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The Challenge Before Us
8th Annual Pastors Conference
Sponsored by the Council of Churches of the City of New York
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Monday, November 4, 2002 · 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m.
The Interchurch Center, 475 Riverside Drive, Manhattan |
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Worship Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III Dr. Butts, a native New Yorker, is the Pastor of The Abyssinian Baptist Church, President of SUNY at Old Westbury and the President of the Council of Churches of the City of New York. He is a graduate of Morehouse College, Union Theological Seminary, and received a Doctor of Ministry from Drew University. He has taught at City College and Fordham University. His commitment to God's kingdom has manifested itself in his loyal attention to the daily activities and services of his congregation as well as a vigorous impact on community development initiatives: homelessness, senior citizen and youth empowerment, cultural awareness and ecumenical outreach. Dr. Butts has been at the forefront of efforts to defeat racist policies and employment discrimination. He has led a nationally acclaimed and most effective campaign in eliminating negative billboard advertising in the Central Harlem communities and in many communities around New York City. Dr. Butts was also at the vanguard of the issue of negative rap lyrics specially targeted to women and violence, and is on a mission to uplift the ethical standards of the human community. In 2001, Dr. Butts electrified the nation with his call to the nation to rally together at the Yankee Stadium on September 23rd, against the destruction done and the hatred expressed in the World Trade Center attack on September 11. He was cheered across the nation for the bold hope he presented. |
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Keynote Speaker: Bishop David Benke Dr. Benke, born in Milwaukee, came to New York in 1973. He is a graduate of Concordia Senior College, Concordia Seminary and holds the Doctor of Ministry from New York Seminary. In 1991, he was elected as the President (equivalent to that of Bishop) of the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, a post he held until recently. Dr. Benke knows the cost that can be required of those who stand firmly for their faith. He has actually been suspended from the office of president for offering a statement and a prayer at Yankee Stadium on September 23, 2001, after the World Trade Center Disaster, where he was on the platform with other spiritual leaders of the city. That suspension is under appeal at this time. Presently, he is the co-chair of Lutheran Disaster Response of New York, an effort that is bringing comfort and renewal to New Yorkers from all walks of life following the disaster of September 11 and also serves as Interim Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Social Services of Metropolitan New York, while he is appealing his suspension from his duties as Atlantic District President. Always an outspoken advocate for the poor and for the disadvantaged, Dr. Benke is Pastor of St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, New York. This ministry has been richly blessed through the years, by Gods grace. Mission outreach has produced members from fifteen different countries of origin, with Sunday worship in English and Spanish. |
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Morning Workshops Ministry to Youth: Planting Seeds Reaping the Harvest Rev. Dr. Alfonso Wyatt, Vice President, The Fund For the City of New York |
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Dr. Wyatt is a renowned and powerful speaker whose expertise is in youth development. This workshop will focus on addressing the multilevel needs of faith based youth programs. Participants will also learn about innovative programs in churches and secular organizations. Attendees will be able to explore specific strategies to improve existing youth outreach. |
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Worship Praise: Music and Multimedia Rev. Steve Hwang & Joyful Praise Ministries |
| Rev. Steve Hwang is the coordinator of Joyful Praise Ministries that has served numerous revivals that 3000 or more people attended each revival for the past eleven years. Rev. Hwang and his expert team will lead this cutting edge workshop which will review new forms of worship, focusing on methods and techniques to use music and multimedia to reach out to the unchurched. |
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Exploring Prison Ministry Rev. Edward "Eddie" Ellis, Director, The Riverside Church Prison Ministry Program |
| Each year thousands will exit New York prisons without any proper reconnection with the society. Surely this is an area where the Church needs to take the challenge of embracing those graduates of prison systems. Goals and methods of doing this outreach ministry will be presented and a "hands on" approach will be shared. Join this workshop if you are exploring this much needed ministry for your own congregation or with others in an ecumenical approach. |
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Building a New City: Urban Theology for the Church Rev. Dr. Dale Irvin, Academic Dean, New York Theological Seminary |
| The Christian Bible opens with the garden but closes with the City. The message is clear that the city is the place of our salvation. This workshop will look at the theology for the church in the city with an eye toward the future. |
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Afternoon Workshops Community Development Rev. Dr. Paul Dunne, President, Harlem Congregation for Community Development |
| Rev. Dr. Paul Dunne has always been on the frontier of community development and is the leader of the prominent organization. Dr. Dunne will spark a discussion of the importance and methods of faith based community development. |
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The Church and Sexuality: How We Got off the Rails Rev. Dr. Raymond Lawrence, Director, Pastoral Care Dept., Columbia Presbyterian Hospital |
| The Church's sexual problems are not a recent phenomenon. They began to take shape in the early centuries of the Church's history. They have only become more serious as time has passed. The light at the end of the tunnel is barely visible. Dr. Lawrence has written the book, The Poisoning of Eros: Sexual Values in Conflict and is a renowned expert on the clinical pastoral ministries. Join Dr. Lawrence as he explores various implications on this issue. |
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How to Welcome Back the Victims of September 11th Tragedy Rev. Dr. Jill Schaeffer, Coordinator, New York Disaster Relief Interfaith Taskforce |
| Dr. Schaeffer led numerous successful ministries advocating for the marginalized. She wrote the Definition for Sexual Harassment for the former United Presbyterian Church (now the PCUSA) and also served as the Executive Secretary for the World Alliance of the Reformed Churches in Geneva in Human Rights Ministries before she joined NYDRI. Now Dr. Schaeffer leads NYDRI to meet the needs of "the victims of 9/11" who are falling through the cracks. Dr. Schaeffer will illustrate the definition of "victim" and explore the practical methods for ministering to the marginalized groups with specific examples of real 9/11 cases. |
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Writing Proposals to Win Grants Ms. Sara Weiss, Director of Development, Council of Churches of the City of New York |
| Sara Weiss is the Council's Director of Development. She has a master's degrees in Anthropology and Psychology. Currently Sara writes grant proposals/reports for the Council and manages its fundraising efforts. Ms. Weiss is a former writer of research articles and feature writer for magazines and newspapers. She will share church leadership strategies for grant acquisition, including research and guidelines for proposal preparation. |
Registration Fee is $50 per person and includes continental
breakfast and luncheon.
Register early and save $10 — Only $40 if registration is postmarked
by October 28.
Seminarians (with copy of current Seminary ID Card) — $25 ($20 by
October 28)
CEU Credit from New York Theological Seminary is available at no additional
cost
Council of Churches of the
City of New York
475 Riverside Drive, Suite 727 · New York, NY 10115
(212) 870-1020