News
Recent News And Op-Eds
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2024
Florida dentist accused of sending threatening message to Oregon minister | The Oregonian | 6-24-24
2023
Opinion: Oregon needs to discuss ‘Death with Dignity’ – and dementia | The Oregonian | 4-2-23
Wyden, Blumenauer, others react to the death of Portland’s iconic drag queen, Darcelle | The Oregonian | 3-34-23
Darcelle XV, the world’s oldest drag queen, dies aged 92 | PinkNews | 3-24-23
Lauren Boebert Faces Calls From Over 17K Christians to Repent and Resign | Newsweek | 3-3-23
2022
The Twitter exodus: As a Christian minister, I can no longer stay | Religion News Service | 11-18-22 (op-ed)
Pastor Warns About Marjorie Taylor Greene: She 'Dances With the Devil' | Newsweek | 7-28-22
Oregon minister rebukes Marjorie Taylor Greene for touting Christian nationalism in political messages: 'She dances with the devil’ | Business Insider | 7-28-22
Oregonians react to Roe v. Wade decision | The Oregonian | 6-24-22
Roe v. Wade: Faith leaders react to leaked SCOTUS opinion | Religion News Service | 5-3-22
Anti-Semitic death threat, fire scorch marks found outside Congregation Beth Israel in Northwest Portland | The Oregonian | 5-2-22
In State of the Union, Biden needs to return to the battle for the soul of America | Religion News Service | 3-1-22
Bud Clark, tavern owner and Portland mayor, passes away | The Portland Tribune | 2-1-21
Bud Clark: Portlanders share memories of their ‘whoop, whoop’ mayor | The Oregonian | 2-1-21
Portland’s Bud Clark, ‘The People’s Mayor,’ dies at 90 | KOIN-TV | 2-1-22
Spit, screens and sneakers: the rise of the preacher-influencer | The Guardian | 1-30-21
2021
Congressman’s family poses with guns on Christmas card days after deadly Michigan school shooting | The New York Daily News | 12-5-21
Texas pastor apologizes for event at church where 'let's go Brandon' chant was heard | FOX News | 11-20-21
'Let's Go Brandon' Chanted at QAnon-Linked Church Event in Texas | Newsweek | 11-15-21
Here's why I'm a pro-choice pastor. | The Portland Tribune | 10-20-21 (Op-ed)
The Proud Boys came to Portland. Here is what I saw. | Religion News Service | 9-3-21 (Op-ed)
Liz Cheney Faces Backlash After Blaming Trump and Biden for Afghan Collapse | Newsweek | 8-15-21
Proud Boys and Antifa exchanged paintball gunfire and pepper spray at rally by controversial pastor in downtown Portland | Insider | 8-8-21
Heat wave in Portland: three days in "hell" | Le Monde | 7-7-21
Our climate emergency demands action | ValeDaily | 6-30-21
Democratic Senator Defends Membership In All-White Beach Club | HuffPost | 6-21-21
City leaders respond to Portland Police resignations | KPTV-12 | 6-17-21 (video)
'What could possibly go wrong?’ Critics fear Idaho is moving closer to setting up a ‘whites-only homeland’ | Raw Story | 5-28-21
Vernon Jones: ‘Wish people recognized death of Jesus as much as George Floyd’ | The Grio | 5-26-21
Verdict: Guilty in Chauvin trial | The Portland Tribune | 4-20-21
Former Congresswoman Elizabeth Furse dies at age 84 | The Portland Tribune | 4-19-21
We must restore our city, and become the new Eden | The Portland Tribune | 4-2-21 (Op-ed)
Portland police rule out City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty in hit-and-run accident | The Oregonian | 3-4-21
Former Pacific chaplain faced with death threats | Forest Grove News Times | 1-13-21
Portland religious leaders react to riot in Washington D.C. | KATU | 1-9-21
2020
Online celebration of Rev. Dr. T. Allen Bethel's life set for Dec. 30 | The Portland Tribune | 12-29-20
Dr. T. Allen Bethel, longtime Portland pastor and civil rights leader, has died | The Oregonian | 12-22-20
Joe Biden should reestablish the White House faith-based office | Religion News Service | 12-16-20 (Op-ed)
Churches should not put parishioners' health at risk | The Portland Tribune | 11-11-20 (Op-ed)
Martin Luther King Jr.'s Children Hit Back at Mitch McConnell for Mentioning Him in Victory Speech | Newsweek | 11-4-20
UCC people present at Portland protests with gas masks, safe space, Twitter and more | United Church News | 9-7-20
Trump uses Democratic cities as stage for “law and order” theatrics | The Christian Century | 8-4-20
The Federal Crackdown on Portland Protesters |The New York Times | 7-20-20 (Letter to the editor)
Tear gas deployed as federal officers, protesters clash outside Justice Center in Portland | 6-17-20
Where Will the Portland Protests Be Happening Tonight, June 5? | The Portland Mercury | 6-5-20
Churches challenging stay-home orders have forgotten whom they serve | The Oregonian | 5-19-20 (Op-ed)
Oregon Supreme Court puts hold on Baker County judge’s ruling declaring governor’s coronavirus orders ‘null and void’| The Oregonian | 5-18-20
2019
Portland Protesters Call For Impeachment, Removal Of President Trump | OPB | 12-18-19
Climate activists to rally in Hillsboro, Forest Grove | The Forest Grove News Times | 9-17-19
Trump’s history of denigrating majority black countries hangs over his response to Bahamian refugees | The Washington Post | 9-10-19
UPDATE: Six Out Of The Nine Killed In Dayton Shooting Were Black | BET | 8-4-19
Derek Minor on Why ‘Send Her Home’ Is So Hurtful: ‘That Is Just Racist’ | Relevant Magazine | 7-18-19
Walkout takes page from segregationists | The Portland Tribune | 7-11-19 (Op-ed)
NRA cancels NRATV — and the internet sends 'thoughts and prayers' | Yahoo News | 6-26-19
Twitter Users Celebrate NRATV’s Demise With ‘Thoughts And Prayers’ For Dana Loesch | HuffPost | 6-26-19
Thoughts and Prayers for Dana Loesch and NRATV | Vogue | 6-26-19
Hillsboro-area senator criticized for 'threats' to state troopers | The Hillsboro Tribune | 6-20-19
'This is the saddest day of my legislative life' | The Portland Tribune | 6-20-19
What Mike Pence got wrong at Liberty University | Religion News Service | 5-16-19 (Op-ed)
Mike Pence’s speech to Christian college graduates furthers ‘evangelical persecution complex | The Washington Post | 5-13-19
Mike Pence’s advice to Christian college grads: Prepare to be ‘shunned or ridiculed for defending the teachings of the Bible’ | The Washington Post | 5-13-19
Community gathers for Christchurch vigil | Forest Grove News Times | 3-19-19
Local universities, police offer additional support after New Zealand mosque attacks | KATU | 3-15-19
2018
Embracing the work of Christmas | Religion News Service | 12-18-18 (Op-ed)
Rep.-elect Ilhan Omar responds to minister saying Congress will 'look like an Islamic republic' | AOL | 12-8-18
Religious leaders recall George H.W. Bush’s priorities: friendship, faith, family | Religion News Service | 12-3-18
Police warn of a protest planned in downtown Portland, first since protest ordinance was rejected | KPTV | 11-16-18
Franklin Graham Says Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s Abuse Allegation Against Brett Kavanaugh Is Irrelevant | Inquisitr | 10-19-18
Poll: Most Oregonians don't fear death | KOIN-TV | 10-20-18
Blind evangelical support for Trump is theological malpractice | The Hill | 9-6-18 (Op-ed)
21 faith leaders arrested during religious sit-in at Portland ICE offices | The Oregonian | 8-31-18
Fires show need to be good stewards | The Portland Tribune | 8-2-18 (Op-ed)
Paula White Faces Theological Backlash After Saying Jesus Never Broke the Law | Sojourners | 7-11-18
Melania Trump is not missing, but Twitter thinks otherwise | USA Today | 5-30-18
Trump’s Exit From the Iran Nuclear Accord | The New York Times | 5-8-18 (Letter to the editor)
Archive
The Seattle Times: Football-stadium project in Seattle * March 3, 1997
AP: No arrests since homeless-camps ruling * Dec., 25, 2000
The New York Times: New Wave of the Homeless Floods Cities' Shelters * Dec. 18, 2001.
The Christian Science Monitor: Pathways to housing the homeless * May 1, 2002
The Oregonian: Advocate For The Homeless Starts New Venture * Dec. 29, 2002
The LA Times: Blog Appreciation * July 30, 2004
AlterNer: The Compassion of the Christ * Dec. 23, 2004
Southern Voice, FBI investigates anti-gay arson in Va, July 29, 2005
The Oregonian: New Minister Hopes For Balance In World * September, 21, 2006
The Portland Tribune: Activist Targets Homeless School * January 23, 2007
The Oregonian: PDC Looks Beyond Abortion, Oks Clinic * April 12, 2007
Portland Mercury: Religious Leaders Battle Over Gay Rights * July 26, 2007
OPB: Teens Face Charges In Beating Of Homeless Man * Aug. 28, 2007
The Portland Tribune: Potter's Process * September 18, 2007
United Church News: New Blog Lifts Up Coverage of Local Churches, Justice Concerns * Sept. 27, 2007
The Oregonian: Needed: cash for bootstrapts * Nov. 21, 2007
The Oregonian: Sten's absence will resonate with council, city * Jan. 3, 2008
The Hillsboro Argus: Activists sleep out to support the homeless * Jan. 8, 2008
The Forest Grove News Times: Camp-out draws hardy group to experience a ‘homeless’ night * Jan. 9, 2008
NPR: The Power of the Evangelical Vote (NPR) * March 6, 2008
KATU: Controversy addressed during Easter service * Easter Sunday 2008
ABC World News Tonight: Race & Politics from ABC's World News Tonight * Easter Sunday 2008(Video)
Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Race row now dogging Obama in battle for White House * March 24, 2008
The Mid County Memo: Guilt Moves Man To Life's Mission * June 2008
Newsweek His Mobile Ministry (Newsweek) * June 9, 2008
The Oregonian: Portland houses of worship try to include challenging members * Aug. 16, 2008
Air America Radio: State of Belief Convention Coverage * Aug. 30, 2008 (Audio)
The Honolulu Advertiser: Church members saddened over loss of 2011 synod in Isles * Sept. 10, 2008
NPR: Church Leaders Counter Economic Crisis With Faith * Oct. 2, 2008
Willamette Week: Obama, Abortion, and What Some Portland Churches Think About Both * Dec. 3, 2008
The Huffington Post: Rick Warren, Obama Invocation Choice, Causing First Real Rift With Progressives * Dec. 17, 2008
Willamette Week: Adams' Admission Reaction: One Prominent Endorser of The Mayor Has Made Up His Mind * Jan. 23, 2009
The Portland Mercury: Anatomy of a Recall * March 5, 2009
The Oregonian: Protecting the Least of These * March 6, 2009
Nj.com: Embryonic stem cell research * March 11, 2009
The Oregonian: When the People are the Church * April 12, 2009
The Portland Tribune: Recall presses adhead * June 25, 2009
The Oregonian: Health Care and the Christian Tradition * August 14, 2009
The Portland Mercury: 18,000 Homeless School Children In Oregon * September 18, 2009
The Citizen (Harvard Kennedy School): Lobbying While Muslim * October 27, 2009
The Oregonian: Shoot beanbag at 12-year-old girl? Just the latest from the Portland police * November 20, 2009
KOIN TV: City Leaders, Police Avert "No Confidence" Showdown * November 30, 2009
The Portland Tribune: O Father, Where Art Thou? * December 10, 2009
The Portland Tribune: Churches need help in fighting homelessness * December 17, 2009
The Oregonian: Portland Mayor Sam Adams' 2009 in review: a tough year * December 19, 2009
The Sunday Oregonian: Portland area churches pull together to provide shelter for homeless families * Jan. 9, 2010
The Oregonian: Beaverton students to protest Ugandan anti-homosexuality bill * Jan. 11, 2010
The Oregonian: Measures 66 and 67: Caring for the least of these * Jan. 13, 2010
The Beaverton Valley Times: Southridge students rally protests Uganda gay rights ban * Jan. 18, 2010
The Hillsboro Argus: Family Bridge Shelter's fundraiser to be on Feb. 6 at St. Matthew Church * Jan. 19, 2010
The Oregonian: Southridge High students to rally in Beaverton against Uganda's proposed anti-gay legislation * Jan. 20, 2010
EthicsDaily.com: Faithful Oregonians Advance Tax Fairness in Statewide Ballot Measures * Jan. 27, 2010
Willamette Week: Domino Effect: Rev. Chuck Currie to Run for Cogen’s County Seat * March 9, 2010
The Oregonian: 7 candidates vying for Multnomah County District 2 seat square off in forum * April 29, 2010
The Oregonian: Niceness marks Multnomah County commissioner's race * April 30, 2010
The Portland Tribune: Six Questions For Chuck Currie * May 6, 2010
The Portland Tribune: County Race a 7-person Scramble * May 6, 2010
Religion Dispatches: Rev. Smith Goes to Washington God and (Liberal) Politics Gets a Test Case in Portland, Oregon * May 9, 2010
Willamette Week: Minority Report * May 12, 2010
The Portland Mercury: Chuck Currie at Aztec Willie's: Gracious * May 18, 2010
The Oregonian: The faith community and public schools need to partner to help homeless students * June 14, 2010
United Church News: UCC message of equality, inclusion sounds at Pride Month events * June 29, 2010
Street Roots: Summit galvanizes faith-based efforts for homeless students * July 8, 2010
The New York Times (Video): Faith and Immigration * August 30, 2010
The Washington Post: Dove World Outreach Center's "theological malpractice" * September 9, 2010
The Oregonian: Facebook revokes, returns Portland minister's posting rights as drama of Quran burning unfolds * September 10, 2010
The Oregonian: A reflection on 9/11: Yearning for good from tragedy * September 11, 2010
The Oregonian: Former challenger Chuck Currie endorses Loretta Smith for Multnomah County District 2 Commissioner * September 23, 2010
Willamette Week: Ex-Gov. Barbara Roberts and Other Leaders Ask GOP to Fire Extremist Pollster:Update with Response * September 29, 2010
The Portland Observer: Oregon GOP Pollster Called Extremist * October 6, 2010
The Oregonian: Two community activists call for outside investigations after learning Portland city attorney had stashed plaques memorializing Nazi soldiers * October 11, 2010.
KOIN-TV: Portland cop alleged to be Nazi sympathizer * October 13, 2010
KATU: Police captain under fire for interest in Nazis * October 13, 2010
The Portland Mercury: Chasse Case Coverup? Family Attorney Says So. * October 18, 2010
KATU: Chasse family claims documents show police cover-up * October 18, 2010
The Oregonian: Oregon Attorney General suggests complaint on Portland Capt. Mark Kruger be reviewed by the state bar * October 19, 2010
Willamette Week: Plaque Flak * October 20, 2010
The Gresham Outlook: The cupboard is bare * October 29, 2010
The Oregonian: Clergy react to Portland mayor's proposed gun-control ordinances and county plan on combating violence, headed to City Council on Thursday * Nov. 13, 2010
The Portland Mercury: Clergy Send Letter Backing Sam Adams' Proposed Gun Laws * Nov. 13, 2010
The Portland Tribune: Adams in the thick of thorny police issues * November 18, 2010
The Washington Post: Poverty Is A Faith Issue * December 8, 2010
The Oregonian: Portland Chief Mike Reese dismisses critics, and promotes Officer Besner to sergeant this morning * December 9, 2010
United Church News: Happy X-mas Revisited * December 20, 2010
The Oregonian: Revisiting Christmas: Peace and justice is still the point * December 24, 2010
The Portland Tribune: Oregon politicos react to Arizona shooting * January 8, 2011
The Portland Mercury: State Lawmaker Has His Eye on Police Accountability * January 20, 2011
The Huffington Post: President Obama Should Outline Plan To Cut Poverty In Half * January 21, 2011
The Oregonian: Mr. President, Help Those In Poverty * February 18, 2011
The Oregonian: Articles of faith: Westboro Baptist Church ruling by Supreme Court evokes double-edged reactions * March 2, 2011
The Oregonian: Governor Kitzhaber, Fix The Plumbing * April 30, 2011
The Portland Tribune: Oregon reacts to news of bin Laden's death * May 2, 2011
The Oregonian: Portland Muslims, others react to Osama bin Laden's death and Americans' response * May 3, 2011
The Huston Chronicle: Baptist leader says Weiner needs Jesus * June 13, 2011
The Week: Herman Cain's 'perplexing' mosque ban proposal * July 7, 2011
The Oregonian: Mark Hatfield's death draws memories and accolades * August 9, 2011
FOX News: Faith and Politics: GOP Debate Reaction: August 12, 2011 (Video)
Religion News Service: Quote Of The Day: September 1, 2011
The Portland Mercury: Welcome To Mars: September 9, 2011
Just Out: They Came From Mars (Seattle, actually.) * September 16, 2011
The Portland Tribune: Sources Say • My list's bigger than your list * October 13, 2011
United Church News: United Church of Christ congregations, conferences faithfully engage 'Occupy' movement * October 20, 2011
EthicsDaily.com: Occupy Wall Street Raises Questions about Why Christians Occupy Church Pews* October 24, 2011
The Oregonian: Religious leaders announce plans to "bear witness" as police prepare to evict Occupy Portland campers * November 11, 2011
KPTV: Clergy members call for peace ahead of eviction deadline * November 12, 2011
The Oregonian: Occupy Portland: Police, crowd square off in downtown parks as tensions rise * Nov. 11, 2011
KINK FM: What's Next For Occupy Portland? * November 14, 2011
The Oregonian: The Christian spirit rests with Occupy protestors * November 20, 2011
The Catholic Sentinel: Group holds demonstration on behalf of poor * November 23, 2011
The Washington Post: Churches help Occupy movement survive crackdowns, winter * December 1, 2011
OPB: Campaign Announcements Say Something About Each Mayoral Candidate * December 6, 2011
Marketplace: Preaching the Occupy gospel -- or not * December 29, 2011
KPOJ: The Morning Show * Jan. 10. 2012
FOX NEWS LIVE: GOP Candidates Court Evangelical Voters * Jan. 20, 2012
The Oregonian: Ending Homelessness One Congregation At A Time: Feb. 7, 2012
The Portland Mercury: Drive-By Shooting Injures Two Homeless Men Sleeping Under Morrison Bridge * Feb. 22, 2012
The Oregonian: Two homeless men shot in early morning drive-by in Southeast Portland * Feb. 22, 2012
The Portland Tribune: Two homeless men wounded in early morning shooting * Feb. 22, 2012
The Oregonian: Two homeless men shot under Morrison Bridge were turned away from shelter the night before * Feb. 25, 2012
Governing Magazine: Homelessness Rising a Decade After Pledges to End It * April 1, 2012
The Christian Century: 'Angry Queers' damage Driscoll's Portland church* April 25, 2012
The Portland Mercury: Odd Couple* May 3, 2012
The Washington Post: Quote of The Day * June 17, 2012
The Wahiakum County Eagle: Women's club honors Bright with rose bush * June 21, 2012
The Oregonian: Portland can do more to address its homeless problem * July 30, 2012
HuffPost Live: Get Out Of My Marriage (Video) * August 31, 2012
The Statesman Journal: Don't Leave Homeless Students Behind * March 29, 2013
The Oregonian: From Beaverton to Lake Oswego, Oregonians embrace Sunday's glorious weather * March 31, 2013
The Oregonian: Effects of sequestration go deeper than cancellation of air shows, fleet weeks * April 12, 2013
The Hill: President's Budget Doesn't Reflect Our Values * April 15, 2013
United Church News: UCC officers ‘saddened’ by death of Bob Edgar * April 25, 2013
OPB: Advocates' 'Summer Of Love' Begins * June 1, 2013
The Oregonian: Two United Methodist churches in Portland plan pre-Pride Parade worship * June 12, 2013
The Oregonian: North and Northeast Portland news * November 13, 2013
Forest Grove News Times: Currie to lead Center for Peace & Spirituality * November 13, 2013
The Oregonian: Portland church says it will no longer allow Republican fundraising dinner tied to gun raffle * January 17, 2014
The New York Times: G.O.P. Lawmaker Anticipates 'A-Lying' From Obama * January, 28, 2014
The Oregonian: Portland Public Schools and teachers union continue negotiating into night in hopes of reaching a deal * February 16, 2014
KGW-TV: Childcare options if PPS teachers strike (Video) * February 17, 2014
KOIN-TV: Parents scramble in teacher strike prep (Video) * February 17, 2014
The Pacific Index: Currie returns to campus as chaplain * Feb. 20, 1014
Forest Grove Leader: Same-sex marriage in Oregon? Column prompts lively discussion * March 6, 2014
United Church News: March Forth brings justice issues to the forefront in communities throughout the country * March 6, 2014
KXL: Hater Dies: Where To Now? * March 20, 2012
United Church News: Central Pacific Conference celebrates 'the dream' of marriage equality in Oregon * May 19, 2014
The Forest Grove Leader / The Oregonian: Pacific University's Rev. Chuck Currie talks about emotional experience of performing same-sex wedding ceremonies * May 21, 2014
Willamette Week: Rev. Chuck Currie: Don't Put the Street Fee Burden on the Poor * May 29, 2014
The Oregonian: Oregon high school shooting: Public officials react to Reynolds shooting with condolences, gun control suggestions * June 10, 2014
USA Today: Are fatal shootings really increasing? Opinion line * June 11, 2014
The Portland Tribune: Hales explains Kruger settlement decision * July 17, 2014
The Oregonian: Chuck Currie seeks to bring religious conversation, not conversion, to Pacific University * August 19, 2014
The Oregonian / The Forest Grove Leader: In wake of Ferguson shooting, Pacific University forum looks at racism, law enforcement * August 27, 2014
The Oregonian / The Forest Grove Leader: At forum on Ferguson shooting, panelists at Pacific University call for change in criminal justice system * August 29, 2014
The Forest Grove News Times: Racism at forefront of Pacific University forum * September 3, 2014
United Church News: UCC theologians call for civilian protection in Syrian airstrikes * October 8, 2014
The International Business Times: In Wake of Brittany Maynard's Death, Faith Leaders Weigh In On Physician Assisted Suicide * Nov. 5, 2014
The Portland Mercury: The Second Coming * Nov. 19, 2014
The Oregonian: Portland police chief orders officers to remove Facebook posts with 'I AM DARREN WILSON' over their badges * Nov. 24, 2014
The Oregonian: Portland officer banned from working Ferguson-related protests was custody officer in 4 arrests * Nov. 30, 1014
The Oregonian: Readers strongly react to Portland police union president's statement about 'culture of hatred' * Dec. 24, 2014
The Forest Grove News Times: Pacific chaplain adds new feature to MLK Day menu * Jan. 24, 2015
The Hillsboro Tribune: History finds fault with grand jury status quo across Oregon * Jan. 30, 2015
The Forest Grove News Times: Obama appointee pushes public service in Pacific talk * Feb. 4, 2015
OPB News: Political Pioneer Gretchen Kafoury Dies At Age 72 * March 14, 2015
Portland Business Journal: How Gretchen Kafoury left an indelible stamp on Portland * March 16, 2015
The Oregonian: Sister Simone Campbell, one of the 'Nuns on a Bus,' to speak at Pacific University* March 17, 2015
KPTV: Local Reverend attends arrival ceremony at White House for Pope Francis * Sept. 23, 2015
United Church News: Pope Francis' message on creation care resonates with UCC leaders in D.C.* Sept. 25, 2015
United Church News: Oregon university chaplain supporting students after deadly shooting at community college * Oct. 2, 2015
National Catholic Reporter: 'Unite suffering' with those grieving, archbishop tells Oregon Catholics * October 6, 2015
