August 2019
"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." Nelson Mandela
“You cannot reap what you have not sown. How are we going to reap love in our community if we only sow hate?” Óscar Romero
Dear Friends,
 
The epidemic of gun violence in the United States continued this weekend, with mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, claiming the lives of at least 31 people and shattering these communities. Many of us react to these acts of violence with a variety of emotions—outrage, sorrow and despair. Where do we go from here?
 
These tragedies reveal the violent intersection of racism, domestic terrorism and gun violence. The El Paso shooter may in fact face hate crime charges. Hate crimes continue to spiral upwards. In 2018 alone, hate crimes rose 9 percent in major U.S. cities for a fifth consecutive yearly increase. Three out of five were motivated by race and ethnicity. Religion and sexual orientation were the other two primary motivators.
 
In the midst of this disturbing trend, we are not powerless. We reap what we sow. Every act of kindness and mercy that we offer to one another sows seeds of love. No act is too small. Words do matter. It is up to each of us to counter words and deeds that fuel hatred with the powerful and healing antidote—that is love. We must be proactive, not succumbing to a sense of helplessness. As Galatians 6:9 instructs us, “let us not become weary in doing good.”

Blessings,
Jan Musgrove Elfers
EMO President

P.S. Local faith leaders are holding a vigil to call for an end to gun violence and overcome racism and hate in America. Everyone is welcome to attend. If you’d like to join us tonight (Aug. 6), the vigil starts at 6 p.m. at Augustana Lutheran Church, located at NE15th Ave. and Knott St., Portland.
Join us for the 2019 Collins Summit!
About the Collins Summit: Listening at the Margins
Explore a method of listening at the margins of the global community and in our own lives in order to build resilience and resistance for these times.

In a world of increasing fear and violence, how can we build networks of resistance rooted in our spiritual traditions? A third wave of liberation theology turns to the lived experience of people already facing global violence as a testimony of life in the face of death. These communities draw on emerging and ancient spiritualities that grow out of their contexts. They also share wisdom for our own spirituality.

The 2019 Collins Summit will be an opportunity to hear about and practice methods of listening that build strength for social justice work in our local communities.

The Collins Summit is scheduled for Wednesday, October 16, at First United Methodist Church in Portland. The afternoon summit will be held from 1 to 5:15 pm and the evening lecture from 7 to 9:15 pm.

Please register no later than October 9.
Seminar, Dinner & Lecture: $60 general, $30 student with ID.
Evening Lecture only: $25 general, $15 student with ID.

Guest Speaker
The speaker for the evening Collins Lecture will be Dr. Carlos Mendoza-Alvarez , a Dominican priest and internationally known liberation theologian. His theological investigation illuminates the ancestral wisdom, yearning for justice, and hope that emerges from the resistance and resilience of the victims and survivors of global violence. Mendoza-Alvarez’s most recent work has examined what resurrection can mean in a context of thousands of disappeared and murdered in Mexico.

Learn more about the event at emoregon.org.
The Time Is Now: Save Asylum & Refugee Resettlement
We Are a Nation of Refuge, Not Rejection
A few weeks ago, reports surfaced that some Trump administration officials have proposed resettling zero refugees in 2020 - all during the worst refugee crisis in world history. Zeroing out refugee resettlement would amount to a full refugee ban, with grave long-term implications, devastating thousands of refugees who are in dangerous situations and who we have promised to protect. At the same time,Trump proposed  barring refugees from seeking asylum if they travel through another country to reach the U.S. southern border. 

As people who care about refugees and asylum-seekers, we must demand that members of Congress publicly denounce these proposals and weigh in with the administration directly, urging them to commit to resettling 95,000 refugees (the historic average) next year and protect asylum-seekers.

Right now, members of Congress are home and in-district for the annual August recess period. Take advantage of this time by setting up a meeting with them in person, dropping by their in-district offices, or showing up to a community event! Establishing and strengthening relationships with your congressional offices are crucial to protecting access to asylum and refugee resettlement.
To further learn how to take action in your district, check out Church World Service's new Rise for Refuge Toolkit .
Discerning Whether Your Faith Community Should Build Affordable Housing?
House in hands
Portland's Portsmouth Union Church and the Leaven Community Land and Housing Coalition have just released a guide for faith communities interested in building affordable housing.
Upcoming Events
To learn more about upcoming EMO and faith community events, visit our Event Calendar . If you would like to submit an event for our website, please fill out our online Event Form .
Second Home Celebration
Sept. 7, 5:30 - 8 pm @ Sherwood Center for the Arts.
There’s no place like Second Home! Join us in a fun-filled fundraising celebration for EMO’s Second Home, a community-wide commitment to provide safe and stable homes for the unaccompanied high school students among us. The celebration will feature a community & youth art sale, wine wall, silent auction, and a light dinner. The cost is $35; contributions raised go towards sustaining Second Home. Learn more about the celebration and make your reservation.
2019 Collins Summit: Listening at the Margins
Oct. 16, 1 - 9:15 pm @ First United Methodist Church in Portland.
The Collins Summit will be an opportunity to hear about and practice methods of listening at the margins of the global community and in our own lives in order to build resilience and resistance for these times, as well as build strength for social justice work in our local communities. The guest speaker will be Dr. Carlos Mendoza-Alvarez, a Dominican priest and liberation theologian. Learn more about the summit and make your reservation.
Collaborating in Care: Ministry and Mental Health
August 20, 9 am - 4 pm @ St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Portland.
August 29, 8:30 am to 4 pm @ Salem Health Hospital. If you are a faith leader, you and your house of worship are an important contact point for veterans in your community. The National Chaplain Center of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VA-Clergy Partnership for Rural Veterans, and Portland Veterans Health Administration Chaplain Services invite clergy of all religions to attend a free interactive training. Seating is limited, so please register ASAP. Reserve your seat for the training in Portland or Salem by contacting Chaplain Rachel Mikaelsen at (503) 220-8262, ext. 57028, or Rachel.mikaelsen@va.gov.

2019 Ending Oregon Hunger Conference
Sept. 29, 10 am - 12 pm @ Muslim Educational Trust (MET), Tigard. The conference will explore solutions to the ending hunger here and abroad. Keynote address, "The Interfaith Moonshot: The Calling of the IFST Mission to End Hunger," will be given by John Teton, president of the International Food Security Treaty Assoc. (IFST). Cosponsored by EMO, MET and IFST. For more information, contact John Teton at jt@treaty.org.

Aging with Grace: Navigating the Personal Journey of Aging (three-part series)
Sept. 28, Oct. 12 & Oct. 26, 1:30 - 4 pm @ Elsie Stuhr Center, Manzanita Room, Beaverton. Interactive learning through presentations and small group discussions. Fee per presentation: $10 (payable at the door). RSVP: (503) 746-5082 or vivavillageor@gmail.com.
Employment Opportunities at EMOregon
Join EMO's talented team making a difference in Oregon! EMO offers a generous benefits package. Visit our employment page for more details.
HIV Services Food Program Assistant
The Food Program Assistant ensures a community of welcome and hospitality at the HIV Day Center through the preparation and provision of all aspects of the Day Center’s food program. Part time (30 hours per week) with benefits. Position open until filled. View full position description and application instructions.

Metro HomeShare Client Services Coordinator (Washington County)
The Client Services Coordinator will be responsible for work relating to Metro HomeShare (MHS) clients. This person will help develop resource referral procedures and work with community agencies in identifying resources for MHS clients. Additionally, the Client Services Coordinator may assist the Program Manager in overseeing BSW interns as needed. Part time with benefits. Position closes August 9. View full position description and application instructions.
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
503-221-1054 | emo@emoregon.org | emoregon.org