The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr to speak at the annual Mark Kraai Lectures
April 21, 2016
New Brunswick Theological Seminary to feature The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr at its annual series: Mark Kraai Lectures – “The Changing Face of Urban Ministry”
(NEW BRUNSWICK NJ)—An internationally acclaimed preacher, author, scholar and teacher headlines this year’s annual Mark Kraai Lecture in Practical Theology at New Brunswick Theological Seminary’s New York campus. The Rev. Dr. James Alexander Forbes, Jr. is the keynote speaker for the program which focuses on “The Changing Face of Urban Ministry” to be held on Saturday April 30.
“It is an enormous honor to have Dr. Forbes with us,” said New Brunswick Theological President Greg Mast. Dr. Mast points out that over the past 40 years New Brunswick has gone from essentially a white, male, single-denomination school to one of great diversity serving the urban community. “When Dr. Forbes talks about the changing face of the city, we want to hear about that. It’s a context for ministry and education that we are passionate about,” said Dr. Mast.
Dr. Forbes is Senior Minister Emeritus of the Riverside Church in New York City, National Minister of the Drum Major Institute, The Harry Emerson Fosdick Distinguished Professor at Union Theological Seminary and President of the Healing of the Nations Foundation. He served as Senior Minister at Riverside – one of the nation’s largest multi-cultural congregations – for 18 years, the first African-American to hold that position. Dr. Forbes’ many honors include being named one of the 12 Most Effective Preachers in the English-Speaking World in 1996. His books include Whose Gospel: A Concise Guide to Progressive Protestantism. He hosted the weekly radio program “The Time Is Now” on the Air America Network and has appeared on many television shows. Dr. Forbes holds degrees from Howard University, Union Theological Seminary and Colgate Rochester Divinity School.
Dr. Faye Taylor, director of the NBTS New York campus, says this year’s program is exactly what New Brunswick Theological Seminary is all about. “The seminary has long had a very strong Metro-Urban ministry focus. Most of our graduates will serve in urban settings” said Dr. Taylor. “The venue for this year’s program, New York City, is perfect for its message. Urban neighborhoods have undergone tremendous change. The church must embrace that change and be a central part of healing, outreach and defining what it means to be a caring neighbor” she said.
In addition to Dr. Forbes the program features an outstanding lineup of pastors, teachers and scholars dedicated to the cause of Urban Ministry: NBTS student and hospital chaplain Sally Ann Castle; Rev. Prophet F.W. Hood of Lemuel Haynes Congregational Church, U.C.C., of South Jamaica, New York; Rev. Dr. Patricia A. Sealy, of Mott Haven Reformed Church in the Bronx (Reformed Church in America); Rev. Karen Jones, Director of Pastoral Care and Education at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, New York and Rev John Rasberry, Associate Minister at Antioch Baptist Church, Queens, New York.
The Mark Kraai Lecture in Practical Theology is an annual lecture series honoring the work of Dr. Kraai, former professor of Practical Theology and director of Field Education at NBTS. “The Kraai Lecture has always been about applying theological principles to find solutions to practical questions” said Dr. Taylor. She adds that many community business and political leaders have been invited to participate in the event which she describes as a “partnership.”
The program begins at 10:00 AM at New Brunswick Theological Seminary on the St. Johns University Campus: D’Angelo Center, Room 306; 8000 Utopia Parkway, Jamaica, NY. Click here or Call 718-990-6000 for more information. RSVP to NYevents@nbts.edu.
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About Dr. Forbes
The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., Senior Minister Emeritus of The Riverside Church and President of the Healing of the Nations Foundation, was installed as the fifth Senior Minister of The Riverside Church in the City of New York on June 1, 1989. He is the first African-American to serve as Senior Minister of that multicultural congregation and retired from his position on June 1, 2007. He is an ordained minister in the American Baptist Churches and the Original United Holy Church of America. In national and international religious circles, he is known as the preacher’s preacher because of his extensive preaching career and his charismatic style. Forbes was recognized by Newsweek in 1996 as one of the 12 “most effective preachers” in the English-speaking world.
About New Brunswick Theological Seminary
Founded in 1784, NBTS is the oldest independent Protestant seminary in the United States. It is It is one of two seminaries affiliated with the Reformed Church in America (RCA), and offers an exceptional seminary education, a flexible academic schedule, and a spiritually rich community for students of many Christian denominations and career backgrounds. The Seminary offers Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degrees, as well as Professional Certificates to enhance the work and training of special ministers, church officers, and other Christian leaders. The seminary is located in New Brunswick, NJ, and operates a satellite campus at St. John’s University in Queens, NY.