All people shall give as they are able, according to the blessings which God has given them.

Today, in partnership with The Christian Left, I invite you to participate in the Sunday Offering by making a contribution to the Susan G. Komen Foundation at https://secure.info-komen.org/site/Donation2?idb=0&df_id=5223&5223.donation=form1&scid=1041&JServSessionIdr004=5nli2s6kj3.app339b. 

Today is Breast Cancer Awareness Sunday.

Susan G. Komen fought breast cancer with her heart, body and soul. Throughout her diagnosis, treatments, and endless days in the hospital, she spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer instead of worrying about her own situation. That concern for others continued even as Susan neared the end of her fight. Moved by Susan’s compassion for others and committed to making a difference, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. 

That promise is now Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested more than $1.9 billion since inception in 1982. As the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, we’re working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® and the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure®, and generous contributions from our partners, sponsors and fellow supporters, we have become the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.

All that we have belongs to God. Please support this wonderful organization and make sure to be screened and to encourage your friends to do the same.  It can make the difference between life and death.

GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain repeated today his claim that Planned Parenthood was part of a genocidal plot to kill off African-Americans.  It's a terrible lie that has been debunked.  PolitiFact, the independent media group, has said: "Cain’s claim is a ridiculous, cynical play of the race card. We rate it Pants on Fire."  These type of extremist and false statements make candidates like Cain clearly unqualified to hold public office.   

Portland Stand With Planned Parenthood Rally from The Rev. Chuck Currie on Vimeo.

Update: Lying about Planned Parenthood isn't the only problem faced by Cain. Politico reports tonight he was charged with sexual harassment when he headed the National Restaurant Association. The association was apparently forced to make financial payments to at least two women because of Cain's behavior.

Today the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community works across the world for universal human rights and within each nation they exist there are efforts made to play constructive roles within the society.

My latest op-ed on The Huffington Post.

At the Portland Nursery Apple Tasting last week.

Sarah Posner over at Religion Dispatches put up a post last Friday with the concerning headline Dems’ New Faith Outreach Director “Pro-Life” and Against Marriage Equality.  But it turns out The Rev. Derrick Harkins is on the advisory board of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice’s (RCRC) National Black Church Initiative (BCI).  RCRC director Carlton Veazey praised the pick and said: "The Obama Administration is to be commended for naming Reverend Harkins to lead faith outreach for the Democratic Party as it heads into the 2012 election cycle."  

On marriage equality, Posner writes: "Harkins told me he opposes same-sex marriage, but hopes for a place of 'common understanding' of a 'vexing question.'" 

But from the tone of the piece and the headline you would have though that Barack Obama had just hired Pat Roberton.

Posner painted an unfair picture of Harkins.  His position on marriage equality is the same as the president's (which for me doesn't go far enough).  Harkins has defended the work of Planned Parenthood and fought against efforts to defund the organization.  

If Posner was hoping to stir up trouble it worked.  The day after her piece ran I had three voice-mail messages waiting when I got off an airplane wanting to know what the president was doing.

Great pro-choice leaders contacted me first-thing Monday morning about joining a sign-on letter to protest the hiring.

Posner created a controversy where none existed.  Harkins by all accounts is a progressive and important leader - particularly in the African-American faith community - but for whatever reason Posner tried to turn him into a caricature of a right-wing evangelical.  

The real fight that religious progressives should be waging is against the GOP's recently passed "Protect Life Act" that, as The Washington Post notes, "would prohibit federal funds from going toward any health care plan that covers abortion services, marking the chamber’s passage of its first major abortion-rights measure since May."

I'll sign a letter about that.  But at least I know it will never become law as long as Barack Obama is president.   

This weekend I had the pleasure of preaching at Arlington Community United Church of Christ in the Bay Area.  The Rev. Tony Clary, a seminary colleague and friend, is the pastor.  My sermon dealt with the Christian church's responsibility to support the goals of the Occupy Wall Street Movement.  You can watch the video below:

Jesus And The #OccupyJerusalem Movement: A Sermon On Christianity And The #OccupyWallStreet Movement from The Rev. Chuck Currie on Vimeo.

Slower internet connection? Hit the "HD" button to turn off the high definition and watch this video in standard definition.

Earlier today President Obama made the very important announcement that all U.S. forces wil leave Iraq by the end of 2011.  The president began a draw down of forces earlier in his presidency and the full removal of forces keeps a fundamental promise of his presidential campaign in 2008.

For the last 45 minutes I've been on a conference call with Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Adviser to President Obama, and I asked him about the president's commitment to the humanitarian situation in Iraq once U.S. forces leave.

In 2007, the National Council of Churches issued a statement that read it part:

“….united together as the National Council of Churches USA, 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.”

Mr. Rhodes spoke in detail about President Obama's commitment to address the humanitarian situation with Iraq through the U.S. State Department and other agencies.  That effort will now take place not in the flawed context of a military operation but through diplomatic relations with a sovereign nation.  You can learn more about some of what is already occurring at USAID: Assistance for Iraq.

I only wish President Bush had listened to the National Council of Churches and others in 2003 and never began this conflict that Barack Obama rightly called "dumb" at the time.

President Obama deserves credit for moving us in the right direction on this critical issue.   

When I personally endorsed Barack Obama in 2007 I wrote:

Barack Obama has shown leadership on the most pressing moral issues of our day – such as the war in Iraq and the global AIDS crisis. During his time in the Illinois Legislature and in the United States Senate he has demonstrated that his values cannot be compromised by prevailing political winds.

Christians, Jews, Muslims – all people of faith in America – share in a deep and abiding love for this nation. But many of us, as William Sloane Coffin would have said, have a “lover’s quarrel” with America. We know things can be better. We know all Americans need health care. We know that no one should be homeless in the world’s richest nation. We know that global warming threatens God’s own earth and that as the stewards of creation we are called forth to protect this planet. We are also called to be peacemakers in times of conflict.

Barack Obama shares these values and when elected president will embody them as he makes decisions in the Oval Office. When that day comes we will be a better nation.

President Obama has faced great difficulties  - including the meltdown of the entire U.S. economy under President Bush and two on-going wars.

Today, President Obama, after beginning a troop draw down earlier in his term, announced that all U.S. troops will leave Iraq by the end of 2011.  The decision is responsible.  I continue to appreciate President Obama's moral leadership and I know my decision in 2007 to walk away from the democratic establishment and endorse his candidacy when he was 30 points behind was the right one.  

The Oregonian tonight has posted a story about two Canby High School seniors, Hunter Mead and Peter Schultz, who are pushing a proposal to allow their school based health care clinic to provide "birth control in the form of pills, patches, rings or the Depo-Provera shot." 

As a minister in the United Church of Christ, I want to applaud this proposal and thank the students who have put it forward. All of us - parents, teachers, coaches, clergy and others that work with youth - need to teach responsibility and encourage youth to make wise decisions. The wisest decision is not to become sexually active at a young age. But we all know young people don't always make the best decisions. They make mistakes. We should give them the tools to recover from those mistakes - including sex education and contraceptives - that prevent disease and unwanted pregnancy.

Some churches argue that sex education and contraceptives have no place in public schools. That's unwise thinking and, frankly, bad theology. Want to reduce the number of abortions? As the United Church of Christ has noted: "We know that reducing the need for abortion is best accomplished by making birth control and family planning available, accessible and affordable."  

Want to reduce teen pregnancies (and all the studies show abstinence only programs DO NOT work)? Want to lift up children and help young people succeed? Give them the tools to do so.  Providing contraceptives is a moral obligation. 

Frankly, it is frustrating there is still a debate over birth control in the schools.  In 1986, I ran for student body president of Sunset High School on a platform of opening up a Planned Parenthood clinic in our school to provide birth control.  Protecting kids seems as controversial today as it was then.

Let's hope another 25 years doesn't pass before common sense, wisdom and compassion overcome fear and, yes, ignorance.   

For Christians, supporting the Occupy America protests should be clear-cut. The protesters are lifting up principles of compassion, justice and love. These principles are central to the Christian faith.

My latest op-ed on The Huffington Post.

This morning a small group protested outside the newly opened Portland chapter of Mars Hill Church, the anti-gay Seattle mega church.  The Oregonian noted that:

About 20 protesters lined Southeast Taylor Street carrying banners and shouting obscenities as church-goers left when the service ended.

And that:

The protesters, some of whom wore kerchiefs to cover their faces, shouted profanities at adults and children.

There could not have been a more ugly and inappropriate display.

Mars Hills Church preaches a messed up and warped version of the Gospel, no question.  But on the day that we honor The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a memorial it is worth remembering that he didn't meet hatred with hatred but with love.  

Those who protested today represented the worst of Portland.  I'm not suprised they could only get 20 people to join them or that they hid their faces like KKK members to hid their identities.  

Related Post: Open Letter To Pastor Mark Driscoll And The People Of Mars Hill Church @PastorMark @MarsHill

All people shall give as they are able, according to the blessings which God has given them.

Today, in partnership with The Christian Left, I invite you to participate in the Sunday Offering by making a contribution to Interfaith Worker Justice at https://www.chi-cash-advance.com/sforms/appeal623/Contribute.aspx. 

Interfaith Worker Justice has been an early and important supporter of the Occupy America / Occupy Wall Street movement.

Mission

Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ) is a network of people of faith that calls upon our religious values in order to educate, organize, and mobilize the religious community in the United States on issues and campaigns that will improve wages, benefits, and conditions for workers, and give voice to workers, especially workers in low-wage jobs.

Vision

IWJ envisions the religious community, acting on its values in creative and strategic ways, as a powerful leader in creating and sustaining a nation where all workers share in the prosperity of our society, enjoy the fundamental human right to organize, and lead dignified lives as a result of their labor.

IWJ envisions a nation where all workers enjoy the rights to: 

• Wages, health care, and pensions that allow workers to raise families and retire with dignity;
• Safe working conditions;
• Organize and bargain collectively to improve wages, benefits, and conditions without harassment, intimidation, or retaliation;
• Equal protection under labor law - regardless of immigration status - and an end to the practice of pitting immigrant and U.S.-born workers against one another; 
• Fair and just participation in a global economy that promotes the welfare of both domestic and foreign workers.

In addition to enjoying these rights, IWJ also believes workers are responsible to:

• Be in solidarity with other workers in the pursuit of workplace justice; and
• Live in harmony with people around the world.

Employers have a responsibility to respect these rights; and elected officials have a responsibility to create public policies that promote and enforce these rights.  

To ensure that employers respect these rights and that workers can exercise their responsibilities, new and creative partnerships among the religious community, organized labor, immigrants' rights groups, government agencies charged with protecting workers' rights, and other segments of society are needed. IWJ engages clergy, lay people, and future religious leaders of diverse faith traditions to participate fully and creatively in these partnerships.

All that we have belongs to God.  One way that we can honor God is to give to those who are suffering across the world.

Do you know of an organization that should be lifted up?  Please e-mail me at [email protected]. 

The 2011 Fall Gathering of the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ is underway.  Last night I joined delegates for dinner and a musical program called "Let's Make A Joyful Noise!" that showcased different musical styles being used in worship settings today - from traditional to folk to praise.  The workshops today all focus on music as well.  For me, it was a wonderful opportunity to see clergy colleagues and lay members across the region in the United Church of Christ, and to introduce my new role as the Associate Director of The Westar Institute.  Westar is a membership organization and (stealing a line from NPR) depends on the generous contributions from people like you.  As always, I was inspired to hear how our local UCC congregations are carrying out the work of the church in unique and diverse ways.  I left last night inspired.  

All people shall give as they are able, according to the blessings which God has given them.

Today, in partnership with The Christian Left, I'm re-launching a one-time regular feature of this blog: the Sunday Offering.  This Sunday we invite you today support the work of Church World Service by making a donation at http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=how_donate. 

Church World Service works with partners to eradicate hunger and poverty and to promote peace and justice around the world. Together we reach out to neighbors in need near and far--not with a hand out, but a hand up.  So, if you’re looking to help build a better world—a world where there’s enough for all—you’ve come to the right place!

Around the world, Church World Service supports sustainable grassroots development, disaster relief, and refugee assistance, and we educate and advocate on hunger-related issues.  In the U.S., we help communities respond to disasters, resettle refugees, promote fair national and international policies, and provide educational resources. 

We invite you to join our network of local and global caring through participation in CROP Hunger Walks, the Blankets+ program, and the CWS Kits program.

Connect with us today!

• Responding to emergencies in the U.S. and around the world
• Nurturing development at the grassroots with seeds, tools and homegrown strategies
• Assisting refugees to return home when possible, and to find other viable options when it’s not
• Speaking out in partnership on issues that make a difference in the lives of hungry people
• Food security so parents can reliably feed their families
• Water for all so that families have water for drinking, household needs and farming

All that we have belongs to God.  One way that we can honor God is to give to those who are suffering across the world.

Do you know of an organization that should be lifted up?  Please e-mail me at [email protected]. 

I came out here today to show my support for the protesters. The United Church of Christ is concerned with the growing inequity in this nation--it's a deeply moral issue. -Reverend Chuck Currie (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Earlier today I stopped by Occupy Portland to show my personal support for the non-violent protests occurring across our nation that are calling attention to growing inequity and poverty in the United States.  I'm particularly impressed with the number of young people involved.

For Christians, supporting the Occupy America protests should be clear-cut.  The protesters are lifting up principles of compassion, justice and love.  These principles are central to the Christian faith.  

We need to do more to address the truly fundamental problems facing our nation.  As a start, we need Congress to pass President Obama's American Jobs Act.

But we also need to dig more deeply and make the American economy work not just for the wealthy and the largest corporations but for the common good of all Americans - while at the same time taking note of our place in the global community.  

I'll continue to support the Occupy America movement as long as it remains non-violent and positive and I urge the Portland Police Bureau and other cities to treat protesters with respect as they exercise their democratic rights to assemble and speak.

Supporting the Occupy America movement is the Christian thing to do.    

Today we celebrate the life of The Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth.  He was a Christian who put his faith into action alongside The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other founders of the Southern Christian Leadership Council.  He endured bombings and beatings but prevailed in making America a more equal Union.  More importantly, he helped to build-up the Kingdom of God when others stood silent.  

There is a lesson in his ministry and life's work for us today as we face new difficulties that challenge the common good.

President Barack Obama, who never would have been elected president or even had the right to vote without the leadership of Rev. Shuttlesworth, said today:

Michelle and I were saddened to hear about the passing of Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth today.  As one of the founders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Reverend Shuttlesworth dedicated his life to advancing the cause of justice for all Americans.  He was a testament to the strength of the human spirit.  And today we stand on his shoulders, and the shoulders of all those who marched and sat and lifted their voices to help perfect our union.

I will never forget having the opportunity several years ago to push Reverend Shuttlesworth in his wheelchair across the Edmund Pettus Bridge – a symbol of the sacrifices that he and so many others made in the name of equality.  America owes Reverend Shuttlesworth a debt of gratitude, and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Sephira, and their family, friends and loved ones.

So many times opponents of equality tried to kill this minister of the Gospel.  We can be thankful he lived a full life - and lived to see the legacy of his struggles for freedom. 

He changed the world in ways that amplified voices and shaped revolutions.  Quite a legacy.