UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) has recently declared COVID-19 vaccines to be “a global public good.” The pandemic is a global phenomenon and can only be approached, and ameliorated, from a global perspective. No nation can be left out. But our efforts must begin with our local communities.
We, as religious and interreligious leaders in the Eugene and Portland areas, are committed to doing everything we can to urge eligible congregants to get themselves and their loved ones vaccinated as soon as possible, if they have not already done so.
We stand firmly with the clear recommendations of the scientific and medical communities. Getting vaccinated is the responsible thing to do, both for our own health and for the health of our neighbors. We are all in this together.
Sincerely,
Rev. Adam Briddell, Eugene First Methodist Church, Eugene
Rev. Dan Bryant, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada
Karlene Clark, Lead Pastor, Wesley United Methodist Church, Eugene
Rev. Tom English, Deacon, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Eugene
Rev. June Fothergill, Ebbert United Methodist Church, Springfield, OR
Rev. Nancy E. Gallagher, Rector, Episcopal Church of St. John the Divine, Springfield, OR
Rabbi Meir Goldstein, Oregon Hillel, Eugene
Evlyn Gould, Cantor and Spiritual Leader, Temple Har Zion
Ibrahim Hamide, Eugene Middle East Peace Group and Café Soriah, Eugene
Rabbi Emeritus Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin, Temple Beth Israel, Eugene
Harinder Khalsa, Interfaith Facilitator, Eugene
Sat Bir Khalsa, Eugene
Pastor Rachel Langford, Emmaus Lutheran Church, Eugene
Peter Laufer, James Wallace Chair Professor of Journalism; Co-Director, UO-UNESCO
Crossings Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene
Rev. Warren Light, Esq., Director, Wesley Center, University of Oregon, Eugene;
Pastor, Spirit of the Valley, United Methodist Church, Halsey, OR
Rev. Jennifer Martin, Pastor, Central Presbyterian Church, Eugene
Barry Nobel, Eugene, author of Mindfulness in Judaism: Comparing Jewish with Buddhist
Teachings on Awakening
The Rev. T. Birch Rambo, Priest-in-Charge, The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, Eugene
Omar Reda, MD, Founder, “Untangled: A Platform for Love, Hope, and Healing,” Portland
Rev. Jen Youngsun Ryu, Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene
Rabbi Jonathan Seidel, President, Oregon Interfaith Hub, Eugene
Steven Shankman, UNESCO Chair in Transcultural Studies, Interreligious Dialogue, and
Peace; Co-Director, UO-UNESCO Crossings Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene
Myobun Esther Freinkel Tishman, Dharma Teacher, Buddha Eye Community Zen Temple,
Eugene; Interfaith Chaplain, Sacred Heart Medical Center, Springfield, OR
Arun Narayan Toke, former co-president, Interfaith Prayer Service International, Eugene
Imam Mamadou Toure, Bilal Masjid Mosque, Beaverton
Rev. Lauri Watkins, The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, Eugene
