Chuck Currie
Encyclopedia
The Rev. Chuck Currie (1969 - ) is a United Church of Christ
(UCC) minister in Portland, Oregon who works on issues related to homelessness, housing and health care, and as a writer and preacher.
Currie was named the Associate Director of the Westar Institute
, an international program promoting Biblical literacy located on the campus of Willamette University
in 2011.
Before that he served as the Acting Minister of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Salem, Oregon (2011) and as a long-term interim minister at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ (2006-2009) in NE Portland. During his three year tenure the congregation engaged in a strategic planning process, voted to become “Open and Affirming” towards gays and lesbians, expanded theological educational programs for adults, launched a new joint youth program with another congregation, and decided to sell their property and relocate with a new focus on mission and outreach to the community.
Rev. Currie continues to guest preach throughout the area. He also writes a personal blog on religion and social issues (that The LA Times cited for “top-tier” editorial writing in 2004)and for The Huffington Post.
He has appeared on ABC's World News Tonight and been mentioned or quoted in The New York Times, The La Times, The Washington Post, Newsweek, NPR, and is seen, heard or quoted frequently in local media.
Rev. Currie earned a Master of Divinity degree at UCC-related Eden Theological Seminary
in St. Louis, MO.
He is married to Liz Smith Currie, a policy advisor for Multnomah County. They have twin daughters, Frances and Katherine, who attend kindergarten in the Portland Public School District.
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
(UCC) minister in Portland, Oregon who works on issues related to homelessness, housing and health care, and as a writer and preacher.
Currie was named the Associate Director of the Westar Institute
Westar Institute
The Westar Institute is best known as the sponsoring organization of the Jesus Seminar. A non-profit foundation founded in 1985, it is, according to its mission statement, a "research and educational institute dedicated to the advancement of religious literacy." It is considered to be one of the...
, an international program promoting Biblical literacy located on the campus of Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in 2011.
Before that he served as the Acting Minister of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Salem, Oregon (2011) and as a long-term interim minister at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ (2006-2009) in NE Portland. During his three year tenure the congregation engaged in a strategic planning process, voted to become “Open and Affirming” towards gays and lesbians, expanded theological educational programs for adults, launched a new joint youth program with another congregation, and decided to sell their property and relocate with a new focus on mission and outreach to the community.
Rev. Currie continues to guest preach throughout the area. He also writes a personal blog on religion and social issues (that The LA Times cited for “top-tier” editorial writing in 2004)and for The Huffington Post.
He has appeared on ABC's World News Tonight and been mentioned or quoted in The New York Times, The La Times, The Washington Post, Newsweek, NPR, and is seen, heard or quoted frequently in local media.
Rev. Currie earned a Master of Divinity degree at UCC-related Eden Theological Seminary
Eden Theological Seminary
Eden Theological Seminary is a seminary of the United Church of Christ in Webster Groves, Missouri, near St. Louis, Missouri.The seminary was established in 1850 by German pastors in what was then the American frontier. The pastors soon formed the German Evangelical Synod of North America. This,...
in St. Louis, MO.
He is married to Liz Smith Currie, a policy advisor for Multnomah County. They have twin daughters, Frances and Katherine, who attend kindergarten in the Portland Public School District.
Sources
- Rev. Chuck Currie Named Associate Director Of The Westar Institute
- Chuck Currie Biography
- New minister hopes for balance in world, The Oregonian, September 21, 2006
- Veteran 'blogger' to post commentary on Synod news, United Church News, June 28, 2005
- Parkrose Community United Church of Christ website