Faith and American Values Summit - Portland Sept. 14-16

On Saturday, September 16, the Oregon Center for Christian Values (OCCV) will host a first-ever “Faith and American Values Summit� focusing on moral issues behind American public policy priorities, including health care, the environment, civil rights, and poverty.

At the Oregon Center for Christian Values, we believe that the time has come for Christians who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ to deepen our vision of values in public life. It’s time to follow the teachings Jesus and the prophets on issues like wealth and poverty, war and peace, and caring for God’s creation.

We are a newly-formed network of Christian clergy and lay people in Oregon who want to "inspire a Christian vision for the common good." The Center is partnering with other Christian groups in Oregon to promote the Summit, including Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and New Wine, New Wineskins at Multnomah Biblical Seminary. Workshop hosts include American Friends Service Committee, Jubilee USA, Lutherans for Peace, Oregon Peaceworks, Oregonians for Health Security, and Restoring Eden.

Summit organizers hope to educate participants on the moral dimensions of political issues. The specific action goals for the summit are to sign up hosts for 30 local “faith forums,� promote distribution of Christian Voter’s guides, and enroll clergy and concerned citizens in a statewide, grassroots Christian advocacy network.

This summit comes only one week before organizations like Focus on the Family and the American Family Association will hold their "Values Voters Summit" in Washington, D.C., with a much narrower vision for values in American life.

Rev. Jim Wallis, author of the best-selling book God’s Politics and executive director of Call to Renewal, a faith-based movement to overcome poverty, will give the keynote address on Thursday evening, September 14. Other speakers include Dr. Paul Metzger of Multnomah Biblical Seminary, and Tom Rinehart, Director of Metropolitan Alliance for the Common Good. Both Republican and Democratic politicians have been invited to the event and several are expected to attend and participate on panels, including Attorney General Hardy Myers.

WHAT: Faith and American Values Summit

WHEN: Thursday, September 14 – 7:30pm
Keynote: Rev. Jim Wallis FREE

Saturday, September 16 – 8:30am to 4:00pm
Local speakers and workshops
(Professional fee: $35/Student and Low-income fee: $10)

WHERE: First Baptist Church, SW 12th and Taylor, Portland, OR