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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2015)
FAITH Friday, August 7, 2015 East Oregonian Page 7A Mormon church opens history books By BRADY MCCOMBS Associated Press AP Photo/Jim Mone Council on American-Islamic Relations-Minnesota Ex- ecutive Director Jaylani Hussein, center with micro- phone, speaks to growing Somali community concerns about the proposed government-initiated Countering Violent Extremism program during a news conference, Thursday in Minneapolis. Activists want more transSarency in counterterrorism By PHILIP MARCELO and AMY FORLITI Associated Press BOSTON — Muslim groups and civil rights activists across the nation Thursday called for greater transparency in a program by President Barack Obama’s administration that’s aimed at countering homegrown terrorism. Organizers, including representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, spoke out at coordinated events in Boston, Los Angeles and Minneapolis — the three cities where the Countering Violent Extremism program is being piloted. Among their concerns is that organizers still refuse to share basic information about what the localized efforts will actually look like. They also object to federal authorities conducting invitation-only discussions about the program, referred to as CVE, to the exclusion of dissenting groups. Last week, more than 200 academics, terrorism experts and government of¿cials gathered for a conference in Arlington, Virginia, spon- sored by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. It was titled “Radicalization and Violent Extremism: Lessons Learned from Canada, the UK and the US.” Among the attendees and panelists were leaders of the CVE efforts in the pilot cities, according to a copy of the program provided to The Associated Press. “This isn’t a communi- ty-based process,” Nadeem Mazen, a city councilor in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and board member of the local CAIR chapter, said during a small gathering in front of Boston City Hall. “This is a whole different level of federally coordinated assault on our civil liberties.” In Los Angeles, oppo- nents announced Thursday they’ve ¿led public records requests of federal, state and local authorities in an effort to obtain all available infor- mation about the operation of the program in California. Boston opponents said they, too, were crafting a similar request. In Minnesota, opponents speaking at a Somali market- place delivered a message shared by their Boston and Los Angeles counterparts — that Muslims are being unfairly targeted by the pilot programs. &hristian schooO sued over ¿ring Sregnant unmarried educator EUGENE (AP) — A private Christian university in Eugene is being sued by a former assistant professor who says she was ¿red when she became pregnant. The lawsuit seeks $650,000 in various damages from Northwest Christian Univer- sity, saying Coty Richardson told the school about her preg- nancy in May and was given the options of either breaking up with her boyfriend of 12 years or marrying him, the Register-Guard reported. The lawsuit says Rich- ardson was informed she was ¿red in a July 30 letter from vice president of academic affairs and dean of faculty Dennis Lindsay. He wrote that “sexual relations outside of marriage” are “contrary to the university’s core values.” Lindsay has not responded to a request for comment from the Associated Press. Richardson argues in the suit ¿led Tuesday that the school was discriminating against “her religious views that it is entirely appropriate for her, as a Christian, to wait until she and her partner are ¿nancially, practically and emotionally ready to get married.” BRIEFLY Hermiston church ¿res uS the barbecue HERMISTON — The public is invited to a free community barbecue planned by the Hermiston First Christian Church. The event is Sunday at 5 p.m. at 775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston. In addition to lots of food, there will be a slip n slide and games for kids. For more information, call 541-567-3013. Redeemer church continues rector search PENDLETON — Episcopal Church of the Redeemer is hosting visitations as it searches for a new rector. Candidate visits include Rev. Charlotte Wells, who visited July 29-31. Upcoming visits are planned with Rev. Richard Stevens from Aug. 14-16 and Rev. Roberta Taylor from Aug. 28-30. During both visits, an evening prayer time, meet and greet and barbecue is planned Saturday evenings at 5 p.m. at 241 S.E. Second St., Pendleton. Burgers, lemonade, tea and water will be provided. Those in attendance are asked to bring a side dish, salad or dessert to share. For more information, contact 541-276-3809, redeemerchurch1897@ gmail.com or visit www. pendletonepiscopal.org. Nazarene youths head to the river HERMISTON — Water- skiing, inner-tubing and water fun is planned during a Teen River Day. Hosted by the Hermiston Church of the Nazarene, youths are invited to enjoy lunch in the ministry center after the morning service and then head to Warehouse Beach for water fun and fellowship. The church is located at 1520 W. Orchard Ave., Hermiston. Participants will return at 5:30 p.m. Those attending are asked to bring life jackets, modest swim wear, a towel, change of clothes and sunscreen. For more information, call 541-567-3677 or search Facebook for “Hermiston Church of the Nazarene.” SALT LAKE CITY — The Mormon church took another step toward transparency Tuesday with the ¿rst published pictures of a small sacred stone it believes founder Joseph Smith used to help translate a story that became the basis of the religion. The new photos peel back another layer of secrecy for a relatively young world religion that has come under scrutiny for some of its beliefs as its numbers swelled in the Internet age. The pictures of the smooth, egg-sized rock are part of a new book that also contains photos of the ¿rst printer’s manuscript of the Book of Mormon. Of¿cials with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unveiled the photos at a news confer- ence in Salt Lake City. The religion’s drive in recent years to open its vaults and clarify sensitive tenets is aimed at ¿lling a void on the Internet for accurate information as curiosity increased while church membership tripled to 15 million over the past three decades, Mormon scholars said. Church historian Steven E. Snow acknowledged that dynamic, saying: “The Internet brings both challenge and opportunities. We’re grateful for the opportunity to share much of collection through the use of the Internet.” The church’s campaign seems aimed at preventing current members from leaving and showing non-Mormons the faith has nothing to hide, said Terryl Givens, professor of literature and reli- gion and the James Bostwick chair of English at the University of Richmond. As an American-born religion much younger than most world religions, the origins of Mormonism have come under greater scrutiny and put pressure on the church to prove its stories, Givens said. “The other churches’ origins are concealed by the mist of history,” Givens said. “Mormonism is the ¿rst world religion in which the origins were exposed to public view, to documentation, to journalists and newspaper reporting.” AP photo by Rick Bowmer The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints historian Steven E. Snow displays the third volume of the Joseph Smith Papers, which includes the printer’s manuscript of the Book of Mormon, during a news confer- ence Tuesday in Salt Lake City. AP Photo/Rick Bowmer A picture of a smooth, brown, egg- sized rock is shown in the printer’s manuscript of the Book of Mor- mon. The Mormon church for the first time is publishing photos of a small sacred stone it believes founder Joseph Smith used to help translate the story that be- came the basis of the religion. The pictures in the new book show different angles of a stone that is dark brown with lighter brown swirls. The photos also show a weathered leather pouch where the stone was stored that is believed to be made by one of Joseph Smith’s wives, Emma Smith. The church has always possessed the stone, which was transported across the country during Mormon pioneers’ trek from Illinois to Utah in the mid-1800s. But it decided to publish the photos to allow people who prefer visuals to words to better under- stand the religion’s roots, said Richard Turley, assistant church historian. The stone will remain in the vault. “The picture brings a kind of tangibility to something that has been previously been talked about just in words,” Turley said. “That helps people connect with the past.” Mormons believe that 185 years ago, Smith found gold plates engraved with writing in ancient Egyptian in upstate New York. They say God helped him translate the text using the stone and other tools, and it became known as the Book of Mormon. The manuscript in the new book belongs to the Community of Christ, a faith that was created by early Mormons who stayed behind when most members of the religion moved west to Utah. A Community of Christ leader joined LDS of¿cials at the press event Tuesday in what both said demonstrated the two faiths have moved on from past squabbles. Church Directory s h i W o r p w i t h u s ! To share your worship times call Amanda Jacobs 541-278-2683 St. Johns Episcopal Church OPEN HEARTS – OPEN DOOR www.graceandmercylutheran.org Sunday Worship 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. (Nursery Provided) Fellowship, Refreshments & Sunday School Check Out our Facebook Page or Website for More Information 541-289-4535 Scripture, Tradition and Reason Tom Inch, Pastor Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, ELCA 164 E. Main St. / P.O. Box 1108 Hermiston, Oregon 97838 Gladys Ave & 7th Hermiston Fr. Dan Lediard, Priest. PH: 567-6672 “Proclaiming God’s word, growing in God’s grace” FIRST SERVICE 8:30 AM SECOND SERVICE 10:30 AM 712 SW 27 TH ST. 541-276-1894 www.fcogpendleton.com FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH Living Word Christian Center in Mission for Christ LCMC Sunday Worship Service 10:00 AM Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 PM 401 Northgate • Pendleton 278-8082 www.faithpendleton.org www.livingwordcc.com Community Presbyterian Churc h 14 Martin Drive, Umatilla, OR 922-3250 Worship: 10 AM Sunday School at 11:30 Come meet Jesus at PENDLETON BAPTIST CHURCH -Presbyterian Church (USA)- 201 SW Dorion Ave. Pendleton 3202 S.W. Nye Avenue, Pendleton, OR 541-276-7590 Sunday Morning Worship 8:30 & 11:00 AM Sunday Bible Classes 9:45 AM Sunday Youth Group 6:00 PM Awana Kids Club Tuesdays 6:30 - 8:00 PM K - 6th Grade (Sept-May) Service of Worship - 10:00 am Children’s Sunday School - 10:20 am Fellowship - 11:00 am www.pendletonpresbyterian.com Open Hearted...Open Minded P eace L utheran C hurch 210 NW 9th, Pendleton ELCA Join us Sundays 9:30 Sunday Worship 9:30 am am Sunday Worship 10:30 am Fellowship 11:00 am Sunday School & Adult Class Sharon Miller, Pastor ( Oregon Trail Room ) Red Lion Hotel All Are Welcome FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 555 SW 11th, Hermiston 567-9497 Nursery provided for all services Bible Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 AM Sunday Worship . . . . . . . . . . . 10:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Worship Noon Wednesday Evening Prayer and Pot Luck 6:00 p.m. Family service 9am Sunday Grace Baptist Church Sunday School - 9:30 AM Worship - 10:45 AM 6:00 pm Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM 241 SE Second St. Pendleton (541)276-3809 www.pendletonepiscopal.org All People Are Welcome ~Come and be at Peace~ on 1290 KUMA noon each Sunday Faith Center Church Worshiping God • Loving People 108 S. Main • 276-9569 Summer Sunday Worship 10:00 am Sunday Worship Services: 9 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. Wed. 7:00 pm Praise, Prophecy & Prayer Sr. Pastor, Ray O’Grady pendletonfaithcenter.org Seventh-Day Adventist Churc h Saturday Services Pendleton 1401 SW Goodwin Place 276-0882 Sabbath School 9:20 am Worship Service 10:45 am First United Methodist Churc h 352 SE 2nd St., Pendleton, O R Office 276-2616 New Pastor Dr. Jim Pierce Worship Service 9:00 AM Fellowship 10:15 AM Broadcast KUMA 11:00 AM Childcare Available Choir practice Sundays 8:30 AM BAHA’I FAITH “The Unity of All Mankind” 585 SW Birch, Pilot Rock, OR 97868 (541) 443-2500 prbconline.blogspot.com Pendleton Baha’i Center at 1015 SE Court Place Devotions Sundays @ 11:00am; Everyone invited! Sunday School: 9:30 am Worship Service: 10:45 am Wednesday Services: Kids’ Club: 6:00 pm Youth Group: 7:00 pm (541) 276-9360 visit us at www.pendletonbahais.org 3HQGOHWRQ )5((0(7+2',67&+85&+ Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. Mid-Week Children & Youth Weekly Adult Life Groups 6:WK6WZZZSHQGIPFRUJ
