The Governor of the State of Oregon issued a Proclamation, proclaiming June 30-July 2, 2017, “American Baptist Weekend” in the state of Oregon. Read the full proclamation below, or view it here:

STATE OF OREGON

PROCLAMATION

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

WHEREAS: American Baptist Churches USA represent 5,000 congregations and 1.3 million members; and

WHEREAS: American Baptists affirm local churches throughout Oregon and the U.S. as the fundamental unit of mission and take seriously the call to missionary work across America and around the world; and

WHEREAS: American Baptists support religious freedom, the separation of church and state, respect the expressions of faith of others, and acknowledge that God’s family extends beyond Baptist churches; and 

WHEREAS: American Baptist Churches USA is the most racially inclusive Protestant denomination in America and celebrates racial, cultural, and theological diversity; and 

WHEREAS: American Baptists have advocated for freed African Americans following the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, women in church and societal leadership, ecological responsibility, and peace; and 

WHEREAS: 2017 is the 75th anniversary of Presidential Executive Order 9066, which unjustly imprisoned over 130,000 Japanese Americans but prompted American Baptist churches and missionaries to swim against the tide of popular opinion, affirm Japanese Americans as their brothers and sisters, and serve among them; and 

WHEREAS: The American Baptist Churches Biennial Mission Summit will meet in Portland on June 30 to July 2, 2017, including special recognition of the story of Japanese American Internment through the eyes of American Baptists, the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, Friends of Minidoka, and the National Park Service.

NOW,

THEREFORE: I, Kate Brown, Governor of the State of Oregon, hereby proclaim June 30- July 2, 2017 to be

AMERICAN BAPTIST WEEKEND

in Oregon and encourage all Oregonians to join in this observance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and cause the Great Seal of the State of Oregon to be affixed. Done at the Capitol in the City of Salem in the State of Oregon on this day, June 22, 2017.

Kate Brown, Governor

Dennis Richardson, Secretary of State