A short history of the NAACP

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is a cornerstone in the fight for equality among all American citizens. Above are some highlights of this prestigious organization.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Is social networking changing the face of religion?

Are online communities strengthening out interpersonal relationships, or are they isolating people even more from human companionship? Though Pope Benedict XVI has commented about the value of virtual relationships, a new poll discloses that more and more churches are using Facebook today.

In a message for the Catholic Church's World Communications Day, to be celebrated on June 5th, the pope said social networks offered great value, but he also warned about the risks of having more online friends than actual ones.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Voytovich is named presenter for National Clinical Training Seminar's spring meeting

The Rev. Dr. Steven Voytovich has been named as the keynote presenter for the National Clinical Training Seminar's spring meeting, to be held Feb. 28-March 1. The event will take place at the Stella Maris Retreat House, 981 Ocean Avenue, Elberon, New Jersey 07740.

The Rev. Dr. Voytovich will present about exploring multiple cultural relational dimensions undergirding clinical pastoral training programs today. The Rev. Dr. Voytovich is a dually-credentialed CPE supervisor with both CPSP and ACPE. He is also a licensed professional counselor.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Christian missionary killed in Mexican 'drug no-man's land'

An American missionary, Nancy Davis, 59, was tragically killed in an area of Mexico's Tamaulipas state known as a "drug no-man's land" on Wednesday. Sam Davis, Nancy's husband, tried to rush Davis over the U.S. border to be treated after she was shot. However, she later died.

State Attorney General spokesman Ruben Dario Lopez stated that Mexican authorities will not be looking into the murder because the missionary died in the United States. Sam and Nancy Davis worked in Mexico, serving the Lord, for three decades.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

ABC USA marks its first anniversary helping the Haitian people

American Baptist Churches' efforts to assist Southern Haiti began one year ago this month. American Baptist Churches is headquartered in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and has contributed approximately $2.8 million to the earthquake-stricken island nation. ABC-USA has contributed to the plight of displaced Haitians through One Great Hour of Sharing.

Lisa Rothenberger, American Baptist Churches world relief officer said, "In addition to generous giving, hundreds of churches sent health kits to Church World Service, volunteers traveled to Haiti to assist with rebuilding efforts or to provide emergency medical treatment, and churches around the world prayed for a better future for the Haitian people."

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

The many likenesses of Jesus Christ

The face of Jesus: Do we really know what it looks like?

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Father's 'honor killing' trial is set to begin in Arizona

It has been about 13 months since Noor Almaleki, 20, was allegedly struck and killed by a Jeep Laredo reportedly driven by her father, Faleh Hassan Almaleki, 50, in Phoenix, Arizona. In what is being claimed by prosecutors to be a case of an "honor killing" because his daughter was becoming too Westernized and defying Mulsim traditions, Faleh Hassan Almaleki, an Iraqi immigrant, faces life in prison, if convicted for his daughter's murder.

Though honor killings have been noted the world over, in countries such as Egypt, Iraq and Turkey, among others, officials say it is a relatively rare occurrence to see one happen in the United States. Nevertheless, it is being reported that Noor Almaleki had refused an arranged marriage by her family in favor of living with a boyfriend of her own choosing.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Hindu, Muslim students at Duke create a prayer room together

In Durham, North Carolina, Hindu and Muslim students have cooperated at Duke University to create a campus prayer room.

The founder of Hindu American Seva Charities, Anju Bhargava, is a member of a White House advisory body that is concerned with faith-based and neighborhood partnerships. According to Duke Associate Dean Christy Lohr Sapp, the groups are a model of how differing religions can work together toward common goals. The groups also share office space at Duke, as well.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to diversity, multiculturalism, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Presbyterian network takes aim at homelessness around the globe

According to an August report by the Presbyterian Network to End Homelessness and the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness there will be a joint program created to focus upon homelessness, in accordance with legislation adopted during the 218th General Assembly.

Recent studies have reportedly revealed that homelessness is not an issue that is solely found in urban areas, but also in suburban and rural areas as well. Accordingly, PNTEH is dedicating itself to bolstering Presbyterian churches in the mission of easing homelessness on a worldwide level.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Jamaica likely to end corporal punishment after student was blinded in school

According to Jamaican government officials, there are plans to end corporal punishment in public schools after it was learned that a fifth-grade student lost most of his sight in one eye following punishment from a teacher.

Minister of Education Andrew Holness said "moderate and reasonable" punishment is still permitted in all schools, with the exception of early childhood institutions. Consequently, Minister Holness said he expects his nation's legislators to abolish corporal punishment, as it is today, throughout the island nation.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

GOP-led House threatens to dismantle national health care bill

The House of Representatives has voted to repeal the recent health-care bill passed by the U.S. Congress. The legislation to repeal health care for all Americans is titled "Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act," which passed with a vote of 245-189 on Wednesday.

Reportedly, the legislation is not likely to be ratified by the still-Democratic controlled U.S. Senate. While the Republican majority in the House of Representatives has rallied around killing the national healthcare initiative recently passed, there have been no ideas offered by GOP lawmakers about potential replacement legislation.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

NOW IS THE TIME: Reflections by Rev. Peter Goodwin Heltzel, Ph.D.

The Rev. Peter G. Heltzel, Ph.D, is the director of the Micah Institute.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated leading a Living Wage Campaign in Memphis, Tennessee. In an address to strikers in Memphis on March 18, 1968, King stated, “Now our struggle is for genuine equality, which means economic equality. For we know now that it isn’t enough to integrate lunch counters. What does it profit a man to be able to eat at an integrated lunch counter if he doesn’t have enough money to buy a hamburger?” The struggle for racial integration must be matched by a struggle for economic justice. Justice is not only about access to public places, but also about jobs.

Forty-two years after Dr. King’s death, the struggle for racial and economic justice wages on amidst an economic crisis. After years of over-spending, speculative trading, and expensive wars, America’s economy is ailing. Yet the rich and elite continue to prosper, while the poor struggle to make ends meet. This economic struggle is particularly acute in New York City; where over 2 million city residents receive food stamps and struggle to put bread on the table.

Through the crucible of the crisis a new poor-led, citywide movement for economic justice is standing in the gap. This coalition of community, religious and labor leaders is fighting for a Living Wage in our City. Specifically, we are calling on the City Council to pass the Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act, which will:

The Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act helps city families.

• guarantee that workers in large development projects receiving public subsidies are paid at least the New York City living wage of $10 an hour.

• raise the living wage with inflation so that it increases every year and keeps pace with the cost of living.

• require that employees who do not receive health insurance from their employer receive an additional $1.50 per hour wage supplement to help them purchase their own health insurance.

The passage of the Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act is a central component to fighting poverty in New York City. As faith leaders in this city, our mandate is a moral one given to us by our faith traditions. All people are made in God’s image and are loved by God. All people deserve a good job and a warm hearth to come home to. All people deserve a Living Wage.

As we begin to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial weekend, we seek to embody King’s words to the city leaders in Memphis, “Now is the time to make an adequate income a reality for all God’s children. Now is the time for City Hall to take a position for that which is just and honest.” Forty-two years later, we call on City Hall in NYC to take a stand for justice. We want a hearing and passage now. People of faith in New York City will wait no longer. Now is the time.

Council Members are responding to the call of clergy around the city. Council member Daniel Garodnick, D-Manhattan, just signed on as the 29th sponsor of the bill. We are now five council members away from a 34-member supermajority, preventing the bill from being vetoed by Mayor Bloomberg.

God calls the human community to take on each other’s burdens. If a person is suffering, we are suffering. If a person loses their house, we lose our house. If a person is underpaid, we are underpaid. Enough is enough. We call on Mayor Bloomberg, Speaker Quinn and the City Council to pass the Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act. 

Tonight, Thursday January 13, there will be a Mass Meeting for Living Wages at Convent Avenue Baptist Church in Harlem. Inspired by the Mass Meetings of the Civil Rights Movement, concerned New Yorkers are coming out in full strength to bear courageous, collective witness to the working poor in our city. We are expecting over 1,000 supporters, including City Comptroller John Liu, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., and a host of city council members to attend. Michael A. Walrond, Senior Pastor of First Corinthian Baptist Church will speak on the relevance of the legacy of Dr. King for our contemporary struggle for low-wage workers today. Tonight will be a high watermark in the New York economic justice movement.

It is time for New Yorkers and all Americans to stand up and join the fight against poverty in our country. As Dr. King says, “we better be careful that we are not ‘a conscientious objector’ in the war against poverty.” Let us not sit this one out. Now is the time for action. Now is the time for justice. Now is the time to get up and move out for economic justice.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day to be celebrated on Jan. 17th this year

This year, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day will be celebrated this year on January 17. The Rev. Dr. King was a believer in nonviolent activism and the Civil Rights Movement. He was murdered because of his activism in 1968 and President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, though it was not formally observed until 1986.

The New York Theological Seminary is dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every walk of life, for careers in ministry.

John Paul being fast-tracked for beautification by Catholic Church

Pope Benedict XVI has fast-tracked the sainthood of his predecessor, John Paul, who died in 2005. The effort is in its sixth year and, though it may not seem speedy, this process is very fast by Vatican standards. In fact, John Paul's beautification is likely to become the fastest on record ever, even outpacing the relatively quick track to sainthood of Mother Teresa.

The last remaining hurdle to John Paul's process is approval by a Vatican-appointed panel of doctors, theologians, cardinals and bishops that the cure of a French nun was relative to the posthumous intervention of John Paul.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Pastor discusses the mega church versus small congregations

While churches are not ideally judged by how many parishioners are in the pews every Sunday, there are those people (in and out of the clergy) who do just that.

Ever more, the plight of small, struggling congregations is being focused upon as mega churches, with their thousands of members, are becoming hubs of urban and even suburban life. American Baptist Churches Rev. Bill Whitehead, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Rahway, in NJ, discusses the ongoing issues about 'mega churches' versus small congregations in his latest column.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Catholic bishop will preside at Tucson commemoration

In the wake of the recent shootings in Tucson, Arizona, which left six dead and 14 wounded, religious leaders from around the country are lending their voices to prayer.

Tucson's Catholic bishop, Gerald Kicanas, is set to preside at a public ceremony that will attempt to start the healing process following the shootings, even as shooting victims are being readied for funeral services.

Among those slain in the Tucson shootings were Judge John Roll, 63, and Christina Taylor Green, 9.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Mass arrests of Iranian Christians conducted on December 25th

"Scores of Christians" have been detained between Christmas and now. The arrests were noted in a statement by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom on January 7th. Reportedly, the Christians have been informally charged with being "evangelical missionaries."

There are allegedly reports that about 50 Christians have been rounded up the Iranian government. And, Bryant Wright, president for the Southern Baptist Convention, said that, while Christmas was being celebrated around the globe, "…brothers and sisters in other countries have lost their lives or been put in prison because they bear His name."

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity and social justice. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

A year later, things have not changed much for many Haitians

In Port au Prince, Haiti, there are reminders of normal life for residents everywhere, but life still hasn't returned to normal. Life has not been remotely normal since Jan. 12, 2010, when, at about 5 p.m., a magnitude 7 earthquake rocked the tiny island.

Even before the quake, Haiti was the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Not only were hospitals swamped by quake victims, but whole communities were destroyed by the event. Now, a year later, not much has changed for many people in Haiti and the echoes of the earthquake are seen every day across the tiny nation.

The NY Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

An exploration of the Gospel of Thomas

Economists: Slow job growth will continue ahead

Top economists predict slow job growth.

According to experts, the U.S. economy is slowly adding jobs but barely enough to keep up with the growth of the work force.

This weakness emphasizes the struggle taking place as the nation undergoes the process of returning to normal employment. Reportedly, the economy added 130,000 jobs in December, but this figure fell short of what most economists were hoping for. Though 1.1 million jobs were added in 2010, the nation still has 7.2 million fewer than in December 2007.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, religious tolerance and social justice. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Archdiocese of Milwaukee announces Chapter 11 reorganization

In St. Francis, Wisconsin, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee became the second American archdiocese, and the eighth overall, to file for Chapter 11 reorganization on January 4. With more than 650,000 parishioners, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee follows the archdioceses of Portland, Oregon and Tucson, Arizona in size.

The Archdiocese of Portland was the first such organization to file for Chapter 11 in July, 2004. During the Portland experience of reorganization, which ended in April 2007, a federal judge authorized $75 million in settlements for clergy sexual abuse claims and a financial reorganization plan.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Methodism in Russia: 100 years of darkness and light

From early missionaries until today, the history of Methodism in Russia is a study in determination and faith. Methodists have faced the brutal Russian winter, as well as an oft repressive government in order to bring that denomination's testimony to the Russian faithful.

Daily, Methodists in Russia face a society that has been conditioned to ignore religious life, a government that is known for its red tape, and persecution by a state-sponsored church. Still, Russian Methodists persist in their witness of the ongoing ministry of Jesus Christ.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Archbishop of Canterbury celebrates 400th anniversary of the King James Bible

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams delivered his New Year message, and within it addressed the impact of the King James Bible. The King James version of the Bible is an English translation that began work in 1604 and began publication in 1611.

Consequently, this year marks the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. Archbishop Williams said that things move on but it is a good thing to have some "long-lasting furniture in our minds."

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Ehrich: One size doesn't fit all in church life

According to Tom Ehrich, of The Presbyterian Outlook, one challenge in nurturing a "multichannel church" is to ban "one-size-fits-all" thinking. This is especially true where it involves the diversity that is important in communications. Ehrich examines how people receive messages and adapt accordingly.

As a means of examining the ways people accept information, Ehrich discusses the ways people obtain their news: while some use newspapers and television, yet others use the Internet or radio. In addition, he notes that an ad in the New York Times might reach some of us but not others of us.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

United Church of Christ hails passage of the Local Community Radio Act

The U.S. Congress has approved legislation that allows community radio broadcasting on the Low Power FM broadcast spectrum, which is expected to be approved by President Obama. The Local Community Radio Act is generally considered as a means for local communities to use the public airwaves.

Consequently, the former United Church of Christ communications director and past executive of the UCC Office of Communications, Inc., the Rev. Robert Chase, has stated his approval for those who have fought to see this legislation come to fruition.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.