It is disheartening to hear people claim – as one recently retired UCC pastor has – that AIDS is the result of a government plot. There is no evidence to support that. Yes, our government has in modern history run unethical experiments on segments of society – blacks, the mentally-ill, and civilian and military personnel working near nuclear power plants and / or weapons. But for clergy to seriously suggest that the government created HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) is not only offensive but dangerous as people need to be confronted with the facts about how to protect themselves from this disease instead of dealing with conspiracy theories.

Click here for the full post.

The Rev. Charlie Hinkle left a comment on my blog today that I'd like to highlight:

The Wall Street Journal published portions of my letter to the editor on April 15, in which I defended Rev. Wright's earlier comments, and compared them to statements by Isaiah and Jeremiah (and by Hosea and Exekiel, in the portion of my letter that the WSJ did not publish). But Rev. Wright's conduct over the last few days has shown him to be a vainglorious publicity seeker. The media did not insist that he appear before the National Press Club; he chose to do so. Regardless of the truth or validity of his "prophetic" vision, he has intentionally interjected himself into the presidential race and has done incalculable harm to the chances that we might elect our first African American president. He surely knows that; he surely knows the effect that his comments would have in the political campaign. As a UCC minister myself, I am disgusted at his conduct, and disheartened at the damage that he has done to the candidate whom I support. Thanks a lot, Rev. Wright. I hope you are enjoying your 15 minutes of fame.

After reading over Rev. Wright's Q & A session at the press club - in which he acted far differently than he did in his PBS interview, I have to say that I agree with Rev. Hinkel's comments and those made today by Senator Obama.

My natural instinct is to want to support Rev. Wright, with whom I share a denomination.  He has built a great church in Chicago that continues to do good work.  But this week Rev. Wright made the issue not the gospel or the church but himself and we don't have room in this election for that.  There is a war to end, a broken health care system to fix, a climate change crisis to address, and a world to reconcile. 

This weekend and today The Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, a colleague of mine in the United Church of Christ (thought we do not know each other personally), spoke out for the first time since controversy erupted over some of his sermons.

Of course, the media and some political agents of candidates attempted to see Dr. Wright’s comments as somehow new and thus deserving of the 24-hour cable news treatment normally reserved for stories involving escaped wildlife in suburban neighborhoods or the following of high speed car chases. 

In the end, all of this is meant to be a distraction.  What people are really worried about are issues such as the war, the health care crisis, crumbling schools, the soaring price of food and gas, and how after centuries of division we can find racial reconciliation.  These are the moral issues that deserve national attention.

We don’t even need to focus on Hillary Clinton’s stories of running from bullets in Bosnia or John McCain tortured relationship with a Texas minister who dislikes Roman Catholics and Jews.  There are more important issues to focus on.    

And these important issues are the issues Senator Barack Obama, thankfully, is talking about in his campaign for the presidency.    

Senator Obama has been clear that there are specific statements made by Dr. Wright that he disagrees with.  You can bet that on any give Sunday there are members of my church who leave disagreeing with what I preach.  That’s the nature of being a minister.  Politicians and preachers do have different roles and speak of different things. 

During this campaign the senator has made reconciliation a primary theme of his efforts.  In like mind with the church, Barack Obama wants the American people to remember that what we have in common is more important than what divides us and also that our destinies are all tied together as a people – regardless of our color, gender, race, orientation, or religion.

None of this is to say that I don’t find what that Dr. Wright said this weekend to be important.  His interview on PBS was particularly informative.

But Barack Obama has a broader vision for America than what passes for news today.  He wants to address the moral issues of our lives – issues of particular concern to people of faith – in fundamental and transformative ways.  That’s why I support his candidacy.

Related Link: Controversy addressed during Easter service * Easter Sunday 2008  (KATU)            

Novick is an unusual man with an unusual resume -- characteristics that some suggest aren't suited to the U.S. Senate. But we think his passion, his intellect and his personal style give him an intriguing combination of qualities that most senators don't possess.

We think Novick represents a bold choice for Democrats who seek to dislodge a veteran incumbent. He has the potential to press Smith as he has done Merkley. And, should he pull off what would be a major electoral upset and go to Washington as the new junior senator from Oregon, he has the potential to make Oregonians proud.

- The Oregonian, 4-27-08

On this rare occasion, The Oregonian has it right.  Steve Novick's candidacy offers us the hope that once again a strong leader in the mold of Wayne Morse or Paul Wellstone will be in the senate fighting for a progressive agenda.  Oregonians can be proud of his issues-based campaign.  I hope you'll join me in voting for Steve Novick this May.

Related Link:  Steve Novick Endorsed by Rev. Chuck Currie   

Hugo and Hazel, our trusty dogs, show off their best back yard wrestling skills.  No animals were harmed in the making of this video. This is just good old dog fun.  Hazel might look smaller but she's a tough as they come (and smart as a whip). Let's be clear: this is a PETA-friendly video.

Like I've said, this guy is the real deal.

Related Link:  Why Steve Novick Won The KGW Debate

The Iraq War has been opposed since the start by the leadership of the United Church of Christ and religious bodies from the World Council of Churches to the Vatican. But how can our voices compete with this?

Dear Sam and Sho:

Races for elected office should be focused on the issues we face and not the personalities involved. I deeply appreciate the willingness you have both shown to engage in the political process and to debate the issues you care deeply about.

However, I’ve been frustrated to see that neither of your campaigns has developed comprehensive plans for addressing poverty and homelessness in Portland. As the national poverty level has grown and Oregon’s economy becomes further strained the need for comprehensive plans and commitments for substantive action in this area have never been greater.

We should be talking about ways to reduce poverty, ways to build up the economy so that everyone benefits, and about ways to provide a safety net so no one is ever forced to live in the streets or crowded shelters.

I challenge you both to develop such comprehensive plans before ballots are mailed out so that voters can assess your personal commitment to fighting poverty in Portland. If you like, I would be willing to publish your plans once written on my personal blog (www.chuckcurrie.com). The site is read by many Portlanders concerned about these issues. It will not be my intention to critique your plans (though I may do that eventually) but simply to showcase your proposals unedited and without comment.

I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

The Rev. Chuck Currie

This morning I had the opportunity to preach at Portland's First Congregational United Church of Christ for Earth Sunday as part of a pulpit exchange with The Rev. Dr. Patricia Ross.  Dr. Ross took my place at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ for the morning.

Our Scripture readings at both congregations included Gensis 1:1 - 2:2 and Acts 17-24 (NRSV).  Use the below link to download the podcast of the sermon for your iPod or personal computer.

Download FCCEarthSunday.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.

As I noted last week, Willamette Week writer Bryon Beck recently wrote an article claiming that The Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright made " "homophobic tirades."  Several people wrote WW letters asking that this completely false accusation be retracted.  Today they printed my letter with a correction.

One of your authors, Mr. Byron Beck, wrote in WW [“Stand by Our Woman,” March 26, 2008] that Senator Barack Obama’s former pastor, Dr. Jeremiah Wright, had made “homophobic tirades.” This is completely false and requires a retraction from Willamette Week. Dr. Wright is a long-time supporter of the gay and lesbian community and his former church, Trinity United Church of Christ, provides leadership and advocacy in support of gay and lesbian causes. In fact, the United Church of Christ, which Trinity UCC is a part of, is the only mainline church to support marriage equality for gays and lesbians. As a minister in the United Church of Christ, I respectfully request that you correct the false reporting published in your paper.

This article from The Washington Blade will help to correct the record: washblade.com/2008/3-21/news/national.

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

Byron Beck responds: Consider me corrected.

It would have been nice if Mr. Beck, after making such a serious and false statement about a strong supporter of the gay and lesbian community in Chicago, had also offered an apology.

The U.S. Senate debate on KGW just concluded. Steve Novick did a terrific job of both outlining a progressive vision for the nation and articulating why it will take a risk taker to defeat Gordon Smith in the fall elections.

Jeff Merkley, the Oregon House Speaker currently running third in the polls behind Novick and anti-war candidate Candy Neville, has deeply disappointed me thus far. The speaker is a progressive leader with a good record but despite his rhetoric tonight it has been Merkley that has run a negative campaign. He kept repeating the theme “hope and change” but his campaign has been politics as usual.

What impressed me again tonight – as it has in my own conversations with Steve – is both his grasp of public policy and his ability to talk to voters not in political speak (that special language that so many politicians seem to learn that communicates that they’re smarter than the voters) but with heartfelt and honest words. Steve Novick is a straight talker who doesn’t hesitate to tell the truth.  Voters saw that in the debate tonight. He’s willing to take on the tough issues – like poverty – that others ignore. Steve knows that is what the people of Oregon deserve. I’m proud to support him.

Here's a release my office sent out this morning. All are welcome.

The Rev. Dr. Patricia Ross and The Rev. Chuck Currie will exchange pulpits for a day on Sunday, April 20th. Both will be preaching on the environment and God’s call that we be good stewards of all creation.

Ministers in the United Church of Christ (www.ucc.org) have been encouraged to set aside a Sunday before Earth Day (Monday, April 21st) to preach on environmental stewardship issues.

Rev. Currie is the interim minister at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ in NE Portland (4715 NE 106th Ave). Dr. Ross will preach at his church during the 10 AM service. Additional information on the church can be found by visiting www.parkroseucc.org or calling 503-235-5457.

Dr. Ross is the senior minister of First Congregational United Church of Christ in downtown Portland (1137 SW Park Avenue). Rev. Currie will preach at her church during the 10:25 am service. Additional information on the church can be found by visiting www.uccportland.org or calling 503-228-7219.

“On April 8, the Collegium of Officers of the United Church of Christ released a significant theological statement, ‘And Indeed It Is Very Good – A Pastoral Letter on Faith and Environment: Living in Community with God’s Creation.’ The letter offers a new prophetic word about the need to celebrate the beauty of the earth and engage in faith action on behalf of the interrelated components of creation. We want to make clear the UCC's extravagant hospitality with evangelical courage that extends to the environmental and the social, the local and the global,” states a news release issued by the UCC national offices.

More information on the UCC and environmental issues can be found at: http://www.ucc.org/earthcare/.

I'm excited to have the chance to be back at First Congregational UCC this coming Sunday morning.

What was once an issue only talked about in "liberal" denominations like the United Church of Christ is becoming increasingly an issue for all churches - liberal and conservative alike.

Click here for the full story.

Help support a progressive community of faith!  Parkrose Community United Church of Christ is bringing back our famous neighborhood Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, April 26th from 5 - 8 pm. Enjoy fabulous entertainment, ambiance and help the church collect the funds we need to continue our ministries.   The cost is only $10 per adult and $5 for children under 12 (kids under 2 eat for free).  We're located on the corner of NE 105th and Wygant (just off Sandy).  Click here for directions.  Call the church office at 503-253-5457 or e-mail us at [email protected] with any questions.

If you’re anything like me you despise the angry side of politics and hope for America something better: a real discussion of the issues important to the future of our world. Faith in Public Life did the nation a great service last night with their Compassion Forum. It provided the candidates an opportunity to talk about their own beliefs – what makes them tick – and about their platforms. Of course, the ugly side of politics wasn’t absent. Senator Clinton made sure of that. But Barack Obama reminded me about why I sided with his candidacy in the first place. He sees politics as an opportunity not to tear people apart but to reconcile a divided nation and he has talked to me personally about his desire to make growing poverty levels an issue in the White House. As he said last night, he’d like to use his time in office to at least cut the poverty level in half. Senator Obama also has specific and progressive policy proposals on how to extend health care benefits and on how to improve education. He wants to end the war – a war Senator Clinton voted for – and to advance the fight against globe climate change. These are all issues that people of faith – Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists – care about. Senator Obama is offering America a hopefully vision of change and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to cast my vote in his favor.

So dangerous that even Henry Kissinger is worried. From The New York Times:

WASHINGTON — Senator John McCain has long made his decades of experience in foreign policy and national security the centerpiece of his political identity, and suggests he would bring to the White House a fully formed view of the world.

But now one component of the fractious Republican Party foreign policy establishment — the so-called pragmatists, some of whom have come to view the Iraq war or its execution as a mistake — is expressing concern that Mr. McCain might be coming under increased influence from a competing camp, the neoconservatives, whose thinking dominated President Bush’s first term and played a pivotal role in building the case for war.

When Kissinger gets called a moderate pragmatist you know the world has turned upside down.

Willamette Week writer Bryon Beck, who pens WW's "Queer Window" column recently endorsed Hillary Clinton.  What a writer from WW thinks about the presidential race wouldn't normally get me mad enough to write a letter to the editor.  But this time it did.

Mark (Zusman):

One of your authors, Mr. Byron Beck, wrote in WW that Senator Barack Obama's former pastor, Dr Jeremiah Wright, had made "homophobic tirades." This is completely false and requires a retraction from Willamette Week. Dr. Wright is a long-time supporter of the gay and lesbian community and his former church, Trinity United Church of Christ, provides leadership and advocacy in support of gay and lesbian causes. In fact, the United Church of Christ, which Trinity UCC is a part of, is the only mainline church to support marriage equality for gays and lesbians. As a minister in the United Church of Christ, I respectfully request that you correct the false reporting published in your paper.

This article from The Washington Blade will help to correct the record:

http://www.washblade.com/2008/3-21/news/national/

Sincerely, Rev. Chuck Currie

So far my letter has not been published (at least on their online site - which is the only version I ever read).  The paper gets a lot of letters, of course, and that mine in particular doesn't get published doesn't bother me much.  But I know other people also wrote letters on this subject that have not been printed and so WW has been informed that they have published incorrect information and still they do not correct the record.  Why is that? 

We just posted some photos from our Easter service on the Parkrose Community United Church of Christ blog.  Check them out.

This week I'm off in South Carolina visiting Rock, my grandfather, and other family.  But I'm still posting updates on the United Church New Blog.  Look over there for new content.

Today The American Spectator published an article attacking the United Church of Christ and me personally.  Read my response on the United Church News Blog.