January 13. 2010
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M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver
Out of northeast Portland's Augustana Lutheran Church, Pastor
Mark Knutson follows in Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. footpath in
building coalitions to promote social change. ‘One person, one
church can't do it,' he says.
Promoting Justice
of Oregon to help facilitate dia­
logue on issues ranging from the
Leslie said that Knutson brings plight of immigrants to water
a high level o f empathy to his rights battles, often with people
work, and stands out as some­ almost at each others’ throats.
one who remains forward-look­
“He [KingJ had a way o f re­
ing and optimistic, even when ally addressing the issues in this
things are bleak.
country that were so wrong, and
“M ark’s not afraid to be on at the same time still loving the
the frontline, and he’s pulling people who were instigating it,
you along,” said Leslie.
which is incredible if you think
Rev. Allen Bethel of the Albina about it,” said Knutson.
Ministerial Alliance said that he’s
W hen K n u tso n cam e to
been able to count on Knutson’s Augustana Lutheran in the 1990s,
support whenever the alliance has the national church had recently
taken on issues of police account­ issued an apology to its gay and
ability or human services.
lesbian members.
“What really stands out is
But Knutson wanted it to go
M ark's presence,” said Bethel. further, and grant greater rights
In his office at Augustana to gays and lesbians. He began
Lutheran, Knutson explained facilitating dialogue with church
that from reading King’s works members and even got 80-year-
he understands that intentional old members to see his point of
action needs to be taken to ini­ view.
tiate social change, which re­
In order to foster better col­
quires coalitions.
laboration with other organiza­
“One person, one church can’t tions, he rents out office space in
do it; one politician, one business the basement o f the church to
person can’t do it,” he said.
seven non-profits, most of which
He also stressed that it’s im­ are focused on the rights of im­
portant to reach out to people migrants and low-income people.
who may be on the opposite side
“It’s been enormously impor­
of an issue. Knutson has been tant for us because w e’re a very
know to travel to remote places small organization with very little
continued ¿ ^ f r o m page 36
Page 37
s p e c ia l ed itio n
funding, and just to have a space
to designate for Oregon Farm
Worker Ministries is really im­
portant," said John Munson of
the help Knudson has done for
his non-profit.
Ari R apkin.aco-directorw ith
theC ommunity Alliance of Ten-
ants, said that having space next
door to other like-minded non-
profits has been a good way to
swap ideas.
Knutson, 57, was born in Port-
kind and attended Franklin High
School and the University of
Oregon. After graduating he did
a stint training people for jobs in
Astoria before heading to semi-
nary school.
After finishing seminary, he
worked as the director for youth
ministries for the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America.
Knutson said that part of the job
required frequent travel, which
gave him the opportunity to see
how other churches operate,
which would benefit him when
he returned to Portland,
Since taking the reigns at
Augustana Lutheran Church in
1995, he's watched the congre-
gation swell to over 700 people,
many of them young, which is a
difficult feat as churches have
seen their membership decline
over the years.
Knutson said that part of the
reason he has been able to grow
the church is through an inclu­
sive approach that involves “fling­
ing the doors open,” as he proudly
displays a picture of his diverse
congregation.
He also mentioned that he
also tries to make connections
between the scripture and mod­
ern life, so that w hen his
congregants leave Sunday ser­
vice they will go out and try to
positively impact their com m u­
nity.
“When we give of ourselves-
when we watch people give of
themselves- that's just amazing
what that can do," he said.
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