 Contact Us:
religion@alaskapacific.edu 907.564.8264 4101 University Drive Anchorage, AK 99508 Advanced Search Site Map Log In |
 The Spiritual Profile of Greater Anchorageby I IntroductionA. Anchorage Human occupation of the Cook Inlet area has been traced as far back as 3000 B.C.E. The Eskimo people that originally settled the area were displaced by the Athabaskan Dena'ina people before contact with Europeans first occurred in the 18th century. Although Russians were established in Southern Alaska by 1784, the English explorer Captain John Cook first described the Cook Inlet in 1778. (Something needed here) The United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867. Located on the shoreline of the Cook Inlet in south-central Alaska, the municipality of Anchorage extends beyond its metropolitan area from Eklutna in the north to Portage in the south. Anchorage emerged from a "Tent City" that sprang up in 1915 at the mouth of Ship Creek soon after President Woodrow Wilson authorized funds to construct the Alaska Railroad. Highlights of the history of Anchorage may be found by consulting www.ci.anchorage.ak.us/History/history.html. The 2003 estimated population of Anchorage is 270,000. This represents over 40% of the total population of the State of Alaska. According to the 2000 census, the population of Anchorage was 260,283, of these 188,009 were European Americans (=72.2%), 18,941 were Alaskan Natives or American Indians (=7.28%), 15,199 were African Americans (= 5.83%), 14,799 were Hispanic/Latino (=5.6%), 14,433 were Asian (=5.54%), and 2,423 were Pacific Islanders (.09%). In addition, 5,703 identified themselves by some other race (=2.19 %) and 15,575 identified themselves by two or more races (= 5.98%). Changes in the United States' immigration laws in 1965 had no impact on Alaska. At that point in time Anchorage was recovering from an earthquake that measured 8.6 on the Richter scale that struck on Good Friday, March 27, 1964. However, in 1971 after the Alaska Native Land Claims Act authorized the construction of the trans-Alaskan pipeline the oil industry changed the face of Alaska, including Anchorage. These changes included the religious landscape. Construction jobs on the pipeline attracted a large number of "outsiders"-immigrants as well as transplants from the lower forth-eight came to the Last Frontier to work. Since the oil companies situated corporate headquarters in Anchorage, pipeline money enabled unprecedented development and fostered an explosion of economic and cultural growth. At the same time, ANLCA effected a notable resurgence among Alaskan Native peoples and has been recognized by some as having catalyzed a revitalization of the indigenous traditions. This study profiles the current religious diversity in Anchorage. While the profiles are primarily from the municipal district, some are from other parts of the metropolitan area. This preliminary report is designed to identify what has been accomplished, to assess what has been completed, and to identify what is in need of future refinements. Updates will seek to give more attention to outlying areas of the metropolis. In some instances this report extends even beyond metropolitan Anchorage. It includes profiles of all the Buddhist communities in Alaska and provides profiles of all the religions in a few rural communities from different parts of the state.[1] Since, at this point in time the only Hindu and Islamic communities in Alaska are in Anchorage, the report is already a statewide summary of theses religions When future updates include a profiles of Jewish communities and minions outside the Anchorage area and this report will provide a complete picture of the major communities of non-Christian religions throughout Alaska. B. Religion in AnchorageAlthough Christianity, in all its diverse branches and denominations is the predominant religion in Anchorage and throughout Alaska, other religions have active communities in Anchorage. Buddhism constitutes the second largest religion in Anchorage presently with ten to twelve independent groups in the city. There are two Jewish congregations, two Islamic communities and a Hindu Temple. The Baha'i have a "National Office" as well as an active community in Anchorage. There are some Native traditions pertaining to healing practiced at the Native Hospital in Anchorage, however most indigenous traditions that survive have been incorporated into the worship rituals of various Christians.[2] Anchorage is home to various communities one would classify with the new religious movements, as well as to a number of neo-pagan solitaries active in the area. At one time a small Sikh community met regularly in Anchorage but in so far as we are aware Sikhs no longer form a community in this city. Won Buddhist tried to establish communities in Anchorage in the past but the community has dissolved.[3] If on the one hand religion is well represented in Anchorage, on the other hand most "transplants" from the "lower 48" from every era have been or presently are either "unchurched," or have rejected or neglected Christianity. Many come to Alaska to escape the institutions of society and church is one of the institutions from which they have sought to break away. Thus it is interesting that a study of Jews in Alaska concludes that the percentage of those who are observant, to one degree or another, is higher in Alaska than in the lower forty-eight.[4] Nevertheless, there are over ----Christian churches in Anchorage and the city serves as the statewide administration center for:
Anchorage is one of the Alaskan territorial center for the Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage, and The Yukon Presbytery. The administrative centers of some Christian are located elsewhere in Alaska. For example, the chancery of the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska is in Fairbanks. In addition for many the "denominational" administrative offices are outside Alaska. For example, St. Nicholas of Myra in Anchorage, the only Byzantine Catholic church in Alaska, is attached to administrative offices in California and the three Stakes of the Church of the Latter Day Saints in Anchorage are under the oversight of an Area President for the whole Pacific Northwest. Of special interest to this study are the ethnic Christians in Anchorage. Some, such as the Koreans, have established independent parishes in a variety of denominations. Other minorities have become a solid community within parishes. Profiles of many these groups are included. II. Classification of groups according to religion and branchThe following is a list of the religions followed by the name and address of their individual communities in the Greater Anchorage Area. Those that have been profiled will be listed in bold and can be accessed by clicking on the name. Since the purpose of this study is to highlight the new religious diversity that emerged in the second half of the 20th century, Christianity is listed after all other religions. Baha'iBaha'i Center Baha'i National Office Completed Profiles from outside Anchorage: Baha'i Faith Center Kotzebue Assembly Buddhism[5]www.manjushri.com/TEMPLES/alaska.htm Alaska Buddhist Society Anchorage Zen Center[6] Anchorage Zen Community Chagdud Gonpa Tromge Ling[7] International Association for Spiritual Consciousness and the Mahayana Center for Tibetan Buddhism Soka Gakkai International-USA (SGI) Wat Alaska Yanna Vararam Buddhist Temple and Meditation Center of Alaska[8] Wat Buddharatanatrai Buddhist Temple Wat Dhamma Bhavana Buddhist Center White Lotus Center for Shin Buddhism[9] Profiles of Special Buddhist Activities :
Groups outside Anchorage: Alaska Buddhist Peace Fellowship Cold Mountain Zen Center Juneau Shambhala Center Khawachen (Snowland) Dharma Center Mindfulness Center of Southeast Alaska HinduismThe Sri Ganesha Mandir of Alaska Islamwww.islaminalaska.com/alaska_islam_info.html Islamic Center of Alaska Islamic Community Center Islamic Information Line & Lending Library JudaismCongregation Beth Sholom (Reform) Congregation Shomrei Ohr (Lubavitch) NeopaganismA student designed questionnaire distributed among solitaries in the area will be included. ChristianityAt this time, a complete list of churches is provided only for churches with administrative centers in Anchorage. Other Christian churches are listed if they have been profiled. At some point in the future this list may be expanded to become a complete directory. Assembly of GodAssembly of God Alaska District Council All Nations Worship Center Assembly of God Anchorage Native Assembly of God Anchorage Samoan Assembly of God Calvary Church Crossroads Assembly of God First Assembly of God First Spanish Assemblies of God Joy Christian Center King's Way Assembly of God Korean Assembly of God Muldoon Community Assembly North Star Assembly South Anchorage Assembly of God Completed profiles of groups outside Anchorage: Ninilchik Full Gospel Assembly of God Catholic (Byzantine Rite)St Nicholas Myra Byzantine Catholic Church Catholic (Latin Rite)[10]www.archdioceseofanchorage.org Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage Blessed Sacrament Monastery Holy Cross Church Holy Family Cathedral Holy Spirit Center Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Our Lady of the Snows St. Andrew's Church St. Anthony's Church Korean Catholic Community St. Benedict Church St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Church St. Patrick's Church Catholic(Society of St. Pius X)St . Theresa Patron of Alaska Roman Catholic Chapel[11] EpiscopalAll Saints Episcopal Church Christ Church Episcopal Holy Spirit Episcopal Church St. Christopher's Episcopal Church St. Mary's Episcopal Church Completed profiles of groups outside Anchorage: St. George of the Arctic Episcopal Church Latter Day Saintswww.lds.org/newsroom/show...242,00.html Anchorage Alaska Mission Office Anchorage Alaska North Stake Center Anchorage Alaska Temple Anchorage Alaska Stake Center Lutheran (ELCA)Alaska Synod of ECLA Alaska Native Lutheran Church Amazing Grace Lutheran Church Central Lutheran Church Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Joy Lutheran Church Lutheran Church of Hope River of Life Lutheran Church St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church Lutheran (Missouri Synod)Anchorage Lutheran Church (LCMS) Beautiful Savior Luther Church (LCMS) Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS) Zion Lutheran Church Completed profiles of groups outside Anchorage: St John's Lutheran Church Lutheran (Wisconsin Synod)Faith Lutheran Church (WS) Peace Lutheran Church (WS) Shepherd of the Hills (WS) Methodist (UMC)United Methodist Church Anchor Park United Methodist Church East Anchorage United Methodist Church First Samoan United Methodist Church First United Methodist Church Girdwood Chapel Jewel Lake Parish St. John's United Methodist Church Turnagain United Methodist Church United Methodist Chruch of Chugiak Completed profiles of groups outside Anchorage: Community United Methodist Church NazareneAlaska District Church of the Nazarene Chapel of the Cross Church of the Nazarene Hillcrest First Church of the Nazarene Church of the Nazarene Jewel Lake Eagle Rive Nazarene OrthodoxAntiochian Orthodox Christian ChurchSt. John's Orthodox Cathedral Greek OrthodoxHoly Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church (Russian) Orthodox Church of Americawww.oca.org/pages/orth_...intro.oca.html Orthodox Diocese of Alaska St. Innocent Orthodox Cathedral St James the Just Russian Orthodox Church St. Herman Orthodox Mission St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church Protecting Veil of Theotokos Orthodox Community Completed profiles of parishes outside Anchorage: Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord Orthodox Church St. Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Church Presbyterian Churches (USA)www.pbyukon.org Presbytery of the Yukon First Korean Presbyterian Church First Presbyterian Church Immanuel Presbyterian Church Jewel Lake Parish Korean Open Door Presbyterian Church Trinity Presbyterian Church Completed profiles of groups outside Anchorage: Korean Presbyterian Church Utgiagvik Presbyterian Church Presbyterian Church (0rthodox)Faith Orthodox Presbyterian Church The following Christian Churches are listed in alphabetical order by denomination and/or name. All have been profiled by students at APU.
[1] Alaska Pacific University has a distance education program for residents in rural Alaskan communities-I have asked students from this program who have been enrolled in my World Religions course to the profile the religions in their own community. These studies will be appended to the study of Anchorage. [2] Only Russian Orthodoxy has been fully acculturated among many of the Native peoples of Alaska and although liturgical rites incorporate the Aleut, Yupik and # languages Orthodoxy, unlike Catholics and many Protestant denominations, has not introduced native practices into their rituals. [4] Interestingly, a study of Jews in Alaska concludes that the percentage of those who are observant, to one degree or another, is higher in Alaska than in the lower forty-eight [5] The initial effort to identify Buddhist groups in Anchorage was undertaken by Joe Desrosiers, Aryanna Pinny and Katy Yates in April, 1999. These students began their research with the information provided on a video titled Buddhism in Anchorage, written and produced by Lisa Kemmerer in 1997 who then taught at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Copies of this video are owned by Alaska Pacific University and the Resource Center of the University of Alaska Anchorage. A copy has been purchased for the Pluralism Project Office at Harvard University. This initial effort only located SGI, Wat Alaska Yanna Varama and the White Lotus Center, fewer groups than the video. However, the inability to locate other groups now idetified speaks as much to the dramatic change that has taken place in the public face of Buddhism in Achorage over the past four years as to the inexperience of the first student researchers. The video reports the existence of five groups (Zen, SGI and three Theravada Temples).When contrasted with the list of ten Communities in Anchorage that is provided here one gets a sense of the enormous growth and development in a very short period of time. The public face of Buddhism in Anchorage today was virtually non-existent at the time this project was first undertaken. [6] Efforts on the part of APU students to profile the Zen communities in Anchorage were not successful. Diane Johnson-Van ParijsParjis profiled this community. [7] Diane Johnson-Van ParijsParjis profiled this community. [8] Initial profile of the Wat Yanna Vararam was undertaken by Michael Pawloski and submitted in December, 1999. He was assisted by Charmin Simonds. It has been extensively expanded and updated by Diane Johnson-Van ParijsParjis. [9] The initial profile of the White Lotus Center was done by Philip Boynton as a student at Alaska Pacific University and submitted in December, 1999. This was an excellent report. Diane Johnson-Van ParijsParjis updated the information in June 2003. [10] Providence Hospital, Lumen Christi High School are also associated with the Archdiocese of Anchorage. Holy Rosary Academy (k-12) is allowed to identify itself as Catholic although it is independent of the Archdiocese. [11] Not affiliated with the Archdiocese of Anchorage. The Society of St. Pius X was excommunicated from the Catholic Church on.... |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copyright © Alaska Pacific University website-related comments | disclaimer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
