Archive of Past Events
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Photo by Dan Domenigoni
The Texas State Board Rewrites History - Posted May 20, 2010
Professor Steven Green at our Chapter Meeting
People crowded into the meeting. Most had been following the Texas textbook issue and were outraged! They were eager for more information and wanted to hear from someone who had been there and could give a firsthand perspective on it.
Professor Green did not disappoint!
Steven K. Green is Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Religion, Law & Democracy at Willamette University. He also holds a PhD in American constitutional history, so he is uniquely qualified to testify about what should (and should not) be included in social studies textbooks in our public schools.
Professor Green told us about testifying at the January hearings of the Texas State Board of Education and about the Board, which is controlled by Christian conservatives who are bent on rewriting history texts to “correct” what they see as a liberal bias. He spoke about their total lack of concern for the many factual errors that they are including in the new textbook standards. He explained how this is different than most church/state issues because of the sheer number of changes which, taken one-by-one, could seem to be minor but which, taken as a whole, clearly promote “Christian Nation” and “American Exceptionalism” views.
The group had many questions, including what impact this could have on schools in our area.
Michael Barton writes about the meeting, and has pictures on his Dispersal of Darwin blog.
For more information on this issue, we recommend the New York Times article titled “How Christian Were the Founders” (Jan. 2010) which explains the issues and quotes Professor Green.
You may also be interested in Professor Green’s most recent book on a different topic. It is The Second Disestablishment: Church and State in Nineteenth Century America (Oxford University Press 2010), which is now available from booksellers.
Teachers Wearing Religious Clothing - Jan. 11, 2010
In Oregon all employees except public school teachers have a right to wear their religious clothing at work. Dave Hunt, Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives plans to change that in the special legislative session this February. If he is successful, Oregon teachers will be allowed to wear religious clothing at work. For more information on the law, check out our Local Issues page.
Speaker Hunt came to our chapter meeting to tell us about his plans and some Muslim women explained the problems this law posed for Muslims. We had a great discussion!
Photo by Dan Domenigoni
Pulling Students Out of Class for Religious Instruction - Sept. 21, 2009
Dani Tofte, left, and Mona Bodo, right |
Sherwood, Oregon moms lead a lively discussion at our chapter meeting! |
They also wanted to be sure that the school district would follow the law and treat the program with strict neutrality and to assure that no district resources would be used to support or advertise the PREP4Kids program.
Dani and Mona met with district administrators and testified at a school board meeting.
What a great chapter meeting!
Our members were very interested in these issues and were inspired by Dani and Mona’s dedication and by the work they and others who worked with them had done.
To read more about their story, from Dani’s personal perspective, click here.
To read The Oregonian article about their efforts, here.
To visit PREP4Kids’ website, click here.
Civil Rites - Same-Sex Marriage and the 1st Amendment – Posted April 24, 2009
A symposium on marriage equality
Photo by Dan Domenigoni
Our Columbia Chapter and the Clark County (Washington) Chapter jointly organized this Symposium, which was held on April 19, 2009 at Portland State University’s Hoffmann Hall. About 90 people attended.
We worked on this program for several months with no idea about how timely it's topic would become. Just over two weeks before our program the Iowa Supreme Court astonished the nation by declaring same-sex marriage legal in that state. Then, a few days later Vermont became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage by a vote in the legislature.
No one doubts same-sex marriage is a controversial issue. However it is not always seen as a 1st Amendment church/state separation issue. Some religious groups were very active in their support of California’s Proposition 8, working to impose their narrow view of marriage on everyone. Their high visibility on this issue reminded many people that whenever any law reflects a religious view, it is an issue of church/state separation.
Click here to see AU’s position on same-sex marriage.
The Symposium dealt with the evolution and history of marriage, legal differences between domestic partnerships and marriage, and religious views about marriage. It was clear that couples want same-sex marriage because of its legal advantages, but also because of the issue of equality.
These and other subjects were addressed by our distinguished panel:
Steven K. Green, Director – Center for the Study of Religion, Law & Democracy, Willamette University School of Law, Moderator
Tamara Metz, Professor of Political Science – Reed College
Beth A. Allen, Attorney at Law – Allen2 Law, LLC
Reverend Tara Wilkins, Executive Director – Community of Welcoming Congregations
Rabbi Daniel Isaak – Congregation Neveh Shalom
People also told their personal stories about same-sex relationships. Rob Nosse told about his marriage (in Canada but not recognized in the USA) and about raising children. Bonnie Tinker recounted her long-time domestic partnership and legal challenges resulting from lack of marital rights, and Rabbi Isaak showed a moving video from his son’s (same sex) wedding.
We especially thank these groups for co-sponsoring the Symposium:
The Portland State University Women’s Studies Department
Basic Rights Oregon
Love Makes a Family
Portland JACL (Japanese American Citizens League)
The Portland Association of Teachers
The Oregon Education Association
The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon
The Symposium increased our knowledge of the issues, and made us more aware of the problems same-sex couples and their families face in the present legal environment. The recent victories in Iowa and Vermont are clearly important, but this issue will not be resolved in the United States until the federal government recognizes the right to same-sex marriage. There is much more work to be done. But we hope that, with this program, our AU chapters helped move more hearts and minds toward true marriage equality under the law.
Thanks to Susan Gates and her committee for all their work organizing this event.
Click the links to see this event:
Edited video by Jim Lockhart, Part 1 and Part 2
Video by Joe Anybody
Resisting Intelligent Design in Jefferson, Oregon School District – Sept. 15, 2008
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When science teacher Karen Sinex came to speak to our chapter, she was met by a large enthusiastic crowd of supporters. In fact, the meeting started late because people had to go search for extra chairs. Ms. Sinex had firmly resisted an attempt to introduce Intelligent Design into her classroom and people had come to hear her tell her story and to demonstrate their support. |
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Photo by James K. Smith |
Ms. Sinex told her story in a quiet, factual and compelling manner and was interrupted several times by applause. |
She told how a local pastor wanted her to allow a speaker on Intelligent Design into her science classroom. She cited Oregon law, which is clearly on her side, and refused to allow the speaker. However, the pastor had other ideas too. Ms. Sinex had every right to expect the school district to back her as she dealt with the ideas, but she did not feel the district was taking her side. This went on for several months until the pastor presented his ideas at a school board meeting. In response, the school superintendent and two of the school board members announced that they believed in Intelligent Design!
Ms. Sinex said she was shocked by these statements but that she did not give up. And, by their next meeting, the school board was ready to put this issue behind them. They asked Ms. Sinex to make one very minor change in a teaching material she used and then they decided to send a letter to the pastor indicating that was all they would do.
After Ms. Sinex spoke at our chapter meeting, Bruce Adams, our chapter president, commended Ms. Sinex for her courage and told about our involvement with this issue. For several months all we could do is offer moral support and advice behind the scenes. However, after the pastor spoke at the first board meeting, this was a public issue and Ms. Sinex felt forced to make her side public too. So we placed calls on her behalf to the superintendent and the chair of the school board to let them know we were interested and to hear their side of the story. (They did not return our calls.) We also helped rally support for Ms. Sinex. We coordinated with the local teacher’s union representative who had also been working with Ms. Sinex and who attended the next school board meeting with us and Ms. Sinex.
At our meeting, a member of the audience asked why we did not file a law suit. Bruce explained that while the district showed little support for Ms. Sinex, that is not illegal. In spite of all the talk, the only official action the school board took was in support of the proper curriculum. If the board had taken any action we thought might be illegal, we would have immediately contacted the legal department of Americans United.
When our chapter meeting was over, the energy level in the room was still high. Many people did not want to leave. They had a lot more to say and stayed to talk informally in small groups. Then they left, having been inspired by a teacher who was willing to take a stand for her students’ right to be taught science in science class.
There is more about Ms. Sinex’s story on our Local Issues page.
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Historic “First Freedom First Simulcast” in Portland – March 26, 2008 Politics and Religion in the 2008 Election – Feb 11, 2008
Is faith a legitimate issue in an election? Professor Steven K. Green addressed this and other questions at our special chapter meeting, Feb. 11, 2008, at the Multnomah Arts Center. He explained the historical role of religion in American politics and talked about the increased emphasis on candidates’ religions in the current election. This event was taped and aired several times on public access television. 2007 Rev. Barry Lynn Speaks at Chapter Event – June 21, 2007
Our Chapter and Anne Bloom’s Books hosted the Rev. Barry Lynn for a speech and book signing at the First Baptist Church in downtown Portland. Well over 100 people attended and were treated to a terrific speech about current church/state issues. Rev. Lynn was informative, timely and entertaining. The speech was recorded by KBOO radio for later broadcast.
Special Event - The Rev. Cedric Harmon - March 12, 2007
AU’s Associate Field Director Cedric Harmon, a Baptist Minister, addressed a crowd of almost 50 chapter members and friends. In his dynamic presentation, Rev. Harmon spoke about why church/state separation is a religious issue. He emphasized the importance of having religious leaders, as well as nonbelievers, understand the value of maintaining this nation’s separation of church and state. This event was a big step for our chapter. We wanted to reiterate that separation of church and state is a religious issue. We invited Rev. Harmon to come from Washington, D.C. and we advertised the event through churches. We made a special point of inviting leaders of various faith groups and were gratified that several of them attended.
2006 Ten Commandments: Chapter Meeting - Sept. 18, 2006 AU member, retired Professor Arnold Panitch of Portland, discussed the Ten Commandments monuments placed in our public parks, courthouses and civic plazas. He reviewed the history of the monuments and wall plaques and recent US Supreme Court cases. Arnie was party to a suit against the City of Cincinnati in 1965, protesting a nativity scene on the City Hall steps. He also has firsthand knowledge about the Ten Commandments monument in Julia Davis Park in Boise, Idaho, and how it was moved to a churchyard. Professor Steven K. Green Speaks at Our Meeting - January 25th, 2006 Professor Steven K. Green, who served for nine years as General Counsel and Director of Policy for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, spoke at our chapter's January meeting. He gave a lively and informative talk, based on his vast experiences. He has participated in several cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002); the Cleveland school vouchers case; Mitchell v. Helms (2000), authorizing state-paid computers and educational equipment to religious schools; and Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe (2000), striking prayer at public school football games. Green also has extensive legislative experience, having testified before Congress and several state legislatures. He helped draft federal and state laws affecting religious liberty interests, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (1993) and the Religious Land-Use and Institutionalized Persons Protection Act (2000). Green is a widely sought speaker and a prolific author. He is currently writing a case book on church-state law to be published by Baylor University Press.
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