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56-514: Westar is located in Salem, Oregon , on the campus of Willamette University . The institute has a publishing arm in the form of Polebridge Press , which publishes books, media, and two journals: Westar is managed by a Board of Directors and staff. Membership is divided into Associate Members, who are members of the public, and Westar Fellows, scholars in the field of religious studies or a cognate discipline. Associate membership provides ongoing support for

112-587: A Dragon Boat race similar to the ones held during the nearby Rose Festival in Portland . The Salem Art Association sponsors the annual Salem Art Fair and Festival, which takes place at Bush's Pasture Park during the summer. Its displays, interactive exhibits, food, and performances attract thousands of visitors each year. The Bite of Salem, held in July at the Riverfront Park, is an event similar to others such as

168-613: A bid to diversify its economic base, Salem attracted a number of computer-related manufacturing plants in the 1990s. In November 2003, the Sumitomo Mitsubishi Silicon Group (SUMCO), one of these arrivals, announced it would be closing its two silicon wafer plants at the end of 2004, eliminating 620 jobs, and moving production to other plants. Salem is the headquarters of the Oregon Department of Corrections and home to four state correctional facilities, including

224-512: A household in the city was $ 38,881, and the median income for a family was $ 46,409. Males had a median income of $ 34,746 versus $ 26,789 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 19,141. About 10.5% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over. Salem is governed using the council–manager government model. The city council consists of eight members who are elected from single member wards. The mayor

280-509: A male householder with no wife present, and 36.7% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.15. The median age in the city was 34.5 years. 25.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.6% were from 25 to 44; 24.5% were from 45 to 64; and 12% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of

336-511: A relevant example: "Critics of the Jesus Seminar [cry] foul because they say that the Jesus Seminar is not subjective in their findings. This criticism is based on the knowledge that the Jesus Seminar eliminates any evidence they cannot explained [sic] using modern scientific principles." Indeed, as the Ethos & Protocol statement of Westar Fellows indicates, the approach of all seminars sponsored by

392-472: A remnant of its days as a showcase for silent films, in the early days of cinema. Grand Theater is newly renovated and is the home of Enlightened Theatrics, a professional theatre company and hosts the Salem Progressive Film Series on the third Tuesday nine months of the year. Salem Capital Pride (Salem's yearly Gay Pride Event), hosted by Aundrea Smith (Author of: "Your Local Queer"; 2019)

448-527: Is Salem's primary drinking water source. Other important streams that pass through Salem are Mill Creek , the Mill Race, Pringle Creek , and Shelton Ditch . Smaller streams in the southern and southeastern parts of the city include Clark Creek, Jory Creek, Battle Creek, Croisan Creek, and Claggett Creek, while Glen Creek and Brush Creek flow through West Salem . Elevation within the city limits ranges from about 120 to 800 feet (37 to 244 m). Salem contains

504-671: Is credited for his service as the Executive Secretary for the SBL. Likewise another Westar Fellow, Daryl D. Schmidt, was remembered in an obituary on the site in 2006. Furthermore, an article by John Dart, originally a paper presented at the 2006 SBL International Meeting in Edinburgh published in Forum, also in 2006, is featured on the SBL website. As Dart explains: "Unfortunately, there is built-in resistance to popularizing biblical research findings for

560-470: Is elected in a citywide vote. The current mayor is Chris Hoy , a Democrat who took office in 2022. The following are Salem's city councilors: State government is Salem's largest employer, but the city also serves as a hub for the area farming communities and is a major agricultural food processing center. It lies along the I-5 corridor and is within an hour's drive of Oregon's largest city, Portland. Salem

616-628: Is held in early August. The personal house and garden of landscape architects Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver , known as Gaiety Hollow , is on the National Register of Historic Places. Their firm Lord & Schryver designed the gardens of Historic Deepwood Estate . In addition to the Oregon State Capitol and adjacent Willson Park, Salem's downtown contains the Willamette Heritage Center , Hallie Ford Museum of Art ,

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672-528: Is home to Willamette University , Corban University , and Chemeketa Community College . The State of Oregon is the largest public employer in the city, and Salem Health is the largest private employer. Transportation includes public transit from Cherriots (legally known as Salem Area Mass Transit District), Amtrak service , as well as limited commercial and non-commercial air travel at McNary Field . Major roads include Interstate 5 , Oregon Route 99E , and Oregon Route 22 , which connects West Salem across

728-651: Is nicknamed the "Cherry City", because of the past importance of the local cherry -growing industry. The first cherry festival in Salem was held in 1903 and was an annual event, with parades and the election of a cherry queen, until sometime after World War I. The event was briefly revived as the Salem Cherryland Festival for several years in the late 1940s. Salem is located in the north-central Willamette Valley , in Marion and Polk counties. The 45th Parallel (roughly

784-598: Is recognizable by its distinctive pioneer statue atop the capitol dome that is plated with gold-leaf and officially named the Oregon Pioneer . Agriculture has always been important to Salem, and the city has historically recognized and celebrated it in a number of ways. In 1861, Salem was chosen as the permanent site of the Oregon State Fair by the Oregon State Agricultural Association. Salem

840-660: Is the capital city of the U.S. state of Oregon , and the county seat of Marion County . It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River , which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood of West Salem is in Polk County. Salem was founded in 1842, became the capital of the Oregon Territory in 1851, and

896-602: Is the Oregon State Fair at the end of August through Labor Day. Located in the Oregon State Fairgrounds in North Salem, the fair offers exhibits, competitions and carnival rides. Other events such as concerts, horse shows and rodeos take place at the Oregon State Fair and Expo Center throughout the year. The Mid-Valley Video Festival offers local, national and international independent films in theaters throughout

952-594: Is the home of Kettle Foods , Inc., a maker of potato chips since 1982. Kettle employs 700 in Salem and at a plant in Bowthorpe , England. NORPAC Foods, Inc., is a large food processor in Salem and elsewhere in Marion County. Its brands include Flav-R-Pac and West-Pac frozen fruits and vegetables, and Santiam canned vegetables. Oregon Fruit Products, Inc., has been canning blackberries , marionberries and other fruits in Salem since 1935, with Oregon as its brand name. In

1008-472: The 2020 census , there were 175,535 people, and 64,426 households in the city. The population density was 3,596.8 people per square mile. The racial make up of the city was 75.3% White , 1.4% African American , 1.0% Native American , 3.3% Asian , 1.8% Pacific Islander , and 10.2% two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 22.4% of the population. 24.2% of the population were under 18, and 6.2% were under 5. People over 65 made up 14.6% of

1064-667: The Elsinore Theatre , Riverfront Park, the Willamette River, some of the oldest buildings in Oregon, as well as shopping and restaurants. The A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village interactive children's museum and Prewitt-Allen Archaeological Museum are both also located in Salem. Elisabeth Sch%C3%BCssler Fiorenza Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include

1120-563: The Oregon State Penitentiary , Oregon's only maximum-security prison. Numerous projects are underway to increase the supply of housing in the downtown core. These projects will provide upscale, low- and high-rise condominium and office space. According to Salem's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the 2022 fiscal year, the top employers in the area are: Salem has 17 recognized neighborhood associations, which are independent groups that receive administrative support from

1176-803: The Salem Hospital ), a Wednesday Farmers' Market hosted on campus at Chemeketa Community College, a Thursday Market in West Salem, and a Holiday Gift Market in December. There is also an indoor Saturday Public Market which is open all year. The annual World Beat Festival, held in June, is sponsored by the nonprofit Salem Multicultural Institute. The event lasts for two days and is held at the Riverfront Park . It features international crafts, music, dance, food, and folklore from every continent, and in recent years has held

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1232-573: The Bite of Oregon in Portland. The event consists of a weekend of local restaurants in Salem offering samples of their menus to patrons in a festival atmosphere, with live entertainment and benefiting local charities. In the summer, Chef's Nite Out is a wine and food benefit held for Marion-Polk Food Share. Oregon Wine & Food Festival takes place at that state's fairgrounds in January. The largest event in Salem

1288-470: The Christianity Seminar. While Scholars communicate throughout the year, twice annually they present papers at national meetings with a public audience. Meetings culminate in votes by both Fellows and Associate Members regarding specific historical assertions. The concept of voting on aspects of early Christian life and the accuracy of biblical sayings was not a unique innovation of Westar. Rather, it

1344-597: The Jesus Seminar decided that anything in the Gospels that supports Jesus being more than just human cannot possibly be true." House and Jowers describe Westar Institute as "a think tank set up by several liberal academics" and "radical critics of the Bible" among whom, House and Jowers claim on less credible terms, are "only a handful are well-known scholars in the field of New Testament studies" (319). In fact, most Westar Fellows are affiliated in some manner with leading organizations in

1400-443: The Jesus Seminar, as recorded in seminar publication The Five Gospels , include: Because of its emphasis on historical foundations over dogmatic faith, Westar Institute has been criticized by evangelical and fundamentalist-leaning organizations. This criticism has appeared "almost from the moment that they published their first paper on the life and death of Jesus Christ." Moderators of the faith-based site AllAboutReligion.org provide

1456-519: The Truth of the Traditional Gospels in 1996." To clarify, Johnson does not come from a fundamentalist perspective; he critiques that perspective as neither modern nor self-critical enough. Nevertheless, he problematizes the deeply unsettling experience of viewing the Bible through an historical-critical lens: "First-year students, who often come to seminary with deeply conservative convictions concerning

1512-626: The Willamette River via the Marion Street and Center Street bridges. The Native Americans who inhabited the central Willamette Valley at first European contact, the Kalapuya , called the area Chim-i-ki-ti, which means "meeting or resting place" in the Central Kalapuya language (Santiam). When the Methodist Mission moved to the area, they called the new establishment Chemeketa; although it

1568-493: The above-cited website, House and Jowers argue that the historical-critical approach of Fellows is problematic: "The starting point [of the Jesus Seminar] is a total rejection of the supernatural, a throwback to the first quest [of the historical Jesus]. ... Any miracle is considered a myth, added later to reflect later beliefs. Thus, there can be no virgin birth, walking on water, or resurrection. Before they even begin their work,

1624-607: The approach of theologian Martin Kähler, among others, and responds critically to Johnson's criticism of the first-year theology students' experience of the historical method: "Can one also imagine, I wonder, the gall of professors in other graduate departments, in physics for example, or psychology, or cultural anthropology, 'forcing' their students to learn a methodology: How outrageous!" A more weighty criticism comes from feminist theologian Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza for "historical positivism ." While Schüssler Fiorenza does not criticize

1680-572: The change to Salem, some people, such as Asahel Bush (editor of the Oregon Statesman ), believed the name should be changed back to Chemeketa. The Vern Miller Civic Center , which houses the city offices and library, has a public space dedicated as the Peace Plaza in recognition of the names by which the city has been known. The first people of European descent arrived in the area as early as 1812; they were animal trappers and food gatherers for

1736-564: The city was 49.9% male and 50.1% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 136,924 people, 50,676 households, and 32,331 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,994.0 people per square mile (1,156.0 people/km ). There were 53,817 housing units at an average density of 1,176.8 per square mile (454.4/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 83.1% White, 1.3% African American, 1.5% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.5% Pacific Islander, 7.9% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.6% of

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1792-446: The city was 79.0% White , 1.5% African American , 1.5% Native American , 2.7% Asian , 0.9% Pacific Islander , 10.1% from other races , and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.3% of the population. There were 57,290 households, of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had

1848-487: The city, and suggested adopting an Anglicized version of the Biblical Hebrew word "שָׁלוֹם, Shalom", meaning "peace" (used also as a greeting). The Reverend David Leslie , President of the town's Trustees, also wanted a Biblical name, and suggested using the last five letters of "Jerusalem". Or, the town may be named after Salem, Massachusetts , where Leslie was educated. There were many names suggested, and even after

1904-460: The city. The Salem Film Festival has included feature films that were Oregon premieres. The Salem Repertory Theatre presents shows at the Reed Opera House . The Pentacle Theatre, which features plays and musicals, is located in West Salem. The Elsinore Theatre is a historic landmark featuring recitals, concerts, films, and plays. It has the largest working pipe organ on the west coast,

1960-542: The city. The nonprofit group Salem Community Markets (SCM) operates several farmers' markets in Salem. The largest and most well-known of these is the Salem Saturday Market, which is located north of the Capitol, runs from May to October, and focuses on local products, including art, baked goods, produce, live plants, meat, and other items. Other SCM-run markets include a Monday Market (hosted from May to September at

2016-466: The city. Like most of the Willamette Valley area, Salem has a mediterranean climate ( Köppen Csb ). Rain is heaviest in late fall and throughout winter, and almost all of the annual precipitation falls between October and April, with a dry season from May through September. Light snowfall occurs in winter, but major snows are rare. Mostly cloudy skies and low cloud ceilings are commonplace during

2072-560: The field of biblical studies and generally respected academic honors, as is evident in any survey of Fellow biographies on the Westar website. For example, publications and activities of the Fellows frequently include involvement with the leading organization of biblical research, the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL). The SBL published an obituary for Westar founder Robert W. Funk in 2005, in which Funk

2128-617: The fur trading companies in Astoria, Oregon . The first permanent American settlement in the area was the Jason Lee Methodist mission (1840) located in the area north of Salem known as Wheatland . In 1842, the missionaries established the Oregon Institute (the forerunner of Willamette University ) in the area that was to become the site of Salem. In 1844, the mission was dissolved and the town site established. In 1851, Salem became

2184-523: The general public. First, it is believed that complex, nuanced scholarly arguments tend to get 'lost in translation' to readers and audiences unfamiliar with the terminology and background." This is not to say Westar has escaped criticism from other scholars. "The most bitter and outspoken critic of the Seminar, Luke Timothy Johnson, published The Real Jesus: The Misguided Quest for the Historical Jesus and

2240-459: The ground in December 1855. Oregon's second capitol building was completed in 1876 on the site of the original. The Greek Revival -style building was based in part on the U.S. Capitol building . The building received its distinctive copper dome in 1893. On April 25, 1935, this building was also destroyed by fire. The third and current Oregon State Capitol was completed on the same site in 1938. It faces north instead of west like its predecessor, and

2296-640: The halfway point between the North Pole and the Equator ) passes through Salem's city limits. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 48.45 square miles (125.48 km ), of which 47.90 square miles (124.06 km ) is land and 0.55 square miles (1.42 km ) is water. Although the Willamette River flows through Salem, the North Santiam River watershed

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2352-511: The inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture, are exposed at once to the 'shock therapy' of the historical critical method." In the spirit of earlier theological perspectives of the twentieth century, Johnson focuses on the Christ of faith over against the Jesus of history as an appropriate focus of studies of Christian life. Bessler, himself a Westar Fellow, describes Johnson's position as largely dependent on

2408-464: The institute is historical-critical, by definition incongruous with faith-based assertions. Beyond online forums, books have been published that criticize the work of the Westar Institute, particularly the Jesus Seminar, from the above perspective. Reasons for Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics , published in 2011 by H. Wayne House and Dennis W. Jowers, serves as an example. As with

2464-492: The lower daily minima. All-time extremes in Salem range from 117 to −12 °F (47 to −24 °C). The coldest afternoon of the year usually falls to 32 °F (0 °C) on the freezing point, whereas the coldest recorded maximum temperature was 16 °F (−9 °C) in three separate months and years. The warmest night on record was 74 °F (23 °C) in July 2006 and the warmest annual night averages 64 °F (18 °C). See or edit raw graph data . As of

2520-483: The organization in the form of annual dues, and is open to anyone with an interest in religion. However, scholars must apply to become Fellows. To become a Fellow, a person must hold an "advanced academic degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in religious studies or related disciplines with accredited universities worldwide." While there is no required religious affiliation, Fellows do commit to the Ethos & Protocol statement, which includes sharing historical-critical research with

2576-427: The population. Non-Hispanic Whites were 70.7% of the population in 2010, compared to 88.6% in 1990. There were 50,676 households, out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who

2632-512: The population. The gender make up was 49% female and 51% male. The median household income was $ 62,185, and the per capita income was $ 31,610. 14.7% of the population were under the poverty line . As of the census of 2010, there were 154,637 people, 57,290 households, and 36,261 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,228.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,246.5/km ). There were 61,276 housing units at an average density of 1,279.2 per square mile (493.9/km ). The racial makeup of

2688-632: The public. The approach taken by the Westar Fellows to their research has drawn criticism from a number of directions. Westar sponsors "large-scale, collaborative research projects" called seminars on various topics in early Christian history. The first and most famous of these was the Jesus Seminar on the historical Jesus , which lasted from 1985 to 1993. Other Westar seminars include the Paul Seminar, Acts of Apostles, Christian Origins, and, currently,

2744-443: The rainy season. Salem's mean annual temperature is 54.1 °F (12.3 °C); its annual precipitation is 40.08 inches (1,018 mm), with an average 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) of snow included. However, over a quarter of years receive no snowfall. The state capital is about 47 mi (76 km) south of Portland , but actually has a lower average temperature than that of Portland (54.4 °F or 12.4 °C), due in part to

2800-412: The territorial capital after it was moved from Oregon City . The capital was moved briefly to Corvallis in 1855, but was moved back to Salem permanently that same year. Salem incorporated as a city in 1857, and with the coming of statehood in 1859, it became the state capital. Oregon has had three capitol buildings in Salem. A two-story state house, which had been occupied for only two months, burned to

2856-527: The use of the historical-critical method, she does critique a lack of emphasis on the fact that all historical work is a form of re-construction which "must open up its historical models or patterns to public reflection and critical scrutiny." In other words, in spite of the highly public format of the Westar seminars, Schüssler Fiorenza advocates for greater involvement in explaining and opening methods up to public scrutiny. Salem, Oregon Salem ( / ˈ s eɪ l ə m / SAY -ləm )

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2912-593: The volcanic Salem Hills in the south and is sandwiched by the 1,000 ft (300 m) Eola Hills directly to the west and the 600 ft (180 m) Waldo Hills to the east. Northern and eastern Salem are less hilly. South and West Salem contain some canyons and are the hilliest areas. The coast range and the Cascades —including Mount Hood , Mount Jefferson , and on the clearest of days, Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams in Washington—can be viewed from throughout

2968-466: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.10. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.5 males. The median income for

3024-399: Was based on "the disciplined work of Bible translation committees, a very traditional scholarly practice," based in turn on the more ancient Greek voting system that involved dropping colored beads into an urn. Westar Fellows vote as follows: Votes are weighted according to historicity. The higher the numerical value, the more historical weight is given to a piece of information. Examples from

3080-636: Was incorporated in 1857. Salem had a population of 175,535 at the 2020 census , making it the third-most populous city in the state after Portland and Eugene . Salem is the principal city of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area , a metropolitan area that covers Marion and Polk counties and had a combined population of 433,353 at the 2020 census . This area is, in turn, part of the Portland–Vancouver–Salem Combined Statistical Area . The city

3136-503: Was more widely known as the Mill, because of its situation on Mill Creek . When the Oregon Institute was established, the community became known as the institute. When the institute was dissolved, the trustees decided to lay out a town site on the Institute lands. Some possible sources for the name "Salem" include William H. Willson , who in 1850 and 1851 filed the plans for the main part of

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