Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie

Jennifer L. Currie, BSN

This is a great weekend for our family.  Jennifer L. Currie, one of my two younger sisters, graduates with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Linfield Good Samaritan School of Nursing.  This is not Jennifer's first degree.  She already holds a BS from Linfield College but felt a change in career paths into nursing would provide more opportunities for her and her son.  Jennifer is what you'd call a "people-person" and it was always hard to imagine her simply sitting behind a desk.  Getting a second degree was never easy.  Jennifer struggled a lot to make this happen while maintaining a high GPA.  None of us are suprised that she has already been offered and accepted a job with a local hospital.  Today the nursing school held their closing convocation at First Baptist Church in downtown Portland where all the nurses received their "pin."  You can catch Jennifer receiving her "pin" in the above video.  Later, we had a great celebration here at our house with family and many of Jennifer's friends.

Here's Jennifer with Judith F. Bright, ARNP, CNM, MPA (we just normally call her mom).  Mom has her undergraduate degree from Linfield and Dr. John Thomas, our step-father (Judy's husband) is a philosophy professor at the school.

More photos will be posted on our family website later.

Congratulations, Jennifer!  We're all very proud of you!!!    

Senator Obama's Decision To Leave Trinity United Church of Christ

A statement concerning Senator Obama's decision to leave Trinity United Church of Christ from The Rev. John Thomas, president and general minister of the United Church of Christ, is now available online.

Senator Obama's decision does not reflect a change in his policy views and that is rightfully the most important criteria people should consider when voting for a president.  I support Senator Obama because of his views on ending the Iraq War, his policies to fight poverty, and his willingness to expand health care opportunities.

This, however, is not easy news.  My prayers are with the people of Trinity UCC, Senator Obama and his family.  It would be a mistake to see this decision in a political light.   

 

Newsweek: His Mobile Ministry

Every once and awhile I join in a weekly prayer call for Senator Barack Obama.  Newsweek has a story on that call posted today on their website.  The story mentions my participation.

Related Post:  Republican Priest Offers Partisan Prayer    

Republican Priest Offers Partisan Prayer

A Newsweek reporter called yesterday. She wanted to know about prayers that I've offered for Senator Obama. What I told her was that prayers should never be partisan. That when I pray for Senator Obama I don't ever lay claim that God wants one candidate or another to serve in office and that I often pray for all those running for office.  I pray that we all listen for the still speaking God and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us as we try and follow the teachings of Jesus. 

That is not to say that I don't have a favorite in this race.  Clearly, I support Senator Obama because of his values, judgment and experience.

However, we shouldn't ever misuse religion for partisan political gain  - a line Father Michael Pfleger crossed this weekend (Senator Obama denounced those remarks, rightly).  See The Politics Of Jesus: A Podcast Sermon On Isaiah 3:13-15, Isaiah 10:1-4, and Luke 4:14-2 for a more detailed look on my thoughts about this.

(Update:  The Rev. Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite has a good essay up on On Faith about Father Pfleger)

But if a seminary is ever looking for a Class A example of how not to pray the video above from Republican Roman Catholic priest Jim Lisante provides it.  Ben Smith has the story.

Wait, there's more:  I turns out that Lisante has a second day job.  Yep, he's a regular commentator for FOX News and has been since at least 2006.

"Demand that Sen. Lieberman REJECT HAGEE"

I continue to be confounded by how some Jewish supporters of Israel have aligned themselves with fundamentalist Christian preachers.  I'm not alone. Rabbi David Saperstein wrote recently on The Washington Post's On Faith website:

Fundamentalist religious leaders who believe not only that God controls everything that happens but that they are able to see God’s explicit plans within the context of their own political and cultural views should raise alarm bells for those who would ally with them. Senator John McCain faced this dilemma starkly yesterday, and ended up, rightly, repudiating Pastor John Hagee’s assertions that Hitler was foretold in a verse in Jeremiah and that Hitler and the Holocaust were part of God’s plan to force the Jewish people back to Israel.

Jews can empathize with Sen. McCain because we have faced the same dilemma with Rev. Hagee. No fundamentalist Christian is more overtly supportive of Israel, raised more money for Israel, nor used his religious and political clout to more energetically mobilize support in America for Israel. Further, he was an evangelical who made clear that his relations with Jews over Israel would not be used to try to convert us. Yet, his fundamentalist views had led to reprehensible statements about gays, Catholics, and even the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

And his particular understanding of the Bible led him to use his political clout in efforts to undermine support for the Israel- Palestinian peace process and a two-state solution. Nonetheless, it had become common to find Jewish leaders joining in Pastor Hagee’s “Salute to Israel” events around the country and paying public tribute and homage to the pastor for his efforts. Two months ago, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, challenged Reform Jewish rabbis with the contradictions of participating in such events with someone who held views that were anathema to our commitment to tolerance, pluralism and intergroup respect. While I hope that Rev. Hagee continues his support for Israel, which I assume he gives for its own sake, we should refrain from allying with him in any manner that gives our stamp of approval to him generally or to the deeply troubling views he has expressed.

Sen. McCain faced a similar dilemma and decision.

Since Rabbi Yoffie’s speech and the coverage it received, Rev. Hagee has apologized or retracted some of his statements. But now comes the revelation of this most distressing sermon given in the late 1990s and reiterated in several books since then. I don’t believe that Rev. Hagee is anti-Semitic but the words he used are. Blaming Jews for anti-Semitism or the Holocaust is a classic form of anti-Semitic argumentation. If only the Jews had listened to Herzl and gone to Israel, the Holocaust would not have been necessary!

I do not share Rev. Hagee’s belief that God controls every action here on Earth nor that God wishes for every Jew to move to Israel right now. But even if Rev. Hagee does so believe, that his God is one who could only accomplish that by killing 6 million innocent Jewish men, women and children, and 5 million innocent others is mind boggling. Ironically there are some anti-Zionist theological extremists in our community who argued exactly the opposite: that the Holocaust was God’s punishment for the Zionist movement. Both views are equally repugnant theologically, morally and politically. They deserve to be condemned by religious, civic, and political leaders in general, but most particularly by those who have chosen to align themselves with Rev. Hagee.

Here's the full post (though I admit now that I've reprinted most of it because, well, the words are so important even if I would disagree with Rabbi Saperstein's belief that Rev. Hagee himself is not anti-Semitic).

Now comes the question as to whether or not Sen. Joe Lieberman - who last year compared Rev. Hagee to Moses (no joke) - will speak next week as scheduled before the Rev. Hagee's group, Christians United for Israel. 

People for the American Way is calling on him not to:

Max Blumenthal recently uncovered -- and published on the Huffington Post -- that Sen. Joe Lieberman is scheduled to headline Pastor John Hagee's 2008 Christians United For Israel Summit this July 22.

This is an outrage.

Reverend Hagee has made hateful statements about gays, Muslims and the Catholic Church and just recently, his comments that God had appointed Hitler to "hunt" the Jews became news. That was enough to convince presidential candidate John McCain -- who had previously courted Hagee -- to renounce the pastor's endorsement. Now it's time for one of McCain's closest campaign advisors, former Democrat turned Independent Joe Lieberman, to do the same.

Following news of Lieberman's keynote address to Hagee's conference, a pro-peace Jewish organization called J Street launched a petition urging Lieberman to reject Hagee and cancel his appearance. People For is joining in the effort.

Sen. Lieberman should not legitimize Hagee. Join our petition demanding that he cancel his appearance at the Christians United For Israel Summit.

http://www.pfaw.org/go/RejectHagee

Every time an elected official embraces one of these fringe, right-wing hate-mongers, it gives them legitimacy they don't deserve.

Sign the petetion.

And thanks to the good people at Talk to Action for their work on this story.

Related Post:  Christians United for Israel: Bad Theology, Wrong Goals   

Related Post:  NBC’s “Revelations” 

Fundamentalist religious leaders who believe not only that God controls everything that happens but that they are able to see God’s explicit plans within the context of their own political and cultural views should raise alarm bells for those who would ally with them. Senator John McCain faced this dilemma starkly yesterday, and ended up, rightly, repudiating Pastor John Hagee’s assertions that Hitler was foretold in a verse in Jeremiah and that Hitler and the Holocaust were part of God’s plan to force the Jewish people back to Israel.

Jews can empathize with Sen. McCain because we have faced the same dilemma with Rev. Hagee. No fundamentalist Christian is more overtly supportive of Israel, raised more money for Israel, nor used his religious and political clout to more energetically mobilize support in America for Israel. Further, he was an evangelical who made clear that his relations with Jews over Israel would not be used to try to convert us. Yet, his fundamentalist views had led to reprehensible statements about gays, Catholics, and even the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

And his particular understanding of the Bible led him to use his political clout in efforts to undermine support for the Israel- Palestinian peace process and a two-state solution. Nonetheless, it had become common to find Jewish leaders joining in Pastor Hagee’s “Salute to Israel” events around the country and paying public tribute and homage to the pastor for his efforts. Two months ago, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, challenged Reform Jewish rabbis with the contradictions of participating in such events with someone who held views that were anathema to our commitment to tolerance, pluralism and intergroup respect. While I hope that Rev. Hagee continues his support for Israel, which I assume he gives for its own sake, we should refrain from allying with him in any manner that gives our stamp of approval to him generally or to the deeply troubling views he has expressed.

Sen. McCain faced a similar dilemma and decision.

Since Rabbi Yoffie’s speech and the coverage it received, Rev. Hagee has apologized or retracted some of his statements. But now comes the revelation of this most distressing sermon given in the late 1990s and reiterated in several books since then. I don’t believe that Rev. Hagee is anti-Semitic but the words he used are. Blaming Jews for anti-Semitism or the Holocaust is a classic form of anti-Semitic argumentation. If only the Jews had listened to Herzl and gone to Israel, the Holocaust would not have been necessary!

I do not share Rev. Hagee’s belief that God controls every action here on Earth nor that God wishes for every Jew to move to Israel right now. But even if Rev. Hagee does so believe, that his God is one who could only accomplish that by killing 6 million innocent Jewish men, women and children, and 5 million innocent others is mind boggling. Ironically there are some anti-Zionist theological extremists in our community who argued exactly the opposite: that the Holocaust was God’s punishment for the Zionist movement. Both views are equally repugnant theologically, morally and politically. They deserve to be condemned by religious, civic, and political leaders in general, but most particularly by those who have chosen to align themselves with Rev. Hagee.

Here's the full post (though I admit now that I've reprinted most of it because, well, the words are so important even if I would disagree with Rabbi Saperstein's belief that Rev. Hagee himself is not anti-Semitic).

Now comes the question as to whether or not Sen. Joe Lieberman - who last year compared Rev. Hagee to Moses (no joke) - will speak next week as scheduled before the Rev. Hagee's group, Christians United for Israel. 

People for the American Way is calling on him not to:

Max Blumenthal recently uncovered -- and published on the Huffington Post -- that Sen. Joe Lieberman is scheduled to headline Pastor John Hagee's 2008 Christians United For Israel Summit this July 22.

This is an outrage.

Reverend Hagee has made hateful statements about gays, Muslims and the Catholic Church and just recently, his comments that God had appointed Hitler to "hunt" the Jews became news. That was enough to convince presidential candidate John McCain -- who had previously courted Hagee -- to renounce the pastor's endorsement. Now it's time for one of McCain's closest campaign advisors, former Democrat turned Independent Joe Lieberman, to do the same.

Following news of Lieberman's keynote address to Hagee's conference, a pro-peace Jewish organization called J Street launched a petition urging Lieberman to reject Hagee and cancel his appearance. People For is joining in the effort.

Sen. Lieberman should not legitimize Hagee. Join our petition demanding that he cancel his appearance at the Christians United For Israel Summit.

http://www.pfaw.org/go/RejectHagee

Every time an elected official embraces one of these fringe, right-wing hate-mongers, it gives them legitimacy they don't deserve.

Max Blumenthal recently uncovered -- and published on the Huffington Post -- that Sen. Joe Lieberman is scheduled to headline Pastor John Hagee's 2008 Christians United For Israel Summit this July 22.

This is an outrage.

Reverend Hagee has made hateful statements about gays, Muslims and the Catholic Church and just recently, his comments that God had appointed Hitler to "hunt" the Jews became news. That was enough to convince presidential candidate John McCain -- who had previously courted Hagee -- to renounce the pastor's endorsement. Now it's time for one of McCain's closest campaign advisors, former Democrat turned Independent Joe Lieberman, to do the same.

Following news of Lieberman's keynote address to Hagee's conference, a pro-peace Jewish organization called J Street launched a petition urging Lieberman to reject Hagee and cancel his appearance. People For is joining in the effort.

Sen. Lieberman should not legitimize Hagee. Join our petition demanding that he cancel his appearance at the Christians United For Israel Summit.

http://www.pfaw.org/go/RejectHagee

Every time an elected official embraces one of these fringe, right-wing hate-mongers, it gives them legitimacy they don't deserve.

Sign the petetion.

And thanks to the good people at Talk to Action for their work on this story.

Related Post:  Christians United for Israel: Bad Theology, Wrong Goals   

Related Post:  NBC’s “Revelations” 

Facebook Photos

Over the last few months I've become familiar with Facebook, the social networking site (here's my page).  The site has allowed me to become better connected with seminary friends from Eden and I've enjoyed getting to know some of the nearly 2,000 people who have joined the United Church of Christ group.  One of the best features of this group are the photos people have been posting of their congregations - like this one from Circular Congregational Church - UCC in Charleston.  Circular has long been one of my favorites.  Since about the beginning of time they've been articulating a progressive theological vision for the people of South Carolina and beyond.  You can check out all the great photos by joining this free group.  Note to Facebook:  feel fee to send the promotional check directly to our HQ in Cleveland.   

Memorial Day Prayer

Gracious God, on this Memorial Day weekend, we remember and give thanks for those who have given their lives in the service of our country. When the need was greatest, they stepped forward and did their duty to defend the freedoms that we enjoy, and to win the same for others. O God, you yourself have taught us that no love is greater than that which gives itself for another. These honored dead gave the most precious gift they had, life itself, for loved ones and neighbors, for comrades and country – and for us. Help us to honor their memory by caring for the family members they have left behind, by ensuring that their wounded comrades are properly cared for, by being watchful caretakers of the freedoms for which they gave their lives, and by demanding that no other young men and women follow them to a soldier’s grave unless the reason is worthy and the cause is just. Holy One, help us to remember that freedom is not free. There are times when its cost is, indeed, dear. Never let us forget those who paid so terrible a price to ensure that freedom would be our legacy. Though their names may fade with the passing of generations, may we never forget what they have done. Help us to be worthy of their sacrifice, O God, help us to be worthy. Amen.

Reprinted from UCC Worship Ways

Speaking The Truth About HRC

Amen!

Breaking News: IRS Determines UCC Followed All Rules

IRS finds that the United Church of Christ did not promote Senator Obama's campaign.

Full story.

Oregon May 2008 Primary Election Results

Oregon voters tonight gave Barack Obama overwhelming support.  The senator from Illinois now has a majority of pledged delegates and is well on his way toward winning the democratic nomination for president.  Senator Obama won Portland - where 75,000 rallied to see him this weekend - but also won rural counties across Oregon.  This win shows that Senator Obama can draw support from white and black voters, urban and rural communities, and people from every other demographic group.  I've been proud to support Senator Obama since early on in this process.  He has the values and experience to serve in the White House.  Liz and I were able to meet Senator Obama twice during Oregon's primary season.  On the war, on health care, on the environment and on education - just to name a few critical issues - he offers a progressive agenda to move the nation forward.  Contrast that to John McCain who is promising another Bush term.

Many of the others candidates that I endorsed have also won.  Mayor-elect Sam Adams has a big job ahead of him and I wish him well.  I also promise to press him and the other members of Portland's city council to seriously deal with the crisis of homelessness. 

The Oregonian has called the race for the democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.  Jeff Merkley has apparently won.  Steve Novick ran an amazing race.  No one thought Steve could carry it this far but he ran a positive campaign and offered detailed policy positions.  Steve and his staff were just great.  We went to his victory party tonight until it was time for the twins to head to bed.  They made a friend and spent the evening dancing away.   

Merkley and indepenent John Frohnmayer will face Gordon Smith this fall. 

Pray For Teddy

We have learned in the last few minutes that Senator Ted Kennedy, who suffered medical problems over this past weekend, has a malignant brain tumor.  Senator Kennedy, often called the "Lion of the Senate" is America's progressive legislative leader.  Those of us concerned about issues of war, poverty and health care know that no one member of Congress over the last 40 years has been more important to our causes.  As a member of the board of directors of the National Coalition for the Homeless, I had the opportunity to work with his office on issues expanding educational opportunities for homeless kids.  I urge all people of faith to join in offering prayers for Senator Kennedy's health.  Pray too for his family, staff and the medical team working to help Senator Kennedy recover. 

Welcome To The Oregon Primary

It's quiet outside this morning. Liz and the kids are still asleep. Even Hugo and Hazel refused to bark at the squirrels when they were let out a bit ago. Rain is failing. A few birds are chirping. But it won't remain quiet for long. Today is the Oregon primary. We vote by mail here, of course, but there will be long lines nonetheless at ballot-drop off sites across Oregon where people who waited for one reason or another to vote can still make sure their voice is heard. Media - both local and nation - will be hunting down filler stories all day as we await for results to come in at 8 pm.

This is the first time that Oregon's presidential primary has counted for much since 1968. All the polls show Senator Barack Obama walking away with the state. That's good news for people like me who want a president with sound judgement - a president who will not compromise their values during a political wind storm. The race for the democratic nomination for U.S. Senate is a close one. In this house we're all hoping for a Steve Novick win. Steve is a principled fighter who can win in November. His campaign for the nomination has stayed focused on issues (even as his nationally funded opponent went negative).

As the day wears on it will be all-Oregon-all-the-time on the national cable programs. Volunteers will be hustling around the state trying to get last minute ballots turned in. Later tonight, the hardcore supporters of all the various candidates will gather to watch returns, cheer victories and mourn defeats. We're hoping to drag the kids down to the Benson Hotel where we plan to cheer our friends on. All of this, of course, is simple a dress rehearsal for November.

A day that has started quietly in Oregon promises to end with a bang. The voters will finally get a chance to be heard. Campaign workers will finally get a chance to learn the fate of their candidate. One way or another, Oregon will make a difference tonight and the nation should be grateful. There is perhaps no state with a more informed and engaged citizenry than Oregon. We've taken our roll in the process seriously. I suspect that votes will reflect what has always been true about our state: people here care about the future, are progressive in spirit, and patriots to the core.

Related Post:  A Prayer for the Oregon Primary Election

Related Post:  Oregon May 2008 Primary: My Endorsements   

A Prayer For The Oregon Primary Election

Creator God, we call on you as we cast our ballots. To you we promise we will keep in mind those Jesus called the "least of these" as we vote. We promise to live out our stewardship of creation - Earth herself - by voting for those who have enough wisdom to use their offices to protect our environment. The world and everything in it belongs to you, Lord, and thus we promise not to act in our own interests but to cast our votes with an eye toward the future. Through the prophets and Jesus you have taught us that the Kingdom is built through the work of acting for justice and reconciliation. Let the breathe of the Holy Spirit guide our decisions. We ask you to inspire all the candidates running. Keep your principles before them. Keep them all safe. Make them peacemakers concerned about the welfare of all people across the globe. We ask for special blessings this week for Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain. Hold their families and campaign workers in your embrace. Let their hearts always be open to your will. Help these leaders use their talents to bring our people together. The alternative is that we further tear each other apart. Let the people of Oregon shine light in dark places on May 20th. Help us, Loving God, be a people who take seriously our responsibility to lift up the causes and issues that others might ignore. Use us as your servants to help change the world...a world in need of saving.  In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

- The Rev. Chuck Currie

Use the below link to download the audio of this prayer for your iPod or personal computer. 

Download oregon_prayer.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.

Let's Talk About Race: A Podcast Sermon On Liberation And Hope

This morning at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ - as part of a national "sacred" conversation on race called for by the United Church of Christ and the National Council of Churches - our worship service focued on racial issues.  For the children's story the book Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom was shared.  Our Scripture readings included Genesis 1:1-2a, Isaiah 58:1-14, Song of Solomon 1:5 and Matthew 22:34-39.

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

Download ParkroseRace.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.

Oregon Churches To Sizemore: We'll Oppose Your Anti-Immigrant Agenda

This weekend the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ took action by putting our conference on record opposing to two anti-immigrant ballots measures Oregon voters will consider this fall.  Any sacred conversation on race needs to include our national response to the struggles of Hispanic people.

RESOLUTION for Central Pacific  Conference Annual Assembly

—Spring 2008

OPPOSE OREGON ANTI-IMMIGRANT BALLOT  INITIATIVES.

Signed by: Catherine Rolling, Ainsworth; Rev. Susan  Leo, Bridgeport; Rev. Chuck Currie, Parkrose

Our immigration system is broken and needs  comprehensive reform.  We, as people of faith, want an opportunity to support  proposals that include legalization with a path to citizenship and family  unification.  However, legislative proposals making their way to the November  2008 ballot in Oregon will further divide our communities and increase hate,  fear, and racism, thus contributing to anti-immigrant sentiment, by attacking an  already vulnerable people, known by people of faith as children of the  Creator.

Whereas:  Oregon ballot initiative petition (IP) #19  proposes to add a section to the Oregon Revised Statutes requiring English  immersion in public schools as proposed by Bill Sizemore and Alan Grosso and  filed in the Secretary of State’s office on April 18, 2006:

• prohibits teaching public school students in  languages other than English for more than two years. 
• would have a severe impact on immigrant children's  opportunities for quality education. 
• would take away local control and classroom  decisions about individual learning levels and special needs of students,  thereby punishing immigrant and refugee children, regardless of their legal  status, and

Whereas:  Oregon ballot initiative petition (IP)  #112 named “Respect for Law Act” proposed by Mehran Smith and Shahriyar Smith of  Oregonians for Immigration Reform and filed in the Secretary of State’s office  on July 10, 2007:

• effectively forces undocumented immigrants further  into the shadows. 
• diverts local government resources away from  community safety, health and education needs. 
• moves police, fire fighters, teachers, social  workers, and health care workers to act as immigration officers. 
• encourages racial profiling, unreported crime,  school dropouts, and public health and safety calamities. 
• imperils public safety by restricting driver’s  licenses forcing immigrants who must drive to maintain their employment and care  for their households to continue driving as unlicensed motorists. 
• offers new voter registration restrictions which  are unnecessary since there is no evidence that non-citizens are voting—and  discourages registration by other marginalized populations, such as low-income,  elderly and people of color, and

Whereas: These measures are an affront to the  dignity, safety, livelihoods, and opportunities of our immigrant neighbors,  and

 

Whereas: Jesus instructs us to welcome strangers -  not mistreat them, and

Whereas: As Christians, our actions should reflect  Jesus’ teachings, and

Whereas: As a nation of immigrants, our laws should  reflect compassionate action toward those who come into our country for safety  and opportunity;

Be it resolved: that the Central Pacific Conference  of the United Church of Christ declares its opposition to Oregon ballot  initiative petitions #19 and #112 and calls on local UCC affiliates and other  faith communities to do the same.

I was proud to be a co-sponsor of the resolution and look forward to working with churches all across Oregon in defeating these measures.

Prayers for Senator Kennedy

My prayers this afternoon are with Senator Kennedy and his family.   Hurry up and get well, Senator.

Church World Service appeals for help for China earthquake survivors

Alert from Church World Service

BANGKOK -- Humanitarian agency Church World Service has issued an appeal in the amount of $200,000 to provide aid to survivors of the earthquake in southwest China that has killed more than 12,000 people. With its Asia Pacific Region team already in Bangkok coordinating response to the Myanmar cyclone, the China earthquake is the second major disaster the agency is responding to in less than two weeks.

In the China earthquake's aftermath, officials with the Amity Foundation, a long-time Church World Service partner in China, report that many buildings, including government facilities, have collapsed or are severely damaged, and that the demand on local emergency responders is great.

Donations to the appeal will help fund relief efforts by Amity Foundation, whose staff members now are assessing the damage from Chengdu and other affected areas. Amity already has provided 1 million Yuan (approximately US$143,000) to purchase and distribute drinking water and food for heavily-damaged Du Jiangyan.

More than 20 provinces are affected. Relief operations are expected to expand to include Wenchuan, Lixian, Beichuan, Maoxian, Dujiangyan, and Mianzhu counties in Sichuang province; Longnan city in Gansu province; Baoji city and Hanzhong city in Sha’anxi province. The areas of Gansu and Sha'anxi, especially Sichuan, are being targeted because they are the most severely affected. Both the disaster response and the dissemination of information from stricken areas are complicated by the destruction of local communication systems and roads in the earthquake.

Amity will focus its relief on some 8,000 families whose homes are destroyed and who are among the most-vulnerable. Amity expects to ensure that 16,000 of the most vulnerable individuals have sufficient food (15 kilos of rice per person) during the immediate emergency period; that 8,000 families have sufficient additional protection against cold weather in the form of quilts; that 8,000 homeless families also have the added protection of plastic cloth to help them survive heavy rains forecast for the quake center areas.

As part of the recovery effort Amity will help rebuild 600 damaged or destroyed houses, 10 schools and five hospitals or clinics, and also will rehabilitate five water and irrigation systems.

The total budget is estimated at close to $1.5 million.

Contributions to support this emergency appeal may be made online, or sent to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515. Please designate: Appeal # 699-B, 2008 China Earthquake Response.

Working with local organizations in countries throughout the world, Church World Service provides relief and recovery, sustainable development, and refugee resettlement and protection services and is funded through public donations, grants and by the support of 35 U.S. Christian denominations.

Portland Church Will Join National Conversation About Race, Reconciliation

Parkrose Community United Church of Christ (www.parkroseucc.org) will join other churches that are part of the United Church of Christ (UCC) denomination in a “sacred conversation’ about race on Sunday, May 18th during the 10 am worship service.

Click here for the full story.

Remembering Steve Currie

Today is May 13th and growing up that meant German chocolate cake for desert (because I hated coconut I'd eat around the edges).  C. Stephen Currie was born on this day and the cake was for him.  Steve, as he was called by everyone except his mother, was my dad.  He died in the fall of 1998 after a life long battle with depression and alcohol and drug addiction.  For him the battle started early.  His mother and father were both abusive and from we understand my grandmother used to give her children Valium when they came home from school to keep them under control.  My dad was the youngest of three kids but he had outlived his brother and sister when he died at the age of 52.  None of them stood a chance.

My father excelled professionally in his 20s and 30s.  As a teen, he worked on air for a radio station in South Carolina.  He later worked as a reporter and anchor before going behind the scenes and working as a television producer.  By the time he was 32 he had be elected president of the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) and was working as the program operations manager at KOIN-TV here in Portland.  He ended up working at KOIN for 14 years.

He was not a perfect father.  But he tried.  He fought his addictions with stay after stay in treatment facilities.  Recovery just couldn't emerge out of the chaos that has been his life.  How might things had been different for him and our entire family if we knew then what we know now about abuse and addiction?  I wonder about that every time I advocate for children's programs or mental health treatment. 

Do I miss him?  You bet.  I'd like to be angry with him for all the times he failed us - and for finally leaving us the way he did - but most of the time that anger escapes me.  I keep a picture of him as a child in our hallway to remember what potential he had and in my study here at home is a framed photo of him from Variety, a tribute to his time at NATPE.

I miss you, daddy.  Happy birthday.

Related Link:  Mick Schafbuch 's Eulogy to Steve Currie (Mick was the general manager at KOIN when my father was there).

Is Ted Kulongoski The Next Joe Lieberman?

When John McBush McCain came to Oregon this week advancing his platform of extending the Bush presidency another four years he was welcomed by none other than HRC super delegate and Oregon governor Ted Kulongoski.

Yes, Senator McCain came to talk about the environment and how he differs on this issue from his allies in the Bush White House. But the symbolism of Governor Kulongoski putting his office behind the senator is a little too much.

Steve Duin wrote today in The Oregonian:

Before we ask what John McCain would do on wind energy, maybe it's time to ask what Barack Obama ever did to Gov. Ted Kulongoski.

It would have been embarrassingly difficult for McCain to find a prominent Oregon Republican to introduce him at the Vestas training facility in Northeast Portland on Monday, and the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee didn't need to. Kulongoski, a Democrat and a Hillary Clinton fan, was happy to do the honors, wrapping his figurative arms around McCain before the Arizona senator delivered a policy speech on climate change…

Global warming is the rare issue in which Kulongoski has a little gravitas, so the governor could make the argument that some policy matters rise above partisanship.

But that is McCain's mantra, particularly while campaigning in blue heavens like Oregon. If he returns during the fall campaign to remind us he regularly crosses the aisle when conscience demands, McCain will have Monday's photo op with Kulongoski to prove it.

Championing Clinton in the primary wasn't enough for you, Ted? You're now looking to stick it to Obama in the general?

Sticking it to Senator Obama seems the way of the Clinton folk. They’ve lost the nomination but seem happy to do anything in their power to damage Senator Obama’s fall chances. We’ll just have to work a little harder to make sure they don’t succeed.

Obama For America Seeking Religious Affairs Interns

The Religious Affairs Department of Obama for America is seeking to fill six full-time summer internship positions immediately. Positions are based out of the Obama for America headquarters in downtown Chicago. Applicants should be college graduates or rising seniors in college. Preference will be given to those previously involved in some form of religious outreach or those with a background in journalism, communications and/or media. Strong research and writing skills are required and proficiency with Microsoft Office and database management is preferred. Some of these internships require applicants to demonstrate experience with youth organizing and a familiarity with national and community-based faith organizations. The internships are unpaid; however, assistance with housing is provided and limited scholarships may be available. To apply, please submit a resume, brief statement of interest and two writing samples to Paul Monteiro, Deputy Director of Religious Affairs, at [email protected].

I'm Chuck Currie, and I Support Steve Novick Too

Related Link:  Steve Novick Endorsed by Rev. Chuck Currie

Oregon Bookstores May Face Economic Downturn

I, The Rev. Charles S. Currie, Jr., do herby solemnly swear not to purchase any additional books until the ones currently on my desk have been completed in full.

Oregon bookstores may suffer from this decision but all I can do is ask that people stop writing books until I have time to catch up.

A Prayer for Mother's Day

 

Gracious and loving God, this Mother’s Day – which also falls on the day of Pentecost when we celebrate the birth of your church – we stop to give you thanks for our mothers. We remember the times that they have set-aside their own needs to tend to ours. We remember those moments where they have expressed love for us when no one else would. Creator God, we give you praise for the gift of human creation. And on this day we remember moms that we have lost and ask that your spirit hold them fast – and that you watch over us as we still grieve. We also ask for your healing touch for mothers who have lost children and for women who have tried to conceive but been unable to. Help us in different ways to be the family for those that have no other. God of Justice, we also lift up to you today those mothers who are struggling to provide shelter, food and medical care for their children. Use us as instruments of your will as we seek to build the Kingdom you have promised – a place where all such inequities are washed away. We also acknowledge, O God, that not every mother is perfect. Help us to forgive those that have wronged us. Forgive us to, dear Lord, for the times we have not shown our mothers the love and appreciation they deserve for all the mighty gifts they have given us. In the name of Jesus Christ, born of Mary, we pray. Amen.

- The Rev. Chuck Currie

(Pictured above:  Judith F. Bright, ARNP, CNM, MPA.  My mom.)

Mayor Tom Potter Endorses Barack Obama

Portland Mayor Tom Potter today threw his support behind Senator Barack Obama.

As mayor of Portland, I want to let my fellow Oregonians know that I will be casting my vote on May 20th for Barack Obama.

Senator Obama is the only presidential candidate who has the right combination of strength, integrity and wisdom needed to bring reconciliation and hope to our nation.

We need a change after eight years of Bush’s wars and disastrous economic policies that have called into question our commitment to democracy and divided our country. Senator John McCain has promised another four years of the ruinous policies undertaken by President Bush. We cannot afford that. We need Barack Obama to show ourselves, and the world, that America can be the country we have always wanted it to be.

During the course of this campaign we have watched Senator Obama come under fire and work through difficult issues with grace and integrity. At each step of the way he has responded by unifying our diverse communities and inspiring us to be part of something bigger than ourselves.

Obama has articulated detailed plans to address our nation’s most pressing problems, such as ending the war, closing the achievement gap in our schools, expanding health care coverage, and making the economy work for every American – not just the privileged few.

Most importantly, millions of Americans – white, brown, black, wealthy and poor, urban, suburban, and rural – have for the first time been moved to join the political process and have rallied to his vision. Senator Obama will bring fresh leadership and new ideas to make our nation and our world a better place.

I am confident that Obama will show the same leadership in the White House that he has on the campaign trail. At last, we will have someone on our side at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

I am asking people who want real change to vote for Barack Obama.

- Mayor Tom Potter

Change is coming to America and Oregon will be the place where it all begins on May 20th.

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

CWS appeal: Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Nargis response

Action Alert from Church World Service

Thousands of people have been killed or are missing in Myanmar (Burma) as Tropical Cyclone Nargis pushed ashore over the weekend. BBC News reports three-quarters of structures in the Irrawaddy region were destroyed by fierce winds, rain and storm surge. A United Nations relief worker in Yangon tells the Associated Press villages in the Irrawaddy Delta have been completely flattened. On Haing-gyi Island, along the country’s southwest coast, an estimated 20,000 homes have been destroyed, leaving at least 90,000 homeless.

Profiteering is already starting to grip those coping in the storm’s aftermath, with prices on food, fuel and building supplies shooting up 300 percent. CWS partners report communication abilities throughout Burma have been compromised.

RESPONSE: Immediate relief operations are underway with a comprehensive assessment on-going. The CWS Asia Regional Office is in direct contact with partners in Myanmar, and in coming days this initial appeal will be expanded to reflect needed support for longer-term recovery efforts in Myanmar.

Contributions to support this emergency appeal may be made online, sent to your denomination, or to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515. Please designate: MYANMAR (BURMA) CYCLONE NARGIS RESPONSE (#699-A). 

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.

Obama Wins Big; Time For Clinton To Leave Race

North Carolina voters gave Barack Obama a huge win tonight and in Indiana, a state that has always been in Hillary Clinton’s column, the race is still too close to call hours after the polls have closed. Regardless of how Indiana turns out the race for the nomination is effectively over.

Barack Obama has won the popular vote, the most states, and the most delegates.

Republicans cannot be happy. In Indiana, Rush Limbaugh asked right-wing listeners of his show to cross party lines and vote for Clinton and it appears his followers did just that in record numbers. The GOP knows that Clinton would be an easy target come November.

Working class voters turned out for Obama tonight in North Carolina. Exit polls show he won those making under $50,000 and people without a college degree. Clinton was said to be doing well with this group. It is time for the New York senator to leave the race and make room for Senator Obama to unify the party and set the stage for the November election.

America cannot afford another four years of George W. Bush’s policies and that is what John McCain is promising. We need to end the war, fix our schools, expand health care coverage, and make the economy work for every American – not just the rich.

A Sermon on Isaiah 59:1-8 And John 6:1-14: We Need Bread For The World

This Sunday at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ our Scripture readings were Isaiah 59: 1-8 and John 6: 1-14.  There is no podcast of the sermon available this week but my sermon notes are below.

My brother and sisters, I come here this morning to ask for your help.

As Christians, we have been called to be stewards of the earth and to be concerned with the welfare of all of humanity. We offer our praises to God for providing us with a bountiful world that can provide for our every need.

But greed, corruption, inadequate planning and a host of other human sins and mistakes have created a world where many suffer.

Bread for the World, the Christian anti-poverty group, reports that:

More than 854 million people in the world go hungry.

 

In developing countries nearly 16 million children die every year from preventable and treatable causes. Sixty percent of these deaths are from hunger and malnutrition.

 

In the United States 11.7 million children live in households where people have to skip meals or eat less to make ends meet. That means one in ten households in the U.S. are living with hunger or are at risk of hunger. 

Facts and figures like these are often so large that they become difficult to comprehend. But let me stress one of those facts: 16 million children die every year from preventable and treatable causes. Sixty percent of these deaths are from hunger and malnutrition.

These are children with as much potential as any in the United States. These are children as special and as beloved by God as Frances or Katherine or any other child in this church, in our families, or in our schools.

As Christians, we have a special responsibility to work towards the elimination of hunger and poverty. Read your Bible. Throughout you’ll hear God’s call for us to create a more just world where hunger and poverty are eliminate. Jesus calls this Kingdom-building.

Bread for the World has taken this passage we have read today from John and said:

John’s account of the miracle of the loaves and fishes is the only one that includes the little boy. The boy has been better prepared than the rest of the crowd and brought his meal with him. However, he gives it up, trusting Jesus to do what is best.

 

We must follow the boy’s example – not just in trusting God with our financial resources, but also offering our power as citizens in a democracy. When we use our voices to call for Congress to increase funding for effective programs that help developing countries in Africa and other poor parts of the world, we are trusting God to do miraculous things with this small action.   

To take up this challenge of trusting God and caring for the least of these across the globe our Missions and Outreach Team, with the support of the Church Council, has decided to ask the congregation to take part in an advocacy campaign designed to ask members of Oregon’s congressional delegation to support legislation that would help reduce hunger and poverty. Bread for the World, a non-partisan Christian advocacy group, is the organization overseeing this campaign.

Specifically, Bread for the World is asking Congress to increase funding for poverty fighting efforts by at least $5 billion a year, starting this coming year.

They are also requesting that the Congress pass the Global Poverty Act, now in Congress. This act would do two important things:

· Make the the first Millennium Development Goal (to cut in half the number of people who are hungry and the number of people living on less than $1 a day) an official part of US policy.

· Require a coordinated strategy to achieve this goal through

U.S.

aid, debt relief, and trade policies. The strategy would emphasize cooperation with other countries, international institutions, faith based groups, and the private sector.   

How will we as a church engage in this effort? 

Bread for the World is asking that we write letters to our members of Congress about these legislative goals. Next week during coffee hour there will be a table set-up where you can write your letters. We’ll include sample letters and additional information so that you can make an informed argument to your members of Congress. The following week we will collect all those letters and present them during worship as part of our offering to God. Then the letters will be mailed to Congress. You’ll hear more about exactly how this works next week.  

So why should we undertake this project here at church?

We read in James 2:17 that “faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead (NRSV).”

We heard from the Prophet Isaiah this morning that the iniquities we create “have been barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden God’s face from you so that God does not hear (Isaiah 59:2 NRSV). In other words, how we treat those who are hungry and suffering determines what our own relationship with God will be. If we work for justice in the world God will be with us. But if we stand by and do nothing it creates a barrier between us and the divine.

I know there are some people in the congregation who would rather that I never preach on social issues such as these. Let me say that I respect that. For many church is a place of respite where you come to be uplifted after a hard week. That’s fair enough.

Here’s where I run into some trouble: As a pastor, I’m called by God to preach the Gospel and the Gospel talks about war, poverty, hunger, disease, etc. and the main character, Jesus, is so radical the state puts him to death. So my advice is that if you ever have a pastor who never talks about these issues please fire him or her because they aren’t preaching the teachings we learn from Scripture.

The work we do at Snow-Cap as a congregation is an excellent example of how we try and live out our faith. We provided needed food and other donations that are distributed to those who need such assistance. We should keep doing this as long as the need is there. 

At the same time, we ought to be dreaming about a time when hunger and poverty are a thing of the past. We ought to be advocating for changes in policy that help create hunger and poverty. Our goal should not be to simply apply band-aids (even though band-aids can save lives) but to change the way the world operates so that suffering of this kind ends.

Through working with Bread for the World and by taking part in the simple act of writing letters to Congress we have an opportunity to witness to God in new ways, to break down barriers that keep us from fully being in relationship with the one who called us into being, and to save millions of lives…lives whose deaths God surely mourns.   

   

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. 

   

Statement from The Rev. Chuck Currie On Portland City Hall Homeless Protest

I want to applaud the protesters outside Portland City Hall asking for additional assistance for people who are homeless. Portland has done a lot of good over the years – taking up much of the slack left by the federal government’s retreat in this area – but despite these efforts we continue to see large numbers of people on the street. Right now we face a real crisis in our mental health system and homeless children are not receiving the attention or care they need. I am most disheartened that neither of the leading candidates for mayor has developed comprehensive plans for fighting poverty in Portland. None of the city council candidates have offered up proposals that go beyond the status quo. Only a reduction in poverty will reduce the crisis of homelessness. How we treat the “least of these” in Portland is a moral test and we are not passing.