Click here for the current issue of The Vine for upcoming events, important news, advocacy and action items, profiles, and more ...
             Church women united made the papers  http://registerguard.com/rg/life/lifestyles/34167242-74/bound-by-caring.html.csp

The mission that drives us . . .

Church Women United, an ecumenical movement of Christian women impassioned by the Holy Spirit, advocates on behalf of women and children throughout the world. We find unity in diversity, and we work for a world of peace and justice. 

Church Women United  of Lane County supports the National programs, priorities and goals, and celebrations.

Our monthly forums reflect the concerns of participants and explore issues of concern to local and state governments and to the citizens of Lane County,
Oregon.

---

Willamette Valley at rest. Photo by Mary Sharon Moore, 2010

CHURCH WOMEN UNITED - NW Regional Event
Friday, Sept 14, 2018 and Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018
       Save the Date!
Gresham United Methodist Church 620 NE 8th St. Gresham, OR.
Registration: Contact Katharine Hunt, NW Regional Coordinator
541-607-0106 <keehhunt@gmail.com>

A word from our President ...

Anne O'Brien, President

Anne O’Brien
Concerns about proposed cuts to SNAP:
Earlier in the month we sent out a request that people call their Representatives to request that they vote against the proposed cuts to the SNAP (formerly “food stamps”) program.

On May 8th a group of legislators and representatives from the 3 Abrahamic faiths gathered to pray, voice their concerns re the cuts, and to share bread. The sharing of bread served as a symbolic reminder across faiths of the requirement to feed the hungry, as Congress considered this new farm bill that would dramatically scale back funding and access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

As part of the House's proposed Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, HR 2, SNAP benefits would be cut approximately $20 billion over the next decade, according to a Congressional Budget Office report released May 2.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) said the attempts to cut back SNAP benefits, estimated at an average cost of $1.40 per meal, at a time of massive increases in military spending was startling. "America is the bread basket of the world, and we should have it within our budget,… to make sure that no American goes to bed hungry at night," he said.

Recalling her youth of spending Sundays at multiple church services and summers in Christian vacation Bible schools, Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) described hearing House colleagues quote Bible verses one moment and then support scaling back SNAP the next. "There is no faith that does not talk about how we treat widows and orphans. There is no faith that doesn't talk about how we treat the least of these. There is no faith that says that you punish hungry children," Fudge said, adding she hoped those faith leaders present would "let your voices be heard" opposing the SNAP cuts.

During the interfaith service, Rabbi Alana Suskin noted that Leviticus, "informs us if your brother is becoming poor and unable to support himself, then you must support him." Further, "The Jewish tradition tells us explicitly that it is an offense to God when we do not feed the hungry. …

Jesuit Fr. Patrick Conroy, the recently reinstated House chaplain, was quoted back in November as the House debated tax reform: "May we be mindful that the institutions and structures of this great nation guarantee the opportunities that have allowed some to achieve success, while others continue to struggle. And may the efforts of our lawmakers guarantee that there are not winners and losers, but benefits balanced and shared by all,"

Dominican Sr. Quincy Howard, with the Catholic Social Justice Lobby, offered the closing prayer :
"Bless our work to soften the heart of a generous nation. For we know that it is giving that we receive, and that there is a universal holiness in food for the hungry."

I hope that people of faith and all of good will can convince our lawmakers that there is no fairness in punishing the less fortunate among us. I don’t get it.

        CWU and CET
At our Board meeting this month, Cindy Kokis voiced her concern for the lack of action on the part of the City Council in making a decision about whether the City would be collecting a Construction Excise Tax (CET) on new construction. Note that CWU Lane County is a member of the Oregon Housing Alliance which was instrumental in lobbying for the legislation that allows for a CET to raise funds for affordable housing. Terry McDonald and Jacob Fox noted in their April RG Op Ed piece that seven other communities in Oregon who face the same problems we have here in Eugene, have adopted the CET. So, Anne emailed each of the councilors and Mayor Lucy Vinnis. Most responded and said that they were in support and that these things take time to get everything in place. I said we are impatient. We may have to accept that things do not go quickly in the public forum. We think this small fee could make for a nice contribution to the low cost and affordable housing budget. I’m personally optimistic that it will happen. I think that we are just as caring and willing to assist with lower cost housing needs as are Bend and Portland and Hood River City, Cannon Beach, Corvallis and Medford. Here’s a link to an interesting article from a national publication:
https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/to-fundaffordable-
housing-oregon-cities-turn-toconstruction-
excise-tax

---

  ​June, 2018

June 1
Friday
9-11:15 a.m.
Episcopal Church of the Resurrection
3925 Hilyard
(Strawberry fest)
War, Costs and Commitment

June 5
Tuesday
7:30 a.m.
Breakfast at Brails
1983 Willamette St.
A Look at our June forum

September 7
Friday
9-11:15 a.m.
Unitarian Universalist
1685 W. 13th St.
Housing as a Human Right


​
JUNE FORUM
Susan Cundiff serves on the national board of Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND). She is chair of the National WAND Education Fund Board and chapter leader of Oregon WAND. Join us as she reviews the importance of women in peacemaking.

Women in elected office reduce the use of military solutions. Makes sense - we practice diplomacy at home. When women are involved in peace negotiations the accords last longer. True - women favor long term solutions, not Band-Aids.

Susan will bring an updated budget banner, showing how the current jump in Pentagon spending diminishes allotments to other programs. Our response: offering of letters. Invite friends: this will be another exemplary forum from Ms. Cundiff.

LOOKING AHEAD TO SEPTEMBER
For decades, CWU forums have spoken on the issue of the right to a home. We have heard from un-housed high school students, community leaders, and began the program to shelter families in faith communities. In September we take a hard look at our progress.

See Forums for the programs for the rest of the year. 

Home | Forum Schedules | Resources | Contact Us
Web services by Mary Sharon Moore | Eugene OR | 541.687.2046