Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie

"Preaching the Occupy gospel -- or not" | My Interview On #OWS @MktplaceRadio

APM's Marketplace interviewed me for a story aired this evening on the Occupy Wall Street Movement in which they broadcast brief portions of a sermon I delivered at Ainsworth United Church of Christ about the movement and Christanity.  For the "other side" of the story they quoted the director of the Institute on Religion on Democracy (IRD) who said: "It’s usually problematic to try to identify Jesus Christ with any particular political or economic agenda."  That's ironic since IRD is a conservative political organization and not a religious group that advocates for right-wing economic policies that hurt those Jesus would have called the "least of these." 

A Storm Is Coming

The rains have returned to the Pacific Northwest (and it is going to get worse).  This makes for awful hiking weather and you can't go have any fun on the mountains because all you'll find is slush BUT my drive along the Columbia River yesterday was spectacular - with fog, low clouds, rain, and wind.  This is ideal still in-doors and drink coffee weather for those of us so fortunate.

Want Guns In Your Church? The NRA And Their Allies Do.

Like the National Council of Churches, I maintain that: "Present-day violence is made far worse than it otherwise would be by the prevalence of weapons on our streets."  We need sensible gun control measures in our nation to protect the American people from gun violence, a public health crisis.  The NRA and their politicans in Congress want to expand the "rights" of gun owners so that they can carry weapons into churches and school yards across the nation.  Today The New York Times reports on the violence that has been caused by their victories at the state and local level.  People of faith and mayors are fighting back against the NRA.  As we approach the one year anniversary of the Tucson shootings it is time to double our efforts to stop gun violence in the United States.   

Merry Christmas

Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20 (NRSV)

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Christmas Message from Rev. Chuck Currie from The Rev. Chuck Currie on Vimeo.

A Prayer For National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day #homelessmemorial @Ntl_Homeless

Today - December 21st - is National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day:

Each year since 1990, on or near the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), National Consumer Advisory Board (NCAB), and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) has co-sponsored National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day to bring attention to the tragedy of homelessness and to remember our homeless friends who have paid the ultimate price for our nation's failure to end homelessness.

A federal resolution (H. Con. Res. 325) has been introduced in the United States House of Representatives supporting the goals and ideals of National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. 

The resolution encourages localities and states to issue proclamations designating National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day.  This resolution was introduced by U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings and fifteen additional co-sponsors: Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson, Judy Biggert, Kathy Castor, Steve Cohen, John Conyers, Jr., Elijah E. Cummings, Geoff Davis, Ted Deutch, Barney Frank, Raul M. Grijalva, Luis V. Gutierrez, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Chellie Pingree, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Lynn Woolsey.

Let us pray:

Holy God, 

In the midst of winter,
In difficult economic times,
We come to you in prayer.

We grieve this day for all those who have died experiencing homelessness,
No one should live a third world life in a first world country,
We ask for your forgiveness.

Be a source of comfort for those of us who struggle,
Be a source of inspiration to those of us who are comfortable,
We seek a "newer world" where homelessness and poverty are ended.

Together we remember your son Jesus, born homeless,
This child brought light to dark places,
We pray for that light now to illuminate our hearts.

In a world of plenty, we invoke the worlds of the Hebrew prophet:
let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24).

Amen.  

Visit the website of the National Coalition for the Homeless to learn more about homelessness in the United States.

Prayer written by The Rev. Chuck Currie and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

Don't Sexualize Our Children

My daughters are getting new Christmas dresses from their grandmother this year and since she lives far off in rural Washington where there aren't many stores I volunteered to get the dresses.  What I found was truly upsetting. 

Frances and Katherine are seven.  They like Barbie (which just kills me but what can you do), Pillow Pets and Nancy Drew mysteries.  They've been privileged, I recognize this, to grow up without needing anything.  Our kids are pretty innocent though they understand from both my work and Liz's that plenty of people are in need.

Having said all that, they like to dress like princesses.  When grown-ups kiss they yell "yuck."  Our kids are age appropriate.

But what the clothing the stores are trying to sell are anything but age appropriate.  I went to store after store at a local mall and found dresses that looked like outfits you'd find on 21 year olds at a night club instead of second-graders at a family party.  So here's my message to stores and clothing manufactures: stop trying to sexualize our children.  Let kids be kids. 

And parents everywhere could do their children a real favor by resisting all the marketing these companies put into selling this kind of trash.  Children deserve better.  My mother taught me so, thank God.             

Iraq: America's "Dumb" War Comes To An End

A Promise Kept

President Obama officially ended the war in Iraq today.  Final combat troops will return by the end of the month.  This is a war that never should have been fought.  President Bush lied to the American people and said Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and were part of the 9/11 plot.  Neither claim was true.  

The National Council of Churches and nearly every other Christian body in the United States and across the globe opposed the Bush's administrations rush to war.  But Democratic presidential candidates gearing up for the 2004 and 2008 presidential races - including John Kerry, John Edwards and Hillary Clinton - backed President Bush and the result was nine years of war - nearly 5,000 Americans killed, many more wounded, and tens of thousands of Iraqis killed and wounded.

Barack Obama, however, opposed the war from the start and promised to end it if elected.  He has kept that promise.  I supported Barack Obama in 2007 in large part because of his moral clarity on this important issue that has defined the last decade.

Today President Obama wrote:

Part of ending a war responsibly is standing by those who have fought it. It's not enough to honor our heroes with words; we must do so with deeds. 
 
That's why we've worked to send 600,000 veterans and family members back to school on the Post-9/11 GI Bill. That's why one of Michelle's top priorities as First Lady has been to support military families and why she's worked with the private sector to get commitments to create 100,000 jobs for those who've served and their spouses. That's why we worked with Congress to pass a tax credit so that companies have an incentive to hire vets and have taken steps to help veterans translate military experience to the private sector job market.
 
In America, our commitment to those who fight for our freedom and our ideals doesn't end when our troops take off the uniform. 
 
You can be a part of this effort to honor our heroes. 
 
Help mark this moment. Write a quick note that troops and veterans all over the world will be able to see: 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/iraq

Please take this opportunity to thank our troops and we must all commitment to stronly supporting effortings undertaken by President Obama and Secretary Clinton to help re-build Iraq.  Our humanitarian responsibility is clear.  

2.5 Million Young People Get Health Care Under Obama Reforms

President Obama's health care reforms - which are taking place over a number of years - already are showing results.  As Politico reports, the latest example is that health care has been extended to 2.5 million young people who didn't have coverage before the President's reforms - backed by the National Council of Churches and other faith groups - were passed:

President Obama’s health care reforms have allowed 2.5 million young adults to get medical coverage, according to a new analysis that the Obama administration is set to release Wednesday.

The Obama administration says the dramatic decrease in the number of uninsured young adults is due to the president’s signature health care reforms, reports the AP, which obtained a copy of the analysis.

“The increase in coverage among 19- to 25-year-olds can be directly attributed to the Affordable Care Act’s new dependent coverage provision,” said a draft report from the Health and Human Services Department.

Under the health care reforms, 19- to 25-year-olds can remain on their parents’ health insurance plans until they turn 26, a provision which went into effect last fall. Other provisions in the law to cover uninsured adults don’t kick in until 2014.

The drop in the number of uninsured young adults is 2 1/2 times larger than the decline indicated by previous estimates earlier this year, which showed about 1 million Americans in the age group had gained coverage, reports the wire service.

Health care is a moral issue.  I'm deeply proud of President Obama and the members of Congress who voted for reform.  Eventually over 30 million Americans will receive coverage.  You hear a lot of politicians running for office today on the promise of repealing President Obama's health care reform plan.  That would be a disaster for tens of millions of Americans and would add to our national deficit.

We cannot afford to move our nation backwards.  The health of our people depends of defending President Obama's health care reforms.  This shouldn't be a political issue.  Afterall, many of the reforms passed by President Obama were based on ideas supported both by Mitt Romney and Ted Kennedy, and other political leaders of both parties. 

Boycott Lowe's Home Improvement: A Message from Rev. Chuck Currie @lowes #allamericanmuslim

Background: Lowe's Pulls Ads From U.S. Muslim Reality TV Show

Take Action:  Call 1-800-445-6937 between 7am and 11pm (EST), Monday through Saturday and 10am to 7pm (EST) on Sunday and politely share your concerns with a Customer Care Representatives and tell them why you won't shop at Lowe's this holiday season.  You can also e-mail.   

Christmas 2011 In Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square

A Christmas Message From Rev. Chuck Currie

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

Related Link: Christmas Message from the World Council of Churches

Places That Could Use Your Help This Season

National

Church World Service

National Coalition for the Homeless 

Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

Interfaith Worker Justice

Face to Face | Faith to Faith

Oregon

Goose Hollow Family Shelter

Human Solutions Homeless Family Shelter

Oregon Center For Public Policy

Outside In

Would You Trust Newt Gingrich With Your Children?

GOP presidential candidate and disgraced former House Speaker Newt Gingrich made it clear last week that he felt child labor laws - meant to stop children from being exploited - where, in his words, "truly stupid."  

Tonight he repeated his belief that children living in poverty as young as nine should be forced into becoming school janitors - to teach them responsibility.

"Really poor children in really poor neighborhoods have no habits of working and nobody around them who works," Gingrich said today according to The LA Times.  He ought to try telling that to the children of the families at the Goose Hollow Family Shelter and other shelters across the nation that house families who are homeless and include working adults.  

Learning responsibility from Newt Gingrich, who committed several ethics violations while in office, is an oxymoron.  But this is what is passing for "serious debate" in the GOP's nomination contest.

Gingrich has long supported economic policies that have increased poverty - with children being the hardest hit.

Kids living in poverty need strong schools, strong families and strong communities that will help lift them up and give them every advantage to succeed.  

What kids don't need is a president who doesn't understand the issues, and lacks both the personal responsibility and integrity to govern.

Jesus said: "Let the little children come to me..."  Gingrich seems to respond by saying: "And give them a mop to clean up after my mess."