Annual Report 2018-2019

OREGON COALITION OF CHRISTIAN VOICES

ANNUAL REPORT:  JULY 2018-JUNE 2019

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice; they shall have their fill.  Matthew 5:6

“Jesus instructs us to be passionate for social, economic, and racial justice…Resist systemic, structured, institutionalized injustice with every bone in your body, with all your might, with your very soul, he teaches.  Seek justice as if it were your food and drink, your bread and water, as if it were a matter of life and death, which it is.”  (Richard Rohr)

In the following report, we reflect on our work from July 2018-June 2019.  We continue to be led by our passion for justice, seeking to be a voice for our neighbors whose well-being is most at risk, and looking for guidance from scripture as we choose where to focus our advocacy efforts.   We exist for the sole purpose of carrying out what we believe is Jesus’ call to us:  to oppose systems that oppress, to advocate for laws and policies that protect and nourish the well-being of all, and to do all with a spirit reflecting the love of Christ for this beloved creation we all share. 

BALLOT MEASURE ACTIVITIES

Our last yearly report described our activities on four measures which were to be on the ballot in November 2018.  Following is a summary of our actions and the outcomes for those measures:

  • M102:  Provided for more affordable housing.  OCCV signed a statement in favor for the voter pamphlet.  This measure passed.

  • M103:  A tax measure that would reduce state revenue to meet critical needs.  OCCV authored a voter pamphlet statement in opposition, and board member John Calhoun wrote a widely disseminated position paper in opposition.  This measure failed.

  • M104:  Proposed a Constitutional Amendment that would severely reduce state revenue.  As in M103, OCCV wrote a statement in opposition which was widely disseminated.  This measure failed.

  • M105:  Proposed repeal of Oregon’s sanctuary law. Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and OCCV jointly signed a voter pamphlet statement in opposition.  This measure failed.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES

During the 2019 Legislative Session, OCCV took a position on a number of bills.  OCCV board members continued to be sought out to bring the moral, prophetic voice to the capitol, and were frequently called upon to testify in person and to submit written testimony.  That our many partners in like-minded organizations call on us to testify gives us the opportunity to speak our faith values in the capitol.   Each of the bills we chose to support addressed issues that had a direct benefit for those whose voices are often drowned out by powerful interests.   

Following are bills for which we advocated, and the outcomes:

HB 2007A, Diesel Bill, to prohibit the purchase of older diesel engines, beginning in 2025, and includes other provisions to reduce pollution from diesel vehicles and equipment . Outcome:   The bill passed, but only applies to Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas Counties.

HB 2020, Clean Energy Jobs Bill, to set a cap on climate pollution and invest in job-creating clean energy projects.  Outcome:  This bill did not move forward after the Republicans walked out in opposition to several bills, including this one.

SB 987, Comprehensive Gun Safety Bill, included a wide range of life-saving measures, such as safe storage, mandatory reporting of lost or stolen guns.  Outcome:  This bill failed, another casualty of the Republican walkout.  

HB 2013, Boyfriend Loophole, prohibited persons under certain court orders from possessing firearms.  Outcome:  Passed.

SB 1013, Reducing Use of Death Penalty, redefined the crime of aggravated murder, the only offense punishable by death in Oregon, and removed question for death penalty jurors asking them to consider the likelihood of the person being dangerous in the future.  Outcome:  Passed.

 HB 2015, Driver’s Licenses for All, allows all Oregon residents who qualify for a driver’s license to get one regardless of citizenship status.  Outcome:  Passed.

SB 1008, Youth Justice Reforms,  provided for significant reforms in how juvenile offenders are treated by the courts, recognizing they should not be treated the same as adults, and allowing judges to choose alternatives that promote rehabilitation.  Outcome:  Passed.

HB 3427, Student Success Funding, raised $2 billion per biennium for public schools by creating a Corporate Activities Tax (CAT).  Outcome:  Passed, and potential Referral to ballot dropped.

HB 3349, Mortgage Interest Deduction, stops mortgage interest deductions for those whose incomes exceed $250,000 per year and for second homes in order to support housing programs.  Outcome:  Failed to get a floor vote.

HB 2270, provides both an increase in cigarette taxes as well as adding taxes on vaping for the first time.  Outcome:  Passed as a Referral to voters on November 2020 ballot.

HB 2269, Employer Health Care Responsibility Act, requires large employers to pay a 50 cent per hour fee for employees for whom they do not provide health insurance.  Outcome:  Failed to pass out of committee.

SB 750, Wage Theft Accountability, would allow the Bureau of Labor and Industry (BOLI) to deputize lawyers to pursue employers who have violated state labor laws.  Outcome:  Died in Ways and Means.

EVENTS

OCCV held two educational forums in the fall of 2018.  The first, “Faith and Why Unions Matter”,  held on September 23 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, was cosponsored by Interfaith Alliance on Poverty, Portland Jobs with Justice and Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.   Our keynote speaker, Dr. Martin Hart-Landsberg, Professor Emeritus of Economics at Lewis and Clark College talked about the relationship between increasing income inequality and the decline of unions.  Also speaking were Sunita Patel, a worker at Legacy Emanuel who shared her story of the power of union organizing, and Fr. Jack Mosbrucker who spoke from a faith perspective about the need for unions.  

The second forum, on October 28, “Income Inequality: how does this happen?” held at Augustana Lutheran Church,  featured Robert Reich’s video “Inequality for All”, included a talk by Daniel Hauser from Oregon Center for Public Policy relating the video to what is happening in Oregon, and a faith perspective by Rev. Andrew Guthrie.  

Both of these forums were designed to link the problem of inequality with what our faith calls us to do about it, and what actions we can take.  OCCV continues to focus on economic inequality as a fundamental issue that puts the most vulnerable at risk, and that we believe is contrary to what God expects of us as a society.

OCCV held its fifth Legislative forum at Westminster Presbyterian Church on January 19, prior to the opening of the 2019 Legislative Session. Cosponsors were Interfaith Alliance on Poverty, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, and UU Voices of Justice. Eight legislators gave presentations on what their priorities were for the session and the bills likely to be considered.  In addition, representatives from three partner agencies gave presentations and served on panels with the legislators for question and answer time.  Interest in the forum continues to grow, with close to 100 people in attendance.  Legislators have said how much they appreciate the forums for the opportunities to have conversations with people who are interested in the issues and the political process. We are grateful to our cosponsors for supporting and publicizing the forum.

OCCV has supported the events of partners, by participating in the planning and event logistics.  We participated in the February 18 Interfaith Advocacy Day at the capitol, by serving on the planning committee and by endorsing the event.    As active members of the Faith Labor Committee of Jobs with Justice, we served on the planning committee for the annual Faith Labor breakfast.

ADVOCACY

OCCV gives careful consideration to both how we advocate, and to what issues we lend our endorsement and activities. The events of the last couple years have led to a sense of urgency to both examine our own hearts in the light of what Christ calls us to, and to then corporately speak out against the increasing hate and bigotry in our country.  We wrote and published in our social media two position papers, “OCCV Statement on Nonviolence”, where we advocated for non-violent resistance to injustice and oppression, and “OCCV Racial Justice Statement”, where we acknowledged the systemic racial discrimination that is very present in our society, and committed to actions to address the injustices of racism.

As members of the Faith Labor Committee, we support efforts by workers to form unions, and to bargain for better working conditions.  We frequently join with other faith leaders in signing statements of support for the legitimate requests of workers, and take part in labor actions where people of faith can lend their voices in advocating for the dignity and rights of workers.

BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS

OCCV has one part-time employee, Amanda Larriva who works 10 hours per week and takes care of all administrative functions, including publications and social media.  All other OCCV activities are done by our board, a dedicated group of volunteers who keep the organization fully engaged and relevant by working diligently with partners, legislators and on our own initiatives.  We continue to keep our expenditures within our available assets, although we will need to increase our monthly income in order to stay solvent in the future.  

PARTNERSHIPS

OCCV’s capacity to advocate for those most at risk is greatly enhanced by the many partnerships we have formed over the years with organizations whose goals align with ours.  Our collaborations are mutually beneficial, as we often rely on those groups to develop positions we can support, and they rely on us to bring the prophetic voice, speaking to the moral imperative to prioritize care for those most in need.  We also enjoy ad hoc partnerships with groups such as the Oregon Center for Public Policy, whose staff has been a valuable resource at our forums.

We are members of, or frequent partners with the following organizations: 

Faith Labor Committee of Jobs with Justice; Wage Theft Coalition; Tax Fairness Oregon; Oregon Housing Alliance; Children First for Oregon; Interfaith Alliance on Poverty; Oregonians Against the Death Penalty; Human Services Coalition of Oregon; Health Care for All Oregonians; Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.

THE WAY FORWARD

OCCV began almost 14 years ago, to push back against the notion that Christian values referred only to issues such as opposition to abortion and gay rights.  The founders of OCCV saw the need to declare true gospel, where Jesus says we are to look after and provide for those in need, those who are sick, homeless, naked, hungry.  Jesus echoed the prophets of the Hebrew scriptures when he condemned oppressive structures that kept people impoverished.  Today, as was true almost 14 years ago, we face the same challenges and opportunities, with the same urgent need to speak the true gospel of Christ’s longing for community where all can meet their basic needs to live safely and to prosper.        

We are aware of how privileged we are in having the capacity and opportunity to come alongside our neighbors who are suffering, and to advocate for better policies, for economic and social structures that reflect God’s intention for how we live together.  We continue to look for ways to be more effective in our efforts, continue to broaden our reach to other groups doing the same work, and to seek ways to educate and inspire people of faith to be engaged in social and economic justice work.  In the coming year, we will be making stronger efforts to develop relationships with churches, to enlist their support in faith-inspired advocacy.  

A couple areas will need more of our attention in the coming year.  We have been blessed by a steadfast group of financial supporters, but see the need to increase our monthly donations in order to stay solvent for the long-term.  We will focus efforts over the next year on identifying strategies for increasing our donor base.  We also want to increase our advocacy capacity by either adding to the board or recruiting volunteers to work on particular issues.  While all board members give generously of their time, we see potential for more involvement with groups who are doing similar work. 

In chapter 58 of Isaiah, the prophet records God’s response to the Israelites and their rituals of fasting while ignoring the suffering all around them.  The Israelites express frustration that God isn’t impressed with their fasting.  God responds with this:

“Since you serve your own interest only on your fast-day and make all your men work the harder, since your fast leads only to wrangling and strife and dealing vicious blows with the fist, on such a day you are keeping no fast that will carry your cry to heaven. Is not this what I require of you as a fast: To loose the fetters of injustice, to untie the knots of the yoke, to snap every yoke and set free those who have been crushed? is it not sharing your food with the hungry, taking the homeless poor into your house, clothing the naked when you meet them and never evading duty to your kinsfolk? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn and soon you will grow healthy like a wound newly healed…you shall be called Rebuilder of broken walls, Restorer of houses in ruins.”  

As Christians we are called to bring healing to a wounded world, and that is our desire and commitment as we continue this next year to work join our efforts with the multitude of others, working together to further the Kingdom here on earth.