Open Spaces: Speaker Biographies

Public Forum II: January 19, 2006
Agnes Flanagan Chapel, 7 p.m.

Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield, Congregation P’nai Or -- Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield is the religious leader of congregation P'nai Or of Portland. He is also an internationally-known singer, composer of Jewish liturgical music, storyteller, and teacher of Jewish spirituality. He has been passionately involved in interfaith dialogue for almost thirty years and is an active member of the board of the Interfaith Council of Greater Portland (ICGP). He has, on two occasions, been to Germany to perform, teach and engage in healing and reconciliation work between Jews and Germans. He has also taken groups to Israel and Palestine to meet with and lend support to individuals and organizations working to bring about a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Dr. T. Allen Bethel, Senior Pastor, Maranatha Church of Portland, and President of A.M.A. – Dr. Bethel’s background includes over 30 years in ministry, and 28 years in pastoral ministry. He serves very actively in the Portland community and is in great demand as a speaker across the United States and internationally. He currently also serves as the President of the Board for the Albina Ministerial Alliance Board of Directors. Some of his other current community activities include: Vice President of the Corporation, Charter Member Portland Parks Board, Portland Public Schools Strategic Core Team, Warner Pacific College Board of Trustees, and adjunct faculty at North Portland Bible College and Warner Pacific College.

Stephen S. Carver, Chapman Chair of Biblical Studies at Warner Pacific College – Dr. Carver has taught for ten years. Dr. Carver earned his Ph.D. with an emphasis in Scripture from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Last year, Dr. Carver published his book titled The UnGospel, in which he reconstructs the life and teachings of the historical Jesus and then contrasts the basic message of Jesus with later Christian traditions that have been the basis for war and intolerance in Christian history. Currently, Dr. Carver is working on a four-volume introduction to the language and literature of the Hebrew Scriptures.

David Bell, Real Estate Developer, -- Mr. Bell is partner of GSL Properties in Portland. His professional training is in the law, and he started his career as a lawyer in New York and New Mexico. For the past 20 years, he has been a real estate developer, focusing primarily on the creation of affordable housing in five Western states. His primary personal interests have always been philosophy and spiritual practice. Mr. Bell has been a practicing Zen Buddhist for many years and is a former President of the Zen Community of Oregon.

Daymond Glenn, M.Ed. -- Mr. Glenn is currently a Doctor of Education student at Lewis & Clark School of Education and Counseling. He is also an adjunct instructor at L&C, current Oregon Center Scholar, and Area Director for Camp Fire USA, Portland Metro Council. He has addressed many college classrooms about Social Justice/Anti-Racist Education, African American Leadership, African American men in higher education, and the contemporary Black intellectual movement. His academic interests include: social justice/anti-racist education, community leadership, social and dialogue theory, the contemporary Black intellectual movement, and popular culture analysis.

Sarah Bobich, Ed.S. School Psychologist and alumna 2005 -- Ms. Bobich is a recent graduate of the Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Counseling and Education and currently serves as a school psychologist in the David Douglas School District. She also works with young adults with autism through Portland's Autistic Children's Activities Program, and is a volunteer at Imago Dei Church.

The following speakers were a part of Forum I:

Hon. Elizabeth Furse, Former Congresswoman, 1st Congressional District – Former Congresswoman Furse is currently the director of the Institute for Tribal Government at the Hatfield School of Government, which provides governance training to elected tribal officials and agency training on Indian law and trust responsibilities to state and federal agencies across the nation. In 1986, she co-founded the Oregon Peace Institute, located in downtown Portland. In 1992, Elizabeth Furse was elected to U.S. Congress representing Oregon’s First Congressional District where she was the first woman to represent this district, and the first African born member of the United States Congress. She retired from office in 1999.

Kerry Tymchuk, State Director, Senator Gordon Smith – As State Director to United States Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) for the past eight years, Mr. Tymchuk acts as a top advisor to the Senator on legislative and political matters. He is a native of Reedsport, OR, a graduate of Willamette University School of Law and a former advisor to former US Senator Bob Dole, and former Labor Secretary Elizabeth Dole. Recently Mr. Tymchuk assisted Gert Boyle, Chairperson of the Board of Columbia Sportswear in the writing of her autobiography. He is also a past four-time champion on the popular television show, Jeopardy.

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