Press Releases

Jan. 29, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact person: Jan Elfers, (503) 221-1054
jelfers@emoregon.org

2007 Interfaith Advocacy Day draws focus to family, community stability

When the Oregon Legislative Assembly convenes this year, will the 2006 election results translate into lawmakers supporting economic fairness and stability? Find out at the 2007 “Interfaith Advocacy Day” on Feb. 5 in Salem. The event brings together people from many faiths to advocate for moral issues. The theme for 2007 is Family and Community Stability: A Value for All Oregonians. The focus will be on affordable housing, accessible healthcare and elimination of hunger. The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 700 Marion St. NE, and the Capitol Building.

Interfaith Advocacy Day will include worship, advocacy training, a keynote address from Governor Ted Kulongoski’s Chief of Staff Chip Terhune, meetings with lawmakers, and prayer and reflection. After lunch, participants will march to the Capitol where they will be greeted by Democrat Rep. Dave Hunt and Republican Senator Frank Morse. Following this reception in the Capitol Galleria, participants will then make visits to lawmakers.

Confirmed speakers include Michael Anderson, The Housing Alliance; Rabbi Michael Cahana, Congregation Beth Israel; Lisa Wenzlick, St. Luke Lutheran Church; Bruce Goldberg, MD, Oregon Department of Human Services; and Patti Whitney Wise, Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force.

Groups from congregations and community organizations are encouraged to participate. The registration fee is $15 and includes lunch and materials. The registration form can be downloaded at www.emoregon.org or call (503) 221-1054.

Nearly 50 faith organizations are sponsoring the 2007 “Interfaith Advocacy Day,” including: Ainsworth United Church of Christ; Albina Ministerial Alliance; the American Jewish Committee; Atkinson Memorial Church; Augustana Lutheran Church; Bilal Mosque Association; Bread for the World; Bridge City Friends Meeting, Peace & Social Concerns Committee; Care to Share; Cedar Sinai Park; Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ; Church of Scientology, Portland; Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon; Episcopal Peace and Justice Commission; Family Bridge; First Congregational United Church of Christ, Salem; First United Methodist Church, Portland; First Unitarian Church, Hunger Action Group; Fish Emergency Services; Fremont United Methodist Church; HOPE (Helping Other People Eat) Emergency Food Pantry; Interfaith Action for Justice of Central Oregon; Interfaith Council of Greater Portland; Interfaith Disabilities Network of Oregon; Inter-Religious Action Network of Washington County; Islamic Society of Greater Portland; Jewish Family and Child Service; Jewish Federation of Greater Portland; Jubilee Oregon; Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Oregon; Methodist Federation for Social Action, Oregon-Idaho Chapter; Northwest Portland Ministries; Oregon Center for Christian Values; Oregon Faith Roundtable Against Hunger; Oregon Farm Worker Ministry; Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, Bishop’s Initiative to Eliminate Hunger; Oregon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Portland Jobs with Justice, Faith Labor Committee; Presbytery of the Cascades, Peacemaking Unit; St. Luke Lutheran Church; St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, Peace and Justice Commission; St. Philip the Deacon Episcopal Church; SnowCap; Society of St. Vincent de Paul; Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Beaverton; Tualatin United Methodist (Hilltop) Church; and Valley Community Presbyterian Church, Portland.

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