We took a day trip to Mt. St. Helens today - which is a little less than two hours from Portland. You can see the mountain from the city on any clear day.
Frances and Katherine were with us, of course. This was their first trip to Mt. St. Helens but they've always been fascinated with stories and photos of the May 18, 1980 eruption. We were fortunate to bring my nephews - Dylan, Devin and Ian - along with us. None of them had been to the mountain either. We really lucked out as the clouds cleared up just as we arrived.
For both Liz and I this was the first time back in many years. That last time I went was on May 18, 2000 for a special commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the eruption. I went with my friend Paul Nickell. Paul's mother and step-father were camping in an area considered by the authorities to be safe from any danger but the eruption that day was the size no one could have expected. Their bodies were never found. Most of the 57 people who died that day were in areas local, state and federal authorizes had deemed safe. It took twenty years for any level of government to officially acknowledge the deaths of the 57 people because of fear of legal action on the part of survivors.
What struck Liz and I so much today is all the life that has returned. We saw birds, chipmunks and butterflies. Elk are in the area but we didn't see any today (Liz had on a previous trip, however). New trees are growing alongside the remnants of trees destroyed thirty years ago.
I remember that eruption vividly. It was a Sunday morning and an early morning phone call from KOIN-TV came in for my father (he was then the program operations manager at the CBS affiliate). They needed him in the office because the mountain, which had been having small eruptions and hundreds of earthquakes for months, had literally collapsed on one side. I went with him to the station. As we drove into town you could see a massive mushroom cloud. It looked like an atomic bomb but we'd later learn the force of the eruption was actually much more destructive.
In 30 years so much has changed. What once looked like the moonscape is beginning to look like a forest again. PBS's NOVA ran an episode a few months back to commemorate the 30th anniversary of May 18, 1980. You can watch Mt. St. Helens: Back From The Dead online.
God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, Courage to change the things which should be changed, and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.
Living one day at a time, Enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, Taking, as Jesus did, This sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it, Trusting that You will make all things right, If I surrender to Your will, So that I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.
Hear more about this prayer from The Rev. Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr (United Church of Christ clergy), a graduate of Eden Theological Seminary who later taught at Union Theological Seminary in New York City:
Prosecutors said today they will not pursue a criminal case against former Vice President Al Gore for allegedly groping a Portland massage therapist in 2006, citing a "lack of credible evidence."
The bi-partisan Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (known better as the House Ethics Committee) has over the last several months investigated serious allegations of misconduct against U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel of New York. Their report released yesterday is damning:
In the 40-page report, the committee said it substantiated the major charges that had been hanging over Mr. Rangel for two years: that he improperly used his office to solicit donations for a school to be named in his honor; failed to pay taxes on and report rental income from his Dominican villa; filed incomplete financial disclosure forms; and improperly accepted from a Manhattan developer rent-stabilized apartments, one of which he used as a campaign office.But while those alleged infractions had been widely reported, the committee unearthed new details about Mr. Rangel’s conduct. The committee said Mr. Rangel not only reached out to corporate executives seeking contributions to the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at City College, but he also personally sought donations from registered lobbyists whose corporations had business before Congress. In some cases, Mr. Rangel asked for contributions of as much as $30 million from businesses with issues before the Ways and Means Committee, of which he was the chairman until March.“Reasonable persons could construe contributions to the Rangel Center by persons with interests before the Ways and Means Committee as influencing the performance of Respondent’s governmental duties,” the report stated, saying it violated the Congressional Code of Ethics.In addition, Mr. Rangel, when he secured a rent-stabilized apartment for his campaign operation at the Lenox Terrace development in Harlem, signed an application saying that the apartment would be the primary residence for his son, Steven Rangel, and not be used for business purposes, the report said. Steven Rangel never lived in the apartment, and the committee said the developer, the Olnick Organization, included Mr. Rangel on a “special handling list,” apparently for V.I.P.’s, and did not take action against him even as it cracked down on other tenants whose apartments were not being used as primary residences.The report suggested that, after 20 terms in Congress, Mr. Rangel had come to rely on his government-paid staff for activities unrelated to his Congressional work.
Click here to read the full story from The New York Times.
This is no partisan witch hunt against Rep. Rangel. The committee is made up of an equal number of Republicans and Democrats.
The matter will now go before the House for a rare trial. It shouldn't go that far.
Rep. Rangel should do the honorable thing and resign his office. He has already brought enough discredit on the House. My impression has always been that Rep. Rangel cared deeply for the people of his district and the nation. He can prove that one last time by leaving office so that the House can focus on the business of the nation and not the life and crimes of Charlie Rangel.
Progressive faith activists are on the march this summer, challenging the misperceived monopoly of conservatives who for far too long have tried to establish themselves as the sole guardians of faith, morality, and values. Interfaith groups, Christian groups, and even seminary students and faculty are all involved in this new faith activism, working proactively, not reactively, to present progressive faith values in strong and yet less-divisive ways than the angry hate-filled rhetoric of the extreme far right. From radio ads to blogs and YouTube videos, diverse people of faith are countering the distortions of the extreme right wing while demonstrating the inclusiveness of faith communities united in pursuit of social justice.
National Weekend of Prayer and Action for Immigrant Justice, will take place July 29- August 1
Church World Service reacted yesterday to the injunction placed on certain parts of Arizona's immigration law.
Other Christian bodies are also commenting, including national officers and conference ministers of the United Church of Christ:
July 29, 2010
We, as leaders of the United Church of Christ gathered in retreat on this historic day, applaud yesterday's federal court decision to stop the implementation of key provisions outlined in Arizona Senate Bill 1070, which were scheduled to take effect today, July 29, 2010. The court's analysis of constitutional law confirms our concerns that this law unjustly singles out specific members of our communities based solely on suspicion of their legal status.
We thank all those voices that, in the days since the passage of this law, have spoken so clearly about the injustice of such a law and who have acted in ways that, no matter how seemingly insignificant, have compelled the court to take action and caused others to think more seriously about the impact of such legislation.
In April, Arizona passed new legislation governing immigrants; legislation that the UCC's Southwest Conference calls "the harshest anti-immigrant legislation in the country ... that codifies racial profiling and creates an atmosphere of suspicion, hatred, and scapegoating of immigrants and U.S. Citizens. (For more information go to http://www.ucc.org/justice/immigration.)
When the alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." -- Leviticus 19:33-34
We have witnessed and have learned of the immense pain, suffering, and fear already inflicted upon immigrant families in and beyond Arizona as a result of this law. As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors. The Bible is clear in calling us to welcome strangers in our land, and to love them as we love ourselves. In these times, listening to the voice of the still-speaking God, we will learn how to respond to these new sisters and brothers residing among us.
Therefore, in accordance with our mandate found in the Holy Scriptures and actions of the General Synod, we continue to call for national comprehensive immigration reform legislation to establish a safe and humane immigration system, consistent with our values, that:
creates a process for undocumented immigrants to earn legal status and eventual citizenship;
upholds family unity as a priority of immigration policies;
protects immigrant and native-born workers in their workplaces;
aligns border and internal enforcement policies with humanitarian values and due process protections
provides every detainee with access to their attorney, family, and faith leader, and ensures humane treatment in accord with state, federal, and international law; and
allows undocumented young persons who grew up in this country to work, pay in-state tuition for higher education, and join the military, and be eligible for legal status and eventual citizenship (the DREAM Act.)
We commit to be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Arizona today and in the days ahead as they encounter serious community tension and hostility. We call upon our members to participate in worship services, nonviolent rallies, and other events all around the nation. Above all, we pray that God's grace and peace will be evident among us.
Geoffrey A. Black, General Minister and President John Dorhauer, Southwest Conference Minister Linda Jaramillo, Executive Minister of Justice and Witness Ministries Douglas Anders, South Central Conference Minister Susan Towner-Larsen, Minister for Conference Relations Steve Sterner, Executive Minister for Local Church Ministries Jim Antal, Massachusetts Conference Minister and President Felix C. Villanueva, Southern California Nevada Conference Minister John R. Deckenback, Central Atlantic Conference Minister Karen Smith Sellers, Minnesota Conference Minister Gary M. Schulte, New Hampshire Conference Minister Judith Youngman, Interim Conference Minister, Michigan Conference Edith Guffey, Associate General Minister Rita M Root, Interim Conference Minister, New York Conference Bob Molsberry, Ohio Conference Minister Cally Rogers-Witte, Executive Minister for UCC Wider Church Ministries Mary Susan Gast, Conference Minister Northern California Nevada Marja L. Coons-Torn, Penn Central Conference Minister Charles L. Wildman, Connecticut Interim Conference Minister David S. Moyer, Wisconsin Conference Minister Alan N. McLarty, Penn West Conference Charles Barnes, Conference Minister, Rhode Island Conference Kent Siladi, Conference Minister, Florida Conference Sheldon Culver, Conference Minister, Illinois South Conference Randy Hyvonen, Conference Minister, Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference Michael Denton, Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Church of Christ
WASHINGTON— As chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Migration, Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City applauded the July 28 decision by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton to halt some of the most controversial provisions of Arizona SB 1070 from going into effect the next day. Bishop Wester lamented the status quo on immigration as “unacceptable” and called for the Federal government to act immediately on immigration reform.
"It is the right decision,” Bishop Wester said. “Any law that provides legal cover to profiling affects all members of our communities, including legal residents and citizens. It is a very slippery slope. What is needed now is for Congress and the Administration to live up to their responsibilities and address this issue by passing immigration reform."
The U.S. Catholic bishops believe that any comprehensive immigration reform bill should contain the following elements: a legalization program that gives migrant workers and their families an opportunity to earn legal permanent residency and eventual citizenship; a new worker visa program that protects the labor rights of both U.S. and foreign workers and gives participants the option to earn permanent residency; reform of the U.S. family-based immigration system to reduce waiting times for family reunification; and restoration of due process protections for immigrants, including asylum-seekers. In the longer term, policies that address the root causes of migration, such as the lack of sustainable development in sending nations, should also be part of the equation.
The news service of the Episcopal Church USA reported:
[Episcopal News Service, Phoenix, Arizona] Activists hailed a federal judge's July 28 decision to partially block sections of Arizona's controversial immigration law and said they will proceed with prayer vigils and protests as planned for July 29, the day the law was to take effect.
"I think in one sense this is a victory in our democratic process of checks and balances," said Bishop Kirk S. Smith of the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona. "I think it's a victory that confirms our American sense of compassion and fairness.
"I pray that this will open the way for a future more thoughtful and humane resolution of our immigration crisis," added Smith, a scheduled speaker at a 6 a.m. July 29 interfaith prayer vigil at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, part of a daylong series of anti-immigration law demonstrations and events in downtown Phoenix and elsewhere.
Hours before SB1070, which seeks to identify and deport undocumented persons, was to take effect, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton said crucial aspects of the law simply could not be enforced.
Specifically, she cited requirements that immigrants carry citizenship papers at all times and that police officers check immigration status during traffic stops, detentions and arrests. Also halted was a section barring undocumented workers from applying for or soliciting employment.
Bolton said the law puts unfair burdens on legal immigrants. "There is a substantial likelihood that officers will wrongfully arrest legal resident aliens," said Bolton, who was appointed to the federal bench by former President Bill Clinton. "Preserving the status quo is less harmful."
She also barred sections that forbid police from releasing anyone arrested until that person's immigration status is determined and that allowed police to make warrantless arrests if there is a belief the person has committed an offense that allows them to be removed from the United States.
Other aspects of the law, including provisions against the smuggling of undocumented persons, will go into effect at 12:01 a.m.
The ruling restored peace of mind — at least temporarily -- for many of her 300-member Spanish-speaking congregation, said the Rev. Canon Carmen B. Guerrero, canon for peace and justice for the Arizona diocese.
"My phone has not stopped ringing today," she said. "Families in the congregation feel they can breathe a sigh of relief. They don't have to be afraid. They don't have to fear their husband might not come home because he got caught somewhere. It's an enormous opportunity to breathe again."
But Guerrero said the struggle "isn't over, it's just postponed."
She added, "It's important from a church perspective to let people know that God really does listen to prayer.
"I spent half my sermon last Sunday talking about being persistent in prayer, about not giving up and continuing to plead our case to God. So I'm excited about the ruling," she said.
Now perhaps there is an opportunity to "look at a more humane way of dealing with immigration reform and take a serious look at border protection without having to mix the two together," she said.
A fourth-generation Mexican American, Guerrero said nonetheless Bolton's decision was a big relief because those who were born here or had become American citizens still felt targeted "because it (SB1070) had to do with our appearance."
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who signed SB1070 into law in April, called the ruling "a bump in the road" and said she planned to appeal it, all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.
Richard Land, head of the The Ethics and Liberties Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, said earlier this month:
The recent passage of the new law in Arizona is a cry for help from the citizens of a state made desperate by the federal government’s shameful and flagrant dereliction to its duty to control the nation’s borders and to enforce its laws. This is manifestly a federal responsibility and the U. S. government has failed in its responsibilities to its citizens under both Democratic and Republican administrations.The Arizona law is a symptom, not a solution. While I sympathize with the plight of the beleaguered citizens of Arizona, the law they have passed faces severe challenges....Proper reform should consist of a program that provides an earned pathway that requires an illegal immigrant who desires to remain legally in the U.S. to undergo a criminal background check, pay a fine, agree to pay back taxes, learn to speak, write, and read English and get in line behind those who are legally migrating into this country in order to apply for permanent residence after a probationary period of years. They must also acknowledge and pledge allegiance to America’s governmental structure, the duties of citizenship and our core values as embodied in the Declaration of Independence. People who fail background checks or who refuse to comply with this generous opportunity to earn legal status, should be deported immediately.This is not amnesty. Amnesty is what President Carter gave the draft dodgers who came home from Canada with no penalties, no fines, and no requirements whatsoever.It should be remembered that most of these undocumented workers who have broken the law (and thus should be penalized) came here in order to work whereas most of our home-grown criminals break the law in order to avoid work.While the government focuses on enforcing the law, Christians are mandated to forgive and reflect God’s grace toward all people within their communities, including illegal immigrants. The recent SBC resolution encouraged “churches to act redemptively and reach out to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of all immigrants.”As citizens of the Lord’s heavenly Kingdom, we have a divine mandate to respond compassionately toward those who are in need.There is neither the political nor economic will in the U.S. population for forcibly rounding up 12 million people—many of them who have children who are American citizens—and shipping them back to their country of origin. Politics and public policy are the “art of the possible.” The reality is that it is not feasible for the United States government to attempt to deport 12 million people. There has to be another way to resolve this issue.In hopes of providing a biblical solution to this matter, I have joined with other Evangelicals in calling for bipartisan immigration reform that:
• Respects the God-given dignity of every person; • Protects the unity of the immediate family; • Respects the rule of law; • Guarantees secure national borders; • Ensures fairness to taxpayers; and, • Establishes a path toward legal status and/or citizenship for those who qualify and who wish to become permanent residents.
The reality is that we have been, and are, a nation of immigrant settlers, and the descendents of such settlers, who braved oceans and many obstacles to come to this matchless land of opportunity to become Americans. Whether our ancestors came early, or late, we are Americans, whatever nationality may be used to describe our heritage before we arrived. We should, and we will, always have room in this great nation for those who are willing to embrace theAmerican dream and the American ideals that both inspired that dream and define it.
"President Obama laid out the elements for an immigration policy that will mend the social fabric of our nation. ... The president has acted like a statesman, not a politician. Statesmen are concerned with the next generation; politicians are concerned with the next election. It's time for Congress to step up and be statesmen."
Watch President Obama discuss his hope for immigration reform:
Religious leaders are planning a weekend of protests aimed at supporting reform....
.... (the) National Weekend of Prayer and Action for Immigrant Justice, will take place July 29- August 1 in Chicago; Oakland; Cincinnati; Milwaukee; Toledo; San Francisco; New York City; Houston; Philadelphia; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Albany, New York and is coordinated by Interfaith Worker Justice. Actions include marches, rallies, prayer vigils, civil disobedience, educational forums, and worship services, sermons, and homilies about immigration, as hundreds voice their opposition to SB-1070 and demand a just solution to the broken immigration system that gave rise to this draconian law.
NEW YORK CITY, July 28, 2010--Church World Service welcomed U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton's temporary injunction against the implementation of parts of Arizona's controversial new immigration law SB 1070, scheduled to take effect Thursday (July 29), and reiterated its call for a federal fix of America's broken immigration system.
"While temporary and partial, Judge Bolton's injunction feels like a small victory," said Joe Roberson, CWS Associate for Operations. "Most importantly, it's an opportunity to re-emphasize that only fair, humane, comprehensive federal immigration reform will fix America's broken immigration system. For its part, CWS will continue to press the U.S. Congress for immigration reform that prioritizes family unity, protects the rights of all workers, reforms inhumane detention and deportation processes, makes the visa system efficient, and provides a pathway to earned legal status for undocumented immigrants now in the country."
The U.S. House of Representatives voted today for another $33 billion for the war in Afghanistan. As The Oregonian notes, four out of five members of Oregon's delegation voted against the funding.
Those members that voted against continued funding of the war - Earl Blumenauer, David Wu, Kurt Schrader and Peter DeFazio - should be congratulated for sending a strong signal to the White House that the mission in Afghanistan is unclear.
Religious leaders, myself included, wrote to President Obama in late 2009 saying in part: "We respectfully and prayerfully suggest that you pursue a strategy built on a humanitarian and development surge. Massive humanitarian assistance and sustainable development can rebuild a broken nation, inspire confidence, trust, and hope among its people, and undermine the appeal of terrorism. And it costs less - far less - than continued war."
In 2006, the National Council of Churches in Christ in the USA released a statement regarding Iraq that applies, I think, to the situation in Afghanistan as well:
… we call upon the U.S. Government to recognize that the continued presence of occupying forces has not provided meaningful security for Iraqi citizens and only exacerbates escalating violence, and begin an immediate phased withdrawal of American and coalition forces from Iraq with a timetable that provides for an expeditious final troop withdrawal. And we further call upon our government to link this withdrawal plan to benchmarks for rebuilding Iraqi society, since the reconstruction of infrastructure, the restoration of essential services, and a foundation for economic growth are necessary to nurture Iraqi hopes for a stable future, and to steps to meet the security concerns of all Iraqis, including the more vulnerable, smaller ethnic and religious communities...
The path we are going down now seems doomed to failure. But we need to find a way to leave that does not cause additional harm to the people of Afghanistan.
Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, currently running third in the state's Republican gubernatorial primary race, says he's not sure if Constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion apply to the followers of the world's second-largest faith, Islam.
At a recent event in Hamilton County, Ramsey was asked by a man in the audience about the "threat that's invading our country from the Muslims." Ramsey proclaimed his support for the Constitution and the whole "Congress shall make no law" thing when it comes to religion. But he also said that Islam, arguably, is less a faith than it is a "cult.""Now, you could even argue whether being a Muslim is actually a religion, or is it a nationality, way of life, cult whatever you want to call it," Ramsey said. "Now certainly we do protect our religions, but at the same time this is something we are going to have to face."
Ramsey went on to say:
"It's time for American Muslims who love this country to publicly renounce violent jihadism...
Republican congressional candidate Lou Ann Zelenik has said:
"Until the American Muslim community find it in their hearts to separate themselves from their evil, radical counterparts, to condemn those who want to destroy our civilization and will fight against them, we are not obligated to open our society to any of them."
President George W. Bush visited the Islamic Center of Washington just a week after September 11th and told those gathered:
Thank you all very much for your hospitality. We've just had a -- wide-ranging discussions on the matter at hand. Like the good folks standing with me, the American people were appalled and outraged at last Tuesday's attacks. And so were Muslims all across the world. Both Americans and Muslim friends and citizens, tax-paying citizens, and Muslims in nations were just appalled and could not believe what we saw on our TV screens.
These acts of violence against innocents violate the fundamental tenets of the Islamic faith. And it's important for my fellow Americans to understand that.
The English translation is not as eloquent as the original Arabic, but let me quote from the Koran, itself: In the long run, evil in the extreme will be the end of those who do evil. For that they rejected the signs of Allah and held them up to ridicule.
The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don't represent peace. They represent evil and war.
When we think of Islam we think of a faith that brings comfort to a billion people around the world. Billions of people find comfort and solace and peace. And that's made brothers and sisters out of every race -- out of every race.
America counts millions of Muslims amongst our citizens, and Muslims make an incredibly valuable contribution to our country. Muslims are doctors, lawyers, law professors, members of the military, entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, moms and dads. And they need to be treated with respect. In our anger and emotion, our fellow Americans must treat each other with respect.
Women who cover their heads in this country must feel comfortable going outside their homes. Moms who wear cover must be not intimidated in America. That's not the America I know. That's not the America I value.
There was a lot that I didn't like about George W. Bush's presidency but he correctly went out of his way to show respect for American Muslims.
Bigotry - against people people of color, against gays and lesbians, against women, against non-Christians - has been used to divide the American people for too long. What is happening in Tennessee is an example of the worst kind of bigotry and as a Christian I denounce it and pray that those engaging in such behavior repent of their sins and seek ways this campaign season to bring reconciliation to the people of our nation. Religious bigotry is, frankly, un-American.
It was twenty years ago today that President George H. W. Bush signed the historic Americans with Disabilities Act into law.
The act has made a tremendous difference in the lives of people with disabilities but continues to be opposed by those on the far right. Ironically, President George W. Bush appointed several judges that argued the bi-partisan act signed into law by his father was unconstitutional.
Supporters of the Americans With Disabilities Act will have to remain vigilant to see that the law remains in full force.
With a laying on of hands, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on Sunday welcomed into its fold seven openly gay pastors who had until recently been barred from the church’s ministry.
The ceremony at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in San Francisco was the first of several planned since the denomination took a watershed vote at its convention last year to allow noncelibate gay ministers in committed relationships to serve the church.
Click here for the full story in The New York Times.
In 1972, The Rev. William R. Johnson, a UCC minister, was the first openly gay person ordained to ministry in the mainline tradition.
Let our prayers be with the ELCA during this time of change. The Holy Spirit is at work moving the world - softening hearts that have filled so many of us with hatred and fear.
However, I'm looking forward to the day when the ordination of gay and lesbian people is no longer newsworthy.
Won't it be nice when we can get past the human divisions that are sinful in the eyes of God and work in common cause for the Kingdom? A place where...
6The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
7The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder‟s den.
9They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
The Supreme Court just finished their fifth term under Chief Justice John Roberts. What's the verdict?
In those five years, the court not only moved to the right but also became the most conservative one in living memory, based on an analysis of four sets of political science data....
If the Roberts court continues on the course suggested by its first five years, it is likely to allow a greater role for religion in public life, to permit more participation by unions and corporations in elections and to elaborate further on the scope of the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms. Abortion rights are likely to be curtailed, as are affirmative action and protections for people accused of crimes.
John Roberts holds a very limited view of the Constitutional protection of religious liberty and an exceptionally permissive view of religious establishment. John Roberts sees a very small arena for the protection of the individual from tyranny including a rejection of a fundamental right to privacy and a very expansive view of the role of presidential power and law enforcement authority. In short, John Roberts’ views seem not to reflect the deep and broad promise of the Constitution, but to risk, in fact permit the very tyranny over the individual’s freedoms that the framers who wrote the Constitution most feared.
It will take a generation (or more depending on future nominations to the court) to undo the damage this court is doing to the common good of our nation.
People will reflect on history, enjoy the present and look forward to the future in Manchester Sunday, when Trinity United Church of Christ and Immanuel Lutheran Church celebrate their 250th anniversaries.
“We will celebrate who we are as members of the family of God,” the Rev. LoisAnn Furgess-Oler, of Trinity United Church, said.
The hour-long service, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, will include sermons from both churches’ pastors, both choirs and the oldest member of Trinity United Church of Christ will recite the Lord’s Prayer in the original Pennsylvania Dutch/German.
Furgess-Oler said that the service is a nonthreatening way for people to go to church and experience what it is to worship God, even if they do not normally attend either church.
Though always two separate congregations, one Lutheran and one Reformed, the two shared a building from 1760 until 1864.
“Our two congregations are the descendants spiritually and, in some cases, through family lines, of the worshippers who made up those two early groups of German settlers who wanted to have a place in which to worship their Lord,” said Jane Leister, a member of Trinity United Church of Christ and an organizer for the event.
Congratulations to both these congregations on reaching such a milestone and for their ecumenical spirit. They remind us that while there are different denominations we together are part of the whole Body of Christ.
Please keep Paige Hicks, her family and friends, the people of Brown University, all those involved with Bike and Build, and everyone experiencing homelessness in America in your prayers.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu's warnings to President Obama today in The New York Times should not be ignored:
HAVING met President Obama, I’m confident that he’s a man of conscience who shares my commitment to bringing hope and care to the world’s poor. But I am saddened by his decision to spend less than he promised to treat AIDS patients in Africa.
George W. Bush made an impressive commitment to the international fight against AIDS when he formed the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief program. Since 2004, Pepfar has spent $19 billion to help distribute anti-viral treatments to about 2.5 million Africans infected with H.I.V.Thanks to these efforts — and similar initiatives, like those spearheaded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria — the number of African patients with access to AIDS drugs jumped tenfold from 2003 to 2008. Since 2004, the AIDS-related mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africa has dropped 18 percent.Yet President Obama added only $366 million to the program this year — well below the $1 billion per year he promised to add when he was on the campaign trail. (Pepfar’s total budget now stands at $7 billion.) Most of the countries in Pepfar will see no increase in aid.Under the Bush administration, about 400,000 more African patients received treatment every year. President Obama’s Pepfar strategy would reduce the number of new patients receiving treatment to 320,000 — resulting in 1.2 million avoidable deaths over the next five years, according to calculations by two Harvard researchers, Rochelle Walensky and Daniel Kuritzkes. Doctors would have to decide which of the 22 million Africans afflicted with H.I.V. should receive treatment and which should not.President Obama has also proposed to cut America’s contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (which had been increasing each year since 2006) to $1 billion in 2011, down from $1.05 billion this year. The fund, less than a decade old, has spent nearly $20 billion helping treat the worst diseases of the developing world. And it has become the premier model for results-driven aid; financing for projects is supplied incrementally, as programs show tangible progress — for example, in the number of AIDS-treating drugs dispensed. President Obama’s plan to decrease support is deeply distressing; American financing for the fund should be increasing.
President Obama signed today into law the most sweeping reform of the financial system since the Great Depression. The Center for American Progress reports that the most important part of the reform "is more and better information for consumers and investors."
Better informed consumers and investors can more easily compare financial products. The result is that banks will have to offer more of what consumers need, such as loans for small businesses, and less of what they don’t need, such as costly and risky investments. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will make sure that financial products are properly labeled and advertised to consumers, creating better-informed consumers. And the Financial Stability Oversight Board will collect more information on financial market activities to identify spots in the market where too much risk is building up, thereby providing better information to investors.
This financial legislation also sets minimum standards in the form of minimum capital requirements for most financial institutions to make sure they are indeed healthy and can live up to the financial promises they make to consumers and businesses, investors, and each other. Better information for investors and stronger capital requirements will create well-functioning financial markets and help to better allocate financial capital to all kinds of productive businesses, small and large. The Obama administration’s new financial regulation thus creates a more level playing field between Wall Street gamblers and all productive businesses
Lear more about the legislation here:
Like Senator Russ Feingold, I worry the legislation does not go far enough. None-the-less, the legislation is sweeping and provides significant protections for the American people.
The Portland Business Association has been a long proponent of anti-civil rights laws against those experiencing homelessness in our community and an opponent of progressive policies - including spending - meant to decrease poverty. Reese choose Kuykendall, a personal friend who plays in a band with Reese, instead of an independent voice that could have brought creditability to a bureau in trouble. Let me be clear about this, however: I don't know Kuykendall or his personal views. It is the hiring process that is concerning, not necessarily Kuykendall himself, and the symbolism for a city rocked by crisis after crisis in the bureau.
The AMA is wrong, however, to insist that a person of color fill the position, as The Oregonian reports they have demanded. That would obviously violate civil rights laws but the cronyism employed by the chief reflects poorly on his own commitment to civil rights and diversity.
When Elena Kagan is confirmed by the Senate and becomes a justice of the Supreme Court, she will join Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg in making history. Three women, fully one third of the court, will be serving at the same time. They are likely to change the Supreme Court in ways that go far beyond even their numbers. These are not only three highly intelligent and accomplished women, they are also "wise" women. They are "wise" both in the sense meant by Sotomayor when she made her famous comment about "wise Latinas," and in the biblical sense, as wisdom is often personified as female and a public advocate for justice. "Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares." (Proverbs 1:20)
UCC-related Union Theological Seminary in New York City, whose faculty has been a target of some of Glenn Beck's programs, has responded to Mr. Beck with an Open Letter from seminary president Serene Jones and a video message from students. First, from the letter:
Serene Jones here. I'm President of Union Theological Seminary in New York, home of James Cone, the scholar featured on your liberation theology program this week.
I write with exciting news. Bibles are en route to you, even as we speak! Kindly let me explain. On your show, you said that social justice is not in the Bible, anywhere. Oh my, Mr. Beck. At first we were so confused. We couldn't figure out how you could possibly miss this important theme. And then it hit us: maybe you don't have a Bible to read. Let me assure you, this is nothing to be ashamed of. Many people live Bible-less lives. But we want to help out. And so, as I write this, our students are collecting Bibles from across the nation, packing them in boxes, and sending them to your offices. Grandmothers, uncles, children, co-workers -- indeed, Bible-readers from all walks of life have eagerly contributed. They should be arriving early next week, hopefully just in time for your next show. Read them with zeal!
Oh, I almost forgot: we've marked a few of the social justice passages, just in case you can't find them.
But as good as this might sound, that's not all! You express such a fervent desire to interpret the rich faith of the gospels that we have decided to offer you a substantial scholarship to Union for advanced theological studies, should you matriculate. Indeed, a fundraising campaign is already underway to offset the cost of your education. It is true that in your case you may need some remedial study before Master's level work can commence, but we are willing to work with you as you come up to speed with the rest of our student body.
My guess is that Mr. Beck won't take Union up on their offer. After all, seminary is hard work and involves reading and critical thinking. But I'd love to be wrong. Seminary can be a transformative experience.
And Dr. Jones, I hope you don't mind if I point out that while Reinhold Niebuhr taught at Union he studied at Eden Theological Seminary, my alma mater. We're kind of proud of that.
Action Alert: Urgent! Tell your Senators to Finish the Job on Unemployment Insurance
Congress needs to extend unemployment benefits - now. It is time for the Republicans to abandon their obstructionist efforts and to help Americans suffering still from the economy they and George W. Bush built over the last decade.
Good morning. Right now, all across this country, many Americans are sitting at the kitchen table, scanning the classifieds, updating their resumes, or sending out another job application, hoping that this time, they’ll hear back. They’re filled with a sense of uncertainty about where their next paycheck will come from. And I know the only thing that will free them from those worries – the only thing that will lift that sense of uncertainty – is the security of a new job.
To that end, we must continue our efforts to do everything in our power to spur growth and hiring. And I hope the Senate acts this week on a package of tax cuts and expanded lending for small businesses, where most of America’s jobs are created.
But even as we work to jumpstart job-growth in the private sector, get businesses hiring, and dig ourselves out of this economic hole, we also have another responsibility – to offer emergency relief to Americans who’ve been laid off in this recession; to help them make ends meet – and support their families – while they’re looking for another job.
That’s why it’s so essential to pass the unemployment insurance extension that comes up for a vote tomorrow. We need to pass it for men like Jim Chukalas, who’s with me today, and who worked as a parts manager at a Honda dealership until about two years ago. Jim has posted resumes everywhere, and even gone door-to-door looking for jobs, but hasn’t gotten a single interview. He’s trying to be strong for his two young kids, but now that he’s exhausted his unemployment benefits, that’s getting harder to do.
We need to pass it for women like Leslie Macko, who lost her job at a fitness center last year, and has been looking for work ever since. Because she’s eligible for only a few more weeks of unemployment, she’s doing what she never thought she’d have to do. Not at this point, anyway. She’s turning to her father for financial support.
We need to pass it for Americans like Denise Gibson, who was laid off from a real estate agency earlier this year. Denise has been interviewing for jobs – but so far, nothing. Meanwhile, she’s fallen further and further behind on her rent. And with her unemployment benefits set to expire, she’s worried about what the future holds.
We need to pass it for all the Americans who haven’t been able to find work in an economy where there are five applicants for every opening; who need emergency relief to help them pay the rent, cover their utilities, and put food on the table while they look for another job. For a long time, there’s been a tradition – under both Democratic and Republican presidents – to offer relief to the unemployed. That was certainly the case under my predecessor, when Republican Senators voted several times to extend emergency unemployment benefits.
But right now, these benefits – benefits that are often a person’s sole source of income while they’re out of work – are in jeopardy. After years of championing policies that turned a record surplus into a massive deficit, the same people who didn’t have any problem spending hundreds of billions of dollars on tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans are now saying we shouldn’t offer relief to middle class Americans like Jim, or Leslie, or Denise, who really do need help.
Over the past few weeks, a majority of Senators have tried – not once, not twice, but three times – to extend emergency relief on a temporary basis. And each time, a partisan minority in the Senate has used parliamentary maneuvers to block a vote, denying millions of people who are out of work much-needed relief. Republican leaders in the Senate are advancing a misguided notion that emergency relief somehow discourages people from looking for a job.
Well, I think that reflects a lack of faith in the American people. The Americans I hear from in letters and meet in town halls – Americans like the ones here today – they aren’t looking for a handout. It’s not that they don’t want to work. They desperately do. They just can’t find a job. They’re honest, decent, hardworking folks who’ve fallen on hard times through no fault of their own; who have nowhere else to turn except unemployment benefits; who need emergency relief to help them weather this economic storm.
Tomorrow, we’ll have another chance offer them that relief; to do right by folks like Jim, Leslie, and Denise – and I hope we seize it. It’s time to stop holding workers laid off in this recession hostage to Washington politics. It’s time to do what’s right – not for the next election, but for the middle class. It’s time to stop blocking emergency relief for Americans who are out of work and extend unemployment insurance. And that’s what I hope Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle do. Thank you.
We understand it still that there is no easy road to freedom.
We know it well that none of us acting alone can achieve success.
We must therefore act together as a united people, for national reconciliation, for nation building, for the birth of a new world.
Let there be justice for all.
Let there be peace for all.
Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.
Let each know that for each the body, the mind and the soul have been freed to fulfill themselves.
Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world.
Let freedom reign.
The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement!
God bless Africa!
- President Nelson Mandela, inaugural address, 1994
Surrounded by members of his family, Nelson Mandela today celebrated his 92nd birthday at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg. Mr Mandela started off his day by receiving visits from old friends including former Zambian Prime Minister, Kenneth Kaunda. Various other invited guests brought him gifts and cards.He was later serenaded by a large group of his grand-children and great-grandchildren, most of whom wore Nelson Mandela Day t-shirts to mark the first United Nations Nelson Mandela International Day. Many of Mr Mandela’s family had been out volunteering at community projects before they arrived at his private birthday party.After singing “Happy Birthday, dear granddad!” the children were joined in their applause by the man of the moment. After two of his youngest great-granddaughters tried unsuccessfully to blow out the candles themselves, they were helped by a group of older ones.Mr Mandela and his wife, Graça Machel, today also celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary. They were joined at the private celebration by his second wife, Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.Before the main party got under way in a marquee erected in the garden, prayers were said by various ministers of religion. The occasion also marked a commemoration of the passing away since the 1940s of various members of the family.These included Zenani Mandela junior, who was killed in a car accident at the age of 13 on 11 June, 2010; Mr Mandela’s daughter, Makaziwe, with his first wife Evelyn Mase, who passed away in 1946 after an illness at the age of nine months; Mandela’s eldest son, Thembekile, 24, who was killed in a car accident on 13 July 1969; and his second son, Makgatho, 54, who died of complications of AIDS on 6 January 2005.
Praise God for the life of President Mandela, a living symbol of freedom, reconciliation and peace in a world that needs his example more than ever!
A Facebook friend visited my blog the other day and remarked:
There was some really nasty stuff in your comments there. Seems you have a following. Where are they coming from?
My general policy is to publish comments that are critical of my own viewpoints. After all, a blog should be a place of discussion. Nearly 9,000 comments have been left on this blog over the years (on just over 3300 posts) and most of them have been critical.
You can't say with any honesty that I don't let the other side have their say.
What I don't tolerate are comments that are simply personal attacks or that are racist, sexist or homophobic in nature and I've had to delete hundreds of those (in addition to the over 9,000 that I've approved). I've also had to ban a hand full of people from this site for continually sending in vile and hateful comments about women, gays and African-Americans. Of course, they almost always sent those comments in anonymously.
How people intact with my blog has changed dramatically in recent years. Most of the comments on my posts are now actually left on Facebook - either on my personal page or on other pages where people share my posts - or on different social networking sites like Twitter. Social networking really didn't exist when I started this blog in 2003. (You can also now become a "fan" of this page on Facebook - something very new - by clicking on the "like" button in the upper left hand corner and then posts will appear on your Facebook feed.) It's a new world.
To cut down on the number of anonymous comments being left of this site I've changed the settings so that you now have to sign in with your Typepad, Facebook, Twitter, Goggle, or another similar account to leave a comment. I take responsibility for every word that I say and others who comment here should as well. I hope this change fosters better discussion. People tend to act more appropriately when they can't hide behind a mask.
Of course, I'll continue to moderate comments and will delete any that come in that are truly offensive. What I suspect, however, is that fewer comments will be left here because many of the people leaving comments won't want to take personal responsibility for their words. After all, would you want it known that you defended racism in the Tea Party or openly questioned the president's citizenship? No, people like that tend to hide behind masks or under hoods.
Having said all that, I again don't mind at all comments that are critical in nature. Debate and dialog can be very healthy and good in a democratic society.
AN INVITATION AND URGENT APPEAL FROM DAVID LESLIE,
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO), Executive Director
Please join us in mobilizing for the Wednesday, July 21, Isaiah 58 noon vigil in support of the people of Arizona, immigrant rights and comprehensive immigration reform.
The Isaiah 58 Prayer Vigil in Portland at noon on July 21 in the North Park Blocks is a critically important gathering to share our collective religious perspectives on immigration reform and the divisive impact that fear-based legislation has on all people in a community, and to offer support to all those struggling with the fallout from these anti-immigrant efforts. View flyer with the event details.
Through our ministries and services at EMO, I see daily the needs and challenges that immigrants and refugees face in our communities. As the chair of the National Council of Churches/Church World Service Task Force on Immigration, I also see similar needs and issues throughout the country. In Arizona, for example, on the eve of the implementation of SB 1070 (which has been characterized as one of the most restrictive state immigration laws in the country), many immigrants are moving out of state or not calling law enforcement officials when they are victims of crimes or domestic violence for fear of arrest or deportation. In addition, many religious organizations and nonprofits that routinely work with and serve immigrants are uncertain about the bill's impact, fearful of the punitive costs if they are accused of serving, hiring or transporting someone who may be undocumented.
Other troubling developments include the announcement in a news report that a list is circulating in Utah with the names and personal information of some 1,300 people who are supposedly undocumented. The people compiling the names believe those listed need to "be deported immediately." This is a very disturbing incident that runs contrary to the values we hold sacred as people of God and a gross civil rights violation. Additionally, there are local initiatives being developed like the one that passed recently in Fremont, Nebraska, that would make it illegal to hire or rent to an undocumented person. Similar initiatives are being circulated in Oregon, and other states are considering SB 1070-like legislation. These actions do not further the just treatment of people who are undocumented, the enforcement of current immigration laws or the comprehensive reform of our nation's immigration policies.
The vigil in Portland on July 21 is an important opportunity to call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, to express our support for our brothers and sisters in Arizona as they deal with the fallout from SB 1070, and to stand together as people of faith in support of immigrant populations who are becoming the target of dehumanizing rhetoric and fear-driven action.
Please post the vigil flyer, spread the word throughout your congregation and community, and be present.
Thank you very much for your consideration to this invitation, and if you have any questions or need additional information, please contact me at (503) 221-1054 or [email protected].
Action Alert from Justice & Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ
We have seen some dreadful images from the Gulf Coast in the news during the last several weeks: oiled pelicans being scrubbed by wildlife experts; tar balls washing ashore on Pensacola Beach; thousands of people out of work, desperate and facing the prospect of uncertain future. Many of us have reached the point where we cannot watch, consider, nor absorb any more terrible news about the BP oil spill.
The House of Representatives has passed a climate and energy bill that addresses emissions reductions, energy efficiency standards and renewable energy sources with an eye toward reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Although far from ideal, the House bill is much stronger than versions being discussed in the Senate. This week the Senate takes up their long-delayed consideration of climate and energy legislation, and there are troubling signs that the Senate will settle for a much more narrow energy bill that does not include sufficient provisions to reduce emissions through the cap and trade provision or significantly address dependence on fossil fuels.
Even though BP may have successfully capped the well in recent days, the millions of gallons of oil which have already escaped will continue to cause incalculable damage to countless species and habitats as the oil drifts in ocean currents; covers coastal mangroves, coral reefs and beaches; and sinks to the ocean floor. The vast economic impact to fisheries, tourism and other industries will go on for an untold period of time. Consequently, the affected communities will remain in dire need of government assistance and of the prayers and support of people of faith. Naturally, there is no guarantee that another disaster like this won’t happen in the future, which is why we must have an energy bill that leads us away from our dependence on fossil fuels.
The scientific data is before us, creative and visionary business and entrepreneurial leaders are eager to find sustainable solutions for our energy needs – what is needed is leadership from Congress.
Tell your senators we can’t afford another Deepwater Horizon disaster. Urge them to pass a strong climate and clean energy bill that truly addresses the need to end our dependence of fossil fuels.
George W. Bush inherited a strong economy and historic budget surpluses. He left office with historic deficits and the biggest economic catastrophe since the Great Depression. It was a failure of leadership of epic proportions that continues to haunt us today.
President Obama has made some progress in fixing the problems he inherited but more needs to be done - starting with allowing the tax cuts President Bush passed to expire. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reports:
Allowing the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for couples making over $250,000 (and singles over $200,000) to expire on schedule on December 31 represents the best course of action for the budget and the economy. Extending those tax cuts for one or two years, as some have proposed, would be highly ill-advised. It would make it much more likely that Congress would ultimately act to extend the tax cuts indefinitely, increasing deficits and the debt for as far as the eye can see — and thereby adding to the long-term risks that deficits and debt pose to the economy.
Exempting small business income from the scheduled increase in the top tax rates, as some may also propose, would do little for the economy in the short term; only the top 3 percent of people with any business income would benefit.[1] Over the long term, such an exemption would likely harm the economy and the budget by encouraging tax avoidance and reducing revenues.
Some critics continue to assert that President George W. Bush’s policies bear little responsibility for the deficits the nation faces over the coming decade — that, instead, the new policies of President Barack Obama and the 111th Congress are to blame. Most recently, a Heritage Foundation paper downplayed the role of Bush-era policies (for more on that paper, see p. 4). Nevertheless, the fact remains: Together with the economic downturn, the Bush tax cuts and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq explain virtually the entire deficit over the next ten years (see Figure 1).
The deficit for fiscal year 2009 was $1.4 trillion and, at nearly 10 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), was the largest deficit relative to the size of the economy since the end of World War II. If current policies are continued without changes, deficits will likely approach those figures in 2010 and remain near $1 trillion a year for the next decade.
The events and policies that have pushed deficits to these high levels in the near term, however, were largely outside the new Administration’s control. If not for the tax cuts enacted during the presidency of George W. Bush that Congress did not pay for, the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that were initiated during that period, and the effects of the worst economic slump since the Great Depression (including the cost of steps necessary to combat it), we would not be facing these huge deficits in the near term.
While President Obama inherited a dismal fiscal legacy, that does not diminish his responsibility to propose policies to address our fiscal imbalance and put the weight of his office behind them. Although policymakers should not tighten fiscal policy in the near term while the economy remains fragile, they and the nation at large must come to grips with the nation’s long-term deficit problem. But we should not mistake the causes of our predicament.
From Bread for the World's website you can read "Faith Reflections on Anti-Poverty Tax Policy:
Give generously and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.
Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, "Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.” (Deuteronomy 15:10-11)
All of our sacred writings affirm that God consistently expresses concern for the well-being of all people, especially the poor and vulnerable. We believe that God has created a world of sufficiency for all, providing us daily and abundantly with all the necessities of life. All people deserve the opportunity to live lives of dignity and abundance. However, today there are pressing economic challenges facing many throughout this nation, especially those living in poverty, that require our collective attention, effort, and imagination. We raise our voices with and on behalf of those in need to advocate for an economy that serves everyone.
As people of faith, we often talk about the federal budget being a moral document because where we choose to commit our resources demonstrates our values. Our nation’s tax policy functions in much the same way. Paying taxes to enable government to provide for the needs of the common good is an appropriate expression of our stewardship in society. Every year, billions of dollars are generated in tax revenue that are then reinvested in ways that serve the public interest, like providing for our security and building our roads, bridges, and schools.
The tax system also creates financial incentives for individuals to act in ways that are thought to strengthen our social fabric, such as investing and saving for retirement, starting a business, owning a home, getting a college education--even charitable giving. Because of the way tax benefits are structured, however, too often low-wage workers do not earn enough to access those benefits. This results in a system that perpetuates inequality by rewarding behavior that generates financial security for those who already have it, while excluding those who are working hard at low-wage jobs and need help the most. An equitable, moral tax code should reward the efforts of low-income people to work and save at every level.
The undersigned organizations support the following principles to guide the development of tax legislation that will enable families and individuals to provide for their immediate needs, as well as create incentives for saving so that they can build the assets they need to weather future economic shifts, build their human capital and ultimately move out of poverty as well as put our economy on a sustainable, inclusive path.
Principles
It should be an objective of national tax policy to:
Provide adequate income assistance and related services to working families and individuals
Strengthen and expand programs that support low-income working parents with children
Provide incentives to pursue and maintain employment and increase earnings
Strengthen and expand programs that support workers’ efforts to develop their human capital, invest in their financial security, and achieve self-sufficiency
Be made as simple as practicable so that taxpayers, tax administrators, and legislators can all understand the rules and confidently apply them or comply with them
Raise adequate revenues to meet societal needs while supporting economic growth and job creation
Signatories
Bread for the World Catholic Charities USA The Episcopal Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Friends Committee on National Legislation Islamic Relief USA Jewish Council for Public Affairs National Council of Churches of Christ, USA National Council of Jewish Women National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office Sojourners Union for Reform Judaism The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
Last fall I wrote to Portland Mayor Sam Adams and then-Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler about ways local government could work in closer partnership with the faith community. Mayor Adams never responded but Chair Wheeler did.
As a minister in the United Church of Christ, I've often felt (and this is a widely shared feeling by many in the faith community) that local government only talks to faith leaders when local government wants something. The viewpoints of religious leaders are not necessarily welcomed by local officials. Mayor Adams, for example, not only ignored my suggestion to forge closer ties between local government and faith communities but also ignored repeated invitations to meet with faith leaders to discuss his economic agenda before and after he first took office. An opportunity was lost.
Commissioner Kafoury and Commissioner Willer are to be commended for their efforts. Multnomah County's faith community plays an important role in so many areas - delivery of social services, support for youth and seniors, assistance for victims of crime and mentoring projects for those leaving the criminal justice system, critically needed support for public schools, etc. We ought to be working on these issues together as the faith community continues to prophetically lift up the needs of the least of these in Multnomah County and beyond.
Hopefully, one day the city of Portland will follow Multnomah County's lead.
This post has been updated with additional information and photos from Tea Party rallies that expose the "beautiful movement" that Sarah Palin backs for what it really is.
"The Tea Party movement is a beautiful movement, full of diverse people, diverse backgrounds," Palin said on Fox News' "Hannity." "It's very unfortunate that they are taking this tactic because it's a false accusation that Tea Party Americans are racist. Any good American hates racism. We don't stand for it. It is unacceptable."
Palin in turn called on President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama to "repudiate" the resolution and "set the record straight."
Diverse? CNN reported in February that polling of Tea Party supporters showed "Tea Party activists tend to be male, rural, upscale, overwhelmingly conservative."
As ABC News reports, NAACP president Ben Jealous offers a much more honest picture of the Tea Party movement that Palin calls "beautiful":
"For more than a year we've watched as Tea Party members have called congressmen the N-word, have called congressmen the F-word. We see them carry racist signs and whenever it happens, the membership tries to shirk responsibility," NAACP President Ben Jealous said in an interview with ABC News. "If the Tea Party wants to be respected and wants to be part of the mainstream in this country, they have to take responsibility."
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People this evening unanimously passed a resolution that calls on Tea Party members to repudiate what Jealous says are "ultra-nationalist and racist factions within the organization."
The resolution said the Tea Party members have used "racial epithets," have verbally abused black members of Congress and threatened them, and protestors have engaged in "explicitly racist behavior" and "displayed signs and posters intended to degrade people of color generally and President Barack Obama specifically."
There is also a concerted effort by the Tea Party movement (and here they're taking lessons directly from Palin herself) to incite hate against the president - and this is the kind of hate that could led directly to violence against President Obama or others who support his political agenda.
Governor Palin, as I suggested yesterday about the Tea Party movement in general, should heed the advice of the National Council of Churches, which said last year:
The essential nature of our national compact, to enfranchise the views of all, is imperiled in a hostile and suspicious environment. In this moment, then, we call the members of our churches, our political leaders, and all people of good will to somber reflection on the ways we might restore dignity and civility to our national discourse both as a matter of social ethics and to bolster the highest traditions of democratic process.
Update from 7/16 from Media Matters For America:
After the NAACP signaled its intention to pass a resolution condemning the "racist elements" within the tea party, conservatives went ballistic, claiming that the many,many, many, many, many examples of tea party racism and bigotry simply don't exist. And nothing will convince them otherwise -- not the many photographs of racist placards at tea party rallies (if Sean Hannity couldn't find them, they must not exist!), nor the word of civil rights legend Rep. John Lewis (he's a liar!).
Bigoted, racial attacks from conservatives against Obama aren't anything new. Hell, not even a week after he announced his intention to run for the presidency, they were excitedly spreading false rumors that he spent his childhood in a madrassa. But this past month has been something different. Gone are the code words, the winks and nods, and the dog whistles -- the conservative media are openly and aggressively trying to turn Obama's race into something threatening. You can chalk it up to the heat, the summer doldrums, or whatever. The fact is that they're going down roads from which there is no coming back, and it's only going to get worse as the summer rolls on.
The NAACP today called out the Tea Party movement for having racist elements during their annual conference. CBS News reports:
Versions of the resolution condemned "explicitly racist behavior" in the Tea Party movement and called on people to "repudiate" what it described as racist elements of the Tea Party. The final text of the resolution has not yet been made available, however, and that language may have changed.
As the Associated Press notes, NAACP President Ben Jealous has said the Tea Party movement needs to "be responsible members of this democracy and make sure they don't tolerate bigots or bigotry among their members."
Of course, Tea Party leaders reject the notion. But the NAACP is 100% spot on. After all, this is the movement that has produced leaders such Rand Paul, the Republican nominee for United States Senate in Kentucky. Dr. Paul has said he wouldn't have supported the Civil Rights Act.
Tea Party rallies have been replete with racist signs and slogans. After the passage of the president's health care bill people attending a Tea Party rally yelled "Nigger" at members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Yes, the Tea Party movement has a problem with racism. I don't believe that all members of the Tea Party movement are racist but clearly many are and their leaders must condemn such behavior instead of embracing it. At the very least, they create at atmosphere in their rhetoric that inflames racial tensions.
National Council of Churches, USA
An Open Letter Concerning Civility in Public Discourse
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord.” Isaiah 1:18 (RSV)
The current national health care reform debate is a reflection of the broad diversity of views held by the American people. This diversity can be seen not only in relation to health care provisions themselves but, also as regards the proper role of government and even the perceived definition of community. This breadth of perspectives constitutes a rich heritage of insight and experience and is a cherished resource to the ordering of our common life.
Yet, recent days have offered a sobering portrait of a debate grown rancorous and acrimonious. This clash of views demeans the dialogue and ultimately risks subverting the democratic process itself. Individuals cannot express their best hopes and acknowledge their deepest fears within a climate of intimidation and character assassination, and all too often this climate is the product of racism and xenophobia. Too much is at stake for the good of our society for us to continue down this dangerous path. The essential nature of our national compact, to enfranchise the views of all, is imperiled in a hostile and suspicious environment. In this moment, then, we call the members of our churches, our political leaders, and all people of good will to somber reflection on the ways we might restore dignity and civility to our national discourse both as a matter of social ethics and to bolster the highest traditions of democratic process.
The prophet Isaiah (1:18) declares God’s message to the people to “Come let us reason together”. This injunction might serve us well in the present moment. Reason, (yakah), in this passage does not refer to a dispassionate meeting of the minds but, rather calls for convincing, persuading and presenting a case for a point of view. Vigorous, principled debate advances our thinking and clarifies the challenges before us. Respect for neighbor strengthens the fabric of our communities.
Let us then, as a people, draw from our deepest traditions of faith and heritage to gain a renewed sense of community marked by honesty and mutual respect. Let our moments of rigorous debate be tempered with a profound sense of the dignity and worth of each person. Let us debate ideas on their merits and exercise restraint in expression of our own best conceptions. Such a disciplined dialogue holds great promise, honoring our differences and confirming our perception that we are a people joined in our mutual aspiration to live the lives for which we were created.
Let us as member churches and brothers and sisters of other living faiths model the civility to which our sacred texts command. Throughout its history, the conciliar ecumenical movement has provided a common venue for persons to express and debate differing viewpoints in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Let us make clear to ourselves and others those marks of civility that represent the best of our faiths and that can serve as foundational to rigorous, honest public discourse for the common good.
The Tea Party could do their part to promote the common good by fighting against the racism so prevalent in their midst. Conservative views put forth by the Tea Party movement - limited government, etc. - are not inherently racist but it seems clear that much of the passion that drives their movement is fueled by racism and hatred toward others.
The NAACP is right to name the sin for what it is.
President Obama is to be commended for his efforts this week.
I continue to pray for an end to these conflicts and for peace in both Afghanistan and Iraq. That will take great wisdom and courage on the part of many.
Frances and Katherine celebrate their 6th birthday today. A party in Portland was held a couple of weeks ago. Today they'll celebrate in Palo Alto. Check out the links below for photos from their past birthdays. Where are the years going?
I still haven't quite forgiven Garry Wills' for his book What Jesus Meant but he remains one of my favorite American historians. Few are able to weave the story of religion through American history and politics the way Wills does. Now on vacation I'm making my way through his 2007 Head and Heart: American Christianities. Too many American historians are ignorant of religious influences over U.S. history. But from the American Revolution to the Civil Rights Movement to the war in Iraq - not to mention women's rights and environmental issues - religion, for better or worse, has played a central role in policy making and in our common social values either directly or indirectly. Christianity is deeply intertwined with our national history and Wills does a great job illustrating this. A wonderful summer read.
As I have posted before, patriotism can be wonderful, inspiring, uplifting, and unifying. But we should never forget that we are all children of God. After we sing “God Bless America” this Fourth of July weekend it might also be worth signing “This Is My Song” (New Century Hymnal 591).
Israel has a right to exist free from terrorism or fear of annihilation. Unfortunately, many of their neighbors and nation-states such as Iran have openly worked for their destruction. The Jewish people of Israel have every right to fear another Holocaust.
Our nation has a special relationship with Israel. We are their protector and benefactor. President Truman acted to make the United States the first nation to recognize Israel. He was right to do so.
Israeli supporters and their American allies need to stop calling those that oppose their military policies anti-Semitic. Such rhetoric is meant to silence critics and inflame tensions. It is the equivalent of saying those who question American policies are unpatriotic.
The most recent incident under question has been the violent taking of a ship with humanitarian supplies to Gaza, a place left desolate by Israel's blockade and the corruption and incompetence of their own government.
In the wake of this incident, JStreet, the well respected American-based Jewish organization, suggested the following actions needed to be taken:
The words of Israel’s national anthem speak of hope — a hope that one day the Jewish people would have a national home of our own. However far-off such a dream may have felt in 1878, when the original words of “HaTikvah” were composed, that hope was realized 70 years later. What had been only a poet’s dream became a reality.
Recent events off the coast of Gaza confirm for many the impossibility of speaking of peace, relegating it to nothing more than a poet’s dream. We feel deeply the sense of pain and anguish over the violence and insecurity wrought on Israel by Hamas through rockets and terror, as well as the ongoing suffering of Gilad Shalit and his family.
But we, American rabbis and cantors, assert that we have not lost hope. We are steadfast in remaining true to the vision of Israel’s founders in creating a democratic, Jewish state — a nation that upholds the highest human and Jewish values.
The international controversy surrounding the attack on the Gaza flotilla, the tragic loss of life, and the growing isolation of Israel concern us deeply. They reinforce our conviction that immediate efforts to finally resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are urgently needed to ensure Israel’s long-term security and to create a viable, just, and lasting two-state solution.
It is our hope that the rhetoric and actions that feed fear and violence, emanating from both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, will soon give way to bold leadership that makes way for the compromises necessary to bring the violence, despair, and terror to an end.
It is our hope that Israel will bring to an end what has become a counter-productive blockade of Gaza’s citizens, a policy which has only strengthened Hamas, while causing great suffering to many innocent Palestinians. The blockade as currently operated also undermines Israel’s long-term security and interests by increasing international hostility and isolation. We believe it is possible for Israel to ensure that weapons and materials intended for purposes of terror do not enter Gaza by screening humanitarian goods and materials appropriately to ensure they are intended for peaceful purposes.
It is our hope that the American Jewish community will become a positive force for peace, adding our voices to those in Israel calling for compromise and reconciliation.
It is our hope that the Obama administration will take this recent crisis as an opportunity to do all in its power to achieve a viable and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Hope is not lost, and we refuse to give up hope in the possibility of two states, Jewish and Palestinian, living as neighbors, in peace and security. Od lo avda tikvateinu.
New York, June 3, 2010 -- The National Council of Churches and other faith groups have expressed alarm and concern over the Israeli action May 31 against an international flotilla on the high seas that led to the deaths of nine persons and the wounding of many others.
"The National Council of Churches has strongly supported Israel's right to exist with peace and security, but this attack on an aid convoy contributes to neither," said the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, NCC General Secretary. "In fact, it undermines Israel's standing in the community of nations."
Kinnamon supported a statement released Wednesday by Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) that said "the incident highlights the need for the United States to work for new, constructive Israeli policies toward Gaza that end the blockade and provide for the humanitarian need of those living there without diminishing Israel’s own security."
Kinnamon is a member of the board of CMEP, which is a coalition of 23 public policy offices of national churches and agencies -- Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant. CMEP began its work in 1984 out of the conviction that the policy perspectives and long Middle East experience of our member bodies should be more widely known in the public policy arena. It maintains an on-going dialogue with Congress, the Administration and the diplomatic community, to advance such concerns, assessments, and advocacy positions.
Less than three months ago, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and the heads of many of CMEP’s sponsoring organizations wrote to President Obama urging him to use America’s unique relationship with Israel to persuade it to open its borders with Gaza now. CMEP said then, “We believe this policy is strategically unsound, harms Israel’s security, and exacts an unacceptable toll on innocent Palestinians.”
The letter also said, “The perception of U.S. support for or acquiescence in the closure challenges our reputation for upholding humanitarian values. It deprives 1.4 million Palestinians of a decent, minimum standard of welfare. It restricts the use of the $300 million the United States has committed to rebuild Gaza, is a serious obstacle to restoring hope and making peace, and undermines long term Israeli security.” Over 6,000 endorsements of this letter from CMEP supporters have been received and sent by CMEP to the White House.
The current Israeli restrictions on trade and movement of persons in and out of Gaza have been in place since Hamas took over Gaza by force in 2007. They have limited trade in food and medicines and led to worsening unemployment and poverty among Gaza's population of 1.4 million. Restrictions on imports of building materials have limited reconstruction of housing and utilities destroyed during the war. Travel restrictions have limited opportunities for education.
The restrictions were aimed in part at ending rocket attacks from Gaza and securing the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit. They also had the political goal of undermining Hamas' control in Gaza.
"
The blockade has not had the desired results," CMEP said. " Hamas remains in power. Rocket attacks have not completely stopped. Smuggling of goods through tunnels under Gaza's border with Egypt has become an economy of its own. Paradoxically this underground trade is controlled and taxed by Hamas. President Obama has said that "the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza does not serve Israel's security interests."
The Gaza flotilla incident also underlines the necessity of pressing without delay for a comprehensive agreement for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, beginning with the indirect talks now being brokered by the United States, CMEP said.
"This crisis and its tragic consequences must not be allowed to undermine peace efforts. The United States should seize this opportunity to push hard now for an end to the conflict between Israel and Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority has already said it plans to continue the proximity talks with Israel brokered by the United States. The United States should help Israel find better ways to enhance its security through negotiation and a comprehensive agreement for peace."
Dr. Kinnamon is a long-time friend of Israel who studied there and has been an outspoken supporter of Israel's security. In fact, he spoke in recent years at a controversial "Stand With Israel" rally that was condemned by many peace activists, Jewish and Christian, who felt the rallies (sponsored in part by Religious Right organizations) inflamed tensions. As one of his students at Eden Theological Seminary, I questioned his participation in that event but have never once questioned his commitment to peace and justice. I mention this episode because no one should question NCC's commitment to Israel under his leadership.
In response to the international outcry concerning the blockade of Gaza there is been some good news this week:
"The Israeli Cabinet decision to ease the blockade of Gaza is a step toward ending a policy that amounts to unlawful collective punishment of Gaza's civilians, but fails to address severe Israeli restrictions on exports and freedom of movement," says Human Rights Watch. "Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision would allow the "expansion of economic activity," the Cabinet decision did not address Israel's policy of restricting exports from Gaza, which has crippled Gaza's economy and led to high rates of unemployment, poverty, and food insecurity. During the past three years, Israel has permitted the export of only a few truckloads of strawberries and cut flowers. Under international humanitarian law governing military occupation, Israel has an obligation to ensure the safety and well-being of Gaza's civilian population."
Jews, Muslims and Christians must all witness for peace during a time of increased extremism from people representing all our faith traditions.
Whenever I get a Google alert that has some sort of combination of "United Church of Christ," "Barack Obama," and "Chuck Currie" it comes from a blog or Religious Right website that then proceeds to explain how the UCC is a socialist cult and our president the anti-Christ (if I'm mentioned it usually follows that I'm an employee and / or supporter of said anti-Christ).
To those of you reading from Portland, the UCC is the church of Chuck Currie and Barack Obama.
What had we done now?
But the full paragraph made me smile:
I managed to arrive in time....to enjoy the worship service at the Klamath Falls Congregational United Church of Christ. To those of you reading from Portland, the UCC is the church of Chuck Currie and Barack Obama. The Klamath Falls congregation is awesome.
This is from the blog The Bible by Bicycle, by Andrew Palmbeck. Andrew works for Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.
Andrew is one of the smartest and nicest young leaders in Oregon today (and I say this not just because he writes complementary things about me on his blog). He has one of the brightest minds I know.
And good taste in women. Andrew dates Michelle Rogelstad, who worked on the Yes on 66 and 67 campaigns and now for the Bus Project (in between she worked on my short campaign for county commissioner as our field director). Michelle had endless energy and talent.
Keep your eye on these two. They'll be in charge of Oregon before long.
This post has been updated with additional information.
Daniel Medders, my sister Heather Currie Medders' brother-in-law, passed away on Thursday evening after spending a week in ICU following an incident which left him with a traumatic brain injury.
My prayers this early morning are for his parents, Mike and Christa, and his siblings, Rick and Michelle, and the rest of his family, including nephews and nieces. Daniel was much loved.
His immediate family was with him much of the week. Before Daniel was taken off life support we offered prayers to God. We also read Psalm 23 from the Hebrew Scriptures as translated by Eugene Peterson in The Message:
1-3God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.
4 Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure.
5 You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.
Daniel was a music lover and played himself and it is this song from Tracy Chapman that has stuck with me throughout this evening. So I post it here for Daniel and for all his family and friends grieving today.
It is a song of hope that perhaps will bring some comfort to those hurting: Say Hallelujah!
Updated: A message from Christa Medders from her Facebook page:
Christa Medders
Daniel's viewing will be Monday & Tuesday, July 5 & 6, 9:00 am - 7:00 pm. at Donelson Fir Lawn Memorial Center, 1070 West Main Street, Hillsboro, OR. Phone 503-640-2277. There will be markers there to write and draw on Daniel's casket. We are planning a celebration of Life for sometime in August. Please share the word.
This obituary was printed in The Hillsboro Argus:
Daniel Scott Medders was born Sept. 8,1981 in Portland,OR to Christa and Michael
Medders. He joined his older brother and sister in a family who loved and
cherished him from the moment he arrived. He spent his early years growing up in
a small town where it was normal for him to be seen with his brother or sister at
high school events with their dates while still a young boy. Daniel was
loved by all who knew him. He was a gentle, sweet, caring, loyal person
who worried a lot about his fellow man and the earth and tried to do things to help
both. Daniel loved figuring out how things worked and to create things with this
hands. Drawing was a first and lifelong love of his and then along came guitar
playing as well as listening to any style or form of music. Daniel was interested
in music for it's meaning, what it was, where it came from and how and why it was
made. He spent many hours with his buddies perfecting his skate boarding moves
and tricks and this was another activity he enjoyed to its fullest. His dog
Hooch was truly a piece of his heart. Hooch was his buddy, wingman and confidant
for many years and Daniel loved him with all his heart. Known as Uncle Dan
to his nieces and nephews, he was considered by them to be fun, playful, loving,
easy to talk to, and someone they all looked up to. Some of his favorite moments
were spent enjoying good times with his many cousins, whom he loved more than they
could ever know. Daniel was funny and had an excellent, wry sense of humor.
His laugh was contagious, boisterous and full. He loved being happy.
In his late teens and until his passing, Daniel enjoyed his other passion,
cooking. All styles of cooking interested him and he was very proud to learn how
to prepare and serve sushi at a fine Japanese restaurant as one of his many cooking
accomplishments. He loved to explore and learn different cuisines and learned
to prepare and serve many delicious plates of food that were enjoyed by hundreds,
including family & friends. Daniel loved being social and made many friends
who he cared for deeply. He was also close and loving with his mom and
dad, brother and sister and their entire families. Daniel passed away peacefully
July 1, 2010. His surviving family members include his mom and dad; Rick,
Heather, Dylan & Devin Medders; Michelle, Jim, Michaela, Hayden, Zachary &
Jami Leeper; and Jake, Katie, Steve and Cindy Hauser, as well as numerous aunts,
uncles and cousins. He leaves friends too many to mention but they know who
they are and how much Daniel loved each and every one of them. Daniel left us
all many good memories.
In lieu of flowers we know Daniel would appreciate donations made in his name to
his favorite charity, Dead Dog Walking Pit Bull Rescue, http://www.deaddogwalkingpitbullrescue.org/, or by mail at 5630 Wahtonka Rd, The Dalles, OR 97058. This is a
501(c)3 registered non-profit charity.
A Celebration of Daniel's Life will be held in August 2010 with more details to
follow.
Views expressed here represent the perspectives of Rev. Currie, as well as reader participants, and may not represent the views of Pacific University, the United Church of Christ’s national offices in Cleveland or any local UCC congregation. External links made from this site should not construe an endorsement. Rev. Currie has no more editorial control over such content than does a public library, bookstore, or newsstand. Such external links are made for informational purposes only.
Recent Comments