Many people of faith supported President Obama's health care reform plan and today rejoice in the Supreme Court ruling that largely upholds the Affordable Care Act.  30 million Americans will receive coverage under the president's plan.  Millions already have.  All this moves us closer to the Beloved Community.  President Obama and those leaders in Congress who voted for reform are to be applauded for their commitment to fixing a broken system that has long created a moral crisis in our nation.  The Supreme Court has surprised many with their ruling and they too must be applauded for a wise decision.  There is more to do, of course, to fix the health care system.  But President Obama has moved us further down the path toward universal health care than any other president since Teddy Roosevelt first made the effort.  This has long been a goal of the National Council of Churches and many Christian denominations, along with other interfaith leaders.  Today is a good day for our nation.   

Related: Faith Leaders Celebrate Supreme Court Ruling on Affordable Care Act: “God is smiling down on today’s decision”

Related: Reason rules for Court, but Christians need to continue to advocate for the poorest

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

On Sunday, July 1st, I'll begin a unique and exciting journey as a United Church of Christ minister serving two United Methodist Church congregations - SE Portland's Sunnyside Church and N. Portland's University Park Church.

I hope you'll join me at one of the two churches for worship that morning.

This is an exciting partnership that will help promote progressive Christianity. Like many mainline congregations, both these churches face challenges. They also both have as a tremendous asset congregations of Gospel-centered people committed to their churches and the goal of building up the Beloved Community.

University Park Church worships at 9:30 am and is located at 4775 N. Lombard Street (not far from the University of Portland). Sunnyside Church worships at 11 am and is located at 3520 SE Yamhill (across the street from Sunnyside Park and School and not far from Hawthorne Blvd.).

It would be a pleasure to see you July 1st or any other Sunday.

Best wishes,

Rev. Chuck Currie

GOP leaders in Congress - hoping the U.S. Supreme Court will strike down Obamacare - are looking to reroute funding for health care to military budgets.  It's a move people of faith must resist.  Politico reports:

If the Supreme Court strikes down the health care reform law, that loss for President Barack Obama could be a win for the Pentagon.

That's because Congress could find itself flush, thanks to billions of dollars that were allocated to fund "Obamacare" that won't be spent if parts of the law are knocked down. And that money would be freed up just as a battle over automatic cuts to the Defense Department budget heats up on the Hill.

He explained that the process wouldn't be hard: Any House committee, likely the armed services or Defense appropriations panels, could send a recommendation to the House Budget Committee for consideration. The deal could move through a reconciliation bill, which is a common tactic to move business along in Congress.

Members of those committees said it's an option they'd consider.

"If the Supreme Court strikes down Obamacare, I would certainly support using the savings to replace the cuts contained in the FY 2013 Obama budget. I believe that most GOP Defense appropriators and House Armed Services Committee members would feel the same way," said Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla), who sits on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

For Christians, the responsibility on how to respond is clear.  We need to continue to work towards a health care system that covers every American.  It is our moral obligation.  Robbing people of their health care to expand military budgets is contrary to the values of our faith.

Being pro-choice doesn't mean being pro-abortion.  Abortion ought to be legal, safe and rare.  It ought to be a real choice that women aren't forced into making because of financial considerations.  As Think Progress notes, the availability of contraception has reduced abortions for women in their 20s.  That's good news.

Between 1990 and 2008, pregnancy and abortion rates for women in their twenties dropped dramatically, a new study revealed today. Pregnancy rates fell by 18 percent, while abortion rates dropped by a third.

One of the biggest influencing factors in this decrease is the growing accessibility, use, and options for birth control. Contraceptive use is the best way to prevent abortions in the U.S. 

It is ironic that those that call themselves pro-life are so often opposed to contraception.  The end result of the Roman Catholic Church's war on contraception will be increased abortions - not to mention HIV/AIDS, other STDs and preventable cancers.

This drop off in the number of abortions in encouraging - and shows that groups like Planned Parenthood are being effective.  People of faith need to step up and speak out in support of contraception at town hall meetings, school board meetings, and at church councils.  Visit the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice to learn more about getting involved. 

Christians across the United States have been quick to praise President Obama for his decision not to deport certain young immigrants who came to the United States as children.  "As the President has said many times, it makes no sense to remove productive young people to countries where they may not have lived or even speak the language. They have become productive members in our communities. They have grown up swearing allegiance to our flag. Yet they live in the shadows of America, without the possibility to realize their dreams," writes Cecilia Muñoz, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.  Mainline Christians, evangelicals and Roman Catholics - often divided - have been outspoken in their support for immigration reform and President Obama's actions. Why is this the case? We are called to "welcome the stranger" in our midst with hospitality.  Laws must be followed and real reform is still needed but the clear Christian response on this issue has always been not to turn away young people trying to better their lives.

“We believe the DHS’s policy that rewards hard working young people sets the right tone.  Evangelicals everywhere affirm that young immigrants can and should be allowed to contribute to our nation’s well-being.”

- Rev. Gabriel Salguero, President of The National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC)

"The Obama administration’s announcement today that some undocumented youth living in the U.S. will receive temporary relief from deportation and will be able to receive work authorization is an extraordinary way forward for much needed immigration reform. Among the young people who will be blessed by this action are United Methodists with whom we celebrate and give God thanks. This day comes as a result of the diligent efforts of many, including the hard work of Immigration Rapid Response Teams in our annual conferences, the work of several of our general agencies, United Methodist Women, and the clear and steady voice of our Council of Bishops."

- United Methodist Bishop Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops welcomed the action of President Barack Obama today to defer action to all young people eligible under the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, saying that it would permit young people who were brought into the United States undocumented to come out of the shadows and more fully participate in society.

“This important action will provide legal protection, and work authorization, to a vulnerable group of immigrants who are deserving of remaining in our country and contributing their talents to our communities,” said Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration. “These youth are bright, energetic, and eager to pursue their education and reach their full potential.”

As many as 800,000 young people would be eligible to receive a deferred action on deportation for two years, and a work permit.

Archbishop Gomez said the President’s action is no substitute for passage of the DREAM Act and encouraged Congress to enact comprehensive and humane immigration reform.

- U.S. Conference of Roman Catholic Bishops

Jesus said, "Bring the children to me." Our Christian teachings compel us to welcome the stranger in our midst, many of whom are young people innocent of any wrong doing. As officers of the United Church of Christ, we applaud President Obama's decision to grant categorical relief to almost 1 million young people who were brought to the United States when they were children. 

Until now these young people — who grew up in the United States, attended American schools and stayed out of trouble — were not able to dream of possibilities for personal or professional advancement in this country. Until now, these young people have been unable to work. They are ineligible for government financial aid to go to college, even in circumstances when they are outstanding students who are committed to being productive contributors to their communities and our society as a whole. Worst of all, they have been subject to deportation proceedings, sending them back to countries in which they have little connection or familiarity. 

The Executive Order announced on June 15, 2012, gives undocumented young immigrants, under the age of 30, the ability to apply for deferred action of deportation.  They must meet key criteria outlined in the statement delivered by Janet Napolitano, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. While this temporary measure contains limiting conditions and gives only two years of reprieve, it is a positive step that we pray will lead to just and compassionate immigration reform legislation that is long overdue. As leaders of the United Church of Christ we call for the President and Congress to enact comprehensive social policies that establish a safe and humane immigration system that is consistent with our core values: Continuing Testament, Extravagant Welcome, and Changing Lives. 

- The Officers of the United Church of Christ

Members of the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ joined a large contingent of Christian churches and other faith traditions part of the Coalition of Welcoming Congregations (CWC) today at the Portland Pride Parade.  I was glad to be there as a minister in the UCC, along with many colleagues, and to know that the two new congregations I will begin to pastor on July 1st - Sunnyside Church and University Park Church - are both members of CWC and share in the belief that God's love and justice is for all.  There is still much work to do to break down walls of inequality faced by gays and lesbians across the United States and the globe.  Not only are gays and lesbians denied the right to marry - much as interracial marriages were prohibited a generation ago - but hate crimes continue to occur and discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment and housing are still legal in many communities.  Such discrimination is contrary to the will of God and churches have a moral obligation to fight for equality whenever possible.  Tragically, the Christian faith is often used to justify hatred and discrimination against the gay and lesbian community.  That's theological malpractice that comes from a flawed understanding of Scripture.  We still have a long way to go before the Beloved Community is real and available for all.  

A rose bush was planted in honor of Judy Bright, my mother, today at the Julia Butler Hansen Heritage Center in recognition of her being named Cathlamet 2011 Citizen of the Year by the Cathlamet Women's Association. My mother received her award at a dinner in early December but was unable to attend today's ceremony because she passed away on April 3, 2012 due to complications related to cancer.

Our family appreciated the hospitality shown today by the Cathlamet community in honoring Judy Bright in this way for her work.

Rallies being held across the United States today to oppose contraceptive services included in the Affordable Care Act are largely political and do not represent the views of most people of faith.  Many religious leaders, in fact, strongly support President Obama's efforts to extend health care coverage to women and his willingness to compromise with churches on this issue.

Organizers claim these rallies are designed to protect religious freedom but look no further than the Portland, Ore. rally and you'll see that the speakers are nearly all right-wing radio talk show hosts or extremist candidates for political office.

As a minister in the United Church of Christ, I continue to applaud President Obama and those responsible Republicans and Democrats who support making sure that contraception is available to stop unwanted pregnancies and to fight disease such as cancer.  There is no war against religion.  This is a political battle that was started not by the president but by some willing to misuse religion for partisan political gain.

Sunnyside Centenary United Methodist Church

An exciting challenge opened up this month that was unexpected. I've been called to serve as minister to both SE Portland's Sunnyside Church and N. Portland's University Park Church, two progressive Reconciling Congregations in the United Methodist Church.

This appointment will be affirmed by an ecumenical covenantal agreement between the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ and the Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church. This is an exciting partnership that will help promote progressive Christianity. Like many mainline congregations, both these churches face challenges. They also both have as a tremendous asset congregations of Gospel-centered people committed to their churches and the goal of building up the Beloved Community.

University Park United Methodist Church

My appointment becomes effective July 1, 2012. Sunnyside Church has a long history of working on issues of homelessness and poverty and University Park Church is well known for their efforts to preach a message of radical hospitality. As a minister in the United Church of Christ, I look forward to this new ecumenical work as a minister with dual standing in the United Methodist Church for the duration of this appointment. It's familiar terrain. I worked as the director of community outreach at Portland's First United Methodist Church before earning my master of divinity degree in St. Louis. In addition to serving these two congregations, I will continue work toward a doctor of ministry degree at UCC-related Chicago Theological Seminary and will remain active with the life of the United Church of Christ as a member of Ainsworth United Church of Christ.