Sounding Board
Faiths concerned about shooting, plan disaster response
We express our respect and concern for our Jewish Neighbors
As people of many faiths and moral traditions, we hold close in our hearts the communities whose sense of safety, joy and belonging has been shaken. We grieve with the Jewish community reeling from the violence at Bondi Beach, and we affirm our care and solidarity with Muslim immigrants—especially Somali and Afghan families—who are being targeted, vilified and made to feel unwelcome. We also stand with Sikh immigrant drivers and others whose livelihoods and dignity are threatened by fear, scapegoating and hate. We also continue to organize and act alongside our immigrant justice coalitions for dignity, safety and freedom—particularly for Black and Brown people.
These acts and policies diminish the joy and light that are meant to mark our shared public life. They wound not only those directly harmed, but the moral fabric of our communities as a whole. Our faiths teach us that every person is sacred, deserving of safety, dignity and the freedom to live without fear.
Joyce del Rosario,
Faith Action Network
As Faith Leaders and Leaders of Conscience, we celebrate our Jewish neighbors during Hanukkah Season. We grieve the evil that happened in Australia. We recognize the fear this brings to all Jews, especially to friends and neighbors here in our region. We pour out our love and prayers for all the families who have suffered from this violence. We are mindful of the hatred and gun violence in our own country and even in our own communities.
May we work together to love and support one another through these times of political and ideological darkness. Check in with our Jewish neighbors. Ask what will help them feel safer in our local community. Offer what you can do.
During the holiday season, we called on all our neighbors to join our little lights of compassion, justice and hope. Let's work together in all the days ahead to make our communities safer through a new year filled with the light of respect and solidarity.
38 members of the Faith Leaders and Leaders of Conscience, Eastern Washington and North Idaho from Catholic, Ecumenical Catholic, Disciples of Christ, Episcopal, Muslim, Presbyterian, Sufi, United Church of Christ, United Methodist congregations and faith communities, community members, community organizers and nonprofit leaders. The names are published online at thefigtree.org.
* * *
Many good and interesting things are happening in our little corner of the planet. This is part of a national movement to turn guns into garden tools. The organization is newstoryspokane.org. The story is: "Guns to Gardens turns guns to garden tools".
The faith in action publication, which I have read for decades, is thefigtree.org
Have known one of these remarkable fellows for decades as well.
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown
Posted on Facebook
* * *
In response to historic flooding and wind damage in the region, many denominational offices shared what their congregations, regional offices and national bodies are doing to assist in the disaster.
ELCA NW Intermountain Synod Bishop Meggan Manlove and Pastor Liv Larson Andrews met with staff from other synods, the head of Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), several LDR staff and Ray Shjerven, their Washington VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster) representative. They learned LDR plans a state appeal. Most of the Holden Village year-round staff was evacuated. Camp Lutherhaven had several large trees fall, one on a structure. The water at Shoshone Mountain Retreat was abundant. The Leavenworth area had power out for several days. Roads were closed by floods. The Richland area Richland experienced flooding. For information, visit elca.org/our-work/relief-and-development/lutheran-disaster-response/our-impact/us-flooding.
Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC)
"Some have navigated evacuations, property loss and loss of life—in a few thankfully rare cases," Patrick Scriven, director of communications for the Pacific Northwest (PNW) Conference of the UMC, heartened with reports of UMC churches partnering in "holy work" with organizations to shelter people, open parking lots for RVs, fill sandbags, offer prayers and give financially.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) monitored flooding in Washington state through the state VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) and contacted impacted presbyteries and synods. For information, visit pcusa.org/donate/dr000191-disaster-relief-us-flooding.
Northern Lights Region Christian Church, Disciples of Christ (DOC)
Paul Allen, regional minister was contacted by the DOC national Week of Compassion, a benevolent wing of the national church that does disaster relief.
"We are in the first stage helping congregations and members impacted by the flooding with temporary disaster relief," said Paul, who has contacted ministers and congregations of the region, reminding them that assistance is available. When there is more information, the Week of Compassion will send funds to local nonprofits and organizations for long-term recovery. For information, visit weekofcompassion.org/domestic-disaster-response--preparedness.
The Disaster Ministries Team and other staff at the national setting of the United Church of Christ (UCC) held in prayer families of "those who lost their lives, those recovering and those picking up the pieces after this devastating tragedy."
N-Sid-Sen, the camp and retreat center of the Pacific Northwest Conference of the UCC on the east shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene north of Harrison, experienced damage from 75-mile-per-hour winds that caused 33 trees to fall in a line from one end to the other of the camp, said volunteer manager Randy Crowe, who is assessing the damage with Mark Boyd, executive director of outdoor ministries.
The PNC used their email group to share information on damage around the region's congregations.
They continue to be in communication with those in the affected areas to monitor the situation and are ready to accompany those who have been impacted. To support the relief and long-term recovery from these severe storms, visit https://support.ucc.org/global-HOPE
Episcopal Relief and Development works through a network of local faith and community partners to support people impacted by disaster, providing both emergency relief in the immediate aftermath and long-term support to help make full and sustained recoveries.
To help them be prepared to act before the next disaster strike, they regularly receive support at https://support.episcopalrelief.org/disaster-relief.
For information on action by other faith communities, contact:
Adventist Community Services Disaster Response at https://www.uccsda.org/acs
The Salvation Army Disaster Relief Services at https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usa-western-territory/northwest/disaster-relief/
Spokane Area Jewish Family Service. provides emergency financial aid at sajfs.org.
Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington offers crisis response, stabilization and advocacy at cceasternwa.org.
