At EMO we believe that bringing theological reflection and ethics to issues of the day helps us fulfill the call to "raise up the foundations of many generations."
Rooted in our Christian experience, as we encounter people of other faiths we come to more profoundly understand the meaning of our "shared humanity" before God.
This understanding is based upon the biblical affirmation that "the earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it." - Psalm 24:1
Our interfaith education and theological dialogue programs help congregations and individuals both deepen their own commitments as well as better understand their neighbors. Each year we offer workshops, discussions, lectures, presentations, celebrations and vigils to celebrate Christian unity, foster interfaith relations and explore ethical and moral issues.
2009 Collins Lecture - "The Transformative Power of Reconciliation in Society" by Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
There are a handful of people in the world who can rightfully be called modern-day prophets. Portland was witness to one such individual on May 4, 2009, when Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s presence filled the Chiles Center on the University of Portland campus for Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon’s (EMO) 40th Collins Lecture, “The Transformative Power of Reconciliation in Society.”
With humor and honesty, Archbishop Tutu powerfully shared his belief in the power of forgiveness, as he recounted the years of apartheid in South Africa and the successful non-violent struggle to bring down the system. The sold-out crowd gave the Archbishop a standing ovation at the end of his lecture. Many in the crowd were students, including 350 young people given scholarships by our sponsors.
Watch the 2009 Collins Lecture:
2007 Collins Lecture and Poverty Conference, “From Despair to Hope: An Interreligious Response to the Crisis of Poverty,” drew speakers and participants from across the state to engage in education and networking leading to action. The discussion focused on addressing the moral issues around poverty and the underlying systems and structures that perpetuate the growing disparity between the rich and poor.
The all-day conference opened with a panel discussion of religious responses to poverty featuring Orthodox Christian, Evangelical Protestant, Jewish and Muslim representatives. A second panel featured socio-economic experts from across the state.
Two New Orleans activists, Tanya Harris and Hulen Brown, were luncheon keynote speakers, giving perspectives on poverty as reflected in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Eight workshops rounded out the daytime event, with topics ranging from climate change and poverty, health care, workers’ rights, to the many poverties of mental illness.
Syndicated columnist E.J. Dionne, Jr. was our evening keynote speaker. In his address, “The Politics of Hope,” Dionne provided a historic perspective on the Christian response to poverty in society. He emphasized the necessity to take a conceptual knowledge of poverty to a personal and relational understanding. “Social justice requires economic support from government,” Dionne stated, “a concern for family life, and serious efforts to strengthen community institutions and to restore public order.” He believes that while “compassion is good, justice is better” an argues, “while government cannot solve all problems, what it does and doesn’t do matters enormously.”
Listen to EJ Dionne Jr.'s Collins Lecture:
Part 1
Part 2
2006 Collins Lecture - "Earth on Edge: Choosing Our Future"
"Global warming presents the deepest challenge not only to our physical survival but also to our sense of the divine. Suddenly human beings find themselves enormously large, enormously powerful; can we summon the humility to be stewards instead of troublemakers?" – Featured lecturer Bill McKibben, environmental essayist, activist and author of the best seller The End of Nature.
"Earth on Edge: Choosing Our Future" focuses on sustainability, commonly defined as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Three vital dimensions of sustainability are discussed: ecology, economy and equity, with emphasis on one of the greatest moral issues of our time – global warming.
The cost of the DVD is $13 (includes shipping and handling). To order, download the Order Form or call (503) 221-1054.
2005 Collins Lecture – "When Faiths Unite: Religious Perspectives on Peacemaking in the Middle East"
2005 Collins Lecture audio files (download RealPlayer):
Introduction by David Leslie, EMO executive director
Ron Young, Event Moderator, founder and director of the United States Interreligious Committee for Peace in the Middle East
The Rev. Dr. Saïd R. Ailabouni, program director of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Division for Global Mission for Europe, the Middle East and Horn of Africa
Dr. Laila Al-Marayati, spokesperson and past president of the Muslim Women's League
Chief Rabbi David Rosen, director of the American Jewish Committee's Interreligious Affairs Department and the Heilbrunn Institute for International Interreligious Understanding
Local Religious Leaders Perspectives: Frank Afranji, board member of the Muslim Educational Trust; Daniel Isaak, senior rabbi at Congregation Neveh Shalom and president of the Oregon Board of Rabbis; and Mary Jo Tully, chancellor of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Q & A Session with International Religious Leaders
Veteran’s Bridge Fund Project
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is supporting the Veteran’s Bridge Fund Project, which provides small grants to Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who are in transition and experiencing temporary setbacks, often as they wait for disability or other assistance. The Veteran’s Bridge Fund allows any congregation, regardless of their stance on the war, to help these people in need.
If your congregation is interested in participating or if you have a bridge grant request, please contact Jan Elfers at Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, (503) 221-1054 or jelfers@emoregon.org.
From 2006 to 2007, 14 denominations and over 20 congregations participated in a two-year seven-part series titled, "Faith Forum on Genetics." Pacific University’s Pacific Institute for Ethics and Social Policy partnered with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon to identify the participating congregations. Each participating congregation held five congregationally-specific dialogue / discussion seminars about genetics technologies over the course of a few months. The sessions focused on pastoral care and ethical issues related to stem-cell research, pre-natal screening, and privacy and genetics testing. Participating denominations in the two-year project included: American Baptist, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Presbyterian, United Methodist, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church of the Brethren, Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran, Religious Society of Friends, United Church of Christ, Unitarian, Latter Day Saints and the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Faith Forum on Genetics seminar topics include:
- Genetic Self-Understanding—Is a genetic profile the secular equivalent of the “soul” (to use Alex Mauron's phrase)?
- What is the cultural mythology surrounding the genome?
- Genetic Knowledge—Who should have access to genetic information?
- Genetic Research—Are there moral limits to research we might do on the human genome?
- Genetic Modification—Should we allow modifications to germline cells and, if so, what principles should we use to regulate such modification?
- Genetic Justice—Who will benefit from genetic technologies?
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