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Greetings!

Launched in 2018, Common Table is a gathering of interfaith leaders and practitioners who are committed to learning more about one another, trusting each other and standing together – even amid our differences. This quarterly meeting brings together faith leaders for dialogue and updates about what is going on in faith communities in the greater Portland area.   

As a place for faith leaders and friends to listen and learn from each other, the subjects are wide-reaching and often difficult to discuss. Because there are ideological differences that can be difficult to navigate, Common Table provides an important space to gather, learn and reflect together. While we meet in the Portland metro area, our topics are of interest to many members throughout the state who join us virtually.

I am very proud of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon for the work that is being done to increase dialogue and education, in addition to our direct service programs that provide essential needs in our communities. It is good to remember that we have more in common around the table than we might think. 

Frank So

Executive Director

EMO'S LOVE IN ACTION GALA

Thank you to all who joined us Sept. 17, 2025, for our annual Love In Action gala at The Sentinel Portland. We raised over $204,000 to support our vital services for the most vulnerable in our communities. We also honored extraordinary individuals and organizations whose courage, moral vision and commitment to action have contributed profoundly to making Oregon–and the world–a better place.

EMO Executive Director Frank So welcomes guests to the gala.

The ACLU of Oregon received the Humanitarian Award. From left: Sandy Chung, Jessica Maravilla and Commissioner Nafisa Fai.

Michael Larson, Founder and Executive Director of Humans for Housing, received the Young Visionary Award.

The Rev. Paul Belz-Templeman with the Presbytery of the Cascades presented the Ecumenist of the Year Award to The Rev. Chris Dela Cruz, Director of Youth Initiatives of Together Lab.

Interfaith benediction presented by (from left) Dr. Fatima Albar, The Rev. Linda Jaramillo and Rabbi Michael Cahana.

In 2024, Luther Memorial Church, which had housed EMO's Northeast Emergency Food Program (NEFP) for 17 years, decided to close. With the support of many individual donors and a four-year grant from the Oregon Food Bank, EMO bought the building. On Oct. 6, 2025, staff, donors, volunteers, former parishioners of Luther Memorial and others gathered to dedicate this new building and honor its past.

Thank you to Elana Pirtle-Guiney (Portland City Council President), Andrea Williams (Oregon Food Bank President), and The Rev. Dr. Rodney Page (former EMO Executive Director who started NEFP in 1983) for speaking. Thank you to JR Lilly for sharing a land acknowledgement, former pastor of Luther Memorial The Rev. Carol Kyllingstad for a blessing, and EMO Board Chair The Rev. Beverly Jackson for closing remarks and a benediction.

We are so excited to share with you the incredible plans we have for this building. Stay tuned to learn more!

Past and present NEFP program managers reveal the new sign.

From left: past NEFP managers John Elizalde and Howard Kenyon, and current NEFP manager Jon Makler.

Pastor Carol Kyllingstad, former Luther Memorial Church pastor, offers a blessing.

Elana Pirtle-Guiney, Portland City Council president, offers remarks.

Andrea Williams, executive director of the Oregon Food Bank, offers remarks.

From left: Frank So (current executive director of EMO), Elana Pirtle-Guiney (Portland City Council president), Sandi Page (generally wonderful person), and The Rev. Dr. Rodney Page (previous executive director of EMO) next to the new sign.

It was a great turn out!

Frank So gets the microphone ready for The Rev. Beverly Jackson (former EMO board chair) to offer closing remarks and benediction.

How much do you know about the risks of gas? What about your friends and neighbors? On Nov. 12, 2025, join health professionals and community advocates for a virtual presentation on the real costs of gas: health, safety, and financial.

This summer, the Cooling Portland team installed over 360 AC units in low-income households.

As the weather transitions, the Cooling Portland team at EMO will continue to install these portable AC devices, which have heating capabilities in addition to air conditioning.

Primarily used for cooling, these units are still ideal during the cool fall months when temperatures are still over 45 degrees Fahrenheit. They are not a replacement for central heating, but they are an excellent way to augment traditional heating systems either because people are living with inefficient systems, need to keep the heat low for financial reasons, and to help older folks or people with chronic conditions have a dedicated heat source that is safer than old fashioned space heaters or older electric blankets.

Eligibility remains the same as during the summer, and we are actively looking for folks who could use these units. If you know somebody who lives within the Portland city limits and has an income that is 60% or less than the average median income (adjusted for household size) who could use an AC and heating unit, reach out to our Cooling Portland team.

UMC OF THE GREATER NORTHWEST'S NEW PODCAST

Going the M.I.L.E: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest launched at the end of September. In short, easy-to-listen episodes, United Methodist Church Bishop Cedric Bridgeforth talks to clergy and laity about callings, how they discerned those callings and how they are living them out.

UPCOMING EVENTS

To learn more about upcoming EMO events and faith community events, visit our Event Calendar.

Join us for a Second Home Social Hour on Thursday, Oct. 30, 5 to 6:30 p.m., at Valley Community Presbyterian Church (Fireside Room)! Mix and mingle with Second Home staff, volunteers and supporters. Enjoy a hearty chili bar, cornbread, cookies and seasonal drinks. Purchase raffle tickets to win an Oregon coast stay. Funds raised for the event go towards sustaining Second Home.

Free to attend. RSVP no later than Oct. 23 to let us know if you will join us!

We are leaders of faith communities in the greater Portland/Vancouver area, are inviting you to join us for a visible People of Faith presence at the Portland No Kings rally and march on Saturday, Oct. 18. We are coordinating with local Indivisible groups to harmoniously support and participate in the larger event. 

Given the rise of Christian nationalism that is fueling the growing autocracy of our times, it is critical that this national No Kings event has a strong, visible and diverse interfaith presence to demonstrate disciplined nonviolent resistance. One of the keynote speakers for the Portland event will be The Rev. Dr. Mark Knutson, a longtime activist and faith leader in the local nonviolent resistance movement. 

Together, as a united community of interfaith leaders, we will march under a large “People of Faith” banner. Clergy are invited to wear religious attire and others are invited to identify themselves with signs, banners or whatever is appropriate for your tradition. Citizens in our country and others around the world must know that there are millions of people of faith working in a multitude of ways: to love and care for the poorest, most vulnerable people in our land; to create a more just and peaceful society; and to preserve a free and open democracy.  

10:30 a.m.: People of faith will gather at Pioneer Courthouse Square near a purple pillar-like banner reading FAITH for a short interfaith program and service. 

11:30 a.m.: We march together behind a People of Faith: Standing Up for Compassion, Truth and Justice banner to the Battleship Memorial on Waterfront Park.

Noon: Large No Kings event (speakers, music, etc.) at the Battleship Memorial on Waterfront Park.

1 p.m.: March through the streets of downtown. Faith leaders and people of faith will enter the march together behind the vertical banner identifying us, and individual faith communities can bring their own horizontal banners. 

This is a very difficult time in the life of our country. But there is so much we can do to turn this nightmare around. We want this No Kings march to truly be a celebration of all the many people and groups working to resist this growing autocracy—including the local faith community. 

Please pray for this march and for all who are on the front lines organizing for peace, justice, and American democracy, and RSVP for this event so we can estimate numbers and keep you updated on the details. 

Rev. June Boutwell, Pastor, Ainsworth United Church of Christ

Rev. Domyo Burk, Priest and Guiding Teacher, Bright Way Zen Center

Rabbi Michael Z. Cahana, Senior Rabbi, Congregation Beth Israel

Rev. Patricia Campbell-Schmitt, Pastor Emeriti, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church

Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie, Ordained Minister, United Church of Christ

Marilyn Grendele, Chair of Social Justice, Cedar Hills United Church of Christ

Rev. Dr. W.J. Knutson, Pastor, Augustana Lutheran Church

Kakumyo Lowe, Abbot, Dharma Rain Zen Center

Frank J. So, Executive Director, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

Cantor Ida Rae Cahana, Cantor Emerita, Congregation Beth Israel

Rev. Peg Pfab, Ordained Minister, United Church of Christ

On Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, at 11:45 a.m., First Christian Church (1314 SW Park Ave., Portland) will welcome Latin American and the Caribbean Mission co-workers Xiomara Cintron-Garcia and Alex Maldonado-Lizardi to share in a slideshow and stories of their journey of the “Latin America and the Caribbean Witness Through the Continent.”

Please join us to receive and share the good news of Jesus Christ by hearing from missionaries that spread that good news through the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ’s Global Ministries as they work for justice, reconciliation, and peace in Bogota, Colombia.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AT EMO

Join EMO's talented team making a difference in Oregon! EMO offers a generous benefits package. Visit our careers page for more details about the positions below and how to apply.

• No open positions at this time.

EMO has been named one the 2025 "Top Work Places" by the Oregonian.

Stay Connected with EMO

503-221-1054 | emo@emoregon.org | emoregon.org