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The Rev. Charles Svendsen understands that the life of a church can be a tricky thing. Svendsen is interim minister of First Congregational United Church of Christ. Perched on the South Park Blocks, First Congregational is one of the citys oldest and most imposing churches. For 60 years, its 175-foot-high bell tower was the tallest structure in Portland. Only First Congregationals bell rings out over the South Park blocks on Sunday mornings.

But that bell tower, basically unchanged since its construction in 1895, has been crumbling. Once, the church would have prevailed on its members to pay the $500,000 cost of the repairs. Forty years ago, the church had 700 members. Today it has 328. Most Sundays, somewhere around 135 people attend services, many of whom are children or grandchildren of earlier congregants, who drive in from the suburbs, often passing other congregational churches on the way to what Svendsen calls the mother church.

These churches down here, theyre historical, theyre central, theyre the ones from whom all the other churches came, Svendsen says of the old downtown houses of worship.

While a number of once-proud Portland churches have closed their doors in recent years, First Congregational is not about to go broke. In fact, while its membership contributions are down compared to years past, its income is greater than it was 10 years ago due to rental revenue it gets from leasing part of its property for the Newmark and Winningstad theaters on Southwest Broadway Avenue.

The churchs 328 members would each have to contribute about $1,500 to pay for the restoration of the First Congregational Tower. While some are making contributions about $85,000 has been pledged so far the church has decided to ask the greater Portland community to take ownership of its bell tower by contributing to its Restore a Portland Landmark fundraising campaign. Its pitch asks the residents of what often is referred to as the nations most unchurched city to examine their relationship with its historic religious institutions.

Just south and west of First Congregational on the Park Blocks stands St. James Lutheran Church. A little bit farther south sits the Christian Science Church. Just south of First Congregational is the First Christian Church. Another dozen or so churches are scattered throughout downtown and the Goose Hollow neighborhood. Most of the old ones have at least one thing in common.

All these churches have declined, Svendsen says. But all are vital to the health of downtown and the larger Portland area, he insists.

Kerry Tymchuk, executive director of the Oregon Historical Society, says hes a backer. He says the church, which was designed to resemble Bostons Old South Church, is one of the few examples of Venetian Gothic architecture in the country. It also happens to sit next door to Tymchuks Historical Society.

It would look so much better without that netting around it, Tymchuk says, referring to mesh placed around a portion of the bell tower to catch falling tracery panels. Just a few weeks ago, in fact, a 2-foot-long piece of one of the wooden Gothic panels fell to the sidewalk near the church.

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For whom does this bell toll?

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Keeping the faith for 170 years

- May 15, 2014 by Mr HomeBuilder

Published: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 3:39 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 3:39 p.m.

A longtime landmark of the community of Cotton Plant, St. John's United Methodist Church will celebrate its Spring Festival on Saturday while also recognizing the church's organizational roots, which date back to 1844. The celebration will be held on the grounds and in the fellowship hall, and the sanctuary will be open for viewing.

The building's historic charm is reminiscent of the days when people came to church on horseback, in ox carts and by foot. Some traveled long distances on Saturday and camped out on the grounds overnight.

In those days, the women wore long dresses and wide-brimmed bonnets, and used paper fans to cool themselves in the stifling summer heat. The church's male and female members were required to enter through different doors and had to sit on opposite sides of the sanctuary. There also was a segregated area for slaves. Male leaders set the rules and scoffed at people who ignored them, such as the ignorant gentleman who escorted his female companion through the wrong door one Sunday.

Cotton Plant, settled in 1842, was a farming and cotton growing area. Star-Banner columnist David Cook has noted that Cotton Plant, located just west of Martel, was a thriving town in the late 1880s, with a population of about 1,000 at that time.

Officially founded in 1852 by Joseph P. Barco, St. John's congregation first met in a log cabin on a lot 1/4 mile northeast of the current location. The next building, erected on the current site, served as a schoolhouse and a church. In time, it began to lean to one side and, in 1892, was replaced by the present two-story frame building. The upper floor was often used for meetings by a local Masonic lodge, which helped pay for the church's construction.

Current members, particularly those who had a hand in the renovations, feel the church is more than just a building.

I think you become a part of it, said Leonard Pete Michael. I'd hate like everything for that church to fail. We can't let that happen.

A retired owner of a steel construction firm in South Florida, Michael, who moved here in 1988, became involved in repairs to the building's termite-infested foundation. Using five hydraulic jacks, steel reinforcing rods and concrete, he led a group of hardy men from the congregation to form a more lasting foundation.

I think another three or four months and it would have collapsed, Michael said. We'd have lost it if we hadn't shored it up and put in a new footing. The wall could have come right on through all the way to the ground. We caught it just in time. I could say it was my idea to fix it, but I don't think so. I think the Lord put me there. And there were a lot of people involved in it.

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Keeping the faith for 170 years

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Beijing urged to respect religious freedom amid 'anti-church' crackdown

- May 15, 2014 by Mr HomeBuilder

Chinese citizens should have the freedom to practice their faith, to worship together, to establish religious venues, to use religious symbols, to publish religious books, and to disseminate religious faith, the consensus said.

Missionary work is currently illegal in China while Beijings State Administration for Religious Affairs tightly controls the construction and administration of places of worship.

The statement comes at a time of growing pessimism over the Communist Partys handling of religious matters.

Many Christians fear Beijing is planning a nationwide campaign to slow the growth of their community, which now counts tens of millions of members.

Those concerns have been fuelled by the total or partial demolition of at least half a dozen churches in Zhejiang province and a spate of detentions across China. Tan Jianhua and Zhang Yuncheng, two members of Beijings Shouwang church, have been in custody since last Sunday on charges of disturbing public order, said Jin Tianming, a church leader.

Beijing also faces criticism over what some describe as its heavy-handed treatment of Muslims in the far western province of Xinjiang.

During a tour of one Xinjiang mosque earlier this month, Xi Jinping, the president, said he hoped, religious people would continue their patriotic tradition and take a clear stance against extremism.

"I believe Xinjiang's religious people are righteous, he was quoted as saying by state media.

However, activists accuse the Communist Party of meddling in local religious practices and fear such interference will worsen following three deadly terrorist attacks that Beijing has blamed on extremists from Xinjiang.

Teng Biao, a respected human rights lawyer who signed the consensus, said activists were increasingly concerned about Beijings treatment of Christians, Tibetan Buddhists and Muslims.

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Beijing urged to respect religious freedom amid 'anti-church' crackdown

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- May 15, 2014 by Mr HomeBuilder

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