Dr. Anthea Butler pays visit to NYTS 'Global Pentecostal Movement' class

Dr. Dale Irvin's THU2271 class (The Global Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement) class was visited by Dr. Anthea D. Butler, author of "Women in the Church of God in Christ" on Monday, Oct. 18th. Approximately 25 class students and visitors were present for the special session, wherein Dr. Butler discussed the writing of her book and the significance of recording Church of God in Christ history holds.

"There is no archive for this church," she said. "The archive for the Church of God in Christ consists of some big containers holding copies of documents I have at my house." During the research for her premier 2007 work, Dr. Butler said it was a challenge to collect COGIC history. Unlike other Pentecostal denominations, like Assemblies of God, for instance, COGIC's history has not been brought together. Consequently, its source documents are still in attics around the country, and in unpreserved, private collections.

Dr. Butler said that, as early COGIC church members age and die the significance of these documents is usually lost upon those who inherit them.

During her visit, Dr. Butler also discussed the historic and contemporary role of women in COGIC. While denied power from the pulpit, historically COGIC women found success through the Women's Department. However, today, the very survival of the Women's Department is threatened as COGIC contemplates absorbing this department into the church itself.

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.

NYTS president teaching Global Pentecostalism this semester

Dr. Dale Irvin

Dr. Dale Irvin began teaching The Global Pentecostalism/Charismatic Movement: Its History, Theology and Life in the Spirit (THU 2271) at Room 330, in Riverside Church, last night.

Sharing Dr. Irvin's tour through Pentecostalism this semester are Diana, Francis, Douglas, Jim, Solomon, Ralph, Susan and Patricia.

Dr. Irvin began the class by talking about his own Pentecostal roots as a youth, baptized in the Spirit during the early 1970s.

After class introductions, Dr. Irvin discussed Pentecostalism as a narrative tradition that did not develop doctrines early on. In fact, in Pentecostalism, doctrines are not as important as what we practice.

Dr. Irvin immediately launched into the Azusa Street Movement (1906-1909) in Los Angeles, California. While this movement was not the beginning of the Pentecostal Movement, it was the early amplification of that movement. In particular, Dr. Irvin discussed the role of William J. Seymour (b. 1870), a bible school graduate who spearheaded the movement, among others, during the early 20th century.

Among the references being used during this semester are Cecil M. Robeck's The Azusa Street Mission and Revival.

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

NYTS President Dr. Dale Irvin to teach Global Pentecostalism/Charismatic Movements

Colleagues,

This coming fall semester I will be teaching Global Pentecostal/Charismatic Movements again at NYTS. The class is being offered Monday evenings, and meets from 6-9 pm at Riverside Church. Students can cross-register for credit from Union, Drew and General through regular means. Others must register with the permission of their respective Deans. I want to be sure you know of this class in case you have someone who is interested in the area, or you want to attend one or more session yourself.

I especially want to let you know that we three outstanding guests lecturers coming to the class this fall. I am opening the class to the wider community on these evenings with an offer to join us. So please pass the word!

-- October 18: Anthea D. Butler, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Graduate Chair at the University of Pennsylvania will be in class to discuss her book Women in the Church of God in Christ (2007)

--November 8: Amos Yong, J. Rodman Williams Professor of Theology and Director of Doctor of Philosophy Program at Regent University will be in class to discuss his book, The Spirit Poured Out on All Flesh (2005).

--December 6: David Gonzalez, Metro desk reporter for the New York Times and author of the award-winning series, "House Afire" (published in The New York Times Jan. 14-16, 2007), will be with us to discuss “House Afire” (found at http://www.nytimes.com/ref/nyregion/houseafire_index.htm) as well as some of his other important insights and reflections on Pentecostalism in New York City

Please feel free to contact me by phone (212.870.1223) or email (dirvin@nyts.edu) if you need more information. I hope you can join us.

The Dalai Lama, Hands of Peace

By Peter Zehren

I was honored to be in the receiving line when the Dalai Lama came to Riverside Church. Riverside and New York Theological Seminary have has a long relationship and it was extraordinary to feel the presences of peace as his hand blessed me.

Speaking mostly to the Tibetans in the New York Metro area, the Dalai Lama made a plea to heal dishonesty and take personal responsibility. As a people, “it is our responsibility to help.” He asked for understanding and patience with the Chinese government, with being kept out of Tibet, and with continuing to stand up for justice by the way we lead our lives.

“Dialogue,” he said, “is the critical function and only solution” to the political troubles in Tibet. I found that most poignant as my own person reflections have taken me through an exploration of Daniel Yankelovich’s book, The Magic of Dialogue: Transforming Conflict Into Cooperation. Yankelovich outlines dialogue as a method of communicating where both sides honor the other, where opinions and concepts are melded together, combining all aspects of conversation. In the colloquial, it’s a “both and.”

The thrust of what was said centered around being a good person. An appeal was made to teach “Tibetan ways” to the next generation with an admonition that “our survival as Tibetans depends on it.” Then, honoring the greater good, the Dalai Lama added, “Please keep doing well. Always do the best you can. Do the right thing and remember, this must be taught to the community.



Peter Zehren is Vice President for Development and Institutional Advancement at New York Theological Seminary.

Forbes pens new book titled 'Whose Gospel?'

The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes Jr., a past NYTS Urban Angel, has recently penned Whose Gospel? A Concise Guide to Progressive Protestantism. In Whose Gospel?, one of America's greatest living preachers offers a compelling vision of progressive social change. Known as the "preacher's preacher," Dr. Forbes has tirelessly advocated progressive views on the crucial issues of our time -- from poverty, war, and women's equality to racial justice, sexuality and environment.

The Rev. Dr. Forbes is president and founder of the Healing Nations Foundations of New York and senior minister emeritus of the Riverside Church, in Manhattan, NY. The Rev. Dr. Forbes served as the spiritual leader at Riverside for 18 years before embarking on a mission of national and global ministry.

Dr. Forbes is also well known for his work on behalf of the National Council of Churches of Christ USA, the National Association of Campus Ministry, the American Baptist Churches, the United Church of Christ, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Episcopal Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA), where he has led numerous workshops, retreats and conferences. Based on the 1995 Baylor University poll, Newsweek magazine recognized Dr. Forbes as one of the 12 "most effective preachers in the English speaking world."

Among other honors, the Rev. Dr. Forbes has won the Alumni Day Award of Howard University for Distinguished Post Graduate Achievement in Ministry.

For autographed copies of the book, which are available through The Healing of the Nations Foundation for $20, plus $6 shipping and handling, call (212) 870-3060, or email info@healingofthenations.com.