not but someone did. Tonight the Martin family came over for salmon, fresh pesto over fresh pasta, locally grown asparagus, bread baked just this morning from a local bakery, hazelnut salad, and Oregon wines and juices. For desert: an apple pie with apples grown right here in the Willamette Valley and ice cream made on the Oregon coast. The best part, however, was the fellowship with Erica, Travis, Tanner, and Russell as they kept chasing the girls around the house (who ran around in pure joy before collapsing in bed) and engaging us with tales of family, pets, and first dates. A perfect Oregon night. If you’re wondering, the entire auction brought in a few thousand dollars. It was a great success and we’ll be having another one this fall as well.

Related Link: Easter In Portland

Liz Smith Currie Interviewed on KVAL; Big Crowds Rally In Salem For School Based Health Care Centers

In a messed up health care system our children need help where ever they can find it - including in the schools.

That is why over a hundred students and health care advocates went to Salem today in an effort to secure more funding for Oregon school based health care clinics.

Eugene's KVAL reports the story with a video report (complete with quotes from Liz Smith Currie, policy director of the Oregon School Based Health Care Network...and my wife).  Click on the link for the video.

This is one of those areas we can really make a difference on and I'd like to faith community to become more involved in advocating for these essential services.

The Hillsboro Argus Covers Weekend Homeless Protest

As I mentioned on this site both Saturday and Sunday, I joined others in the Beaverton-area in a campout to draw attention to the issue of homelessness in suburban Oregon (this was part of the topic I preached on this past Sunday). 

The Hillsboro Argus has coverage of the event posted today on their website:

One by one they lit their candles.

Bundled in hats, scarves and bulky coats against Saturday night's damp cold, the group, members and supporters of the Interfaith Committee on Homelessness, formed a semi-circle, sheltered by the porch roof at the entrance of Cedar Hills United Church of Christ. 

Before them, a row of reporters and cameramen from local newspapers and Portland television stations completed the arc.

The press was welcome. The purpose of the gathering, as expressed by committee, was to "shine light" on a too easily overlooked condition confronting at least 2,000 Washington County homeless residents: only 110 shelter beds available for families and none for needy singles, coupled with a growing gap in local affordable housing options.

The Rev. Mary Sue Evers, leader of the Cedar Hills congregation, led the group in testimony and prayer before 11 participants moved apart to spend the rest of the night in the parking lot. "We can talk about a hand out, talk about a hand up, but at some point you have to ask, what policies, economic structures are there that keep so many people homeless," Evers said.

The Rev. Chuck Currie, of Parkrose United Church of Christ, attended to show solidarity with the suburban activists. Currie, who began working on homeless issues in 1986 as a volunteer at Baloney Joe's shelter then operating in Portland, said, "We often forget that there's a suburban component to homelessness. We always ask people to look downtown."

After extinguishing their candles, most hunkered down to spend the night sleeping in their parked cars. A tent just outside the church doors sheltered others, and Lois O'Halloran and her husband set out to sleep inside large cardboard boxes on a tarp spread under an open canopy.

One of the signs displayed at the site read, "Cardboard should not be an option for affordable housing."

Click here to read the full story.

Why I'm Sleeping Outside Tonight

This post has been updated

With a low temperature expected tonight near freezing I'll be sleeping in my car outside Cedar Hills United Church of Christ:

Please join out "Out in the Cold" Camp Out on Jan 5th at 7PM at Cedar Hills UCC. Most of us can "choose" to be out in the cold for a night. People dealing with homelessness are not so lucky. Experience what it's like. Spend the night out in the cold to dramatize the plight of our neighbors who are out in the cold. Call Eric for details at (503) 357-3282.

The event is being coordinated by the Interfaith Committee on Homeless of Washington County to draw attention to the growing numbers of people who are homeless in the suburbs and other areas outside the urban core of the Portland-Metro area.  The Interfaith Committee was started by members of Forest Grove United Church of Christ and has grown over nearly two years to include many different faith groups. 

I want to be there to show support for the idea that our urban and suburban neighborhoods face a common problem - a lack of affordable housing for those Jesus would have called the "least of these in society - and it will take local, state and national efforts to end homelessness in America.

Related Post: Remarks at Washington County Homeless Forum

Related Link:  National Coalition for the Homeless

Update:  Watch the coverage of this event from KGW-TV.

Update:  Watch the coverage of this event from KATU-TV.

UCC Seeks To Help Pacific Northwest Recover

Earlier in the week here in the Pacific Northwest we experienced a “weather event.” It started with a little bit of snow (a really little bit of snow…which caused me to mock the weather gods after being promised a bigger snow storm). But then came the winds on the coast. Hurricane force winds. And then came the rain. And then came more rain. Floods torn towns apart on the coast and cut the road between Portland and Seattle. At least five people died.

The United Church of Christ is joining other churches and relief organizations in trying to help put the region back together:

The United Church of Christ National Disaster Ministries office working with our UCC Pacific Northwest Conference disaster response coordinator, Ken Colman, is seeking $25,000 to assist with long term recovery. These funds should be directed to the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS)special fund Emergency USA marked for "Northwest Floods". Information on how to send funds is noted below. $7,000 from OGHS has been sent to the Washington Interfaith Disaster Recovery Organization to begin relief operations, response, and long term recovery. Information from Ken Colman indicates that UCC churches in the area do not have flood damage. The challenge will be to assist in clean up, damage assessment and repairs in areas where roads have been severely damaged along with homes.

Here’s how you can help.

1. Pray for people who live in communities affected by flooding.
2. To help those affected by disasters you may, send gifts payable to your congregation marked for Emergency USA "Northwest Floods" with the request they be sent through your Conference office on to Wider Church Ministries.
OR
3. Send gifts, made out to Wider Church Ministries and marked in the memo portion Emergency USA "Northwest Floods" to the Office for Global Sharing of Resources; Wider Church Ministries; 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115.
OR
4. Make a secure on-line donation.

Where Are Merkley and Novick On Poverty?

Check out the campaign websites of Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick and you’ll find at least one prominent issue missing from the debate as these two duke it out for the democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Gordon Smith: poverty.

In part because of economic policies championed by Gordon Smith and President Bush, poverty levels have risen in America since 2001. In Oregon, as the Oregon Center on Budget and Policy Priorities pointed out on August 28, 2007, that means more Oregonians are suffering:

While the typical Oregon household’s income rose in 2005-06 by $1,667 over 2004-05, Oregon was unable to reduce poverty or the percentage of Oregonians lacking health insurance, according to data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau and analyzed by the Silverton-based Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP), a nonpartisan research institute.

“The typical Oregon household has seen their income improve somewhat,” said Michael Leachman, a policy analyst with the public policy research institute, “but has not recovered from the recession after several years of economic growth.” Leachman noted that Oregon’s median household income in 2005-06 was $46,349, down $3,100 in inflation-adjusted dollars from the pre-recession level of $49,449 in 1999-00.

“We’ve been on the upside of an economic cycle, but it has not been strong enough to heal the pain caused by the last recession or to improve the plight of the poor,” Leachman added. “As the Governor and lawmakers prepare for the inevitable next recession, today’s news should focus their attention on protecting and helping low- and middle-income families,” said Leachman.

“Oregon needs a plan and a commitment to reduce poverty,” said Charles Sheketoff, executive director of the Oregon Center for Public Policy. The Census data shows that poverty overall remains the same as in last year’s report. According to the Center, households with two or more related people living together saw their poverty rate decline, while the poverty rate among children and seniors did not improve.

Oregon does need a plan for reducing – even ending poverty – and there are people across the country working on such strategies. Neither Gordon Smith or Ron Wyden has never shown any leadership on the issue. I challenge Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick to make fighting poverty a centerpiece of their campaigns.

Audrey McCall

When I was a much younger man a friend and colleague who was a veteran of the Tom McCall years brought me to meet Audrey McCall, the wife of the late progressive Republican governor.  I was there to learn what it meant to be an Oregonian:  Take care of the state, she told me.  It needs to be protected by those who would drain our natural resources for their own personal gain.  Don't give up when causes seem lost.  Tom McCall never did.  Audrey McCall died this week and she was the keeper of Gov. McCall's flame.  The best way to honor her legacy is to fight for progressive public policies aross party lines.  Oregonians don't just owe Governor Tom McCall and Audrey McCall our past.  We owe them our future.  Thank you, Audrey McCall, for giving what seemed like every part of yourself to our great state.   

Wyden, Smith AWOL As Number of Homeless Kids Climb

Portland will be hosting over 600 educators from across the nation on November 10-13 for a conference sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. Sad news will greet the teachers upon their arrival.

A report issued this fall by the state Department of Education documented that Oregon schools served over 15,000 homeless students during the 2006-2007 school year – an increase of 18% over the previous year - at the same time that the federal government cut funding to support this population group by 10%.

It was 20 years ago this month that I first joined the board of Burnside Community Council, then Portland's largest provider of services to homeless individuals. During that time it was rare to ever see families and their children on the streets. Now many communities report that homeless families and women with children make up the majority of people who are homeless. Something is very wrong with America.

Religious leaders from every corner of Oregon responded to the news that over 15,000 kids were homeless in Oregon by writing to Governor Ted Kulongoski, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Senator Gordon Smith asking that both the federal and state government do more to address the growing number of homeless students in Oregon seeking an education.

"The fact that over 15,000 children were homeless in Oregon during the last school year is a moral scandal," wrote the religious leaders. "We are writing to urge both the federal and state governments to increase funding for this vulnerable population." I was glad to add my name to the list of signers of the letter.

The Governor's office wrote back and indicated that the state's chief executive was concerned about the issue but offered no specifics about how he would help. Wyden and Smith? So far neither senator has taken the time to respond. The federal cuts to Oregon schools occurred on their watch.

The religious leaders noted in their letter the importance of public school and rejected all calls to segregate homeless students outside of the mainstream school system. We also expressed support for "economic policies that help lift people out of poverty" and wrote about our opposition to the "present policies that have led to increased poverty in our nation."

"The needs of homeless children and families have been largely forgotten by politicians at every level of government," said the nearly 30 clergy and other religious leaders from across the state. I can attest to that. My own attempts to engage even genuine homeless advocates such as Mayor Tom Potter, Portland City Commissioner Erik Sten and Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler on this issue have met with failure. Our elected leaders seem to have surrendered and raised the white flag. But ignoring the problem will not make it go away.

In the Hebrew Scriptures we read in the Book of Isaiah where God declares God's anger against the powerful as poverty and suffering increases. God asks: "What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor? (3:15 NRSV)" Homelessness is a crushing experience and that is true for children more than any other group. Poverty is caused by economic and social factors more than any other reason and so our nation has the opportunity and the responsibility to change course. People do not have to be homeless. But it will take leaders like Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith standing up and fighting to make that happen instead of sitting in the shadows silently hoping that the world gets better. Oregon's children deserve better.

R.J Reynolds & Philip Morris: Evil In Our Midst

Oregon voters tonight rejected a ballot measure that would have expanded health care programs for children. Tobacco companies spent well over $10 million to defeat the initiative and their bombardment of the airways worked. The health care programs would have been paid for by a new tax on cigarettes. That didn’t sit well with R.J Reynolds & Philip Morris and these companies that make their money off addiction and suffering threw everything they had at defeating critically needed health care programs for kids. You wonder how their executives and employees manage to sleep. This is - if there ever was one – a prime example of human deprivation. R.J Reynolds & Philip Morris have already caused untold misery and hardship across the world and hundreds of thousands of deaths are directly on their hands. But they are not satisfied with all the riches they have gained. They want more. And more after that. If a few extra kids have to die to satisfy their appetites so be it.  That, my friends, is the definition of evil.

Related Link:  Oregon Religious Leaders: Yes On Measure 50

Jefferson Smith For Oregon's House District 47

I had the chance to spend some time today with Jefferson Smith, founder of the Bus Project and currently a candidate in District 47 for the Oregon House of Representatives. Jefferson grew up in the neighborhood where my family now lives and after U of O and Harvard Law School he came back to Portland’s eastside where he has dedicated himself to the cause of encouraging young people to become engaged in the democratic process. Why is he running for the Oregon House? 70% of the kids at David Douglass are on free or reduced price lunch. Jefferson wants to give these kids a better life and to build a stronger eastside Portland. We share the same values. District 47 residents would be well served by sending Jefferson Smith to Salem. All Oregon would benefit from his voice.

Note: Churches are prohibited by federal law from endorsing candidates for public office.  I support that law and want to make clear that any and all endorsements that I make are personal and are not made on behalf of either my denomination or the church I serve. 

Photo credit:  www.jeffersonsmith.com

Do We Have A Right To Die? Assisted Suicide And The United Church of Christ

A group affiliated with at least two United Church of Christ clergy members in California has formed a new project - End of Life Consultation Service – that is drawing fire from those opposed to assisted suicide. The project will “will help terminal patients to access hospice, pain treatment, information on aid in dying options and other excellent end-of-life care,” according to the website of Compassion and Choice.

Click here for the full post.

Oregon Religious Leaders: Yes On Measure 50

Press Release from Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

A diverse group of Portland area religious leaders (this week) spoke out about their belief that Measure 50 is a fair and effective response to the crying moral injustice of more than 100,000 Oregon children who lack health care insurance.

Gathered at St. Philip the Deacon Episcopal Church, a historically African-American congregation in NE Portland, the faith leaders also responded to opposition arguments that Measure 50 is unfair to smokers.

The event was hosted by five religious and community non-profit organizations: Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, the American Jewish Committee Oregon Chapter, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, the Oregon Center for Christian Values, and the Urban League of Portland.

David Leslie, the Executive Director of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon noted that, “The faith leaders who have gathered here or who have endorsed Measure 50 includes Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders throughout Oregon.  We may disagree on many articles of belief, but our diverse traditions agree on the need to care for all our children, and on the right of all persons to quality health care.” 

David Leslie also read a statement of support from Robert T. Hoshibata, the Resident Bishop, Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.  Bishop Hoshibata has publicly endorsed Measure 50. This is his statement: 

“Because I am traveling today I cannot be present with other representatives of our faith communities who are gathering to urge you to vote for Measure 50.  This measure promises to improve the quality of life for Oregonians by making it possible for children and the working poor to better access health care and medical insurance.  This will enable families to utilize more of their income for food and other critical necessities of life.  We cannot overestimate the many related benefits that will be realized by the passage of Measure 50.”

Lutheran Bishop David Brauer-Rieke expressed the support of the Oregon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church for Measure 50; “"Social statements from our Church clearly recognize the health care crisis that is upon us.  We recognize our moral obligation to advocate on behalf of those who have little or no access to basic care and comfort.  Measure 50 offers support and needed services for our children, in many cases those who most need such care and are the least able to provide it for themselves.  The promised focus on rural health care and school based clinics is appropriate and functional.  Oregon youth deserve what Measure 50 offers and more."

The Rev. Alcena Boozer responded to tobacco company arguments that an increase in the tobacco tax is unfair to smokers, “African-American and Latino communities have disproportionately high rates of smoking-caused death and disease.  Tobacco companies often target young people in our communities in their efforts to recruit new smokers.  By increasing the tobacco tax, and using part of that money to fund anti-smoking education programs we can reduce the number of our young people who take up smoking -- and we fund the healthy kids program too.  It’s a double dose of good news for children’s health.”

Rabbi Michael Z. Cahana, the Senior Rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel described it as a “scandal” that more than 100,000 children in Oregon lack health insurance.  “Children without access to heath care don’t do as well in school.  They become sick more often and miss more school than their peers.  They often defer needed medical treatment, so that they end up in emergency rooms, where they receive extremely expensive care. Ultimately the lack of health insurance can even lead to unnecessary death or disability.” 

Rabbi Cahana continued, “Our religious teachings instruct us that we have a responsibility to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. Jewish tradition teaches us that if we can save one life, it is as if we have saved an entire world, because each person’s potential is unlimited.  I support Measure 50 because it will help ensure that no Oregon child loses his or her life for lack of access to quality health care.” 

The Rev. Lynne Smouse López of Ainsworth United Church of Christ noted the high costs smoking imposes on all of us, “We all end up paying for the costs of tobacco use – through higher health insurance premiums and higher taxes.  By raising Oregon’s tobacco tax to the same level as it is in the state of Washington, we can recover some of those costs, and fund health care for children who desperately need it now.”

Stephanie Tama-Sweet, the Executive Director of the Oregon Center for Christian Values, spoke about the way she sees the life of Jesus related to the issue of health care for children, “When I look at the life of Jesus, it is absolutely clear that he cared for children. Jesus saw the beloved nature of children and recognized that God's intention was that they live a full and healthy and safe life. In our society based on politics and business and big money, though, kids are essentially voiceless in securing their own health and safety.  Voting Yes on Measure 50 is the most effective, most secure way that we can ensure that our children have the health care they deserve. Voting Yes on Measure 50 is one of the ways we can ensure our children experience the fullness of life that God intended.  Please join us in voting Yes on Measure 50."

Rev. Mark Knutson, of the Augustana Lutheran Church, said that faith communities are doing far more for Measure 50 than just holding press conferences, “Many of the organizations represented here today have supported the healthy kids program when it was a legislative proposal, and now that it is on the ballot many people of faith are involved in the Yes on 50 campaign.  I personally want to invite all people of faith to join us at Augustana Lutheran Church on Sunday October 28th for People of Faith Get Out the Vote Day, at 2:00 pm.”  Augustana Lutheran Church is located at 2710 NE 14th Ave., Portland, OR 97212.

FAITH LEADERS FOR MEASURE 50

Congregational names listed for identification purposes only.

Bishop Dave Brauer-Rieke, Oregon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
Bishop Robert T. Hoshibata, Oregon-Idaho Conference of The United Methodist Church
Rev. Alcena Boozer, St. Philip the Deacon Episcopal Church, NE Portland
Father Armando Lopez, OFM, Ascension Catholic Church, Portland
Father Donald R. Buxman, Christ the King Catholic Church, Milwaukee, OR
Rev. Dr. Dan Bryant, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Eugene
Rabbi Michael Z. Cahana, Senior Rabbi, Congregation Beth Israel, Portland
Rev. J.W. Matt Hennessee, Senior Pastor, Vancouver Ave. First Baptist Church, N/NE Portland
Rev. Mark Knutson, Augustana Lutheran Church, Portland
Rabbi Annette Koch, Beit Haverim/South Metro Jewish Congregation
Rev. Chuck Currie, Parkrose Community UCC, Portland
Rev. Benjamin Dake, First Presbyterian Church, Cottage Grove
Pastor Karen Edwards, Faith Lutheran, Keizer
Rev. Lowell Greathouse, First United Methodist Church, Portland
Rev. Kent Harrop, First Baptist Church, McMinnville
Rabbi Daniel Isaak, Congregation Neveh Shalom, Portland
Rev. Gail McDougle, First Congregational Church (UCC), Salem
Rev. David Nagler, Nativity Lutheran Church, Bend
Rev. Lynne Smouse López, Ainsworth United Church of Christ, Portland
Rev. John Pitney, Pastor, FirSt United Methodist Church of Eugene
Rev. Cecil Prescod, Ainsworth UCC, Portland
Rev. Jim Boston, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Grants Pass
Shahriar Ahmed, President, Bilal Masjid Mosque, Beaverton
Rev. Barbara J. Campbell, St. Mark Presbyterian Church, Portland
Fr. John Reutter-Harrah, Pastor, Prince of Life Lutheran, Oregon City
Rev. Dr. Patricia Ross, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Portland
Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell, First Unitarian Church, Portland
Rev. Wendy Woodworth, Fremont United Methodist Church, Portland
Dale C. Harris, Retired United Methodist pastor
Gregory Hamilton, President, Northwest Religious Liberty Association
The Oregon Center for Christian Values
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland
American Jewish Committee, Oregon Chapter

Oregon's Anti-Gay Campaigns Helped State (In Their Own Way)

Good news to mention: opponents of two new state civil rights laws here in Oregon – one banning discrimination in the work place against gays and lesbians and the other extending civil union benefits to same sex couples – have failed in their effort to collect enough signatures to force a vote on recalling the measures.

Over the last two decades the Religious Right has placed ballot measure after ballot measure before the voters attempting to curtail civil rights for the GLBT community.

The fights have always been ugly and cost millions.  It is a relief that this time we won’t have to spend energy here in Oregon debating once again the merits of providing basic civil rights for all people. 

On the other hand, I have to give credit where credit is due.  Without these ballot measures Oregonians would have never have been forced to confront the issue of civil rights for gays and lesbians so directly.  Our churches, for example, might never had to wrestle with the theological implications of saying to another “your life is not deserving of equal protection under the law.”

Most people know that these anti-gay campaigns have been waged by Christians.  Fewer know that these campaigns have also been opposed by Christians – Christians who have come to an understanding that God’s justice, love, mercy, and grace is available to all.  Without these anti-gay campaigns over the years fewer congregations in the Christian community would have ever declared themselves to be “Open and Affirming” or “Welcoming” or “Reconciling.”

No one knows the full extent of the damage done to people over the years as the initiatives have been debated.  The stress has to be enormous on people who know their rights are actually going be voted on.  That takes a toll, no question.

But the Religious Right never anticipated that one result of their efforts would be to extend the openness of many churches.  The anti-gay movement in Oregon has helped many to reject the more narrow impulses of Christian tradition and to shine a light of hope where before for many there was only darkness and emptiness in our sanctuaries.

Members of the Community of Welcoming Congregations

Our Member Congregations

• Buddhist
  • The Dharma Center, Klamath Falls ⇒
    9669 Highway 140 E.

    Klamath Falls, OR 97601 map
• Catholic
  • Journey/ Koinonia Catholic Community, Portland ⇒
    St. Stephens Episcopal Church
    SW 13th and Clay

    Portland, OR 97225 map
  • St. Andrew's Catholic Church, Portland ⇒
    806 NE Alberta St.

    Portland, OR 97211 map
  • St. Francis Of Assisi Catholic Church, Portland ⇒
    330 SE 11th Ave.

    Portland, OR 97214 map
  • St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, Portland ⇒
    2408 SE 16th Ave.

    Portland, OR 97214 map
• Catholic / Lutheran
  • Mission Of The Atonement, Beaverton ⇒
    7400 SW Scholls Ferry Road

    Beaverton, OR 97008 map
• Christian
  • Abiding Grace Fellowship, Vancouver ⇒
    10637 NE Coxley Drive, Ste. 108

    Vancouver, OR 98685 map
  • Divina Communis Projects, Portland ⇒
    8233 North Syracuse Street, Suite A

    Portland, OR 97203 map
• Church Of The Brethren
  • Peace Church Of The Brethren, Portland ⇒
    12727 SE Market St

    Portland, OR 97233 map
• Disciples Of Christ
  • The View Christian Church, Portland ⇒
    c/o Lynchwood Christian Church
    3815 SE 174th Ave.

    Portland, OR 97236 map
• Episcopal
  • St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Eugene ⇒
    166 East 13th Ave.

    Eugene, OR 97405-0980 map
  • St. Stephen's Episcopal Parish, Portland ⇒
    1432 SW 13th Ave.

    Portland, OR 97201 map
  • Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Portland ⇒
    ATTN: Open & Welcoming Committee
    147 NW 19th Ave.

    Portland, OR 97209 map
• Jewish
  • Keshet Jewish Group, Portland ⇒
    Call David 503-226-7079 x14
    If no answer, call 503-684-1900 leave message

    Portland, OR  map
• Jewish (conservative)
  • Congregation Neveh Shalom, Portland ⇒
    2900 SW Peaceful Ln.

    Portland, OR 97201 map
• Jewish (liberal)
  • Congregation Shir Tikvah, Portland ⇒
    Bridgeport Community Church
    621 NE 76th

    Portland, OR  map
• Jewish (reconstructionist)
  • Havurah Shalom, Portland ⇒
    825 NW 18th Ave.

    Portland, OR 97209-2333 map
  • Temple Beth Israel, Eugene ⇒
    42 W 25th Ave.

    Eugene, OR 97405 map
• Jewish (reform)
  • Congregation Beth Israel, Portland ⇒
    1972 NW Flanders

    Portland, OR 97209 map
• Jewish (renewal)
  • P'nai Or, Portland ⇒
    9750 SW Terwilliger Blvd

    Portland, OR 97219 map
• Lutheran ( E L C A )
  • Augustana Lutheran Church, Portland ⇒
    2710 NE 14th Ave.

    Portland, OR 97212 map
  • Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Portland
    1244 NE 39th Ave

    Portland, OR 97232 map
  • Central Lutheran Church, Portland ⇒
    1820 NE 21st Ave.

    Portland, OR 97212 map
  • Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church, Portland ⇒
    515 SW Maplecrest Dr.

    Portland, OR 97219 map
  • St. James Lutheran Church, Portland ⇒
    1315 SW Park

    Portland, OR 97219 map
• M C C
  • Metropolitan Community Church Of Portland, Portland ⇒
    2400 NE Broadway

    Portland, OR 97232 map
• Mormon
  • Affirmation ( Queer Mormons ), Portland ⇒
    Call for meeting times and locations.
    (971) 409-3463

    Portland, OR  map
• New Thought
  • New Thought Ministries Of Oregon, Beaverton ⇒
    Kingstad Conference Center
    15450 SW Millikan Way

    Beaverton, OR 97006 map
  • Portland Center For Spiritual Growth, Portland ⇒
    11307 NE Fremont Ct

    Portland, OR 97220 map
• Pagan
  • Sister Spirit, Portland ⇒
    Portland, OR 
• Presbyterian Church ( U S A )
  • Rose City Park Presbyterian Church, Portland ⇒
    1907 NE 45th Ave.

    Portland, OR 97213 map
  • Southminster Presbyterian Church, Beaverton ⇒
    12250 SW Denney Rd

    Beaverton, OR 97008 map
  • St. Mark Presbyterian Church, Portland ⇒
    9750 SW Terwilliger Blvd.

    Portland, OR  map
• Quaker
  • Fanno Creek Worship Group, Beaverton ⇒
    Catlin Gabel School - Dant House
    8825 SW Barnes Road

    Beaverton, OR  map
  • Freedom Friends Church, Salem ⇒
    2425 13th St. SE

    Salem, OR 97302 map
  • Multnomah Monthly Meeting, Portland ⇒
    4312 SE Stark

    Portland, OR 97215 map
• Unitarian Universalist
  • Atkinson Memorial Church, Oregon City ⇒
    710 Sixth St.

    Oregon City, OR 97045 map
  • Eastrose Fellowship Unitarian Universalist, Gresham ⇒
    1133 NE 181st Ave.

    Gresham, OR  map
  • First Unitarian Church, Portland ⇒
    1011 SW 12th Ave.

    Portland, OR 97205 map
  • Michael Servetus Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Vancouver ⇒
    4504 E. 18th St.

    Vancouver, WA 98661 map
  • Mid-Columbia Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Hood River ⇒
    Mid-Columbia Center for Living
    1610 Woods Ct

    Hood River, OR 97031 map
  • Unitarian Universalist Community Church Of Washington County, Hillsboro ⇒
    22785 NW Birch St

    Hillsboro, OR 97124 map
  • Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Of Corvallis, Corvallis ⇒
    2945 NW Circle Dr.

    Corvallis, OR 97330-3937 map
  • Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Of Klamath County, Klamath Falls ⇒
    9669 Highway 140 East
    P.O. Box 391

    Klamath Falls, OR 97601 map
  • Wy'east Unitarian Universalist, Portland ⇒
    3300 SE Woodstock Blvd.

    Portland, OR 97202 map
• United Church Of Christ
  • Ainsworth United Church Of Christ, Portland ⇒
    2941 NE Ainsworth

    Portland, OR 97211 map
  • All People's United Church Of Christ, Bend
    Bend, OR 
  • Beavercreek United Church Of Christ, Beaver Creek ⇒
    23345 S Beavercreek Rd.

    Beaver Creek, OR 97004 map
  • Bridgeport United Church Of Christ, Portland ⇒
    621 NE 76th Ave.

    Portland, OR 97213 map
  • Christ The Healer United Church Of Christ, Beaverton ⇒
    5150 SW Watson

    Beaverton, OR 97005 map
  • Clackamas United Church Of Christ, Milwaukie ⇒
    15303 SE Webster Rd.

    Milwaukie, OR 97267 map
  • Congregational United Church Of Christ, Klamath Falls ⇒
    2154 Garden Ave.

    Klamath Falls, OR 97601 map
  • First Congregational Church Of Vancouver, Vancouver ⇒
    1220 NE 68th

    Vancouver, WA 98665 map
  • First Congregational United Church Of Christ, Corvallis, Corvallis ⇒
    4515 SW West Hills Rd.

    Corvallis, OR 97333 map
  • First Congregational United Church Of Christ, Portland, Portland ⇒
    1126 SW Park Ave.

    Portland, OR 97205 map
  • First Congregational United Church Of Christ, Salem, Salem ⇒
    700 Marion St. NE

    Salem, OR 97301 map
  • Forest Grove United Church Of Christ, Forest Grove ⇒
    2032 College Way

    Forest Grove, OR 97116 map
  • Hillsdale Community United Church Of Christ, Portland ⇒
    6948 SW Capital Hwy

    Portland, OR 97219 map
  • Kairos - Milwaukie United Church Of Christ, Milwaukie ⇒
    4790 Logus Rd.

    Milwaukie, OR 97222 map
  • Lake Oswego United Church Of Christ, Lake Oswego ⇒
    1111 SW Country Club Rd.

    Lake Oswego, OR 97034 map
  • Meridian United Church Of Christ, Wilsonville ⇒
    6750 SW Boeckman Rd.

    Wilsonville, OR 97070 map
  • Parkrose United Church Of Christ, Portland ⇒
    4715 NE 106th Ave.

    Portland, OR 97220 map
  • United Church Of Christ Congregational Of The Dalles, The Dalles ⇒
    111 E 5th St.

    The Dalles, OR 97058 map
  • Waverly Heights United Church Of Christ, Portland ⇒
    3300 SE Woodward

    Portland, OR 97202 map
  • Zion United Church Of Christ, Gresham ⇒
    2025 NE 23rd

    Gresham, OR 97030 map
• United Methodist Church
  • First United Methodist Church, Corvallis ⇒
    1165 NW Monroe Ave.

    Corvallis, OR 97330 map
  • First United Methodist Church, Portland ⇒
    1838 SW Jefferson St.

    Portland, OR 97201 map
  • Metanoia Peace Community United Methodist Church, Portland ⇒
    2116 NE 18th Ave.

    Portland, OR 97212 map
  • Micah's Village - Christ The Reconciler UMC, Clackamas ⇒
    Sunnyside Grange
    SE 132nd and SE Sunnyside Road

    Clackamas, OR  map
  • Morningside United Methodist Church, Salem ⇒
    3674 12th St. SE

    Salem, OR 97302-3459 map
  • University Park United Methodist Church, Portland ⇒
    4775 N Lombard St.

    Portland, OR 97203 map
  • Vancouver Heights United Methodist Church, Vancouver ⇒
    5701 MacArthur Blvd.

    Vancouver, WA 98661 map

Affiliated Members

• Act for Action - Theater for All, Portland ⇒
  PO Box 14162

  Portland, OR 97293
• Interfaith Spiritual Center, Portland ⇒
  4619 N. Michigan
  enter on Going Street

  Portland, OR 97217
• Justice and Witness Ministry Team - CPC UCC, Portland ⇒
  c/o Aleita Hass-Holcombe
  0245 SW Bancroft Suite E

  Portland, OR 97239
• PFLAG Clackamas County, Oregon City ⇒
  Meetings at Atkinson Memorial Church
  710 Sixth Street

  Oregon City, OR 97045
• PFLAG Pendleton, Pendleton ⇒
  P.O. Box 755

  Pendleton, OR 97801
• PFLAG Portland, Portland ⇒
  P.O. Box 8944

  Portland, OR 97207

Campus Ministers and Chaplains

• Rev. Dr. Karen Wood, Willamette University ⇒
  Willamette University, 
• Rev. Gwen Morgan, Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital ⇒

             

Fall In Oregon

Oregonians will often tell you that fall is our best season: pleasant, warm days and cool Autumn nights.  The last few days have been just like that.  The weather prompted us tonight to build a small backyard fire, bundle up the twins in their fall coats, and to sit outside with Hugo and Hazel, our loyal dogs, before the girls had to go to bed.  Hugo is pictured here.  The Pacific Northwest is simply the best place on earth (not counting the great state of South Carolina, of course).   

Breaking News! Religious Leaders Say Oregon Faces “Moral Crisis” After New Report Shows Over 15,000 Homeless Students in Public School

“No child should be homeless in a nation as rich as ours.” – Oregon Religious Leaders

Today religious leaders from every corner of Oregon wrote to Governor Ted Kulongoski, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Senator Gordon Smith asking that both the federal and state government do more to address the growing number of homeless students in Oregon seeking an education.

A report issued this month by the state Department of Education documented that Oregon schools served over 15,000 homeless students at the same time that the federal government cut funding to support this population group by 10%.

“The fact that over 15,000 children were homeless in Oregon during the last school year is a moral scandal,” wrote the religious leaders. “We are writing to urge both the federal and state governments to increase funding for this vulnerable population.”

The religious leaders noted in their letter the importance of public school and rejected all calls to segregate homeless students outside of the mainstream school system. They also expressed support for “economic policies that help lift people out of poverty” and noted their opposition to the “present policies that have led to increased poverty in our nation.”

“The needs of homeless children and families have been largely forgotten by politicians at every level of government,” wrote the nearly 30 clergy and other religious leaders from across the state. Copies of the letter are being forwarded on to other statewide elected officials and local city and county officials as well.

“Current efforts to address the issue of ‘chronic homelessness’ in downtown city centers, although important in their own right, have had the consequence of obscuring the issues faced by children and their families,” say the signers of the letter

The Letter

September 19, 2007                           SENT BY FAX

Governor Ted Kulongoski, 160 State Capitol 900 Court Street. Salem, Oregon 97301-4047

The Honorable Ron Wyden, United States Senate, 223 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC, 20510-3703

The Honorable Gordon Smith, United States Senate, 404 Russell Building, Washington, DC 20510

Dear Governor Kulongoski, Senator Wyden and Senator Smith:

This past week the Oregon Department of Education announced that public schools in Oregon educated over 15,000 homeless children. At the same time, federal funding to support the education of homeless children in our state fell 10%. We are writing to urge both the federal and state governments to increase funding for this vulnerable population.

As religious leaders, we care deeply about this issue. Our traditions teach that justice for those living in poverty is of paramount concern. Churches, temples and mosques across Oregon are involved in the fight to end homelessness.

The fact that over 15,000 children were homeless in Oregon during the last school year is a moral scandal. No child should be homeless in a nation as rich as ours. We support efforts to fully integrate homeless students into the public school system where they can receive all the benefits of a public education and oppose segregating homeless children into separate schools. Separate is never equal.

Furthermore, we call on the federal and state government to do more to address the root causes of homelessness in our society. We support economic policies that help lift people out of poverty and oppose the present policies that have led to increased poverty in our nation. The needs of homeless children and families have been largely forgotten by politicians at every level of government. Current efforts to address the issue of "chronic homelessness" in downtown city centers, although important in their own right, have had the consequence of obscuring the issues faced by children and their families.

Ensuring that public schools have the funding they need to meet the issues faced by homeless children is a step we should all be able to agree on.

We can be contacted through Rev. Chuck Currie at 503-253-5457 or chuck.currie@parkroseucc.org .

Sincerely,

The Rev. Chuck Currie, Interim Minister, Parkrose Community United Church of Christ, Portland

The Rev. Dr. Arvin R. Luchs, Senior Minister, First United Methodist Church, Portland

The Reverend Stephen Schafroth, Deacon, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, The Dalles

The Rev. Dr. Daniel E. H. Bryant, Senior Minister, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Eugene

Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield, P'nai Or of Portland, Oregon

Mr. David Leslie, Executive Director, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

Ms. Stephanie Tama-Sweet, Executive Director, Oregon Center for Christian Values

The Rev. Karl Vercouteren, Pastor, United Church of Christ of The Dalles, Oregon

The Rev. Jeffrey D. Barton, Pastor, Lake Oswego United Church of Christ

Mr. Eric Canon, Chair, Interfaith Committee on Homelessness, Forest Grove

Denise Anderson, Director of Mission and Pastoral Services, Providence Milwaukie Hospital

The Rev. Mark Knutson, Pastor, Augustana Lutheran Church, Portland

The Rev. Peg Lofsvold, Associate Pastor, Lake Oswego United Methodist Church

The Rev. Patricia F. Berger, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Gresham

The Rev. Dr. Leland E. Hunefeld, Pastor, Tigard United Methodist Church

Pastor Matthew Eagan, Calvary Lutheran Church, Hillsboro

The Rev. Diane Dulin, Pastor, First Congregational United Church of Christ of Hillsboro

The Rev. Joan B. Stoneking, United Church of Christ minister, Hillsboro

The Rev. Don Barnhart, Pastor, Oak Grove United Methodist Church

Dr. Rex Hagans, Lay Member, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon Public Policy Advocacy Committee

The Rev. Dr. Lowell Greathouse, Minister of Discipleship, First United Methodist Church, Portland

The Rev. Ryan J. Lambert, Associate Pastor, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Corvallis

The Rev. Gail McDougle, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Salem

Ms. Blair Loudat, Council Moderator, Parkrose Community United Church of Christ, Portland

Pastor Timothy and Pastor Elizabeth Winslea, Co-pastors, Lincoln Street and Sunnyside United Methodist Churches, Portland

The Rev. Susan Leo, Minister, Bridgeport United Church of Christ, Portland

The Rev Pamela Shepherd, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Ashland

Ms. Cat Willett, Office of Justice and Peace , Campaign for Human Development . Archdiocese of Portland

Titles used for identification purpose only

CC: Oregon School Superintendent Susan Castillo Oregon’s U.S. House Delegation Regional and local elected officials

Peace & Justice News from EMO: Measure 50

                         

                                Special Issue on Ballot Measure 50

                                        and Health Care Reform

Please attend a special interfaith organizing meeting for the
Yes on Measure 50 (Healthy Kids) Campaign

Thursday, September 20, 2007 – 12 noon to 2 p.m.

At the Interchurch Center –
SW Bancroft and Kelly, Portland, OR 97239 (Directions)
(In the Corbett/Lair Hill area of Portland, near Barbur Blvd. and Hamilton)
            
This meeting is co-sponsored by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO)
and the Oregon Center for Christian Values (OCCV).

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Kevin Finney
at (503) 221-1054, ext. 204, or e-mail Kevin at kfinney@emoregon.org.

---

A Moral Challenge for Oregonians of Faith
In 2006, one in six Oregonians—or 576,000 people, including over 116,000 children—lacked health insurance. Nearly half of these are working adults. One of the biggest challenges facing poor and low-income families is finding the ability to afford decent health care. As people of faith, we find it morally unacceptable that more than 100,000 Oregon children currently lack health insurance, and that health insurance has become unaffordable for many working Oregonians.

Passing Measure 50 is Critical to Increasing Health Care Access
The first step toward being able to provide all Oregonians with access to quality health care is passage of Ballot Measure 50, which the Legislature has placed before the voters at a special election on November 6, 2007.   

A “Yes!” vote on Measure 50 will increase state revenue by an estimated $386 million over the next four years to provide health care for children and low-income adults, and double the amount of money available for proven tobacco-prevention programs. It does this through an 84.5 cent per pack increase in the state’s cigarette tax, matching our neighbors to the north in Washington state.   

Measure 50 leads in early polls of Oregon voters, but tobacco companies like R.J. Reynolds are funding a huge media campaign against Measure 50. People of faith are called to study the facts about this measure and help to educate others about why its passage is so important. For more information on Measure 50, visit http://healthykids-oregon.org/.

Have You, Your Church, or Your Denomination Endorsed Measure 50? 
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is working with the Yes on 50 Campaign to compile a growing list of faith supporters for measure 50. Please let us know if we can add your name or the name of your church to our growing list of supporters. 

Wherever you are in the state of Oregon, please reply to this e-mail if you would like to support Measure 50 in any way. Let me know your name, e-mail address and phone number so we can keep you updated about how to help the Yes on 50 Campaign.

Clergy Sign Voters Guide Statement for Measure 50
A growing list of clergy and faith organizations have endorsed measure 50.  Several of those have submitted statements of support for the voters guide put out by the Secretary of State prior to the Nov. 6th election.  Among those signing the statement of support or endorsing Measure 50 are: 

Rev. Alcena Boozer, St. Philip the Deacon Episcopal Church, NE Portland
Rev. Dr. Dan Bryant, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Eugene
Rev. Chuck Currie, Parkrose Community UCC, Portland
Rev. Benjamin Dake, First Presbyterian Church, Cottage Grove
Rev. Kent Harrop, First Baptist Church, McMinnville
Rabbi Daniel Isaak, Congregation Neveh Shalom, Portland
Rev. Gail McDougle, First Congregational Church (UCC), Salem
Rev. David Nagler, Nativity Lutheran Church, Bend
Rev. Jim Boston, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Grants Pass
Shahriar Ahmed, President, Bilal Masjid Mosque, Beaverton
Gregory Hamilton, President, Northwest Religious Liberty Association
The Oregon Center for Christian Values
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland

To see the all the pro and con voters guide statements, go to: 
http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/nov62007/   

Kick-off the “Yes on 50 Campaign” This Weekend by Canvassing in Portland or Eugene
Election Day is less than eight weeks away! The Healthy Kids, Yes on 50 Campaign needs your help to go door-to-door this Saturday in Portland and this Sunday in Eugene.

Portland
Saturday, September 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SEIU Local 49, 3536 SE 26th Ave. (corner of 26th & Powell)
Contact Kevin at (503) 221-1054, ext. 204 or by e-mail at kfinney@emoregon.org
Training & materials provided

Eugene
Sunday, September 16, 2 to 5 p.m.
Stand for Children office, 1192 Lawrence (corner of 12th & Lawrence)
Contact Kevin at (503) 221-1054, ext. 204 or by e-mail at kfinney@emoregon.org 
Training & materials provided

Who Else Has Endorsed Measure 50? Here’s a Partial List: 

American Cancer Society
Oregon PTA
Oregon Medical Association
Oregon Business Association
Oregon Alliance of Retired Americans
American Heart Association
American Lung Association of Oregon
Oregon Education Association
Children First for Oregon
Oregon Nurses Association
United Seniors of Oregon
Governor Ted Kulongoski
Oregon Pediatric Society
Oregon AFL-CIO
Urban League of Portland
Oregon Public Health Association
American Association of University Women
National Council of Jewish Women, Portland Section
Oregon School-Based Health Care Network
SEIU, Local 503 and Local 49
Oregon State Public Interest Research Group
Jewish Federation of Greater Portland
Oregonians for Health Security
Providence Health System
Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids
Oregon Food Bank
Oregon Health Action Campaign
Stand for Children

Over 15,000 Homeless Kids In Oregon Schools During 06-7

A new report issued today shows that Oregon continues to experience an an increase in the number of homeless kids attending public school while our state and local governments - including Portland and Multnomah County at the urging of the Bush Administration - are concentrating most of their attention on the needs of the so-called chronic homeless.  Meanwhile, the numbers of homeless kids trying to get an education grows.  Instead of working to help school districts meet the needs of homeless students in our public schools Multnomah County funds a separate school for homeless kids that is not accountable to the tax payers and where students are not tested alongside their public school peers to chart achievement.  Over the years my calls on elected officials to better address the issue of growing homelessness in our student population have been met with delays, excuses and silence.  Last year over 15,000 homeless students attended Oregon public schools.  How high does that number have to go before our elected leaders take notice?

What follows is a press release issued today by the Oregon Department of Education:    

State’s Homeless Student Report: Homeless student population grows 18% as federal funding decreases 10%
 
SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that Oregon’s homeless student population for the 2006-07 school year was 15,517.  This number represents a 18% increase in the number of homeless students receiving public school supports during the 2005-06 school year.

The results of the homeless student count are listed below:

• 15,517 of  Oregon’s 562,828 K-12 students (2.8%) were homeless for some period of time during 2006-07
• 7,178 homeless students were enrolled in grades K-5
• 3,235 homeless students were enrolled in grades 6-8
• 5,104 homeless students were enrolled in grades 9-12
• Just as in 05-06, the greatest numbers of homeless students were 12^th graders (1,516)
• 2,487 students within the total count were unaccompanied homeless minors who had been abandoned by parents, or had runaway from home or foster care placement.
• Within the total count, at the time of their enrollment, 10,737 homeless students in Oregon reported sharing housing with relatives or friends due to economic hardship or similar reason; 1,848 reported living in a homeless shelter; 2012 were reported as unsheltered or living in substandard housing; and 920 were living in motels.

“This year Oregon was hit hard when the federal funding our school districts receive to assist homeless students was cut by 10%.” Castillo said. “Unfortunately the funding formula is based on statistical projections and not real need. I urge our communities to work together to ensure our students are getting their most basic needs met before and after they enter the classroom."

The funding comes from the federal McKinney-Vento Act’s Homeless Education Program and is based on 2005 Census projections that did not capture the reality of the economic downturn occurring in the state, or the influx of new low income residents. The Act ensures that homeless children have equal access to the same education provided to other children.  Each school district is required to have a Homeless Liaison to coordinate outreach efforts and services for homeless students in their area, as well as conduct the annual counts.  Castillo credited the work of local district Liaisons for providing services to homeless students that include school enrollment, extra transportation and tutoring, and referrals for shelter, housing, health care and counseling services.

“You can’t learn if you are wondering where you are going to sleep at night. Homeless Liaisons provide students with basic, yet vital, necessities. They make sure students have school supplies, clothing, shoes, coats and referrals to the community service providers,” Castillo said.  “They also work to provide homeless students with a consistent school environment. We know that the number of times a student has to change schools has a negative impact on their academic success in school. Liaisons help students remain in the same school regardless of their living arrangements. While we can’t provide housing, we can provide education – and that’s a major factor in preventing chronic poverty and homelessness in future generations.” 

Oregon received $571,752 in federal McKinney-Vento funds in 2006-07, compared to $635,222 in 2005-06.  These amounts include a portion for administration of the program throughout the state.  Forty-two local districts were served by 21 competitive subgrant projects from this program last year.  Most districts also use federal Title I-A funds, local general funds and donations from local community members, businesses and nonprofit organizations to help provide resources for homeless students.  They find that charitable donations are needed year round, not only during the holidays.

More than 90% of Oregon’s school districts reported this year.  State officials believe the increase in the count was due to a combination of factors: an increase in the overall population of people in extreme poverty in the state, a marked increase in the cost of affordable housing and other primary costs (e.g., fuel for transportation and heat) and an increase in the number of districts reporting, although the newly reporting districts tended to have smaller enrollments.

In November, the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) will hold its 19^th national conference at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.  This is the first time in the 20 year history of the McKinney Act and NAEHCY this conference will be held in the Pacific Northwest.  NAEHCY offers training and support for Homeless Liaisons. For more information about the conference and organization, visit: www.naehcy.org.

Hanging Out With Barack Obama

Last night Liz and I were invited to a small reception to meet Senator Barack Obama before he spoke at a fund raiser / rally here in Portland.  We had a brief moment to talk about our churches and homelessness in Oregon.  Around 4,000 people attended the fund raiser. 

We also enjoyed meeting Susan Turnbull, vice-chair of the DNC, and her husband Bruce.  Susan has not committed to a presidential candidate but attends many events and because she and Bruce were in Oregon she decided to drop by and meet some Oregonians. 

Related Post:  Why I’m Joining Obama For America: “People of Faith for Barack”   

Yes on 50 - Getting Kids The Care They Need

I will pour down rain on a thirsty land, showers on the dry ground. I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring and my blessings on your children. They shall spring up like a green tamarisk, like poplars by a flowing stream. —Isaiah 44:3-4

The promise of God's blessings for children has been affirmed down the generations of faith from the time that God first promised to Abraham and Sarah that their offspring would be as numerous as the stars. Jesus not only welcomed the child, but asked everyone to enter into the eternal realm of God's blessings as children. Children are not only invited, but show us the way.

Children have the right to develop spiritually, intellectually, physically, emotionally, socially, and culturally, and to live in conditions of freedom and dignity. Because children are powerless and often live with adults who are poor and have little voice, there is a tendency not to see or hear them. Too often, their basic needs go unfulfilled.

- United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries

As parents, those of us taking care of kids are entrusted with a precious gift.  As the people of God, all of us are responsible for building up our communities in ways that protect and nurture children. 

That is why I'll be voting this November for Oregon's Measure 50 - a ballot initiative endorsed by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and others that if supported by the voters will provide health care for 100,000 kids.   

From the Yes on 50 website:

Measure 50 on the November 6, 2007 ballot will guarantee health care for 100,000 uninsured Oregon children and strengthen tobacco prevention programs through an 84.5 cent per pack increase in the state’s cigarette tax matching our neighbors to the north in Washington State.

There are currently more than 100,000 Oregon children whose working parents earn too much to qualify for the existing Oregon Health Plan but too little to afford private health insurance on their own.

A simple majority vote of Oregonians can provide access to the kind of health care our children deserve while saving taxpayers money in reduced tobacco-related health costs and expensive emergency room visits by the uninsured for routine medical care.

A broad coalition of dozens of mainstream community leaders have united behind this common-sense plan.

On the other side? Big Tobacco, an industry that has spent tens of millions of dollars trying to defeat similar measures in other states and target our children as their next generation of customers.

A “Yes!” vote on Measure 50 will increase state revenue by an estimated $386 million over the next four years to provide health care for children and low-income adults, and double the amount of money available for proven tobacco-prevention programs.

No child should be without health care.

The United Church of Christ on I BELIEVE

Join host Dennis Wholey for a conversation about the United Church of Christ - beliefs and practices - with Hans Holznagel at the UCC Church House in Cleveland, OH. While Hans works in Cleveland his home church is Forest Grove UCC here in Oregon.

Ira Glass Would Have Been Welcome At Parkrose Community United Church of Christ

There was controversy here in Oregon this week over the venue chosen by Oregon Pubic Broadcasting for a performance by Ira Glass, host of the popular program This American Life (my wife's favorite program, I might add).  OPB originally picked New Hope Community Church, a congregation know for their advocacy on behalf of legislation and initiatives designed to limit the civil rights of gays and lesbians.  Bloggers and OPB listeners demanded a change in venue and the show has now been moved to the Oregon Convention Center.  There are plenty of churches in Oregon, however, that are welcoming of all.

Parkrose Community United Church of Christ, for example.

In Galatians 3.28 we are reminded that despite our differences we are all "one in Christ Jesus." Therefore, we, the people of Parkrose Community United Church of Christ, declare ourselves to be open and affirming. With God's grace, we seek to be a congregation that includes all persons, embracing differences of sexual orientation, gender, marital status, age, mental and physical ability, as well as racial, ethnic, religious, political or social-economic background. We welcome all to share in the life and leadership, ministry, and fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities and blessings of participation in our congregation. This is God's church and no matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.

You don't hear it much in the media but not all churches in Oregon share the theology preached at New Hope Community Church.  Check out the growing membership list of the Community of Welcoming Congregations to find a place of worship near you.   

OPB Airs Interview Concerning Attack On Oregon Homeless Man

OPB's Colan Fogarty reports this afternoon on Oregon Considered about the issues I blogged about this morning concerning the recent attack on an Oregon homeless man:

Police describe 43-year-old Andrew Gonzalez as a transient. He told investigators that on July 31st, he met 19-year-old Samuel Morton, 16-year-old Shawn Glancy, and 17-year-old Rauno Helmik. When police were called out on reports of an assault early the next morning, they found a badly beaten man in a rocky area by the Willamette River.

Gonzales was taken to OHSU with serious head and hand injuries. He underwent surgery and was released a few days later. The crime remains unexplained.

Chuck Currie: "The first thing I thought when I heard that story is that it's a familiar story. It's an increasingly familiar story across our country."

Reverend Chuck Currie is pastor at the Parkrose Community United Church of Christ in Portland. For several years, he served on the board of the National Coalition for the Homeless.

Last year, the group documented 142 violent attacks nationwide against homeless people,  including murders, rapes, and six people being set on fire. Those figures do not include homeless-on-homeless violence.

Currie says nationally, attacks on transients by non-homeless people is on the rise.

Chuck Currie: "And these crimes are more often than not done by young kids, young teen agers who are sometimes saying that they're doing it out of boredom, sometimes saying it because they see it on television and think it will be fun."

Currie cites programs like so-called "Bum Fights," videos -- which are sold in video stores -- that show fights between homeless people.

Click here to read the full transcript or to listen to the audio. 

Attack On Homeless Oregonian Symptomatic Of Spiritual Crisis

This post has been updated

The recent violent attack against a homeless Oregonian that resulted in the arrest of three Milwaukee area teens is part of a growing trend of violence perpetrated against people who are homeless. Last year the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) documented 142 violent attacks against homeless people – including 20 murders, five rapes, and six people being set on fire. “Attacks have increased 65% from last year, and over 170% since five years ago,” according to NCH. These figures do not include “homeless-on-homeless” violence.

According to the NCH report Hate, Violence, and Death on Main Street USA: A Report on Hate Crimes and Violence Against People Experiencing Homelessness 2006:

“Even more disturbing than the violence of these attacks are the identities of the attackers and their motives. In a significant number of cases, the crimes were committed by teenagers and young adults, for no apparent reason other than boredom. This March in Orlando, FL, August Felix, age 54, was beaten to death by five teenagers. The youths, all between the ages of 13 and 16, attacked Felix and others ‘for sport,’ according to local police. Later that same month, 21-year-old Braymond Harris of Detroit was shot and killed by a 15-year-old boy. In the words of one Detroit police officer, the boy and his friends ‘just wanted to beat up a bum.’”

Much of this violence can be blamed on a culture that devalues people who are homeless. We step over homeless people every day on city streets. Voters often support efforts to cuts food and housing assistance for those living in poverty. Teen-agers buy videos like “Bum Fights” where producers pay intoxicated people to violently attack homeless people for the sport of it.

Jesus says in Matthew 25:40: “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,* you did it to me.”

Attacks against people who are homeless are symptomatic of a spiritual crisis that has allowed us to make the “least of these” in America invisible and unimportant.

The National Coalition for the Homeless argues that attacks against people who are homeless ought to be considered hate crimes.

Update: OPB Radio is scheduled to run an interview with me about this issue today (Tues., Aug. 28th) between 4:30 and 5 pm.  You can listen on the radio or via their website. 

Dylan: Shark Catcher

Dylan, my nine year old nephew, came across this shark today on the Oregon coast.  A another beach walker made efforts to get the shark back into water but to no avail.  This is going to make a great "What I Did This Summer" photo when Dylan goes back to school next week.

(Permission must be obtained to reprint /republish this picture) 

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.

U.S. House Members From Oregon Back Gonzales Impeachment Probe

Four out of the five members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon are now co-sponsors of legislation to "to begin investigations on impeachment" for Alberto Gonzales, America's disgraced Attorney General, according to Loaded Orygun.  You gotta love this state and our political leaders.

Related Post: Impeach Alberto Gonzales If DOJ Fails To Appoint Special Prosecutor 

The Portland Mercury & Just Out Report On The Letter Sent To Me By Concerned Oregonians

This week both The Portland Mercury and Just Out noted my note to "Concerned Oregonians."  As careful observers of this blog will remember, Concerned Oregonians is an anti-gay, anti-civil rights organizations which sent a letter to my office asking for my help as a pastor in repealing two new state laws offering domestic partner benefits and banning discrimination in housing and employment for gays and lesbians.  I said no.  My thanks to The Portland Mercury and Just Out for helping to remind Oregonians that the Christian faith isn't entirely made up of narrow minded bigots who promote hate and intolerance.  In fact, Jesus preached compassion and love for all.  Even poor JustADog.