We continue as a nation to watch in horror as the Gulf Coast region is devastated by the oil rig explosion and on-going leak. The costs will be monumental. Some are comparing the scope of the disaster to Hurricane Katrina (and while those comparisons are meant largely to embarrass President Obama politically by comparing his response to this crisis with President Bush’s inept response to the hurricane as people were dying) the reality is that the ecological impact may very well rank as one of the worst human caused disasters in American history. 

At the heart of this story, in theological terms, is human sin. Consider this story from CNN which chronicles the federal Minerals Management Service, the agency charged with oversight of off-shore drilling:

(CNN) -- The Minerals Management Service, a division within the Interior Department, was a troubled agency long before the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the recent revelations of employee misconduct. 

The agency -- which oversees U.S. offshore drilling, including the Gulf of Mexico -- has come under fire for mismanagement, questionable conduct and cozy relationships with industry officials. 

The MMS issued permits for the Deepwater Horizon drill rig -- contracted by BP -- which exploded on April 20. The explosion killed 11 people and resulted in an oil spill that is threatening parts of the Gulf. 

Interior Department Secretary Ken Salazar, during an appearance Wednesday before the House Committee on Natural Resources, said he was trying to change the agency's culture and its structure, which some critics say leads to mismanagement. 

"My belief is that most of the employees of the MMS are good public servants," Salazar said. He, however, acknowledged some of the past conduct was "scandalous" and "reprehensible."

Salazar said some people have been fired and others referred for prosecution.

When talking about sin we most often refer to personal sin. The Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian New Testament, however, talk about societal sins as well as personal ones. We are called, as an example, to be stewards over all creation in Genesis 1:26-27 (NRSV). 

26 Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind* in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth,* and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’ 27So God created humankind* in his image, in the image of God he created them;* male and female he created them. 

Some have argued (incorrectly) that dominion gives us control over creation to do as we please – for the benefit of humankind above all else. “We have interpreted the ‘dominion’ granted to humankind as giving us raw power to exploit and abuse the rest of creation, rather than as requiring mature responsibility of us to show respect and loving care for creation,” writes The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr. in his new book Whose Gospel? “Like rebellious adolescents, we have been inclined to see the gifts of God as ours to use as we choose.” 

The sin in this crisis was not the explosion that caused the massive spill – that was an accident – but rather the arrogance we have shown in drilling for oil in sensitive areas using a system of oversight ripe with corruption all for the gain of humanity without concern for the plant. 

“Drill, baby, drill” has been the mantra. Such thinking has led us to this moment: where the interconnectedness of humanity and all creation is once again in jeopardy immediately in a large region of this planet while we still struggle with the reality of global climate change. 

Our actions (or inactions) place us into a place of conflict with God. In other words, we as a people are in a perpetual state of sin. The consequences will be grave this time. The immediate concern in stopping this seemingly never ending underwater volcano of oil is legitimately our top priority. 

The only way to reconcile with God, though, will be to stop this madness and act like the true stewards we are called to be. God is calling us to stop acting like adolescents and act like grow-ups should: with responsibility, with justice in our hearts, and a mature understanding of the difference between right and wrong.

Prayers for the Gulf from The National Council of Churches

PRAYER OF CONFESSION 

Creator God, author of life, source of all meaning, you made a universe of infinite complexity and beauty and entrusted us humans with the care of a tiny jewel called Earth. With the passing of time we came to believe we were owners, not fellow creature dwellers, of this bountiful planet and its extravagant web of life. We have used God’s creation without regard for the impact our rapacity had on the other creatures with whom we share our earthly home. We have acted with craven disregard for complex ecosystems we barely understand. Our self-deception has led us to assume we have the capacity to manage environments we exploit to sustain lifestyles that defy the intrinsic interdependence of all life. Now we face the consequences of our idolatry. We thought we were gods; but our recklessness has brought us to our knees, to ask for your mercy and forgiveness for the chaos we have brought about. We pray for the oceans and all the creatures that dwell in it. We pray for the forests and the abundance of life they nurture. We pray for the very air we breathe, now laden with the toxic gases we produce. We pray for our children whose earthly home we have so imperiled. Loving God, have mercy on us, grant us forgiveness and the strength to make amends. 

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS 

There are no sins so great that the mercy of God cannot forgive. Go with God’s grace to make amends. Embrace lifestyles that will help restore balance and harmony to our Earthly home. Care for those whose environments have been destroyed by our actions and inactions. Amen.

Portland voters will have the opportunity this fall - despite the efforts of the powerful Portland Business Association - to vote on the city's innovative experiment on the public financing of elections (known as the Voter Owned Elections project).

For leaders of the faith community, the public financing of elections has long been a goal.

A 1997 statement issued by the National Council of Churches USA and others stated:

"Campaign finance reform is not simply a political or public relations dilemma but a moral matter. The temptation to use money to buy unjust favors is an ancient one. The prophet Amos thundered against those merchants who "sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of shoes.and push the afflicted out of the way." (Amos 2:6-7 NRSV). 

Groups like the Portland Business Alliance oppose the public financing of elections because it erodes their power and undue influence over public policy.

The 21st General Synod of the United Church of Christ adopted the following statement on campaign fiance reform:

WHEREAS, Scripture teaches us: "You shall not pervert justice, you shall not show partiality, and you shall not take a bribe ... justice, and only justice, you shall follow ..." (Deuteronomy 16:19-20), and we are reminded in the parable of the lost sheep of the importance of every person (Matthew 18:12, Luke 15:4); and Jesus reminds us that "if anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all" (Mark 9:35);

WHEREAS, the United Church of Christ Constitution states: "The United Church of Christ recognizes that God calls the whole church and every member to participate in and extend the ministry of Jesus Christ by witnessing to the Gospel in church and society;" 

WHEREAS, trust in our democratic process is threatened by the present system of financing campaigns for public office which allows businesses and political action committees to contribute at least twice as much as individuals and allows for the appearance of improper influence in the legislative process by large contributors, and correspondingly discourages participation by persons of lesser means; 

WHEREAS, candidates spend an inordinate amount of time raising increasing amounts of money rather than speaking with the people about issues that affect our common life; and

WHEREAS, over 20 states have public financing legislation, and recent studies have shown that campaign finance reform legislation enjoys broad bipartisan support and that such legislation would enable qualified persons of limited means to be candidates for public office; 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Twenty-first General Synod of the United Church of Christ is in support of legislation which seeks more equitable campaign financing, through, but not limited to, the establishment of a voluntary fund from which candidates for public office may equally receive campaign and media funding, and through a significantly reduced cap on contributions which applies equally to businesses, PACs and individuals...

In the intervening years the problem has become worse.  The recent Supreme Court decision - Citizens United vs the FEC - now allows for unlimited spending by corporations during elections.  Their money and power will overwhelm our democratic systems.

You can expect that the Portland Business Alliance and other powerful interest groups will fight hard to defeat Portland's Voter Owned Elections.  They'll spend as much cash as possible to maintain their position of power regardless of the cost to our democracy.

I will work with faith leaders here in Oregon to continue support for the public financing of elections.  This will be one of the most important moral debates to occur during the fall 2010 election cycle in Oregon and will help inform the national debate.  

A few years ago I was determined to write a book offering up a positive vision of the Christian faith that explained for believers and non-believers alike why the Christian tradition should be seen as progressive and justice-centered rather than conservative and exclusionary. Maybe one day I still will. But in the meantime, The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr. has written an excellent book called “Whose Gospel? A Concise Guide to Progressive Protestantism.” He’s written the book I hoped to write (though I’m certain more articulately and with more depth than I could have managed). I highly recommend picking up a copy.

Related Link: "Language of God" video sustains strong surge

Rev. Chuck Currie - Oregon Coalition on Housing and Homelessness from Chuck Currie on Vimeo.

I was invited this year to provide one of the keynote addresses this April before the annual conference of the Oregon Coalition on Housing and Homelessness. My topic was how the faith community can work with non-profits, schools and government agencies to lift up the common good of our state by working to end homelessness and provide educational opportunities to children experiencing homelessness.

 

For the full size photos click here.

It was a short campaign but we had fun!

May 18, 2010

Dear Friends, 

We fought the good fight but couldn’t pull off a victory tonight. It wasn’t for lack of trying. Our campaign knocked on over 5,000 doors and we raised enough money to be competitive. 

But running against a good field of seven candidates who had either run for office before or who worked for politicians with established networks proved to be too much for this short special election. We couldn’t overcome the advantages. 

I want to congratulate Karol Collymore and Loretta Smith for advancing to the next round. 

Tonight I want to say a special word of thanks to Bob Durston, Wendy Marsh, Wade Nkrumah, Andrew Plambeck and Michele Rogelstad (our field director) for their incredible work as our campaign team. We also greatly appreciated the work of Michael King with WinPower. 

We were also fortunate to have Gretchen Kafoury and Steve Novick backing our campaign 100%. 

Of course, Liz Smith Currie and our daughters Frances and Katherine deserve the most thanks. They were amazing, as always. 

And finally, thank you to all our volunteers and contributors. You put your faith and trust in me and I will be forever grateful.

We can’t thank you enough! 

-Chuck Currie 

PS. You’ve got to read this article from The Portland Mercury on our Election Night Party!

Talk about good press! Too bad it came after the results were in. :)

When it comes to questions about religion and politics and core questions about separation of church and state, clergy running for office is where the rubber meets the road. That’s why win or lose, the candidacy of Rev. Chuck Currie may inform our thinking about the role of religious progressives around the country for years to come.

Full story from Religion Dispatches.

From NPR:

The artifacts are stacking up as director Lonnie Bunch gathers material for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The first national museum to celebrate the legacy of black Americans is scheduled to open on the National Mall in 2015....

...Bunch brings out a yellowed hymn book. On the inside cover, there's the signature of none other than Harriet Tubman, who led slaves on harrowing journeys to their freedom.

"This is one of the great treasures of the museum," he says.

One of the ways Tubman signaled slaves was by singing hymns. "So she'd sing 'Steal Away to Jesus' or 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,' and you would know it's time to go. And so to be able to have a hymnal that has those songs in it that was hers is just pretty amazing."

The hymnal came to the museum by way of one of Tubman's last living descendants, who gave it to collector Charles L. Blockson. Bunch and his team traveled to Philadelphia to get it from Blockson. "When he pulled this out," Bunch recalls, "the room went silent and people got ready to cry."

According to Blockson, Tubman didn't learn to write until later in her life, and the signature inside the hymnal is one of her early attempts at signing her name. When he said that, Bunch says, "Well, everybody lost it."

Our God is a god of liberation and justice.  Harriet Tubman knew that we can can still learn from her insight.