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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 2005)
5Q jUStjOUt DECEMBER 2.2005 culture For every Portland police officer there is a story... Assistant Chief Dorothy Elmore 20 Years in Spiritual Kinship "It is extremely important that the diversity of the Bureau reflect the communities we serve. We want people of color, women and individuals from the sexual minorities community to apply; our doors are open." SisterSpirit celebrates diversity of traditions MARTY DAVIS by Patricia L. MacAodha wenty years is a significant length of time Join us and write the next chapter. for a small, nonprofit spirituality group not Contact Officer Larry Anderson: 503.823.0473 Visit our website for police officer stories and to apply online: only to survive but flourish as an instru www.joinportlandpolice.com M ment of support for spiritual women. During the weekend of Dec. 10 and 11, SisterSpirit will celebrate 20 years of active partici Coventry Cycle f /Works - Opive with PpitJe X pation in the Portland-area Pagan, political and queer communities from which it draws the bulk of its participants. In November 1985, six women met to discuss creating an interfaith women’s group—one that would include a variety of religious and spiritual tra ditions. The bond was to be their shared experience ProfeJdumal Service Comfortable Biked Reciunbentd a Specialty! (COME. SEE WHY!) Open Tuesday-Sunday 230-772 3 2025 SE Hawthorne Visit us online at: www.reyreece.com or schedule your appointment 503-256-3700 1-800-283-0592 REY REECE DEALERSHIPS VOLKSWAGEN-MITSUBISHI-USED 122nd & East Burnside www.reyreece.com as women with a spiritual connection that could override traditions. Women attending that meeting were Pagan, Christian and Jewish; most were les bians, but the agreement was reached at that time to make SisterSpirit open to all women, regardless of spiritual background or gender orientation. “If you have a women’s spiritual group, the focus The Rev. Frodo Okulam coordinates SisterSpirit, an interfaith women's group that offers workshops, classes, celebrations, discussion groups and a drumming circle. is women—primarily women who feel comfortable with women and who are not exclusive, who want to Being in the middle ground, the group has faced build community with all kinds of women,” says some struggles, but nothing time and determination SisterSpirit’s coordinator, the Rev. Frodo Okulam. have not overcome. SisterSpirit emerged out of She believes this is SisterSpirit’s strength, and it Metropolitan Community Church of Portland as a is a strength that has sometimes been challenged. special ministry of the Northwest District. From the Founding member Sally Cohn, who is also active with beginning it was not like a regular church but was the Lesbian Community Project, recalls, "Some left designated “ministry in an interfaith setting.” because Christian women were included from the Okulam says the connection has always been a loose start." She likes the interfaith nature of the group affiliation. “MCC doesn’t define who we are; we and “the way SisterSpirit is supportive and welcom define ourselves,” but SisterSpirit’s presence has ing of trans women.” influenced the denomination’s awareness regarding In fact, the group’s emergency fund is one of very few named after a trans woman, deceased member “women’s issues, earth-based spirituality and the feminine face of the divine.” Michelle Weise. The fund, Michelle’s Heart, serves Cohn agrees. Participation in SisterSpirit "broad women and their children in emergency situations. ened my appreciation of earth justice and spirituality,” Weise also helped develop the policy that still guides she says. She also notes the group's focus on activism, the group’s acceptance of trans women. recalling its participation in anti-war demonstrations, At the initial meeting, a ritual (called a “celebra environmental causes (including tree-sitting) and a tion”) was planned that would include elements of long-standing support for queer civil rights. (Okulam, the beliefs represented, plus any that participants an ordained MCC minister, has performed many mar wanted to contribute. This was the beginning of the riages for gay and lesbian couples—both Christian annual honoring of wintertime spiritual traditions: and Pagan in structure.) Activism remains a part of the Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule (Winter Solstice), group’s spirituality, from participation in public Mother Night, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saint Lucia’s protests to letter-writing campaigns. Day, the Festival of Amaterasu and others. The tradi And the outreach continues to welcome new tions selected are always left to the planners of the women. Lesbian photographer Janet Redhawk event, but each year includes the Lucia brides: one joined the group through its writers circle. an adult wearing a crown of flaming candles, and “SisterSpirit is a great organization—very one a child in a crown of lights (often portrayed by accepting of all the diversity in our community," she the kids and grandkids of SisterSpirit members). says. "The feeling of belonging washes over you Their entrance always draws a gasp of awe and when you enter their office. It is a comfort to know that they are here." © delight, no matter how often jt has been done. This year’s adult Lucia, Elizabeth Corrigan, was a six-year member of SisterSpirit’s coordinating coun cil and is volunteering as coordinator of the group’s annual spring equinox festival, PaganFaire. She found SisterSpirit “about nine months after it start ed" and has seen the group as "my main spiritual organization for 20 years, very much my communi S ister S pirit celebrates its 20th birthday with a potluck feast, benefit raffle and storytelling from 2 to 5p.m. Dec. !0at Musician's Union Hall, 325 N.E. 20tb Ave. The suggested donation is $5-$5OO. For more information call 503 736-3297. ty." Corrigan says she can't remember a time when being a lesbian was an issue. “I never felt anything but acceptance." P atricia L. M ac A odha is a Portland free-lance writer. E-mail her at patmac31@juno.com .