Religion & Race in America: Schedule of Speakers & Topics, First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan, CT

Family Night Adult Education Series – Fall 2013

First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan, CT

178 Oenoke Road

New Canaan, Connecticut 06840

Religion & Race in America

Schedule of Speakers & Topics

6:30-7:30 Weds. Evenings (Supper starts at 5:30)

September 18 – Overview of Religion & Race in America – The Rev. Dr. Samuel Cruz, Assistant Professor of Church and Society, Union Theological Seminary, NYC

September 25– “Trayvon Martin: A Tragic Catalyst for Social Change” – publication of the The Thoughtful Christian for the PCUSA, the Rev. Paul E. Gilmore will lead the discussion

October 2 – “Walking in Faith When the Way is Uncertain”– The Rev. Frederick Davie, Executive Vice President, Union Theological Seminary, NYC

October 9 – Remembering the 50 Year Anniversary of the March on Washington & the Words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – Panel Discussion with those from our congregation who were there – Tom Nissley, Hudson & Patricia Stoddard

October 16 – “Cellblocks and Border Stops: Transformative Activism in an Age of Dehumanization” – Charlene Sinclair, Director of the Center on Race, Religion, and Economic Democracy, Union Theological Seminary, NYC

October 23 – “The Art of Surviving Prison” – The Rev. Jeff Grant, Director of the Progressive Prison Project/Innocent Spouse & Children Project in Greenwich, Connecticut, and Associate Minister/Director of Prison Ministries of The First Baptist Church of Bridgeport, Connecticut

October 30 – “The New Jim Crow: One Church’s Response to Mass Incarceration” – The Rev. Diane Lacey, Pastor, The Church of Gethsemane (PCUSA), Brooklyn, NY, which is a unique intentional congregation of persons from all racial, ethnic, economic and educational backgrounds, “founded in 1986 as a New Church Development and established as a church in 1989. The Church of Gethsemane is a congregation of The Presbyterian Church (USA) created by and for incarcerated persons, formerly incarcerated persons, their families, neighborhood persons, and people who feel called into ministry with the poor.”

November 6 – Facing Racism: A Vision of the Beloved Community & Building Community Among Strangers – Discussion of Presbyterian Church USA General Assembly statements

November 13 – Where Do We go From Here?

_______________

Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div
Director, Progressive Prison Project/
Innocent Spouse & Children Project
Greenwich, Connecticut

Assoc. Minister/
Director of Prison Ministries
First Baptist Church of Bridgeport
126 Washington Avenue, 1st Fl.
Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604

(203) 339-5887
jgrant@progressiveprisonproject.org
jg3074@columbia.edu
progressiveprisonproject.org