A Lover's Quarrel With Portland: Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie from The Rev. Chuck Currie on Vimeo.

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My oped in The @HuffingtonPost: Terrorism Is Not A Religious Act https://t.co/9SaYnONExU #Prayers4Paris #ParisAttacks #MuslimsAreNotTerorist

— Rev.Dr. Chuck Currie (@RevChuckCurrie) November 14, 2015

The Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie, director of the Center for Peace and Spirituality and University Chaplain at Pacific University, has been invited to attend the arrival ceremony for Pope Francis at the White House on Wednesday, September 23.

Pope Francis, making his first trip to the United States since becoming the world leader of the Catholic Church, will address the the US Congress before visiting Philadelphia and New York City.

Dr. Currie, a long-time advocate for social justice, was invited by the White House earlier this month to join President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in welcoming Pope Francis to the US.

“It is obviously a great honor to be able to attend this historic event,” said Dr. Currie, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. “I have enormous respect for Pope Francis, his welcoming inclusion of all, and his work to bring about peace, economic equality and support for the environment. It is a special gift to be able to represent Pacific University at this gathering."

Prior to the ceremony, Currie will present, "The Unity and Disunity of the Church Universal," on Sunday, September 20 at Ainsworth United Church of Christ in Portland (2941 NE Ainsworth). The service begins at 10 a.m., and his sermon will focus on Pope Francis' visit to the US and where people of faith from different traditions can find common ground.

Pacific University’s Center for Peace and Spirituality provides students with the opportunity to engage in meaningful study, reflection and action based on the recognition that inter- and intra-personal peace are inherently connected and that concerns for personal spirituality are intimately related to concerns for one's social, historical, cultural and natural environment.

Founded in 1849, Pacific University offers more than 84 areas of study within its colleges of Arts & Sciences, Optometry, Education, Health Professions and Business.

A real treat for me this month was preaching on Sunday at Ainsworth United Church of Christ, my home congregation here in Portland.  A four-way covenantal agreement between myself, the church, the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ and Pacific University allows my work at the university to be possible.  

"Ainsworth is a multi-cultural, multi-racial, open & affirming, Just Peace and accessible church. We celebrate that God is still speaking in our world today and that God’s extravagant welcome and love is for everyone. We hope that your journey of faith will lead you to us and that you experience God’s love through us."  Those words have meaning.

It seemed appropriate the Sunday following the 4th of July - on a blistering hot Sunday - to consider the role of church and state. Conservative voices often say it is the role of the church to address social ills but churches like Ainsworth UCC, that help address the AIDS crisis, cannot do it alone.  What does Jesus teach us?

Mark 12:13-17 was our focus text for the service.  You can download a podcast of the sermon here:

“Do The Nations Belong To Caesar or God?”

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This morning people gathered in the chapel of Old College Hall on the campus of Pacific University for an Interfaith Service to remember to life and legacy of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  We also gathered to consider the "UnFulfilled Dreams" of King's movement for social justice and how we from our various faith traditions and different backgrounds might continue to further the work of building up the Beloved Community.  View some of the photos from the service on Facebook.

You can download a podcast of the sermon here:

Download Rev. Chuck Currie - Unfulfilled Dreams

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The Pacific University Center of Peace and Spirituality plans to hold future interfaith gatherings - both to promote interfaith worship and to promote interfaith dialogue and understanding.

Statement on Homeless Campers at Portland City Hall
by Rev. Chuck Currie

July 22, 2013

The homeless campers around Portland City Hall are a minor symptom of a larger problem: our inability to address the crisis of affordable housing plus the growing problems of poverty, unemployment, mental illness, addiction, and the needs of returning veterans and homeless students. The Portland-area needs a permanent source of funding to create affordable housing, either a housing levy or some other funding source, and after that we need a permanent source of funding to beef up the safety net that year after year faces cuts that create a climate of crisis in our social service delivery system. Mayor Hales and the Portland City Council are to be applauded for not cutting safety net programs during a difficult budget year but that isn’t enough. Arresting people and creating new ordinances to criminalize homelessness are short sighted and tired solutions that may answer sometimes valid concerns of downtown and inner-city neighbors who don’t like the crisis of homelessness on their front door or in their back yard but it does nothing to solve the problem and will only continue a pattern of moving people from one neighborhood to another. I would urge Mayor Charlie Hales to bring representatives of the Metro region jurisdictions together with the faith and business communities to consider bolder and more far reaching solutions that create real and lasting change. The moral obligation of any city is to end homelessness, not just manage it. 

Rev. Chuck Currie, Minister, Sunnyside Church and University Park Church, Portland, Ore.

This morning my sermon - delivered at both University Park Church and Sunnyside Church - reflected on the violent events this week in Oregon and Connecticut. You can download a podcast of the sermon here:  

O’ Come, O’ Come, Emmanuel: Work to End Gun Violence With Impatience

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Note: In the prepared notes for this sermon, as in the audio, I talked about the 911 call made by a student at Virginia Tech after the shootings there in 2007 but in the delivery of the sermon I inadvertently said you could listen to the call when I actually meant you could read the transcript from The Washington Post's account.  I wanted to clarify this. 

The text of the sermon as prepared for delivery is below:

We just got back from watching the taping of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! The NPR News Quiz.  Normally the show is broadcast from Chicago but they travel from time to time and this week made their way back to Portland.  Wait Wait is the best program on radio bar none.  I listen every week (mostly from the free podcast) and have always wanted to see the show live.  Tonight was my chance thanks to Liz, my wife.  The tickets were a birthday gift this past winter.

This morning at Salem's First Congregational United Church of Christ we read Luke 24: 13-35. My sermon dealt with the limits of Enlightenment thinking when dealing with questions such as the meaning / reality of the Resurrection: all in the context of television's Star Trek.   

 

The Gospel According To Star Trek - Rev. Chuck Currie from The Rev. Chuck Currie on Vimeo

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This morning at Salem's First Congregational United Church of Christ I preached on John 20:19-31 as part of the observance of Immigrant Rights Sunday.  You can watch video from the sermon below:

Immigrant Rights Sunday (5/1/11) - The Rev. Chuck Currie, preaching from The Rev. Chuck Currie on Vimeo.

This morning I preached at Salem's First Congregational United Church of Christ where I'm temporary serving as the acting minister.  Our Scripture today was John 4:1-43.  You can download a podcast of my sermon below:

Living Water and the Women at the Well

I used my sermon to focus on Jesus' embrace of women - who were seen during his time seen as unclean and in no way equal to their male counterparts - and noted that while much progress has been made over the last 2000 years that women continue to be discriminated against, both in the church and society-at-large.  As examples, I lifted up domestic violence in the United States and violence against women during times of war and genocide, including the current conflict in Libya.

Related Link: Can Christians Support UN Intervention in Libya?

This morning I preached my first sermon as the acting minister of Salem's First Congregational United Church of Christ. Our Scripture readings included Genesis 7:17-23; 8:6-7, Exodus 34: 27-32, Matthew 4:1-11, and Acts 1:1-5. You can download a podcast of my sermon below:

A Change Is Gonna Come.

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A PDF copy of the sermon can be downloaded here.

This morning I was on KPOJ talking about the GOP's budget proposal in the U.S. House and my op-ed this week in The Huffington Post regarding the proposed cuts.  You can download the podcast below:

Download 2-23-11 hr 2 POJ-cast

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This morning I preached at Forest Grove United Church of Christ (just across the street from UCC-related Pacific University).  My sermon, which was a theological reflection on the aftermath of the 2010 mid-term elections, can be downloaded as a podcast below:  

A Sermon On 1 Corinthians 12:16-26: Unity In The Midst Of Division (A Post-Election Reflection)

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A PDF version of the sermon can be found here.

I want to thank The Rev. Jennifer Yocum for inviting me to preach this morning.

This morning I preached at Lincoln City Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) on the Oregon coast.  It was the first time one of my sermons has been interrupted by wildlife.

Luke 19:1-10 was the Gospel reading today.  You can download a podcast of my sermon below: 

Download 10_31_2010 11_46 AM

I'll say upfront that the sermon wanders a bit.

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This morning I was honored to be the guest preacher at Bethel Congregational United Church of Christ in Beaverton, Oregon.  The congregation has discerned it's mission as being that:

We are called to be an open and inclusive, 
open and affirming community of faith,
worshiping God, 
sharing the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, 
and practicing God's unconditional love for all creation. 

I preached today on Luke 18:9-14.  You can download a podcast of my sermon below:

Who Is The Good Guy?

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I want to thank The Rev. David Randall-Bodman for his invitation to preach and to the people of Bethel for their hospitality.  

 

This evening I had the honor of speaking at a benefit for Portland Homeless Family Solutions - the group that operates the Goose Hollow Family Shelter at First United Methodist Church and the 13 Salmon Family Center at First Unitarian Church.  You can download a podcast of my remarks below:

Download Rev C Currie Portland Homeless Family Solutions

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The rough text of my remarks can be found below:

Ex-Gov. Barbara Roberts and Other Leaders Ask GOP to Fire Extremist Pollster

Related Post: Oregon GOP Must Fire Dennis Oliver Woods

Update:  I'm glad to note that the Oregon Senate Republican Caucus released a statement today announcing that in response to the letter that I sent with Governor Roberts they would no longer do business with Dennis Oliver Woods.  It is disappointing, however, that rather than admit their mistake in hiring Mr. Woods and taking this opportunity to condemn his radical beliefs they simply launched a partisan political attack.  Never-the-less, I am glad the GOP Senate Caucus has ended their relationship with Mr. Woods.  This was the correct course of action to take.  I will be watching to see if Mr. Woods' other political clients - including Oregonians In Action, the Taxpayer Association of Oregon, Oregonians For Immigration Reform, the Oregon Family Farm Association and the Leadership Fund - follow suit.    

Yesterday I posted an Open Letter to Beaverton, Oregon: Thank You For Celebrating Mexico's Bicentennial.

Washington State resident Lars Larson and FOX's Bill O'Reilly have been attacking the city and falsely claiming that Beaverton doesn't celebrate the 4th of July (regardless of the fact that America's Independence Day is a city, state and federal holiday with countless area celebrations).

My letter has prompted a few angry phone calls this morning.  Most have been polite, however.  But one woman from St. Louis, MO. called a short time ago.  There was nothing polite about her call - just a lot of yelling on her part.  I offered to talk with her but every time I started she cut me off (taking her communication lessons from O'Reilly and Larson, I suppose) and I finally hung up as her attacks became more personal.

She called back and left this message - with a promise to visit me in Oregon with her son: 

Download Upset St. Louis Caller

Larson and O'Reilly intentionally attempt to incite such anger by dividing our community among racial and cultural lines.  As a minister in the United Church of Christ, (a multicultural and multiracial denomination),I find their actions to be reprehensible.  They're more concerned with partisan politics than the common good of our state and nation.  We need to tone down the hateful rhetoric and seek to find reconciliation.   

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Update:  The grandmother from St. Louis isn't on only person upset.  This e-mail came in this evening:

This morning I had the opportunity to talk about the need for comprehensive immigration reform and the problems with Arizona's new law with 1190 KEX's Paul Linnman. 

You can download an audio podcast of the short interview here:

Download 080210_KEX-AM_Currie

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Related Post: Evangelical, Mainline & Roman Catholic Christians React To Arizona Court Ruling; Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Liz and I returned a short time ago from a benefit dinner for the Family Bridge Homeless Shelter in Hillsboro, Oregon.  The organizers had kindly invited me to be the guest speaker.  There was a good crowd at the dinner (which included an auction) and the hope was the event would raise $10,000 or more.  The faith community in Washington County are the primary supporters of this critical program.

You can download an audio podcast of my remarks here:  

Download Family Bride Homeless Shelter Benefit Remarks

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When you're up drinking that good cup of organic fair trade coffee tomorrow morning tune in to Portland's KPOJ.  I'm scheduled for a 7am interview to talk about why Oregon's faith community is working so hard for the passage of Measures 66 and 67.

Ballots are due Tuesday.  Mailing them in at this late date would be risky.  Make sure your vote counts.  Drop-off your ballot at one of these drop-sites before it is to late.

Friday AM Update:  Thanks to everyone who listened and for the nice comments on Facebook.  The audio podcast of the interview is now available (I'm up first followed by interviews with the mayor and Congressman Wu):

Download 1-22-10 hr 2 POJ-cast

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This morning I held the deep privilege of preaching at Portland's First United Methodist Church during a special service honoring The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  No audio podcast of my sermon is available but my sermon notes can be downloaded here.  The Rev. Dr. Arvin Luchs, senior minister at First United Methodist, has my deep appreciation for extending such a kind invitation.   

Update:

The audio podcast of the sermon that I deleivered on MLK Sunday at First United Methodist Church is now available for download.

Download FUMC 1-17-10

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Photo credit:  Life, Paul Schutzer.  Portrait of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking at 'prayer pilgramage for freedom' at Lincoln Memorial, 1957.

This morning I was the guest preacher at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Vancouver, Washington.  Our Scripture readings included Wisdom 10:15-21 and John 1:1-18.  

The Rev. Brooks Berndt is the minister of the congregation.

My sermon topic was "Sustained By The Light."  You can download a podcast of the sermon here:

Download 1_3_2010 10_24 AM

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Photo credit: Unknown

This evening the U.S. House of Representatives passed the historic Affordable Health Care for America Act.  I offer this podcast reflection on an evening when the House has taken a huge step forward in addressing one of America's most fundamental moral problems - the lack of health care for millions of our people.

The audio podcast of my remarks can be downloaded here:

 Download RevCCurrieAffordableHealhCareforAmericaAct

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Below the fold you can find a written transcript of my remarks:

The votes today by the Senate Finance Committee to reject a public option as part of health care reform go against public opinion and against the best interests of Americans. 47 million of our fellow citizens go without health insurance and millions more have inadequate coverage. The Baucus proposal under consideration by the Finance Committee does not go far enough to earn the title of “reform.” Senator Ron Wyden is to be congratulated for his committee votes today in favor of the public option but I urge both Senator Wyden and Senator Jeff Merkley, my home state senators, to vote against any proposal on the senate floor that does not include a strong public option. The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions has already adopted a superior reform bill that includes a public option. Proposals under consideration by the U.S. House also include a public option.

The United Church of Christ, with over 1.1 million Americans across the United States, including Oregon, has called for reform that includes: 

 - Coverage for all people 

 - Access regardless of ability to pay 

 - A full set of comprehensive benefits 

 - A choice of physicians and other providers 

- Elimination of racial and ethnic and other health care disparities 

- Waiver of pre-existing condition exclusions without age limits 

 - A robust public health insurance option

In the Christian tradition, we are called to heal the sick and is with that spirit that I join my voice to the overwhelming chorus of religious voices calling out for reform. America needs universal health care reform with a strong public option to move us closer to being a peaceable community.

Today was my final Sunday as the interim minister at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ.  Our Scripture reading during worship was Luke 4:16-19.  My sermon, which you can download the podcast of below, dealt with how our denomination might live out the ministry that Jesus calls us to in his first sermon as related by Luke: 

The United Church of Christ: The Next Generation

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There was a bit of a "Star Trek" theme going today.  Apparently, I'm thought of as something of a fan.  Several parishioners showed up wearing Spock ears and Star Trek insignia.  A Southern style dinner was held afterwords complete with fried chicken and sweet tea.  It couldn't have been a nicer send off and I'll post some photos once they become available to me.

Here are some photos from the service:

  

Portlanders packed downtown's Terry Schrunk Plaza this morning for the "Health Care Can't Wait!" rally.

 

Oregon Attorney General John Kroger spoke first and then introduced the rest of the speakers - which included nurses, business owners and labor leaders.

 

It was a great honor for me to be there representing Ecumenical Ministires of Oregon.

 

(Thanks to Carrie Aguilar for this last photo)

The audio podcast of my remarks can be downloaded here:

Download CCPDXHealthCareRally082909

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Related Link:  Portland Health Care Panel Discussion on Thursday, April 16th

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Like most Portlanders, I’ve been wrestling with whether or not Sam Adams should be forced to resign after admitting that he lied about and then covered up a sexual relationship.  I’ve come to the conclusion that the best move that Mayor Adams could make for Portland’s future is to resign now.

 

I think Mayor Adams is a good and decent man who fell into a trap that many before him have fallen into (think President Clinton or Newt Gingrich, or any of our family and friends who have one time or another failed us).  All things being equal, I would like to give the mayor a chance to redeem himself.  He is, in theological terms, a broken and sinful person (so are we all in one way or another), but grace ought to be offered at times like these.  His twenty years in public life have been productive and I suspect he still has plenty of good to offer.

 

But two weeks ago I sent the mayor a letter, copied to the city council, offering concern that the mayor’s otherwise ambitious 100 day agenda did not deal with the issue of poverty.  Poverty is a growing issue in Portland and it needs the attention of the mayor.  Now, however, the entire 100 day agenda is in ruins.  The next hundred days will be taken up with investigations and debate will center not on the needs of Portland but on the actions of Sam Adams. 

 

Some are now rushing to the mayor’s defense.  Even Steve Duin today urged the mayor not to give up without a fight.  The Oregonian columnist wrote:

I have a suggestion on how we all might channel our frustration and move this process forward:  

A recall.

 

And a recall that Sam Adams openly encourages -- and privately supports -- because the voters deserve a referendum on whether or not he is still qualified to serve as Portland's mayor.

 

While calls for Adams' resignation are the crusade du jour, a recall allows both the mayor and the multitude the opportunity to step back from the week's numbing revelations and assess the damage.

 

State law bars the filing of a recall petition until July, after Adams has served six months in office.

 

Mix in the time necessary to gather and verify the required number of signatures -- 32,183 -- and schedule that vote of the people, and we're talking about either a Sept. 15 or Nov. 3 referendum.

 

That would give the voters valuable time to assess the full measure of Adams' truthfulness, contrition and effectiveness. And it would allow the mayor to make the case that lying about sex, however pathetic and opportunistic, does not fully eclipse his potential to reshape this city.

In part, I like the idea.  But does anyone really want the central debate in Portland during a time of deep economic recession to be about the mayor’s personal life?  I want it to be about poverty, the economy, how we protect Portland’s environment, and how we provide the best education possible for our children.  Basically, I want the debate in Portland to be centered on the ideas and challenges that Sam Adams ran on and not on Sam Adams himself. 

 

As I said earlier this week, in truth, his winning campaign only succeeded in the fashion it did (with a weak opponent and broad public support) because he lied and never let Portlanders grapple for themselves with his actions. When a politician doesn't trust the people how can the people trust the politician?  He brought this on himself. 

 

Mayor Adams needs to resign so that we can get to the business of quickly finding a new mayor who can meet the challenges we commonly face.  His resignation would be a gift and would set him on a path of recovery.  There is still a place for Sam in Portland.  It just isn’t in City Hall.

 

In time, however, I hope he finds his way back into the public arena.  Sam Adams is smart, dedicated, and deserving of the forgiveness he has asked for.       

Use the below link to download the podcast of this message from Rev. Chuck Currie for your iPod or personal computer.  

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This Sunday at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ our Scripture readings included Psalm 72: 1-7, 10-14 and Matthew 2:1-12.

Use the below link to download the podcast of the sermon for your iPod or personal computer.   

Download “The Plot Against Jesus Begins”

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Use the below link to download the podcast of this message from Rev. Chuck Currie for your iPod or personal computer. 

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