IS Chaplains' Guild

The Interfaith Solidarity Chaplains' Guild (ISCG) began as the Occupy Portland Interfaith Guild of Chaplains (IGC) on Saturday, October 15, 2011 during the second week of Occupy Portland's occupation of the Lownsdale, Chapman, and Terry Schrunk parks in downtown Portland, Oregon.   It brought together ministers, seminarians, and other spiritual practitioners and leaders from a wide range of faith traditions and from all parts of the greater Portland metropolitan region. For the following five weeks, the IGC held over 20 religious services, both interfaith and faith-specific, and provided a round-the-clock on-site chaplaincy service which was utilized by the community. 

The group continued its existence after the Occupy Portland's withdrawal from the downtown parks, and organized a few activities, including Occupy Thanksgiving PDX (community potluck dinner at Wallace Park) and Occupy Christmas PDX (coordination of homestay options during Christmas for the traveling or un-housedOccupiers). The ISCG supports all local Occupy movements within the Portland-Vancouver four-county metropolitan region, and is headquartered in Portland, withits membership spread between Vancouver, Washington and Ashland, Oregon.

The ISCG also maintains a small "sacred space" altar at the Occupy Portland headquarters, 1131 S.E. Oak St.

For news and upcoming events of the ISCG, visit the ISCG blog at http://www.opdxchaplains.co.cc/

The Interfaith Solidarity Chaplains' Guild (ISCG) is an independent organization, not a committee or an agency of any Occupy general assembly. ISCG receives no funds from the Occupy Portland or any other Occupy entities.

ISCG does not credential, certify, ordain or license chaplains. ISCG member chaplains are considered to be competent, experienced and knowledgeable in their respective religious traditions, and are considered to be empowered according to their faiths' dictates to minister to people within means of their capacities. ISCG members are responsible for following their conscience, beliefs, and any applicable professional standards, disciplines and ecclesiastical regulations of their religious affiliations.

ISCG DOES NOT assume legal or financial responsibility for its members. Neither the ISCG nor the individual chaplain is an agent for or of the other. However, each member chaplain of the ISCG is answerable to the collective of the ISCG and does come under the mutual accountability structure of the ISCG and its consensus-based process. If an investigation finds serious violations of ethics, morals, and values have indeed been committed, certain sanctions can be applied up to and including termination of membership. All chaplaincy services are provided "as-is" and free of charge to members and visitors of Occupy Portland and other Occupations in Oregon and Southwest Washington, and at no cost to the Occupy Portland and other Occupy general assemblies in Oregon and Southwest Washington. By participating in any of ISCG's activities, including worship services and pastoral counseling, you consent to waive all rights to monetary damages and legal actions.

Pursuant to Oregon law, we are required to report cases of child abuse and elder abuse to the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS). Pursuant to Washington state law, we are required to report cases to child and elder abuses believed to have taken place in Washington to the Washington State Department of Social and Human Services (DSHS).