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Pastors & Leaders Symposium

by Rev. Dr. Joel Edwards

The Tri-State area will be visited by one of the most distinguished Evangelical theological leaders in Great Britain, Rev. Dr. Joel Edwards. He will be the guest presenter at the Pastors and Leaders Symposium at The Holiday Inn, JFK Airport on Friday June 20, 2008. Rev. Edwards is the General Director of the over 7,000 strong Evangelical Alliance of the United Kingdom (more than 1,000,000 members). The Theme of the Symposium is “Evangelicalism and Transformational Development”. It will focus on how to engage our evangelical faith in matters of social, economic and political relevance, and how the devoted Christian can become agents of transformation and development within the community.

This is a relevant issue against the background of a secular American culture in which Pastors are increasingly faced with the challenge of how to do effective evangelism in the context of a world that is no longer church centered.

A recent study in the new US Religious Landscape Survey from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that 44% of Evangelicals are no longer engaged in the practice of their faith in the traditional sense. The trend is noticeable particularly among the young people and young adults. With the obvious pressure from the secular humanism and materialism, Pastors are asking the question, “How can we move church people from consumer oriented religion to becoming agents of change in the world?”

The growing fragmentation of the society, especially within the large metropolitan cities with their many inner-city enclaves is calling for redress from institutions such as the church with its message of hope and cohesiveness. Rev. Edwards was part of the Christian initiative in 2003, the Haringey Peace Alliance in Britain, which led a community campaign against drugs and violence and being in the forefront in the fight against crime and social exclusion in the predominantly black inner-city communities of Brixton. “To ignore faith is an act of social vandalism against a society in search of community, purpose and wholeness,” he states.

The Symposium is planned and hosted by the Intercessory Prayer Ministry International in association with Pastors of various denominations in the tri-state. The committee includes prominent church leaders such as Dr. Samuel Vassell of Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene, Dr. Alfred Johnson of Clinton Avenue Presbyterian Church, Dr. Kirk Patrick Cohall of Lenox Road Baptist Church, Dr. Ackland G. Quarrie of Bronxwood International Church of God, Dr. Samuel Simpson of Wake Eden Baptist Church, Rev. David Hernquest of Van Nest Assembly of God and Rev. Andrew Bennett of Elim Missionary Church.

Rev. Newton Gabbidon of the Intercessory Prayer Ministry International, with its headquarters in New York, has stated that there is high interest in the Symposium both from the relevance of the issues to be discussed, as well as from the quality of theological scholarship and social activism, and ecumenical interest exemplified by Rev. Edward’s leadership. Significantly, in June 2001, Joel Edwards a Jamaican by birth, was appointed one of the first Honorary Canons of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England, a rare appointment to a non Church of England clergyman.

Attention is drawn to one of Rev. Edwards’ publications, “Lord Make Us One - But Not All The Same” in which he states that the only way Christians will be able to stand together will be by releasing each other to be different. In it he challenges the evangelical world, “Civil war between evangelicals is simply not an option.”

In what is also expected to draw participants from civic leaders, college and seminary students, social activists, members of the media and the Diplomatic corps, there is great anticipation of a stimulating and highly challenging intellectual and inspiring interactive program. No doubt many will leave with the same convictions Rev. Edwards will bring to the Symposium, which he has often expressed “Across the country, local churches are discovering what I like to call a ‘theology of pavement’, where faith is put into action for the benefit of others.”

The Pastors and Leaders Symposium is open to all, and is free of cost. It begins at 9:00am and will conclude at 1:00pm. Rev. Joel Edwards will also be the guest speaker at the Annual IPMI Prayer Breakfast an Saturday 21, beginning at 9:00am at the Holiday Inn, JFK Airport.

For further information surrounding the visit of Rev. Edwards to New York, you may call 718-241-2162 or visit the website at www.goipmi.com


NEWSFRONT FEATURES REGIONAL EVENTS UPCOMING EVENTS TRI-STATE NEWS THE CLASSIFIEDS ABOUT US	FEATURES Pastors & Leaders Symposium by Rev. Dr. Joel Edwards The Tri-State area will be visited by one of the most distinguished Evangelical theological leaders in Great Britain, Rev. Dr. Joel Edwards. He will be the guest presenter at the Pastors and Leaders Symposium at The Holiday Inn, JFK Airport on Friday June 20, 2008. Rev. Edwards is the General Director of the over 7,000 strong Evangelical Alliance of the United Kingdom (more than 1,000,000 members). The Theme of the Symposium is “Evangelicalism and Transformational Development”. It will focus on how to engage our evangelical faith in matters of social, economic and political relevance, and how the devoted Christian can become agents of transformation and development within the community. This is a relevant issue against the background of a secular American culture in which Pastors are increasingly faced with the challenge of how to do effective evangelism in the context of a world that is no longer church centered. A recent study in the new US Religious Landscape Survey from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that 44% of Evangelicals are no longer engaged in the practice of their faith in the traditional sense. The trend is noticeable particularly among the young people and young adults. With the obvious pressure from the secular humanism and materialism, Pastors are asking the question, “How can we move church people from consumer oriented religion to becoming agents of change in the world?” The growing fragmentation of the society, especially within the large metropolitan cities with their many inner-city enclaves is calling for redress from institutions such as the church with its message of hope and cohesiveness. Rev. Edwards was part of the Christian initiative in 2003, the Haringey Peace Alliance in Britain, which led a community campaign against drugs and violence and being in the forefront in the fight against crime and social exclusion in the predominantly black inner-city communities of Brixton. “To ignore faith is an act of social vandalism against a society in search of community, purpose and wholeness,” he states. The Symposium is planned and hosted by the Intercessory Prayer Ministry International in association with Pastors of various denominations in the tri-state. The committee includes prominent church leaders such as Dr. Samuel Vassell of Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene, Dr. Alfred Johnson of Clinton Avenue Presbyterian Church, Dr. Kirk Patrick Cohall of Lenox Road Baptist Church, Dr. Ackland G. Quarrie of Bronxwood International Church of God, Dr. Samuel Simpson of Wake Eden Baptist Church, Rev. David Hernquest of Van Nest Assembly of God and Rev. Andrew Bennett of Elim Missionary Church. Rev. Newton Gabbidon of the Intercessory Prayer Ministry International, with its headquarters in New York, has stated that there is high interest in the Symposium both from the relevance of the issues to be discussed, as well as from the quality of theological scholarship and social activism, and ecumenical interest exemplified by Rev. Edward’s leadership. Significantly, in June 2001, Joel Edwards a Jamaican by birth, was appointed one of the first Honorary Canons of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England, a rare appointment to a non Church of England clergyman. Attention is drawn to one of Rev. Edwards’ publications, “Lord Make Us One - But Not All The Same” in which he states that the only way Christians will be able to stand together will be by releasing each other to be different. In it he challenges the evangelical world, “Civil war between evangelicals is simply not an option.” In what is also expected to draw participants from civic leaders, college and seminary students, social activists, members of the media and the Diplomatic corps, there is great anticipation of a stimulating and highly challenging intellectual and inspiring interactive program. No doubt many will leave with the same convictions Rev. Edwards will bring to the Symposium, which he has often expressed “Across the country, local churches are discovering what I like to call a ‘theology of pavement’, where faith is put into action for the benefit of others.” The Pastors and Leaders Symposium is open to all, and is free of cost. It begins at 9:00am and will conclude at 1:00pm. Rev. Joel Edwards will also be the guest speaker at the Annual IPMI Prayer Breakfast an Saturday 21, beginning at 9:00am at the Holiday Inn, JFK Airport. For further information surrounding the visit of Rev. Edwards to New York, you may call 718-241-2162 or visit the website at www.goipmi.com Home \| Regional Events \| Features \| The Classifieds \| About Us \| Commentary \| Community \| Links ©2007 The Love Express. All rights reserved. Serving the Christian Community for over 20 years.