October 2012 [email protected] Micah 4:4 Cardboard Box Cities Volume 29 Number 8 (509) 535-1813 • 535-4112 Shelter Fund Raisers - P
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STORIES INSIDE Program breaks ground to expand homes - p. 5 Occupy coalition has diverse voices - p. 6 Presbytery executive energizes churches - p. 7 October 2012 [email protected] Micah 4:4 Cardboard Box Cities Volume 29 Number 8 (509) 535-1813 • 535-4112 shelter fund raisers - p. 8 Monthly newspaper and website covering faith in action throughout the Inland Northwest online at www.thefigtree.org • check The Fig Tree Facebook page daily for news and links Couple enriched by living simply By Mary Stamp resources that connect people to In their retirement at Chesaw in the land. the Okanogan Highlands, Jere and They connect to the world of Rick Gillespie live simply, a life- ideas through books and internet, style they chose when they entered which they access via satellite, to the “back to the land” movement in continue their activism. the 1960s and 1970s. Rick’s commitment extends They anticipate their retirement beyond the Columbia River wa- will be enriched as they continue tershed as he seeks to help people their commitments to the peace understand and find solutions to and environmental movements, the Palestine/Israel conflict. He and as they find new ways to use organizes opportunities for people their skills in publications and to learn about it through the Peace photography. Festival, the Day of Peace and the They feel enriched just living Mothers’ Day Walk. “in the peace and beauty of God’s Their choice years ago led each country,” with clean air, fresh of them to give up earning money mountain spring water and friend- and to avoid being swept into the ships of many years. world of consumerism. Jere gleans spiritual nurture That eventually led Rick, who from the wisdom of the earth she was teaching in Portland, Ore., sees around her, attuned to the riv- and Jere, who grew up in Maine ers, mountains, grasslands, birds and studied at the University of and life forces surrounding them California in Berkeley, to wind up and connecting to the earth. Her in the Okanogan Highlands where spirituality connects to justice, they met. which she believes will come as Rick, who graduated from Port- people learn to live sustainably on land State University in 1967, the earth. Jere and Rick grow and taught high school for nearly preserve much of their food. five years. He worked towards a From his interest in biological master’s degree in 1976, taught at science, Rick believes that people HeadStart and was a Home Start can learn to live on limited income director in the Coastal Range, when within self-contained ecosystems, he became disenchanted with the bioregions, which provide natural Rick and Jere Gillespie connect on internet by satellite, connect to nature around them. Continued on page 4 Quaker leader delves into key issues Jo Hendricks wrote faith community addresses nationally Diane Randall, the new execu- Lutheran’s gymnasium. Regis- Economy,” and the Friends Com- editorials for 23 years tive secretary of the 70-year-old tration opens at 7:30 a.m., with mittee on National Legislation By Mary Stamp Quaker lobby, Friends Commit- breakfast beginning at 8 a.m., and and its Legislative Priorities. There have been some influential women journalists over the tee on National Legislation, on her keynote address at 8:30 a.m., In a plenary session, Diane will years, but few made their debut as editorial writers at the age of Capital Hill in Washington, D.C., followed by a response session. offer comments and participants 70 and continued into their 90s, as Jo Hendricks did with The Fig will speak and lead a workshop on The participants will then break will have the opportunity to Tree. She died Sept. 16 at a care facility in Spokane. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26 and into four discussion groups. connect with the organizations Jo was born in 1913 in Mansfield, Wash. Her social-justice 27, at Salem Lutheran Church, The leadership for each one involved and network informally. minded father was an attorney in Wenatchee and her mother 1428 W. Broadway. will come from four different At 7 p.m., Friday, Diane will was a teacher. After her father died, her mother took the family Representatives of the Spokane approaches to peacemaking in meet at a “Leadership Recep- to Seattle, where Jo attended high school and took studied jour- Friends Meeting and several other the community: the Faith Action tion and Conversation” in Salem nalism at the University of Washington. After marrying Frank Spokane organizations who share Network, building on its Advocat- Lutheran Church’s fireside room Hendricks in 1935, they moved to Spokane in 1937. a concern for peace with justice ing Congregations; the Peace and with leaders of the organizations Jo, one of the Fig Tree founders, brought a resolute voice on came together to plan the event. Justice Action League, building that planned the event, and with issues people of faith hold in common. She connected the call On Saturday morning, she will on their program perspective bishops and executive leaders to heal the world, make peace, eradicate poverty, care for the lead a “Congressional Advocacy “Bring Our Billions Home”; The of regional church offices in vulnerable and protect the environment with the teachings of Forum,” a public event, in Salem Oak Tree –“Building the New Spokane. faith. Prophetically, she tied faith to the paradigms, paradoxes, The Peace with Justice Com- oxymorons and caveats of these decades of history. Her editorials mittee of Spokane Friends Meet- from 1984 to 2006 gave an overview of what happened in the ing is co-hosting this event with world, the nation, the state, the region and the community. Her the Faith Action Network. insights into peacemaking and war-making, justice and injustice, The organizers of the overall democracy and oppression, faith and secular values shattered event include Spokane Friends, typical excuses for giving in to the ways and whims of power. the Faith Action Network of Her reflections were based not only on knowledge of theology, Washington, the Peace and Jus- history, literature, poetry and economics, but also her experi- tice Action League of Spokane, ences of serving the poor at a food bank, volunteering at polls on The Fig Tree, Pax Christi, the election day, helping resettle Hmong and Vietnamese refugees, and promoting global concerns through the United Nations As- Permit No. 1044 No. Permit Unitarian-Universalist Church of WA SPOKANE Spokane, the Spokane Coalition sociation. The Fig Tree published a book of her editorials in Spokane, WA 99202-3571 WA Spokane, PAID of Progressive Pastors and the 2006. Jo received the 2007 award of the Northwest Alliance for 1323 S. Perry St. Perry S. 1323 U.S. POSTAGE U.S. Responsible Media for “media excellence.” Organization Oak Tree. The Fig Tree Fig The Non-Profit For information, call 435-8053. Page 2 - The Fig Tree - October 2012 Religion News Briefs REGIONAL ECUMENICAL & INTERFAITH NEWS Around the World Naomi Tutu speaks on being ‘daughter of’ World Council of Churches News, PO Box 2100 The 30th annual YWCA Wom- The YWCA of Spokane will High School, Young Woman of CH - 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Tel: +41-22 791 6111 en of Achievement Benefit Lun- present YWCA Women of Achievement. Fax: +41-22 788 7244 www.oikoumene.org cheon features keynote speaker Achievement awards to local “Since 1982, we have honored Naomi Tutu, daughter of Arch- people who excel in their fields contributions of more than 175 Churches asked to confront financial crisis bishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and whose achievements have a individuals,” explained Trish Citing the European churches’ “strong commitment over the past of South Africa. She will speak positive effect on the community. McFarland, executive director, century to the ecumenical movement and fellowship in Europe,” on challenges and opportunities of Six leaders to be recognized for YWCA Spokane. “We honor in- World Council of Churches general secretary the Rev. Olav Fykse having grown up as “the daughter their service to the community dividuals whose lives, talents and Tveit urged their direct engagement in the current financial and of.” It inspired her to become a are: Nancy Compau for arts and passions shape the community, social crisis in and beyond Europe. catalyst for positive change. culture; Ruth Bindler, profes- while the luncheon serves as a Their past commitment “has changed the realities of Europe. It The luncheon from 11:30 a.m. sonal; Julie Farley and Camille vital source of funding for our has borne much fruit on other continents. That can, and should, to 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 25, McCluskey, volunteer commu- programs and services to under- happen again,” he said. will be held at the Spokane Con- nity service; Jim Mohr, racial served women and children. Speaking Sept. 21 at the General Assembly of the Community vention Center Ballrooms, 334 and social justice, and Alexandria For information, call 789-9303 of Protestant Churches in Europe in Florence, Italy, he challenged West Spokane Falls Blvd. Moore, senior, Central Valley or visit ywcaspokane.org. churches to be “signs of reconciliation” and to “stand together and to advocate for common European solutions to the financial and social crisis, solutions that help to deepen the project of European Unity as a project of just peace on the continent.” Rural Ministry Resources offers retreat Rural Ministry Resources is relationships, honoring tradition University of Idaho Extension, Christians and Muslims engage in dialogue planning a Rural Ministry Retreat and seeking new approaches to will lead the Tuesday morning After a four-year interval since the World Council of Council gathering lay and ordained pastors growing churches in the rapidly workshop on “Building on Ru- (WCC) and the Centre for Inter-religious Dialogue (CID) in Teh- serving churches in rural settings changing socio-economic condi- ral Strengths to Create Thriving ran, Iran, the bodies met in September for bi-lateral dialogue at the for worship, rest, experience and tions in the rural culture.