Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

Dining Out For Life
2023-06-20 - 2023-06-22 | OR
DINE IN. TAKE OUT. END HIV.
Dining Out For Life is an annual dining fundraising event for community-based organizations serving people living with or impacted by HIV. Dine in or take out at participating restaurants in the Portland metro area during June 20-22, 2023, and they will donate to EMO’s HIV Day Center and OHSU’s Partnership Project.
View participating restaurants.
Ways to participate:

Complete a donation envelope at participating restaurants during June 20-22 and leave with the server or ambassador.
Volunteer as an ambassador at a participating restaurant. Sign up now.
Or you may GIVE NOW (or fill out form below).

Learn more

River's Lament
2023-05-13 10:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | University of Portland – Buckley Center Auditorium, 5000 N Willamette Blvd., Portland, Oregon
Join us for an outdoor event where faith leaders walk us along the Willamette River and tell the story of the Willamette River from the river’s perspective.
This event will take place at the University of Portland. Meet at the northeast end of the Main Parking Lot by the Chiles Center at the University (see page 2 of this flyer for a map).
Light snacks and refreshments will be available.
Please RSVP: phcollaborative@triangleassociations.com, (206) 458-5710.
Sponsored by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Portland Harbor Collaborative Group, EcoFaith Recovery and University of Portland.

Interfaith Advocacy Day
2023-05-10 09:00 - 16:00 | St. Mark Lutheran Church, 790 Marion St. NE, Salem, OR, 97301, United States
Join us for Oregon Interfaith Advocacy Day on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Salem!
There is power in knowledge and strength in numbers. Attend issue briefs and workshops on advocating for compassionate legislation followed by meetings with state legislators. Talking points and legislative appointments will be provided.
ISSUES Climate & Environment, Criminal Justice Reform & Gun Violence Prevention, Healthcare, Housing & Homelessness, Hunger, Immigration & Refugees
SCHEDULE Morning Session: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Afternoon meetings with State Legislators: Times will vary
REGISTER Regular registration is $20, students $10 (to cover the cost for lunch provided); scholarships available. Online registration will close at 11 p.m. on Monday, May 8. Walk-in registration on the day of event is welcome; we will accept credit, check or exact cash.
QUESTIONS emo@emoregon.org, (503) 221-1054
Presented by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.
COSPONSORS:

Augustana Lutheran Church
Lift Every Voice Oregon
Muslim Educational Trust
Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
Oregon Unitarian Universalist Voices
Women United in Faith, Oregon-Idaho

2023 CROP Walk for Hunger
2023-04-30 13:30 | First Christian Church, 1314 SW Park Ave., Portland, Oregon, 97201, United States
CROP Hunger Walks are community-based walk fundraising events held in cities and towns across the United States, created to support the global mission of Church World Service, a faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. After a CROP Hunger Walk ends, 25% of the funds raised is returned to the host community to support local hunger fighting efforts. EMO’s Northeast Emergency Food Program is one of the recipients.
Visit https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2023/event/portlandor for event details, to register to walk and to donate.
Background
The Crop Project began in 1947 when farmers were asked to donate food and seed crops to our hungry neighbors in post-World War II Europe and Asia. The first CROP Hunger Walks took place in Bismarck, North Dakota (1969), and York, Pennsylvania (1970). Since then, CROP Hunger Walk events have been held in hundreds of communities, large and small, raising millions of dollars to eradicate hunger and poverty.
Get Involved
Hunger is one of the greatest injustices facing our world, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Ending hunger is possible in our lifetime. You can help make it happen. Register for your local CROP Hunger Walk, raise funds, and take us one step closer to ending hunger once and for all. Join the movement!

Oregon Interfaith Earth Summit 2023
2023-02-05 13:30 - 17:30 | OR
Join other people of faith in your region who care about the environment and climate justice!
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon’s tenth annual Oregon Interfaith Earth Summit will take place in faith communities all over Oregon with the theme, “Care for Our Common Home: Building Neighborhoods for Climate Resilience.”

The first part of the event will be a plenary session on Zoom, with participants watching together from their regional locations across Oregon. Following the plenary, local hosts will facilitate in-person sessions focusing on relationship-building and learning with people of faith in their region. Each regional gathering will end with a climate vigil at 5 p.m.
WHEN
Sunday, February 5, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
WHERE
Hybrid event: Join virtual plenary session at local host hubs, followed by in person session and local vigil.
Local hubs include: Baker City, Beaver Creek (Beaver Creek UCC), Bend (Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon), Cheshire (Camp Lutherwood), Corvallis (First Congregational UCC), Dallas (Church for Our Common Home), Eugene (Unitarian Universalist Church), Florence (St. Andrew’s Episcopal), Medford (First Presbyterian), Newberg (First United Methodist), Portland (St. Mary Magdalene Church), and Salem (First United Methodist/The Micah Center).
If you prefer to join the event virtually instead of at a local hub, select the “Unsure” location option on the registration form.
If you don’t see a regional location near you, contact Cherice Bock to learn about other options.
REGISTRATION
$25 general
$10 student rate
Scholarships available (select “Scholarship” option on registration form).

Interfaith Legislative Forum
2023-01-22 13:30 - 15:30 | OR
You are invited to hear a panel of legislators discuss their priorities for the 2023 Oregon Legislative Session on topics of interest to the faith community. Legislators will discuss bills they support, the must-do bills for the 2023 Session and the prospects of passage. Following the panel discussion, the Zoom meeting will allow for a half-hour discussion with the legislators.
Topics may include:

Housing/human services
Refugees and immigration
Healthcare
Climate/environment
Criminal justice reform

Sponsored by: Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Oregon Coalition of Christian Voices, Interfaith Alliance on Poverty and Unitarian Universalist Voices for Justice.
The virtual (Zoom) event is free, but registration is required. Register now.

Info Session: Oregon Interfaith Earth Summit 2023
2022-12-12 19:00 | OR
If your faith community is interested in being a regional host for the Oregon Interfaith Earth Summit 2023, please join us for an info session. The topic of the 2023 Summit will be “Care for Our Common Home: Building Neighborhood Climate Resilience,” and it will be held on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023.
After registering for the info session, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting. REGISTER NOW.

World AIDS Day fundraiser at Bar Carlo
2022-12-01 18:00 - 21:00 | Bar Carlo, 6433 SE Foster Rd., Portland, Oregon, 97206
Join us on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, for a fundraiser at Bar Carlo!
The free evening event will include a DJ, raffle and drag performance by Bolivia Carmichaels. Donations encouraged! All contributions go towards sustaining EMO’s HIV Services programs to support those living with HIV/AIDS.
World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.

World AIDS Day Pancake Breakfast
2022-11-30 08:00 - 09:00 | HIV Day Center, 2941 NE Ainsworth, Portland, Oregon, 97211
In honor of World AIDS Day, EMO’s HIV Day Center is hosting a Pancake Breakfast on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 8 a.m. The breakfast is free. Donations encouraged! All contributions go towards sustaining our HIV Services programs to support those living with HIV/AIDS.
World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.
The Day Center is located at 2941 NE Ainsworth, Portland, Ore.
Please RSVP by Monday, Nov. 28 using the form below.

Religious Trauma: Understanding the harm and supporting healing
2022-11-10 19:30 | Multnomah University, 8435 NE Glisan St, Portland, Oregon, 97220
THURSDAY, NOV. 10 | 7:30 PM
Hybrid event: attend in person or online
Multnomah University | JCA Student Center, Mane Hall
8435 NE Glisan St., Portland, Ore.
View campus map
REGISTRATION
$20 General | Students Free
To register, use form below.
RELIGIOUS TRAUMA
In recent years, mental health professionals have underlined the way the religious experience can sometimes create trauma. It’s important for people of faith to understand this phenomenon as we walk alongside our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers and even clergy.
FEATURING
Our keynote speaker will be Connie A. Baker. With a MA in counseling, Connie is a Licensed Professional Counselor working in Portland, Ore. She runs a private practice that specializes in helping people recover from religious abuse. Her book, Traumatized by Religious Abuse: Courage, Hope and Freedom for Survivors, is a comprehensive resource for those who have experienced religious abuse, be it psychological, verbal, sexual or financial. With authenticity, openness, and careful consideration of many different faith traditions, Connie provides a path to hope and healing.

Together Again: A fundraising gala for EMO
2022-09-20 18:00 - 21:00 | Abernethy Center, 606 15th St., Oregon City, Oregon, 97045
PLEASE NOTE: Reservations for this event are now closed.
Join us for a special evening of stories, music and friends highlighting the work of EMO. We will also honor extraordinary individuals and organizations whose courage, moral vision and commitment to action have contributed profoundly to making Oregon a better place. This outside event (under a tent) is the first of its kind since 2019. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to be TOGETHER AGAIN.
AWARDS

“Ecumenists of the Year” will be awarded to leaders of Lift Every Voice Oregon (LEVO): Rabbi Michael Cahana, Marilyn Keller and The Rev. W.J. Mark Knutson. These three faith leaders served as chief petitioners of IP 17 and catalyzed the signature process to get a gun safety measure on Oregon’s ballot this fall. LEVO is an interfaith organization of Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish and Native American spiritual leaders committed to reducing gun violence.
“Emerging Leader” award will be presented to Taylor Stewart, founder and executive director of the Oregon Remembrance Project. His organization helps communities in Oregon unearth stories of injustice and engage in the necessary truth telling and repair required to reconcile instances of historical harm. On Juneteenth 2021, Stewart led efforts to dedicate a historical marker about the 1902 racial lynching of Alonzo Tucker in Coos Bay, Ore.

ENTERTAINMENT BY MICHELLE ALANY
Violinist and vocalist Michelle Alany is a dynamic international performer and ambassador of world folk traditions. Deeply inspired by traditional music, she draws from a wealth of diverse influences and creates original folk songs in the vein of her fresh interpretations of Sephardic, Klezmer, Balkan as well as American folk music explorations. Michelle enjoys sharing songs as cultural vehicles for celebrating differences and appreciating similarities. Her versatility and depth as a performer will stir your soul, delight your senses, commune with your ancestors and ignite your spirit. For this performance, she will share the stage with the Ot Azoy Orchestra, featuring accomplished musicians Courtney von Drehle on accordion, Andrew Alikhanov on clarinet, Josh Mellinger on percussion, and Bill Athens on upright bass.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Reservations are now closed.
Reception at 6 p.m. | Dinner Buffet at 7 p.m.
Abernethy Center | 606 15th St., Oregon City (download map)
If you cannot attend but would like to make a financial gift, go to emoregon.org/gala-give.
SPONSORS (to date)
Silver: Messy Church U.S.A.; Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference the United Methodist Church; Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.
Bronze: Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon; Augustana Lutheran Church; Rev. Andrea Cano; CareOregon; Christian Church in Oregon and SW Idaho; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Community of Christ, GPNW Mission Center; Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon; First Unitarian Church, Portland; First United Methodist Church, Portland; Paul & Mariah LeFeber; Lift Every Voice Oregon (LEVO); NAACP Portland; Neil Kelly Co.; Rev. Dr. Rodney & Sandi Page; Presbytery of the Cascades; Providence Health & Services; Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell and George Crandall; Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

United for Peace
2022-05-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Congregation Beth Israel, 1972 N.W. Flanders St., Portland, Oregon, 97209, United States
CLICK HERE to watch the live broadcast of the event beginning 6:55 p.m.
Join people of faith and good will on the evening of May 17 as we gather in support of peace in Ukraine. We will hear the hopes and dreams of the Ukrainian community and church leaders, pray for them, and learn immediate ways of engagement, action, and support each of us can offer now.

Music will be provided live by Ukranian flutist Amelia Lukas, The Ot Azoy Orechestra, and folk singer Inna Kovtun (a well-known recording artist who just arrived in Portland a month ago from Ukraine). We will also hear recorded messages from U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon Sen. Kayse Jama, and Archbishop Alexander Sample. View event program.
This will be a free event hosted in-person at Congregation Beth Israel (wearing a mask is strongly encouraged but not required) and livestreamed statewide. Only street parking will be available.
Give to Ukraine Fund

Train of Tears
2022-05-13 11:30 - 13:30 | Riverside Community Church, 317 State St., Hood River, Oregon, 97031
A “Train of Tears” commemoration will recall and reflect with regret one of the most painful chapters in the history of the Hood River Valley — the forced internment of Japanese-Americans.
The event at Riverside Community Church, United Church of Christ, will memorialize the date 80 years ago when more than 400 Japanese-American women, men and children from the central Gorge were forced from their homes, loaded into railcars at the Hood River train station, and sent to internment camps.
During and after the war, Hood River was a flashpoint for anti-Japanese activities. Due to a concerted effort by community members, less than 50 of those who were forcibly removed felt safe enough to return.
The event on May 13 will feature special guests, music and speakers, including Episcopal Bishop Diana Akiyama, who spent her childhood in the valley. A procession to the train station and installation of a peace pole will follow the ceremony. The procession will include faith leaders from throughout the area, as well as those of Japanese ancestry.

11:30 a.m. – Reception & Exhibits: Exhibits from History Museum of Hood River County and refreshments.
12 p.m. – Program: Presentation with special guests, music, and speakers, including Episcopal Bishop Diana Akiyama who grew up in Hood River.
12:45 p.m. – Procession to Train Station: Procession will begin at Riverside Community Church, moving to the train station for the installation of a peace pole.

This event is free and open to all members of the community.

Youth v. Gov Discussion
2022-05-01 14:00 - 15:30 | OR
Faith communities around the country and nation are watching Youth v. Gov together this month through Interfaith Power & Light. Find a screening near you, or you can still sign up to host a screening with your congregation or green team. Learn more about the film.
Then, join us for a discussion of the film and ongoing similar lawsuits led by Oregon-based Our Children’s Trust. This discussion will provide an opportunity to hear from youth plaintiffs as well as an attorney from Our Children’s Trust. We will hear about the experiences and concerns of these two plaintiffs, how their spiritual traditions relate to their climate work, and what we can do to support their ongoing efforts. We will learn about the strategy of litigation for ensuring the United States shifts toward a just and sustainable future. There will be opportunities to reflect on the film, hear from guest speakers, and engage in a question and answer time.
This discussion will feature staff attorney David Schwartz and two youth plaintiffs from Florida: Levi D and Valholly F. Levi lives on a barrier island impacted by hurricanes. He is a plaintiff in the case featured in Youth v. Gov, Juliana v. United States, as well as in a case called Reynolds v. State of Florida. Valholly is Indigenous and lives on the Hollywood Indian Reservation. She is a plaintiff in Reynolds v. State of Florida.
Consider inviting youth from your faith community to watch the film and engage in this discussion!
Sign up now to receive the the Zoom link.

Portland CROP Hunger Walk
2022-04-24 12:30 - 15:00 | First Christian Church, 1314 SW Park Ave., Portland, Oregon, 97201, United States
CROP Hunger Walks are community-based fundraising events held in cities and towns across the United States, created to support the global mission of Church World Service, a faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. After a CROP Hunger Walk ends, 25 percent of the funds raised is returned to the host community to support local hunger fighting efforts.
Portland’s 2022 CROP Walk begins at 12:30 p.m. for inspiration and directions. At 1 p.m., we will begin the three-mile walk to the waterfront and back. While walking together in community is encouraged, it is optional. This is a great event for all generations! All are welcome.
EMO’s Northeast Emergency Food Program will be receive 25 percent of all donations, as the local charity designated.
Learn more and sign up now!

20th Annual Virtual Faith Labor Breakfast
2022-02-22 07:30 - 09:00 | OR
Cosponsored by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, NW Oregon Labor Council, and Portland Jobs with Justice, the Faith Labor Breakfast has for 20 years inspired workers and people of faith with prayers, music, stories and support of workers struggling for justice. This year’s theme is “Workers in the Age of COVID and Climate Catastrophe.” This event inspires, creates community coalitions, and helps sustain hope, equity, inclusiveness, and action in support of working people.
Cost: $10 per person. Register now.

The Afghan Crisis and Response: What is required to make Oregon a truly welcoming place for refugees?
2022-02-02 13:00 - 14:30 | OR
Join Oregon Community Foundation in a virtual panel discussion with Oregon’s refugee resettlement agencies to learn how our state is managing the Afghan Crisis and what it will take for Oregon to become a truly welcoming home to Afghan families.
Featuring:
Caroline van der Harten, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Matthew Westerbeck, Catholic Charities of Oregon
Djimet Dogo, The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization
Salah Ansary, Lutheran Community Services Northwest
Panelists will discuss how Oregon can support Afghan evacuees in the short and long term, the challenges and opportunities of rebuilding the refugee resettlement network after years of divestment, remaining inequities in the wider refugee resettlement response, the crucial role legal representation will play in the lives of Afghan evacuees and how the public and private sectors of Oregon are coming together in innovative ways to help Afghans rebuild after displacement.
Learn. Since the fall of Kabul, tens of thousands of endangered Afghans were evacuated to American military bases. Oregon has already received 350 individuals as a part of the crisis response, and up to 1200 are expected to arrive.
Elevate. Be empowered to share new knowledge with your networks, friends and family and act to address disparities and support community needs.
Register.

Oregon Interfaith Earth Summit: Flourishing in a Time of Climate Crisis
2022-01-30 13:00 - 16:30 | OR
OREGON INTERFAITH EARTH SUMMIT (VIRTUAL)
The ninth annual Oregon Interfaith Earth Summit will bring together people of faith and goodwill to learn, connect and develop a shared vision for creation justice. With the theme, “Flourishing in a Time of Climate Crisis,” the virtual event will include worship elements and feature plenary sessions from inspiring presenters and workshops focused on organizing, advocacy, activism and education. A key focus area will be on faith-based efforts in climate disaster preparedness and response. The plenary speakers will be Karyn Bigelow and Avery Davis Lamb, co-executive directors of Creation Justice Ministries.
SUNDAY, JAN. 30, 2022
From 1 to 4:30 p.m. via Zoom

$20 early registration (register by Jan. 29)
$25 general (after Jan. 29)
$10 student rate.

PRESENTED BY
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) and it’s program Oregon Interfaith Power & Light (OIPL)

2022 Oregon Legislative (Virtual) Forum
2022-01-23 13:30 - 15:30 | OR
Want to hear from Oregon’s senators and representatives about 2022 Legislative Session priorities? Want to know how to be most effective in your advocacy efforts?
Join us for the 2022 Oregon Legislative Conference on Sunday, Jan. 23, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. for an overview of legislative issues of concern to the faith community including:

Housing
Human Services
Health Care
Mental Health
Climate
Farmworker Overtime
Gun Violence
Transforming Justice

We will cover a lot of territory in a brief time. Our goal is to have legislators inform the audience of the issues facing the legislature in the coming session. The above topics may be supplemented with others as legislators give updates.
Register now for the free Zoom conference at bit.ly/2022forumregister.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We will also provide an update to those who have registered when we have confirmation of speakers. We will send a reminder to those who have registered a week before and the morning of the conference.

2022 OIPL Advocacy Team
2022-01-11 - 2022-05-31 | OR
Join us for our second annual Oregon Interfaith Power & Light (OIPL) Advocacy Team! The 2022 Oregon Short Legislative Session runs from Feb. 1 to March 7. We are already setting up meetings with legislators. Sign up now if you want to be involved, and we will contact you when legislator meetings have been scheduled.
Oregon Interfaith Power & Light is currently playing a leading role in advocacy for the Divest Oregon campaign, with a goal of moving Oregon’s investments out of fossil fuels and into more sustainable, just and economically viable investments. We are also supporting the work of environmental justice partners on emerging bills for more energy efficient buildings, farmworker rights, safety in extreme weather events, and more equitable and livable policies relating to home heating and cooling.
Though this short session will be brief, there is much to do! Your voice is important as we speak up for equitable and sustainable policies to care for our common home!

Green Circles
2021-12-14 - 2022-06-21 | OR
Join us for EMO’s Interfaith Power & Light Green Circles. This monthly statewide gathering brings together people of faith from across Oregon to learn about issues of climate change, faith, and justice, and to root ourselves spiritually as we build relationships and take action together. This year’s Green Circles run through June 2022.
Our January–April gatherings (through Earth Day) will focus on reading Becoming Rooted: 100 Days of Reconnecting with Sacred Earth by Dr. Randy Woodley. Gather a group from your faith community or friend group to read this book together and attend our monthly gatherings. Discussions with the author will occur at our January, February and April gatherings.
Green Circle dates: third Tuesdays of each month through June 2022 (second Tuesday of December), 6:30–8:00 p.m., via Zoom.

Collins Summit 2021
2021-11-10 19:00 - 20:30 | OR
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 10, 2021, 7 PM
On Jan. 6, 2021, the world was shocked by images of protestors storming the U.S. Capitol Building. Many held a flag in one hand and a Bible in the other. Some carried crosses, while others prayed for God to restore the United States as a Christian nation.
For 54 years, the annual Collins Summit has bravely taken on subjects at the center of current events. This year is no exception. At the 2021 Collins Summit, we will explore the challenging topic of Christian Nationalism—the belief that the United States is defined by Christianity, and that the government should work to keep it that way.
Join us as we explore this timely subject and where we go from here.

FEATURING (VIRTUAL) PRESENTATIONS BY

Kristin Kobe Du Mez
A New York Times bestselling author and professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University, Du Mez holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame. Her research focuses on the intersection of gender, religion, and politics, and her most recent book is “Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation.” Read her bio.
Kaitlin Curtice
An enrolled member of the Potawatomi Nation, Curtice writes on the intersection of Indigenous spirituality, faith in everyday life, and the church. She has contributed to OnBeing, Religion News Service, USA Today, and Sojourners, among others, and she was interviewed for The New Yorker on colonization within Christian missions. Her new book is “Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God.” Read her bio.

PANEL OF OREGON LEADERS
After watching virtual presentations from our keynote speakers, a live panel of Oregon leaders will go deeper into the discussion and address your questions. Submit questions to collins@emoregon.org. Panelists include: The Rev. Andrea Cano, EMO; The Rev. Ernestein Flemister, St. Luke’s Episcopal, Grants Pass; Rick McKinley, Imago Dei Community; and Sylvester “Sal” Sahme, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

LOCATION: IMAGO DEI COMMUNITY OR ONLINE
Imago Dei Community (sanctuary): 1400 SE Ankeny St., Portland.
Online: Stream live on your computer, phone, tablet or smart TV.

SPONSORS (TO DATE)

Robert & Carolyn Cornie; Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Oregon Synod; Presbytery of the Cascades; St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church; United Methodist Church Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference. If your faith community would like to be an event sponsor, please fill out a Sponsor Agreement.

REGISTER NOW

Registration Fee: $20 (scholarships available; contact emartin@emoregon.org).

Oregon Faiths 4 Climate Justice
2021-10-15 - 2021-10-18 | OR
In the lead up to COP26,* EMO’s Oregon Interfaith Power & Light (OIPL) is organizing an Oregon Faiths 4 Climate Justice Week of Action from Oct. 15 to 18!
As people of faith, it is important to care for the gift of the Earth, our common home, and pass on a livable planet to future generations. This is holy and sacred work and the movement is strongest when grounded in moral truth and spiritual commitment. We love our neighbors tangibly through divesting from fossil fuels.
Below are ways both you and your faith community can get involved in the fossil-fuel divestment movement, encouraging state and world leaders to do the same:
1. Create a short video about Divest Oregon with your faith community calling on state Treasurer Tobias Read to divest Oregon’s Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) from fossil fuels.
Record this during your worship gathering or create a special event such as an “action hour.” Send the video to us so we can compile and send them to Treasurer Read.
2. Attend the Vigil for Divestment on Oct. 18, 12 to 1 p.m.

Worship as resistance in the manner of Quakers with our partners from Multnomah Monthly Meeting. We will meet in silence (with perhaps a few songs) outside a Wells Fargo Bank that invests in the Line 3 pipeline and other fossil fuel projects. Register below to receive more details.
To view a map of all the global events and/or register your own event go to GreenFaith.
3. Call on your congregation to divest from fossil-fuel investments.
Draft a request to move your faith community’s investments out of fossil fuel companies, and make a plan to circulate this request and to send to the appropriate leaders.
*The United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP26) will be occurring in Glasgow, Scotland, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12, 2021. World leaders will be making decisions about how to reduce, mitigate, and hopefully reverse climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) most recent report made it clear that this is one of our last chances as a global community to take action to avoid even more catastrophic climate events than we are already seeing. This means we need to transition away from fossil fuels immediately.

Faith Voice for Clean Air
2021-09-20 18:00 - 19:30 | OR
September is recognized by many Christians as the Season of Creation, an opportunity to pray and care for God’s creation. On Monday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m., EMO is hosting a public comment writing workshop to gather people of faith and assist them in sharing public comment to advocate for bold climate action.

As part of the Oregon Climate Action Plan (Gov. Brown’s 2020 executive order on climate), the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is creating a new “Climate Protection Program” to regulate and cut climate pollution from some of Oregon’s top emitters to help Oregon meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets.

Advocates have pushed the DEQ to make some positive changes to the rule language, however, DEQ’s draft rules still fall short in a few key areas. Currently, the DEQ is asking for public comments on its draft Climate Protection Program. For more information on this process, click here.

At the workshop, we’ll guide you in sharing your personal connection to climate change as a person of faith and as a citizen of Oregon. We will be discussing why it is important for the DEQ to adhere to climate science, hold all major polluters accountable, and invest to reduce pollution in and benefit frontline communities. As Christians, we are called on to play a part in changing our collective response to the unprecedented threat of climate change and environmental degradation. Please join us and use your voice to speak up to the DEQ!

Register now.
For more information, email khogan@emoregon.org!

Day of Remembrance
2021-09-19 | OR
On Juneteenth this year, many people gathered in person or online to bear witness to the death by lynching of Alonzo Tucker in Coos Bay, Ore., in 1902. In partnership with the Oregon Remembrance Project and the Equal Justice Initiative, this act of public remembrance called on people of faith to reckon with the racist legacy we inherit in the Pacific Northwest, and the ways in which that legacy continues to live in on in subtle and blatant ways up until the present day.
But the larger work of truth, repair and reconciliation continues. In this spirit, we invite you to a state wide “Day of Remembrance” on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021. Sept. 18, 1902, was the day of Alonzo Tucker’s lynching, and we invite you to acknowledge this anniversary by joining us the following day to honor Alonzo Tucker’s memory through a renewed commitment to justice.
We invite you to participate in the following ways:

Focus your worship service that weekend on the racist legacy we inherit in Oregon and the ways in which your community can acknowledge and reckon with that legacy in your local context.
Invite people of faith in your community networks to join us online from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 19, for a special “Liturgy of Remembrance.”
Consider joining us for an informational session from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 19, on the upcoming “Reckoning with Racism” Learning and Discernment cohort. This new iteration of Common Table’s “Reckoning with Racism” is open to faith community teams who participated in last year’s cohort and new teams who have never engaged in this work before. All that’s required is a group of at least four committed volunteers from your faith community, denominational body or organization. For more information contact our team at commontable@emoregon.org.

You can also email commontable@emoregon.org to RSVP for #2 & #3 above, or to let us know if you plan on hosting a special service that weekend. We’d love to collect sermons, liturgies, art projects and/or other special reflections around this focus to share with others.
We live in a time when our history is actively being erased and re-written by some segments of our society, and all acts of remembrance are acts of resistance.

Treaty People Gathering: Stop Line 3 Pipeline
2021-06-05 - 2021-06-08 | OR
EMO’s Oregon Interfaith Power & Light is helping organize an interfaith delegation to Minnesota June 5–8 for the Treaty People Gathering to stop the Line 3 pipeline. The pipeline crosses Anishinaabe land and would transport tar sands to market.
We rise together for treaties. We rise together for climate. We rise together for our water. We rise together for one another. As Enbridge builds Line 3 through Anishinaabe treaty land and the Mississippi Headwaters, we continue to stand strong in our resistance. We will gather in Northern Minnesota to put our bodies on the line, to stop construction and tell the world that the days of tar sands pipelines are over.
Learn more and register at treatypeoplegathering.com.

Interfaith Advocacy Day 2021
2021-05-25 | OR
JOIN US FOR THE FIRST-EVER VIRTUAL INTERFAITH ADVOCACY DAY ON MAY 25!
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
There is power in knowledge and strength in numbers. Attend issue briefs and workshops on advocating for compassionate legislation followed by virtual meetings with state legislators. Talking points and legislative appointments will be provided.
ISSUES
Housing, Hunger, Healthcare, Immigration, Gun Violence Prevention, Criminal Justice Reform & Climate Justice.
SCHEDULE
Morning Session: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Afternoon meetings with State Legislators: Times will vary.
REGISTER
Please use the form below.
OUR PARTNERS
Ainsworth United Church of Christ; Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon; Interfaith Alliance Against Poverty; Muslim Educational Trust; Oregon Coalition of Christian Voice; Oregon UU Voices for Justice; United Methodist Women – Oregon & Idaho.
QUESTIONS
Contact us at emo@emoregon.org or (503) 221-105

Light in the Tunnel: Stories of hope and resilience from Oregon’s faith community
2021-05-19 19:00 - 20:00 | OR
EMO PRESENTS A FREE ONLINE GALA ON MAY 19
It seems like all we hear about is the negative. We too often miss the simple stories of people helping one another, the remarkable stories of Oregonians living their values and serving their neighbors.
This event will inspire and encourage while offering you the opportunity to financially support the ongoing work of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon in direct service programs, advocacy, education and unity-building. We will honor EMO’s “Ecumenists of the Year” Randy and Edith Woodley and learn more about their Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice. We’ll also premier mini documentaries about the warming shelter at Hood River Valley Christian Church, the Black Santa PDX project, and the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s response to the Oregon wildfires.
SPONSORS (TO DATE)
Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon; Bob and Carolyn Cornie; Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oregon and Southwest Idaho; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Oregon Synod; Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon; Episcopal Diocese of Oregon; Islamic Society of Greater Portland; Kaiser Permanente; Glenna Kruger; James Moiso; Neil Kelly Co.; Rodney and Sandi Page; Trinity Episcopal Cathedral; United Methodist Church, Oregon-Idaho Conference; USI Northwest; William Wright.

Kiss the Ground (film discussion)
2021-04-25 14:00 - 16:00 | OR
Celebrate the 51st anniversary of Earth Day by watching the new film Kiss the Ground and discussing how to put its teachings about regenerative agriculture into practice in Oregon. People of faith all over the country are watching this film during April, generously available for free through Interfaith Power & Light. As the film shows, regenerating the world’s soils has the potential to rapidly stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems and create abundant food supplies. The transition can restore our sense of hope while rehabilitating the planet.
In Oregon, Havurah Shalom, Ecofaith Recovery, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, and Oregon Interfaith Power & Light are partnering to host a discussion about Kiss the Ground. In addition to the opportunity to dialogue about the film, we will hold a panel discussion with those working toward regenerative agriculture in a variety of contexts in Oregon. The panel will include Kristin Ohlson, an Oregonian who was included in the film and who authored The Soil Will Save Us; Teague Cullen, an Oregon farmer from Sherrett Food Forest; and Jennilee Porch, who will share about a program called Carbon Gardens through the EcoFaith Community Carbon initiative. Michael Perman will share about certifications and other tools available based on the Kiss the Ground film.
Stream the film between now and April 25, then attend a Zoom discussion on Sunday, April 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. Kiss the Ground is available free starting April 10 from our friends at Interfaith Power & Light or anytime on Netflix.
Links to watch the film and attend the April 25 discussion will be sent when you register. If you need help registering, please contact: info@havurahshalom.org

Creation Justice Advocacy Team 2021
2021-03-11 | OR
On March 11, we are kicking off our Creation Justice Advocacy Team 2021 by joining a global action in the morning and meeting together for training and education in the evening. In Oregon, join us for this day of action with other grassroots faith activists and be inspired to speak up for climate justice.
At 11 a.m., participate in “Sounding the Alarm” on climate change and environmental justice. Host or participate in an event with your faith community at 11am on March 11 to symbolize the “eleventh hour” in relation to climate change. In partnership with GreenFaith’s Sacred People, Sacred Earth, we’re encouraging everyone to join this global day of climate justice action. Utilize religious instruments such as bells, shofar, drums or other ways to “sound the alarm” together. View instructions for how to host a virtual or COVID-safe in-person outdoor event, and make a brief video saying your faith community demands 100% clean energy for all. Sign up to host an event now.
At 7 p.m., join a free virtual forum “Creation Justice Advocacy Team 2021.”
We will learn about EMO’s Oregon Interfaith Power & Light (OIPL) climate and environmental policy advocacy for the 2021 Oregon Legislative Session. This Creation Justice Advocacy Team 2021 will meet throughout the legislative session for training and education, participate in state and federal lobbying about creation justice, and serve as a rapid response team to respond to action alerts throughout the session.
Sign up for the free virtual Creation Justice Advocacy Team 2021 now. Everyone who signs up will receive a link to join the free virtual event on March 11.
