3/13--Salem area religious leaders speak out against the death penalty

Media Release Feb.13, 2014

Salem area religious leaders speak out against the death penalty

​Seldom do so many religious leaders gather together to state their resolve against a criminal justice issue.  That will happen on March 13th, when leaders of prominent and important mid-Willamette Valley faith communities come together to denounce the death penalty. 

They will call for repeal of the current law, seeking better alternatives that keep the public save and hand out appropriate punishment.​

         Sponsored by Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (OADP) and Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO), pastors, ministers, denominational leaders and church administers will be featured speakers at a banquet being held at  Salem's St. Mark Lutheran Church (Winter and Marion Sts).   A "simple soup supper" will be served, starting at 6PM and the program will begin at 7PM.

​Rev. Karen Wood, Chaplain at Willamette University, will be the mistress of ceremonies. 

The faith communities involved as of this date are: Those faiths represented include:

American Baptist Church- American Baptist Oregon Exec. Minister Rev. Steve Bils 

                                                                                      

Buddhist Community of Mid-Willamette Valley - Alice Phalan  

                                                                       

Catholic - Fr. Tim Mockaitis, Queen of Peace Parish 

Episcopal - Very Rev. Lin Knight , St. Paul's Episcopal​                                                                                                              

ELCA Lutheran - Rev. Charles Mantey, St. Mark Lutheran                                                                                                               

Jewish  - Rabbi Gary Ellison                                                                                                                         

Mennonite  - Pastor Meghan Good, Albany Mennonite Church                                                                                                               

Presbyterian - Rev. John Moody, Westminster Presbyterian Church                                                                                                                                                                          

Sikh Community of Salem - Prof Sukh Singh                                                                                                            

Society of Friends / Quakers - Rose Lewis 

United Church of Christ - Rev. Janet Parker, First Congregational UCC       

United Methodist Church  - Rev. Wendy Joy Woodworth , Morningside UMC      

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem - Rev. Rick Davis

​In addition to the statements by the faith leaders, OADP will be laying out their plans for moving toward repeal of the death penalty in Oregon. Tickets for this event are just $20 and reservations for tables of 8 are available.  For more information on the event and how to purchase tickets, contact Ron Steiner, at (503) 990-7060 or rsteiner@swcp.com.