Pittsburgh Seminary chooses prominent scholar as new professor of urban ministry

From Ann Rodger (Post-Gazette blog)

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary has chosen a professor with impressive credentials to replace the Rev. Ronald Peters as its professor of urban ministry. Dr. Peters left more than two years ago to become director of Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, a consortium of schools that specialize in training clergy for predominantly black churches. Dr. Peters headed a similar track at PTS through the Metro-Urban Institute, which became a signature program and drew students to the Presbyterian seminary.

His successor will be the Rev. R. Drew Smith, who was ordained for the National Baptist Convention USA but most recently served as director of an urban ministry program for a United Methodist seminary near Chicago. Since 2009 he has been director of the Center for Church and Black Experience at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill., while continuing a longer-standing commitment as scholar-in-residence at the Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

More here-

http://blogs.post-gazette.com/news/faithburgh/36647-pittsburgh-seminary-chooses-prominent-scholar-as-new-professor-of-urban-ministry

Episcopal bishop praises contributions of urban churches; Visits three Bridgeport parishes

From Bridgeport CT

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori is impressed with how St. John’s Episcopal Church on Fairfield Avenue is reaching out to the community that surrounds it.

“You see how they, through the ministry’s involvement, are contributing to a revival in the community,” Jefferts Schori said while touring the church’s Family Center on Friday.

The presiding bishop, who oversees the Episcopal Church in the United States and 15 other nations, also stopped at St. Mark’s Day Care Center in the East End and St. Luke/St. Paul Episcopal Church on the East Side during her visit to Bridgeport.

All three sites have been designated by the Episcopal Church as Jubilee Ministry Sites due to their work with the poor.

The St. John’s Family Center offers programs such as parent-children play groups, computer lessons, support groups, English classes, health screenings, community suppers and a food pantry. All services are free to low-income and at-risk families from Bridgeport.

More here-

http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/thebridgeportnews/news/localnews/56369-episcopal-bishop-praises-contributions-of-urban-churches-visits-three-bridgeport-parishes.html